Good news and bad news, Blue Jays prospects followers.
Several Blue Jays draftees made the Best Tools list that Baseball America released today for all of the full-season minor league levels. Problem is that only one of them is still a Blue Jay.
Righhander Noah Syndergaard, the prize prospect the Jays dealt in the R.A. Dickey deal, was named Best Pitching Prospect in the AA Eastern League and High A Florida State League. Lefthander Justin Nicolino, who was part of the Jays trade with Miami, was tabbed as the prospect with the Best Control and Best Changeup in the FSL (Nicolino was recently promoted to AA).
The sole Jays prospect on the list (outside of Buffalo OF Moises Sierra, who was ranked with the Best Outfield Arm in the AAA International League), was righthander Aaron Sanchez, who was ranked as owning the Best Breaking Pitch in the FSL.
In fairness to Sanchez, he would have likely been competing with Syndergaard for Best Pitching Prospect honours, but shoulder issues in May, and a blister problem in July have derailed his season somewhat.
What does this mean to the Blue Jays ? Not much more than we already know - that Nicolino and Syndergaard were top prospects before they were dealt. Their rapid development shouldn't come as a surprise. It just smarts a little, considering the disappointing seasons the established major leaguers they were dealt for are having.
We fully expect a better showing by Jays prospects when the short-season Best Tools lists are released in the fall.
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