By Tom Stewart

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Spring Training can be an overwhelming and challenging experience for many young prospects.

Navigating the reality that your teammates are your direct competition can be a surprising paradigm to tackle early on in a young player’s career.

But for Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Zach Logue, it’s something he’s learned to put behind him.

“We really just take on the mindset that were a team, we want each other to do well, and if we do well as a team, it’s going to be good for each other, individually,” said Logue, on a sunny Friday at the minor league complex.

The 22-year old lefty has instead chosen to focus on the things he can control, like improving his repertoire and maintaining consistency.

“If I can show that I can go out there every five days, and throw five, six, seven innings and give our team a chance to win, I think that’s the best way I can show that I am ready to go to the next level,” he said

The Mason, Ohio, native split time between low-A Lansing and class-A Advanced Dunedin last season going 12-4 with a 3.15 earned run average, striking out 129 batters across 154 1/3 innings.

Entering this year’s spring training, Logue has turned his attention to complementing his fastball with stronger secondary pitches.

“Last year I feel like my slider came along really well, especially in the later part of the year,” said Logue. “The next step is really getting that same result for my changeup.

“I always try to play catch with someone who’s got a good changeup, and just pick their brain.”

Logue credits programs like Rapsodo and other new technology like slow motion cameras when discussing what has helped him better understand and improve his pitches.

The former ninth-round draft pick out of the University of Kentucky is hoping to break into double-A New Hampshire this season, a vision that he is determined to realize.