The 2011 Bluefield Blue Jays: Roster Update

As I’m sure many of you are looking forward to seeing who gets assigned where when the 2011 season begins, I am passing along the very recently updated roster for the inaugural season of the Jays minors system in Bluefield. If you want to know more about the Bluefield franchise history, you can read up on it through this link. They are a Rookie level squad that participates in the Appalachian League.

Here is the most recent – and first ever – update of the Bluefield roster as a Blue Jays affiliate:

Pitchers # Name Pos Bat Thw Ht Wt DOB 40-man 25 Brandon Berl P R R 6′ 0″ 185 4/9/1988 No 10 Misaul Diaz P R R 6′ 2″ 180 12/20/1989 No 29 Travis Garrett P R R 5’11″ 205 10/27/1989 No 18 Shawn Griffith P R R 5’10″ 180 5/24/1987 No 44 Jesse Hernandez P R R 6′ 1″ 200 8/23/1988 No 30 Juan Hernandez P L L 6′ 0″ 180 10/25/1987 No 36 Michael Kelly P L L 6′ 5″ 195 12/4/1986 No 32 Dayton Marze P R R 6′ 2″ 185 1/1/1989 No 14 Sean Nolin P L L 6′ 5″ 235 12/26/1989 No 9 Zach Outman P R R 6′ 2″ 180 12/29/1987 No 5 Drew Permison P R R 5’10″ 170 2/24/1989 No 28 Aaron Sanchez P R R 6′ 4″ 190 7/1/1992 No 22 Sean Shoffit P L R 6′ 2″ 185 6/9/1985 Yes 34 Sam Strickland P L L 6′ 5″ 210 6/9/1987 No Asher Wojciechowski P R R 6′ 4″ 235 12/21/1988 No Catchers # Name Pos Bat Thw Ht Wt DOB 40-man 27 Joseph Bowen C S R 6′ 1″ 190 9/25/1987 No 37 Luis Hurtado C R R 5’11″ 175 11/4/1988 No 44 Jack Murphy C S R 6′ 4″ 235 4/6/1988 No 3 Carlos Perez C R R 6′ 0″ 193 10/27/1990 No Infielders # Name Pos Bat Thw Ht Wt DOB 40-man 23 Lance Durham 1B L R 5’11″ 210 2/20/1988 No 4 Andy Fermin 2B L R 6′ 0″ 180 7/27/1989 No 24 Yudelmis Hernandez 1B R R 6′ 4″ 205 5/18/1987 No 25 Matt Johnson SS R R 6′ 3″ 210 5/26/1988 No 19 Marcus Knecht DH R R 6′ 1″ 200 6/21/1990 No 6 Matthew Nuzzo 3B R R 6′ 0″ 205 3/18/1987 No 2 Gustavo Pierre SS R R 6′ 2″ 183 12/28/1991 No Outfielders # Name Pos Bat Thw Ht Wt DOB 40-man 17 Yeico Aponte RF L L 6′ 2″ 190 12/17/1988 No 15 Markus Brisker CF R R 6′ 3″ 210 8/21/1990 No 1 Jonathan Jones OF R R 6′ 0″ 190 8/2/1989 No 28 Stephen McQuail OF R R 6′ 2″ 225 6/10/1989 No

The rotation, if it remains as it stand above, would be as follows:

• 1 – Asher Wojciechowski (RHP)
• 2 – Aaron Sanchez (RHP)
• 3 – Sean Nolin (LHP)
• 4 – Misaul Diaz (RHP)
• 5 – Sam Strickland (LHP)

That’s a pretty impressive rotation. Asher and Aaron don’t need any introductions as they’re known to be top prospects, and Misaul has been dominant at every level he has pitched thus far. Add in Nolin (another good 2010 pick) and the more seasoned Strickland – both lefties – and you’ve got a good mix of pitchers at the level. Although, I expect that a few of these will be promoted in short order during the season.

The biggest surprise on this club has to be Carlos Perez. I really thought that he was going to get a shot at Lansing this season and it surprises me that they’re keeping him at the rookie level.

Although Marcus Knecht is listed as DH on the roster, I fairly certain he’ll remain in the OF, and he’ll be joined by Stephen McQuail, who was drafted in the 30th rd of the 2010 draft and smacked 6 HRs in 147 ABs last season at Auburn. In fact, I’d say that the majority of the players on this squad passed through Aurburn last year, so they will be pretty familiar with one-another.

All-in-all it’s a good looking squad that will surely wreck some havoc in the Appy league.Knowing this now makes predicting the remainder of the rosters a little bit easier to do.

What are your thoughts on the squad and on those who you think may belong elsewhere?

- MG

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