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Toronto Blue Jays Top 10 Prospects for 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Jun 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Toronto Blue Jays logo on a sleeve patch during a game Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Toronto Blue Jays won 13-2. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Toronto Blue Jays logo on a sleeve patch during a game Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Toronto Blue Jays won 13-2. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Richard Urena, SS

Birthdate: 2/26/96 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A, AA
Stats in 2016: .296/.335/.434, 8 HR, 9 SB

Urena was part of the Blue Jays 2012 signing period where they took two of the top 3 shortstops off the market in the first two days of the signing period, signing he and Franklin Barreto. Barreto was traded as part of the deal to bring in Josh Donaldson.

Urena has flourished in the Blue Jays system, and really made big strides once he hit full season ball in 2015. 2016 was a bit of a gathering year for Urena as he hit high-A and AA, but saw some steps backward in discipline at the plate and a few knocks in his defensive focus.

For pure raw skills, there are few who have better defensive chops up and down the Toronto system at shortstop than Urena

For pure raw skills, there are few who have better defensive chops up and down the Toronto system at shortstop than Urena. He has tremendous range and hands along with a plus arm. His biggest issue is a seeming lack of focus at times on defense.

Urena offensively is a solid average player across the board, and he’s started to see those skills blossom into game power and game speed, and he showed excellent contact ability in the FSL this year.

His strike zone judgement left some to be desired, however, especially from the right side of the plate. He’s only been switch hitting a short time, however, so that could still come and with his raw speed and good bat speed, he could produce solid batting average as well as good strike zone control as well.

Urena may head back to AA to start as he did struggle a touch there in 2016 just to get some success at the level before bumping up to AAA, but at 21 on opening day, that’s pretty advanced.

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