April in Review: Dunedin Blue Jays
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
We continue our monthly review of the Blue Jays’ minor leagues with the Jays’ Advanced-A club in Dunedin, the Dunedin Blue Jays, taking a look at how the club is doing, where they stand and who’s hot and who’s not.

April Record
Dunedin finished April with an 11-12 record, in fourth place in the Florida State League North Division. Offensively, the club is tied for third place in the league with 102 runs while the pitching staff has been the worst in the league, allowing 124 runs. Looking at this large 22-run differential, the club is definitely in better shape than they should be, with a pythagorean record of 9-14.

Leaderboard
Jonathan Davis (a.k.a., “J.D.”) has the third-best OBP in the Florida State League at .437 while his home run total of four is actually in a five-way tie for fourth in the league. He’s also in a big tie for second with six doubles and his 14 RBI squeaks him into the top 10 and he’s tied for first int he league with 20 runs and is in second place in the league with nine stolen bases. D.J. Davis is tied for fifth in the league with seven SBs.

Who’s Hot?
Rotation
The rotation hasn’t been particularly good. The best starter thus far has been Conner Greene with a 3.51 ERA and 1.44 WHIP.

Bullpen
Adonys Cardona hasn’t given up a run yet in nine innings this year, despite seven walks and only five strikeouts.

Tim Mayza has been the best reliever, allowing only 11 base runners and striking out four batters with just one earned run in 14 1/3 innings.

Matt Dermody has just one walk and 12 strikeouts in 10 innings, allowing two runs over that span.

Hitters
J.D. Davis has the club’s highest OPS at .968 thanks to a stellar .284/.437/.531 slash line with six doubles, a triple, four home runs and nine stolen bases.

Who’s Not?
Rotation
Ryan Borucki hasn’t been strong at all, He’s got a 12.00 ERA in 15 innings with seven home runs allowed and just six strikeouts.

Juliandry Higuera also has seemed overwhelmed, pitching to an 8.71 ERA with a WHIP approaching 2.00.

Tom Robson hasn’t been able to find his control, walking 22 batters in 16 2/3 innings over six appearances.

Kyle Westwood has a 7.47 ERA in three starts despite walking only five and not giving up any home runs. Hitters haven’t been fooled, though with 26 hits over 15 2/3 innings.

Bullpen
Chris Rowley has had some rough outings, with a 5.79 ERA in 14 innings but not all the news is negative. Rowley has 10 strikeouts and hasn’t walked anyone and has only allowed one home run. This may be an appearance by the BABIP monster.

Hitters
Despite his seven stolen bases, D.J. Davis is hitting only .192/.253/.219 with just two doubles and 26 strikeotus in 80 plate appearances.

David Harris, who hit up a storm in Australia this winter, is hitting just .194/.219/.274.

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