Blue Jays Notes - August 2017

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Blue Jays Notes - August 2017

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Some IBC Blue Jays making their mark in MLB...


HOT HITTERS


Justin Smoak, 1B (TOR) - The ultimate "late-bloomer," former top-prospect Smoak seems to have finally put it all together in Toronto at age 30. The switch-hitting slugger has mashed this season, to the tune of .291/.364/.576 with 35 HR, 82 RBI and a 142 OPS+. Smoak leads all AL 1B in HR, RBI, SLG, wOBA and WAR.

Eduardo Nunez, UT (BOS) - Looks like Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski knew exactly what he was doing when he flipped a couple of low-level arms to the Giants for the speedy Nunez before the trade deadline. Nunez has raked since joining the pennant race in Boston, posting a .336/.366/.570 line in 24 games. On the season, he owns a respectable .315/.343/.457 line with 28 2B and 21 SB.

J.D. Martinez, RF (ARI) - Despite losing the first month and a half of the season to injury, and enduring a mid-July trade from Detroit to Arizona, Martinez has managed yet another All-Star caliber campaign, slashing .274/.358/.596 with 26 HR and a 143 OPS+.

Ryan McMahon, IF (COL) - McMahon struggled badly in 2016, with no park to call home as stadium construction delays forced the AA Hartford Yard Goats to the road all season. With a shiny new home ballpark this year, the former 2d round pick by the Rockies started mashing, and didn't stop until he climbed all the way to the big leagues. McMahon hasn't missed a beat on the way to a .371/.405/.607 line with 13 HR in 65 G at AAA. The versatile infielder earned a mid-August cup of coffee in Denver before being sent back down, but can expect to see more big league at bats when rosters expand.


HOT PITCHERS


Jake DeGrom, SP (NYM) - DeGrom has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal campaign for the Mets, posting a 3.39 ERA and 1.16 WHIP as de facto ace. In 172.2 IP the New York righthander has racked up 201 Ks while allowing just 151 H.

Craig Kimbrel, CL (BOS) - After posting the first 3+ ERA of his career in 2016, Kimbrel has rebounded to re-establish himself as the best closer in the game. His ridiculous video game numbers are as follows: 1.33 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 29 SV, 54.0 IP, 25 H, 9 BB, 102 K, 17.0 K/9, 1.5 BB/9, 11.3 K/BB. Que ridiculo.

Luis Castillo, SP (CIN) - Castillo has always been a hard thrower, frequently hitting triple-digits on the gun with his fastball, but until this year he lacked enough in terms of secondary offerings to guarantee he'd remain a starter once he reached the bigs. In 2017 the fireballing Reds rookie has opened eyes by incorporating a plus changeup into his arsenal and looking every bit like a future frontline starter. On the season Castillo has posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 70.1 IP, with 74 Ks and 54 H allowed.

Dinelson Lamet, SP (SD) - The hard-throwing Padres rookie righthander scuffled a bit in his first handful of big league starts but seems to have found his groove of late, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over his last 6 outings. In 35.0 IP since July 23, Lamet has allowed just 20 H to go with 38 Ks.

2023 GM Totals: 1780 W - 1460 L | 0.549 wpct | 89-73 (avg 162 G record)
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