Blue Jays Winter Leagues: Alford, Leblebijian, Rios, Tellez
By: Jay Blue
Blue Jays From Away
It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these updates, so let’s look at what the Jays’ minor leaguers are doing in their winter leagues.
Arizona Fall League
Anthony Alford is turning things on in the Arizona Fall League with a .265/.359/471 slash line, hitting three doubles, a triple and three home runs while stealing five bases in nine tries. Still, 21 strikeouts in 68 at-bats is not the best ratio you could hope for, but his power numbers are a solid indication that he’s putting things together.
Danny Jansen is hitting pretty well, with a .292/.365/.354 slash line that includes two triples. Jansen isn’t striking out much (just eight times in 65 at bats) and is walking a bit.
Juan Kelly took over for Ryan McBroom who left the AFL due to an injury. Kelly has a .276/.300/.379 slash line in 29 at bats so far including a home run.
Matt Dermody has dropped his 9.00 ERA down to 6.00 over nine innings in the AFL, striking out seven and giving up two walks.
Conner Greene has four starts (none since November 3) with a 5.40 ERA and 1.70 WHIP over 10 innings with 11 walks and five strikeouts.
Tim Mayza continues to lower his ERA but it’s still at 7.36 with a 1.64 WHIP and 11 strikeouts and seven walks in 11 innings.
Justin Shafer has struggled since our last update with his ERA ballooning to 8.15 and his WHIP up over 2.00 (at 2.09). He’s given up 12 walks and 25 hits over 17 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts.
John Stilson continues to struggle 12 earned runs allowed in 7 2/3 innings for a 14.09 ERA and 2.74 WHIP.
Venezuelan Winter League
Jason Leblebijian has not played in the Venezuelan Winter League since our last update and has a .227/.382/.341 slash line with two doubles and a home run in 44 at bats. He has walked nine times and struck out 16.
Youngster Edward Olivares got into a game and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout and a stolen base.
Mexican Winter League
Jorge Flores is putting together a solid winter season in Mexico, hitting .271/.380/.376 with three doubles and two home runs in 85 at-bats.
Francisco Rios is still pitching well in Mexico, allowing just one run in 11 innings, working out of the bullpen. His 0.82 ERA and 0.91 WHIP are excellent despite only striking out four and walking three.
Dominican Winter League
Rowdy Tellez is holding his own in the Dominican, mixing good days and not so good ones. His overall line has him hitting .237/.370/.421 with a double and two home runs in 38 at-bats, walking eight times and striking out nine.
Richard Urena is struggling, hitting .184/.184/.265 with two doubles and a triple in 49 at-bats.
Wil Browning has yet to give up a run with 6 2/3 innings under his belt, allowing five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
Jose Fernandez has given up four runs in 5 1/3 innings with five hits and three walks, striking out only one.
Luis Santos continues to struggle in the Dominican league and has a 9.82 ERA over 3 2/3 innings with seven hits and two walks against.
Puerto Rican Winter League
In Puerto Rico, Jonathan Davis is hitting .216/.356/.270 with a triple, seven walks and 14 strikeouts in 37 at-bats.
A.J. Jimenez is hitting .270/.310/.324 in 37 at bats, hitting two doubles and has been intentionally walked twice.
Angel Alicea hasn’t give up a run in four innings, allowing only one hit and walking two with five strikeouts.
Jose Espada has also not allowed a run in 4 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and three walks with three strikeouts.