Our last group of prospect before we hit the Top Ten.
Moving up the list. If you've missed one 16-20 is here, 21-15 is here, the 26-30 is here, 31-35 here and 36-40 here.
15. John Stilson: John had a really nice 2013 season, with a 2.09 ERA, in 33 relief appearances, for Buffalo. He allowed 36 hits, walked 15 and struck out 47 in 47.1 innings. The only down part was that he moved to full time relief. He didn't have as much fun in the AFL, giving up 6 earned in 2.1 innings, before leaving early.
John was our 3rd round draft pick in 2011, he's a big guy at 6'3" and 200 lb. If our bullpen wasn't so crowded, I think he'd have a good shot at making the team. I do think we'll see him at some point this season.
Stilson throws a fastball that can get to 95, a good changeup , a curve and a slider. He has had some injury issues in the past, so being in the pen and keeping his innings down is a good idea. It's too bad, having a hard throwing starter, that's about major league ready, would be a good thing. But, with his stuff, he could grow into closer's role. He was 16th on our list last year. John Sickels has him at 13th and MLB.com has him at 6th.
14. Andy Burns: Andy was our 11th round pick in 2011, but he's played like a much higher pick. Last year, he started in Dunedin, hitting .327/.383/.524, with 8 home runs, 21 steals, 25 walks and 38 strikeouts in 64 games. He had a bit of a tougher time of it when they moved him up to New Hampshire. He hit .253/.309/.419, with 7 home runs, 12 steals, 23 walks and 55 strikeouts in 64 games. Not great, but really not bad for his first look at double-A pitching at age 22. He played in AFL and was great, hitting .312/.402/.403 and won a player of the week award.
He played mostly 3B and he made more errors than you'd like to see, 27 in 117 games. But he has a good reputation with the glove, so I won't worry too much about the errors, especially with minor league official scorers. It would be a lot better if he was still at second base, since he isn't all the much younger than Brett Lawrie and he isn't going to move him off third. He might end up a utility type.
Last year we had Andy at #17 on the list.
13. Dawel Lugo: Dawel was a big international free agent signing, getting $1.3 million out of cheap Rogers in 2011. Don't tell anyone, but he's yet another Dominican. Just 18, last season (he turned 19 in December), he started the year in Bluefield, and hit .297/.317/.469 with 6 home runs, 5 walks and 28 strikeouts. He moved up the Vancouver, hitting .246/.257/.348 with 1 home run, 1 walk and 13 strikeouts, in 16 games. Not great number but he was playing in Vancouver at 18 years old.
Yeah, he doesn't walk as much as you would like, but, again he's young, he can learn, though I'd like to see some sign he's learning. As well, his defense is a work in progress. It's also possible that, as he matures, and puts on size, he might have to move off of short.
He's a long way from the majors, we won't see him in Toronto for 4 years, at best. He moved up from #39 on last year's list. Keith Law has Dawel 9th on his list.
12.Chase DeJong: Chase was our 2nd round pick in 2012. He's another big guy, 6'4" and 185. A right-hander, he throws low 90's now but he just turned 20 at the end of December, as he matures he might add a few mph to that. He also has a very good curve and, like everyone in our system, he's working at a changeup.
Last year he played in Bluefield, making 13 appearance, 10 starts, with a 3.05 ERA. In 56 innings, he allowed 58 hits, 10 walks and 66 strikeouts (28.1% strikeout rate will get your attention).
Chase was 12th on our list last year. I'd think he'll get into full season ball this year and if he has a good year he should be in our top ten next year.
11.Roberto Osuna: It's tough to know where to place Roberto, I had him a few spots further down the list but I was persuaded that I was being a little rough on him. He was #2 on our list last year, but he's had Tommy John surgery and won't be pitching until near the end of the season, at best. The good news is that he just turned 19 earlier in February, so if he has to miss a season, it might as well be now.
Before the injury, pitching in Lansing, he made 10 starts, had a 5.53 ERA, allowed 39 hits, 11 walks with 51 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. You have to like the 29% strikeout rate.
The Jays signed Osuna to a $1.5 million signing bonus, back in 2011, when he was 16, out of Mexico. Can you imagine getting $1.5 million when you are just 16? Hopefully he'll still have the fastball mid-90's fastball when he returns from injury.