Minor League Report: Arjun Nimmala hit a home run in his return to Dunedin
2 days ago
It looks like the Blue Jays could have a new breakout star on the horizon.
Overall, the six Blue Jays affiliates in action went 3-3, along with a Toronto Blue Jays win. All in all, it was a good day. Moreover, it looks like a certain undrafted player is becoming of note.
Let’s dig into that in the latest Minor League Report!
Buffalo won their first game of the second-half
The Buffalo Bisons lost their first two games of the second-half, but defeated the Syracuse Mets 5-1 on Thursday to move their record to 1-2.
Will Robertson hit another home run, his 12th of the season and his fifth since June 18. After a long lull after a great start, it looks like Robertson is back on track. Cam Eden also hit his seventh home run of the season, surpassing the three he had in 2023 in 460 plate appearances.
Alan Roden and Michael Turconi each had multi-hit games with two singles, while Phil Clarke hit his second double in Double-A. Brian Serven had the other team’s hit.
Nick Fraze made the start for the Bisons, pitching 3.2 innings allowing a hit and a walk, but striking out three. Luis Quiñones pitched 3.2 innings with six strikeouts to pick up his sixth win of the season (6-0 record). Mason Fluharty gave up an earned run, but struck out four in an inning and two thirds.
Ryan McCarty does it again for New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats fell 7-5 to the Hartford Yard Goats to move their record to 1-2, but that’s not the story of this section.
Ryan McCarty hit his sixth home run as a Fisher Cat, and his third in as many games. On top of that, he had a three hit performance with two additional singles, accounting for 60% of New Hampshire’s hits. Moreover, he’s now hit 11 home runs this season, a career-high. Kekai Rios (who walked twice) and Josh Kasevich had the other two hits.
CJ Van Eyk had a “meh” outing, finishing with a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER (5 R), 2 BB, 5 K to bring his season ERA to 7.47. Hunter Gregory was tagged with the loss, giving up three earned runs in an inning of work. Justin Kelly struck out a batter and allowed two hits in two innings of work.
Vancouver’s win streak hits six games
The Vancouver Canadians can’t lose at the moment, as they defeated the Hillsboro Hops 6-5 to move to 6-0 in the second-half.
Jeffrey Wehler hit his fifth home run of the season to break a 3-3 deadlock, with it being the eventual game-winning run. Dylan Rock hit his 11th double of the season, while Robert Brooks hit his second in the Jays’ organization. Je’Von Ward and Wehler had multi-hit games, while Nick Goodwin picked up the other single.
The Canadians’ streak of pitchers going seven-strong with no earned runs came to an end Thursday. However, Canadian Connor O’Halloran had a quality start, finishing with a line of 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER (2 R), 2 BB, 5 K for 4.94 ERA at the level. Conor Larkin blew a save, giving up an earned run in two thirds of an inning.
Naswell Paulino picked up the win, his third of the season (3-0 record), giving up two earned runs and two walks, but striking out four in an inning and two thirds. Johnathan Lavallee struck out two and gave up two hits in his two thirds of an inning.
Dunedin’s comeback falls short
The Dunedin Blue Jays were down 3-0 heading into the top of the eighth, scoring two runs, but ultimately fell 3-2 to the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Their second-half record sits at 2-3.
Arjun Nimmala returned to the D-Jays with a bang, hitting his fourth home run of the season to score one of the two runs. Victor Arias and Jean Joseph each hit their 13th double of the season. Other players with a hit were Edward Duran and Robert Robertis, who each hit a single.
Juaron Watts-Brown made the start, giving up three earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched, along with three walks and four strikeouts to bring his season ERA to 3.43. J.J. Sanchez struck out two in an inning and a third pitched, while Dahian Santos struck out five and walked two in two innings pitched.
FCL Jays drop to 8-31
It hasn’t been a great season for the Florida Complex League Jays, who continued their losing ways with a 6-2 loss to the FCL Tigers. They now sit 8-31.
Canadian Sam Shaw hit the team’s only extra-base hit, hitting his fourth double of the season, while also having a multi-hit game. Kendry Chirinos and Carlos Vasquez also had two-hit performances, but that was really it for the team’s offence.
Pitching wasn’t great for the F-Jays, as Daniel Guerra allowed three earned runs and four walks in four innings of work. Raudy Gomez gave up three earned runs as well in just 2.1 innings pitched. Luis Torres struck out a batter in two thirds of an inning pitched.
DSL Jays have won seven straight
One rookie team isn’t doing great, but the same cannot be said for the Dominican Summer League Jays, who defeated the DSL Nationals 9-5 to bring their season record to 12-5. They are second in the division, 2.5 games behind.
Yorman Licourt hit his second home run of the season to drive in two runs, while also walking twice. However, the star of the game was Juarlin Soto, who had two doubles and a triple, while also hitting a single. Randy Soto also had a good game, hitting a double and finishing with a multi-hit game.
Recently signed David Beckles, possibly my favourite name in the organization, hit a single, as did Rafael Flores (who walked twice as well) and Esmeiquel Arrieche. Both Soto’s walked once as well.
The pitching was strong for the DSL Jays. Pedro Tucent struck out five while giving up an earned run in 4.1 innings pitched. Edgar Gallegos also struck out five and allowed an earned run, but did so in two innings and two thirds. Ramon Suarez struck out three and gave up an earned run (one unearned) in two innings of work.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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