April 7 Minor League Starters: A Preview

Note:  Since I'm heading down to the Jays game in Toronto, I'll be posting this a little earlier than I might have otherwise.  At the present time, I'm waiting for the Buffalo Bisons and the Dunedin Blue Jays to tweet their starting pitchers.

Buffalo Bisons: RHP Tyson Brummett

Tyson Brummett. Photo: Brad Mills, US PRESSWIRE

A late announcement as the starting pitcher for the Bisons, Brummett was called up from New Hampshire to fill in after Dave Bush, the original starter, was called up to the Blue Jays.  Brummett, a 7th round draft pick in 2007, was claimed off waivers by the Jays this offseason and the 28 year old is no stranger to AAA.  He has pitched at that level off and on since 2009 when he was with the Phillies' organization.  He had his best minor league year in 2012, mostly with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of the International League (Phillies AAA team).  Throwing 72 innings mostly out of the bullpen, he had a 3.63 ERA, 1.306 WHIP, 65 strikeouts and 27 walks.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats: RHP Ryan Tepera

Ryan Tepera. Photo: Kevin Hill/milb.com

Ryan Tepera is a 25 year old 19^th round pick from the 2009 draft out of Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas.  Ryan’s had a steady climb up through the Jays’ system since making his debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2009.  He started 22 games in Lansing in 2010, 23 in Dunedin in 2011, and 20 between Dunedin and New Hampshire in 2012.  Tepera has never had an outstanding or dominating season and is not considered a strikeout pitcher.  It will interesting  to see how he reacts in his second go around in the Eastern League.

Dunedin Blue Jays: LHP Efrain Nieves

Efrain Nieves.  Photo: sulekha.com/AP

Nieves, 23, was selected by the Blue Jays in the minor league portion of the 2012 Rule V draft from the Detroit Tigers.  He has bounced up and down in the low minors since being selected in the 2007 Amateur Draft out of Puerto Rico, and Nieves returns to the Florida State League this season with the D-Jays for the first time since 2011.  He has had average numbers throughout his minor league career, except for last year, where he had a 2.79 ERA and a 0.857 WHIP in Short Season A Connecticut.  We'll see how he does now that he's back in the FSL.

Lansing Lugnuts: RHP Roberto Osuna

Roberto Osuna. Photo: Jenifer Howson

18 year old Roberto Osuna may have a baby face, but he pitches like a man.  The consensus #2 prospect for the Blue Jays, he was signed as an international free agent out of Mexico where he pitched among men in the Mexican League and held his own in 2011.  In 2012, he came to the US as a 17 year old and the 6’2”, 230 lb youngster absolutely dominated both the Appalachian League and the Northwest league, combining for 43 2/3 innings with a 2.27 ERA, 1.076 WHIP and a 10.1 K/9 ratio.  He makes his first full-season A start today to close out the 4-game series against the Lake County Captains.