Call to the pen
Fansided

Toronto Blue Jays 2018 Minor League Awards

By Benjamin Chase

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Lourdes Gurrriel Jr. #13 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 11-0. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Lourdes Gurrriel Jr. #13 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 11-0. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Toronto Blue Jays
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 8: Fans in the upper deck hang a sign from the facing of the fifth deck calling for the promotion of Vladimir Guerrrero Jr. of the Buffalo Bisons to the Toronto Blue Jays during MLB game action against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre on September 8, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Hitter of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

Level(s): GCL Blue Jays, high-A Dunedin, AA New Hampshire, AAA Buffalo
Stats: .381/.437/.636, 95 G, 408 PA, 29 2B, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 37/38 BB/K

There may not have been a better young hitter to come through the minor leagues over the last decade (or longer) than Vlad Jr. His ability to make solid contact on all pitches throughout the zone is incredibly advanced. I’ve seen as high as pure 80 put on his hit tool, which is incredible to say about any player who is still in the minor leagues, but it’s hard to argue.

Vladdy had a chance to hit .400 this year before injuries derailed his season. That injury also likely led to Vlad not seeing the majors in 2018. He will be getting work in the Arizona Fall League, and any time there is a televised game from there, it is worth the watch!

Runners-up

Also a top-10 prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette spent the entire year with AA New Hampshire this season, and he showed that he truly is ready for that final ascension to the major leagues. He hit .286/.343/.453 with 43 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, and 32 stolen bases. Bichette’s ability to handle shortstop has been a big thing over the last two seasons, giving him a shot to stick there when he gets to Toronto or to move to second base with premium defense.

After Bichette tore up Lansing in his first full season last year, Kevin Smith did the same thing in his first full season in the Toronto Blue Jays system after being selected in the 4th round out of Maryland in 2017. He spent time between Lansing and Dunedin, totaling a .302/.358/.528 line with 31 doubles, 6 triples, and 25 home runs, also stealing 20 bases and posting a 40/121 BB/K ratio over 575 plate appearances.

Yet another son of a big leaguer, Cavan Biggio was drafted out of Notre Dame in the 5th round in 2016. He spent 2018 with AA New Hampshire, hitting .252/.388/.499 with 23 doubles, 5 triples, 26 home runs, and 20 stolen bases, while posting a 100/148 BB/K ratio.

The Blue Jays acquired Harold Ramirez from the Pirates in 2016. He’s spent his time with New Hampshire since, but repeating the level really clicked for Ramirez in 2018, as he hit .320/.365/.471 with 37 doubles, 11 home runs, and 16 stolen bases while posting a 27/88 BB/K ratio over 505 plate appearances.

Outfielder Brock Lundquist was the Toronto Blue Jays 6th round pick out of Long Beach State in 2017. He split the 2018 season between A-ball levels, hitting .286/.374/.470 with 22 doubles, 18 home runs, and a 49/103 BB/K over 494 plate appearances.

After being selected in the 10th round of this past June’s draft, Cal Stevenson put up a tremendous draft season, playing in 59 games, with a .369/.511/.523 slash line between the GCL and the Appalachian League, with 15 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, and 21 stolen bases (in 22 attempts), posting a 64/24 BB/K over 280 plate appearances.

Home/Toronto Blue Jays