Shelton: Blue Jays' organizational outfield depth a real concern

With Kevin Pillar (far right) traded, Jonathan Davis (left) and Billy McKinney (middle), who is currently playing in triple-A, are two of the Toronto Blue Jays’ remaining outfield options.

May 29, 2019

By Cole Shelton

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently fielding a major league roster with only two natural outfielders in Jonathan Davis and Randal Grichuk.

And, in the system, it doesn’t get much better. Both Billy McKinney and Teoscar Hernandez have been up on the roster this year, but for both of them, their bats have struggled while Hernandez’s defence has been a major problem since he made his big league debut.

So, with only two outfielders on the roster, rookie manager, Charlie Montoyo is forced to use Brandon Drury or Lourdes Gurriel Jr. as a corner outfielder, obviously not ideal. But, the problem goes further than the major level. Their overall outfield depth is something the Blue Jays should be worried about.

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons are carrying seven outfielders, with no up-and-coming prospect that fans are clamouring to see. Their outfield consists of Anthony Alford, Socrates Brito, Roemon Fields, Jordan Patterson, Patrick Kivlehan, McKinney, and Hernandez. Only Alford was a highly touted prospect, but he has struggled when given the chance in the majors, just like Brito, McKinney, and Hernandez.

Going down to double-A, they are currently carrying just three outfielders in Brock Lundqvist, Joshua Palacios, and Forrest Wall. None are considered future stars, and the list goes on in single-A, rookie ball, etc.

In Toronto’s top-30 prospects, listed by MLB.com, they have just five outfielders, but two of them are Alford and Davis, who have spent time in the majors or are currently in the majors and struggling. The others are Chavez Young, Griffin Conine, who is suspended and Cal Stevenson.

Young is a defensive outfielder, who is hitting just .209 in class-A Advanced Dunedin. The same goes for Stevenson who’s fielding is much better than his bat. While Conine is projected to be a future starter, his MLB.com scouting profile reads “Concerns about Conine's propensity to swing and miss in college were only exacerbated during his pro debut, as he showed very little selectivity while trying to hit the ball out of the park with every swing.”

With the MLB Draft coming up on June 3, and questions of organizational depth a concern, drafting outfielder makes sense. So too does trading their players on their roster like Marcus Stroman, Ken Giles, and others for outfield prospects.

The future infield is set with Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.), Bichette and Biggio. As for the outfield, it is a real concern and a work in progress, to say the least. If Gurriel Jr. shows he can be an everyday outfielder and his bat is MLB-level, then it is one less spot to fill. But, with only two outfielders on the roster, the depth should have been addressed well before the season began.