Farm System Rankings: #19 Toronto Blue Jays

From 2001 until 2011, the Toronto Blue Jays had 84 of the 178 players examined (47.19%) play at least one game at the Major League level. The Blue Jays saw 71 players (84.52%) play for them while the other 13 spent time with one of the other thirty MLB clubs.

2001-2011 Blue Jays Farm System Rank

At The Helm

General Manager Alex Anthopoulos

The Blue Jays had three General Managers (Gord Ash 2001, J.P. Ricciardi 2002-2009, Alex Anthopoulos 2010-2011), three Farm Directors (Bob Nelson 2001, Dick Scott 2002-2009, Charile Wilson 2010-2011), and three Scouting Directors (Chris Buckley 2001-2003, Jon Lalonde 2004-2009, Andrew Tinnish 2010-2011) over the eleven year time period examined.

Five Hits

1.    Ricky Romero, LHP: The 26 year old has spent three seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays. His career record is 40-27 with a 3.62 ERA. He was a member of the 2011 American League All-Star team. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1^st round (6^th overall) of the 2005 amateur draft.

2.    Adam Lind, 1B: The 28 year old has spent six seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays. His career batting average is .268 with 103 HR and 355 RBI. He won the 2009 American League Silver Slugger award as a designated hitter. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 3^rd round of the 2004 amateur draft.

3.    J.P. Arencibia, C: The 25 year old has spent two seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays. His career batting average is .211 with 22 HR and 64 RBI. He holds the franchise record for home runs by a catcher in a single season with 20. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1^st round (21^st overall) of the 2007 amateur draft.

4.    Casey Janssen, RHP: The 29 year old has spent five seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays. His career record is 19-19 with a 3.83 ERA and 9 saves. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 4^th round of the 2004 amateur draft.

5.    Brett Cecil, LHP: The 25 year old has spent three seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays. His career record is 26-18 with a 4.55 ERA. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the supplemental 1^st round (38^th overall) of the 2007 amateur draft.

Five Misses

1.    Miguel Negron, OF: The 29 year old has spent eleven seasons in the minors where he has hit .263 with 50 HR and 393 RBI. He started the 2011 season as a pitcher for Lo-A Kannapolis (South Atlantic) in the White Sox organization, where he posted a record of 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in 7 appearances before being released. Claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs from the Blue Jays in May 2006. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1^st round (18^th overall) of the 2000 amateur draft.

2.    Yuber Rodriguez, OF: The 27 year old spent seven seasons in the minors where he hit .237 with 24 HR and 179 RBI. He last played in 2010 in Independent ball with Costal Bends (United). Signed by the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in 2000.

3.    Chi-Hung Cheng, LHP: The 26 year old spent six seasons in the minors where he recorded a record of 34-27 with a 3.51 ERA. He last played in 2009 with Hi-A Lynchburg (Carolina) in the Pirates organization. The native of Taiwan represented Chinese Taipei in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Signed by the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent out of Taiwan in 2003.

4.    Dominic Rich, 2B: The 32 year old spent six seasons in the minors where he hit .284 with 24 HR and 238 RBI. He last played in 2005 with Hi-A Palm Beach (Florida State) in the Cardinals organizations. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 2^nd round of the 2000 amateur draft.

5.    Mike Snyder, 1B: The 30 year old spent seven seasons in the minors where he hit .245 with 53 HR and 329 RBI. He last played in 2005 with Hi-A Dunedin (Florida State). Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 2^nd round of the 1999 amateur draft.

     Five Current Major Leaguers on Other Teams

1.    Vernon Wells, OF, Los Angeles Angels: The 32 year old has spent thirteen seasons in the majors as a member of the Blue Jays and Angels. The three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner has a career batting average of .275 with 241 HR and 862 RBI. Traded by the Blue Jays to the Angels in January 2011 in exchange for Mike Napoli (C) and Juan Rivera (OF). Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1^st round (5^th overall) of the 1997 amateur draft.

2.    Alex Rios, OF, Chicago White Sox: The 30 year old has spent eight seasons in the majors as a member of the Blue Jays and Angels. The two-time All-Star has a career batting average of .274 with 113 HR and 524 RBI. Claimed off waivers by the White Sox from the Blue Jays in August 2009. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1^st round (19^th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft.

3.    Aaron Hill, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks: The 29 year old has spent seven seasons in the majors as a member of the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks. Hill was a member of the 2009 American League All-Star team and winner of the 2009 American League Silver Slugger award at second base. His career batting average is .265 with 97 HR and 414 RBI. Traded by the Blue Jays along with John McDonald (2B) in exchange for Kelly Johnson (2B) in August 2011. Drafted by Blue Jays in the 1^st round (13^th overall) of the 2003 amateur draft.

4.    Orlando Hudson, 2B, San Diego Padres: The 33 year old has spent ten seasons in the majors as a member of the Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Twins, and Padres. The two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner has a career batting average of .279 with 88 HR and 509 RBI. Traded by the Blue Jays to the Diamondbacks along with Miguel Batista (RHP) in exchange for Troy Glaus (3B) and Sergio Santos (SS) in December 2005. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 43^rd round of the 1997 amateur draft.

5.    Felipe Lopez, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: The 31 year old has spent eleven seasons in the majors as a member of the Blue Jays, Reds, Nationals, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Red Sox, and Rays. A member of the 2005 National League All-Star team. His career batting average is .264 with 90 HR and 439 RBI. Traded by the Blue Jays to the Reds in December 2002 as part of a four-team trade. Drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1^st round (8^th overall) of the 1998 amateur draft.

