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Around the Nest 2021 Week 4: Our Golden Episode

Blue Jays prospect reports from Buffalo, New Hampshire, Vancouver (Hillsboro), and Dunedin

By Minor Leaguer

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Top left: Pat Malacaro of the Buffalo Bisons (triple-A), top right: host Tyler Zickel of the Vancouver Canadians (high-A), bottom left: Andrew Thriffiley of the Dunedin Blue Jays (low-A), bottom right: Tyler Murray of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (double-A)

Around The Nest is the weekly Toronto Blue Jays minor league podcast hosted by the Vancouver Canadians (high-A) broadcaster Tyler Zickel. This week also features Tyler Murray of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (double-A) as well as the return of Pat Malacaro of the Buffalo Bisons (triple-A) and Andrew Thriffiley of the Dunedin Blue Jays (low-A) making his Around The Nest debut.

Speaking of debuts, our regular contributor from the Buffalo Bisons / Trenton Thunder Gregg Caserta is away for this week’s episode because he has been called up to the New York Mets! Gregg made his major league broadcasting debut last night in the game against the Padres and will broadcast again tonight.

This week’s episode is available in both an audio-only and a video format. Around The Nest can be found on YouTube, Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher.

Episode Topics

Pat Malacaro on the Sahlen Field and the Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A)

  • Pat gives an update on the renovations at Sahlen Field and talks about what he has been doing with the Blue Jays in town.
  • Forrest Wall has the second most stolen bases (11) in all of triple-A and has formed a good outfield tandem with Logan Warmoth.
  • Kevin Smith has played well defensively and at the plate—had been on a 15-game on-base streak at the time of recording (now a 17-game streak).
  • Veteran Christian Colón has been a leader both on and off the field.
  • Nate Pearson and T.J. Zeuch have both been scuffling. Pearson just need to get more innings in to get back on track; could Zeuch become a long-man out of the bullpen?

Tyler Murray on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A)

  • The season’s storyline is the back end of the bullpen: they are 0-for-9 in save opportunities.
  • Manager Cesar Martin gave a passionate speech to his team in the dugout before a game and they immediately scored five runs in the first inning.
  • Prospect updates: Austin Martin, Jordan Groshans, Gabriel Moreno, the unstoppable Otto Lopez.
  • Little Jason LJ Talley is CLUTCH.

Andrew Thriffiley on the Dunedin Blue Jays (Low-A)

  • “Actual” baseball is back after crazy first week, team’s record is not great but they are now playing close games.
  • Jol Concepcion had a remarkable six-inning relief outing against Brandenton.
  • The situation at TD Ballpark.
  • Manager Luis Hurtado called Addison Barger’s cycle after two at bats.
  • Orelvis Martinez is getting consistent with his hitting, getting up to 107-110 mph exit velocities.

Tyler Zickel on the Vancouver Canadians (High-A)

  • Canadians have tended to come out with low-energy after Monday off days.
  • Luis Quinones was electric, striking out 11. He varies his delivery like Marcus Stroman to keep batters off balance.
  • Updates on Nick Fraze and Tanner Morris.
  • Adam Kloffenstein’s recent struggles.

Roundtable

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