BY MIKE CORMACK
sportsnet.ca
We now know that Travis Snider is unlikely to rejoin the Blue Jays this September now that he's been diagnosed with tendonitis, but who else is likely to get a late-season look when the major league rosters expand?
With several Toronto prospects enjoying big years in the minors and Dustin McGowan inching closer to a return, the faithful is dying to know who they might be getting an up-close look at beginning Sept. 1.
Will it be slick-fielding Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria? What about stud catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud? Has Kyle Drabek's struggles at triple-A Las Vegas hurt his chances of returning to the majors in 2011?
Somewhat clouding the situation is the status of several injured players such as Rajai Davis, Carlos Villanueva, Brian Tallet and Jon Rauch.
For the answers, we called upon sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (@shidavidi) and Mike Wilner (@wilnerness590) of Sportsnet Radio Fan 590.
Have a look and have a listen.
note: audio was recorded prior to Travis Snider's diagnosis
BLUE JAYS AUDIO: Davidi and Wilner talk Jays September callup candidates
Full discussion | Injured Jays | Triple-A players | Double-A players
LAS VEGAS 51s
Name: Adeiny Hechavarria | Age: 21 | Position: SS
2011 stats: .255/.298/.372 8 HR, 54 RBIs, 20 SB
DAVIDI: "Since he's already on the 40-man roster and you have to constantly burn options every time you send him to the minors maybe a look-see in September to get a read of where he's at makes a bit of sense."
WILNER: "They believe that when they promote him, he gets better, whether he's playing well or not at the time so I really think they're going to call him up. They're going to see him like Shi says. It doesn't matter about starting the clock on him."
Name: David Cooper | Age: 24 | Position: 1B
2011 stats: .377/.445/.555 9 HR, 95 RBIs
DAVIDI: "He's very much blocked. He looks to be a depth guy and a guy who's there for injury insurance."
WILNER: "I think he gets a look in September but not much of one. Right now there's doesn't appear to be a long-term for David Cooper. His ceiling is Lyle Overbay at Lyle Overbay's best. They'll take their time with him."
Name: Adam Loewen | Age: 27 | Position: OF
2011 stats: .310/.379/.509 16 HR, 81 RBIs
DAVIDI: "I'm not certain where he fits into next year. I can see him being a Septemeber callup as a reward for all he's done and capping a nice story, but I can see him not getting that call as well because again, where does he fit?"
WILNER: "I think it was a great experiment, but (the Jays) haven't come away from watching Adam Loewen in the minors for three years thinking this guy's gonna start for us at first base, or a corner outfield spot or designated hitter. The only reason he would get called up is as a thank you."
Name: Kyle Drabek | Age: 23 | Position: SP
2011 stats: 4-3, 6.51 ERA, 65 IP, 95 H, 37 BB, 37 K
DAVIDI: "I still think he gets a call in September. He's still a very important part of what they do this off-season because if you don't think he's going to be a guy in your rotation next year, then you've got two holes to fill in your staff. You need to get a read on him in September."
WILNER: "I'm confident he'll get called up in September. You throw him out there on the mound and see what point he turns red. He's still very young and has a phenomenal arm. That hasn't changed. He's definitely going to go into next spring as one of the top candidates for the fourth or fifth spot in the starting rotation."
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Name: Dustin McGowan | Age: 29 | Position: SP
2011 stats: 0-4, 3.13 ERA, 31.2 IP, 27 H, 11 BB, 28 K
DAVIDI: "I think he gets a start or two and during the off-season they're going to take a very long, hard look at what the future lies for him and if they feel his arm is going to be able to sustain getting up to 100 pitches, and if he's able to consistently you really have something there you want in your rotation."
WILNER: "I think too that he's up here. It floors me that we're even talking about him. Not to be lost everyone is that it's basically a miracle that Dustin McGowan is going to be able to come back in the major leagues and pitch. Things could crack at any moment, but it's hard not to get excited."
Name: Travis d'Arnaud | Age: 21 | Position: C
2011 stats: .313/.375/.538 19 HR, 71 RBIs
DAVIDI: "I don't know what tangible benefit there's going to be. (Brian) Jeroloman's already going to be up on the roster. You're already going to have three catchers, why are you going to have four?"
WILNER: "The kids in New Hampshire aren't getting a callup. Alex Anthopoulos has already come out and said Travis d'Arnaud is not coming up. He's going to play the playoffs in New Hampshire."
Name: Anthony Gose | Age: 21 | Position: CF
2011 stats: .255/.350/.417 15 HR, 55 RBIs, 65 SB
DAVIDI: "The outfield is going to be packed (in Toronto). I don't know what Gose gets out of it."
WILNER: "There's not motivation to add these guys to the 40-man roster yet. Deck McGuire, Chad Jenkins the same thing. And as excited as people are getting about Nestor Molina and Drew Hutchison, there's zero chance that any of those guys get a September callup."
Big talent, little chance...
Name: Deck McGuire | Age: 21 | Position: SP
2011 stats: 9-5, 3.06 ERA, 123.1 IP, 108 H, 45 BB, 125 K
Name: Drew Hutchison | Age: 21 | Position: SP
2011 stats: 12-5, 2.58 ERA, 139.1 IP, 112 H, 35 BB, 157 K
Name: Nestor Molina | Age: 21 | Position: SP
2011 stats: 12-3, 2.32 ERA, 124.1 IP, 110 H, 15 BB, 139 K