Fun Fact

Former Blue Jay Scout Epy Guerrero

The Blue Jays were leaders when it came to scouting and setting up an academy in the Dominican Republic under the direction of then General Manager Pat Gillick and scout Epy Guerrero during the late 1970’s and throughout the 1980’s.  

Farm System Rankings: #20 Kansas City Royals

From 2001 until 2011, the Kansas City Royal had 78 of the 164 players examined (47.56%) play at least one game at the Major League level. The Royals saw 67 players (85.90%) play for them while the other 11 spent time with one of the other thirty MLB clubs.

2001-2011 Royals Farm System Rank

At The Helm

General Manager Dayton Moore

The Royals had two General Managers (Allard Baird 2001-2006, Dayton Moore 2007-2011), four Farm Directors (Bob Hegman 2001-2002, Muzzy Jackson 2003, Shaun McGinn 2004-2006, J.J. Picollo 2007-2011), and three Scouting Directors (Deric Ladnier 2001-2008, J.J. Picollo 2009-2010, Lonnie Goldberg 2011) over the eleven year time period examined.

Five Hits

1.      Billy Butler, 1B: The 25 year old has spent five seasons in the majors with the Royals. His career batting average is .299 with 71 HR and 353 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (15^th overall) of the 2004 amateur draft.

2.      Alex Gordon, OF: The 27 year old has spent five seasons in the majors with the Royals. His career batting average is .257 with 62 HR and 229 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (2^nd overall) of the 2005 amateur draft.

3.      Aaron Crow, RHP: The 24 year old is in his first season in the majors. His career record is 3-3 with a 2.41 ERA. A member of the 2011 American League All-Star team. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (12^th overall) of the 2009 amateur draft.

4.      Eric Hosmer, 1B: The 21 year old is in his first season in the majors. His career batting average is .273 with 12 HR and 55 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (3^rd overall) of the 2008 amateur draft.

5.      Mike Moustakas, 3B: The 22 year old is in his first season in the majors. His career batting average is .227 with 1 HR and 15 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (2^nd overall) of the 2007 amateur draft.

Five Misses

1.    Colt Griffin, RHP: The 28 year old spent five seasons pitching in the minors where he compiled a record of 19-25 with a 4.79 ERA. He was the first high school pitcher documented to throw 100 MPH. Retired prior to the 2006 season after failing to comeback from shoulder surgery. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (9^th overall) of the 2001 amateur draft.

2.    Mike Stodolka, LHP: The 29 year old spent nine seasons in the minors as a pitcher and first baseman. His career record is 20-39 with a 4.93 ERA. His career batting average is .287 with 28 HR and 147 RBI. Had shoulder problems and Tommy John surgery in 2003. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (4^th overall) of the 2000 amateur draft.

3.    Chris Lubanski, OF: The 26 year old has spent nine seasons in the minors where his career batting average is .279 with 109 HR and 470 RBI. Currently playing for Double-A Reading (Eastern) in the Phillies organization, hitting .213 with 1 HR and 5 RBI on the season. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (5^th overall) of the 2003 amateur draft.

4.    Roscoe Crosby, OF: The 28 year old never played in a minor league game after signing for $1.75 million. Played wide receiver at Clemson (NCAA). He had Tommy John surgery in 2002. Drafted by the Royals in the 2^nd round of the 2001 amateur draft.

5.    Matt Campbell, LHP: The 28 year old spent three seasons in the minors where his career record was 6-9 with a 4.63 ERA. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (29^th overall) of the 2004 amateur draft.

Five Current Major Leaguers on Other Teams

1.    Zach Greinke, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers: The 27 year old has spent eight seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Brewers. The 2009 American League Cy Young award winner has a career record of 72-72 with a 3.86 ERA. A member of the 2009 American League All-Star team. Traded by the Royals to the Brewers in December 2010 in a seven-player trade. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (6^th overall) of the 2002 amateur draft.

2.    David DeJesus, OF, Oakland Athletics: The 31 year old has spent nine seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Athletics. His career batting average is .284 with 69 HR and 429 RBI. Traded by the Royals to the Athletics in November 2010 in exchange for Justin Marks (LHP) and Vin Mazzaro (RHP). Drafted by Royals in the 4^th round of the 2000 amateur draft.

3.    J.P. Howell, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays: The 28 year old has spent six seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Rays. His career record is 20-22 with a 4.64 ERA and 21 saves. Traded by the Royals to the Rays in June 2006 in exchange for Fernando Cortez (2B) and Joey Gathright (OF). Drafted by the Royals in the supplemental 1^st round (31^st overall) of the 2004 amateur draft.

4.    Mike MacDougal, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers: The 34 year old has spent eleven seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals, White Sox, Nationals, Cardinals, and Dodgers. His career record is 15-23 with a 4.00 ERA and 71 saves. A member of the 2003 American League All-Star game. Traded by the Royals to the White Sox in July 2006 in exchange for Tyler Lumsden (LHP) and Dan Cortes (RHP). Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (25^th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft.

5.    Mike Aviles, SS, Boston Red Sox: The 30 year old has spent four seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Red Sox. His career batting average is .286 with 24 HR and 123 RBI. Traded by the Royals to the Red Sox in July 2011 in exchange for Kendal Volz (RHP) and Yamaico Navarro (SS). Drafted by the Royals in the 7^th round of the 2003 amateur draft.

Fun Fact

General Manager Drayton Moore began his career as a scout with the Atlanta Braves in 1994, eventually advancing to the position of Assistant General Manager in 2005. He became the Royals General Manager in June 2006.