Arizona Fall League: Peoria Javelinas Prospect Report

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LAKELAND, FL- MARCH 02: An exterior view from the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on March 2, 2016 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Prospect on the Rise: T.J. Zeuch (TOR)

Stats: 1-0, 0.64 ERA, 11 SO, 14.0 IP, 0.79 WHIP

2017 started off promising for former Toronto Blue Jays’ 2016 first round draft pick T.J. Zeuch. The tall right-handed starting pitcher was 3-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio through his first ten starts with High-A Dunedin and appeared to be on track to reach Double-A within his first full season.

Then, the injury bug came biting and consumed two months of the University of Pittsburgh product’s season. In his MiLB return, Zeuch struggled to find consistency and return to previous form.

Though, now he has rediscovered his groove out West.

Zeuch owns a 0.64 ERA, allowing just one run in 14 AFL innings. The 6’7″ Ohio native has also re-illustrated his comfort in going deep into contests — he has thrown five innings in two of his three starts.

Prior to a trip to the disabled list, Zeuch told Call to the Pen, “For the most part, I’m fastball first, attacking guys [and] getting early contact. Get in. Get out.

“I’ve got good movement to my fastball, which, to my defense’s credit behind me, it makes for short outings because I get a lot of early contact.”

Zeuch has posted six 1-2-3 innings over the last four weeks, a testimony to his ability to make quick work of hitters. Thus, assuming he is healthy come the start of the 2018 regular season, Eastern League baseball should await him in April.

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