The Toronto Blue Jays new triple-A manager sees a bright future for prospect A.J. Jimenez, saying the young catcher reminds him of one the game’s best behind the plate.
Gary Allenson, who was named the new manager of the Buffalo Bisons on Jan. 13 following the departure of Marty Brown, managed the Jimenez for 50 games last season while serving as skipper of the Blue Jays double-A affiliate in New Hampshire. He says the 23-year-old Jimenez has a skill set reminiscent of Baltimore Orioles’ two-time Gold Glove winner Matt Wieters.
“He’s a really good kid and a special guy. He did a very good job with the pitchers, calling games and blocking balls. He’s a special kid,” Allenson said Monday on the Jeff Blair Show on Sportsnet 590 the Fan. “I had Wieters with the (Baltimore) Orioles and the Arizona Fall League and to me he’s a similar guy.”
Gary Allenson on Jeff Blair Show
Jimenez, who is known for his defensive prowess behind the plate, is considered to be the most talented catcher in the Jays organization. With veterans Dioner Navarro and one of Josh Thole or Erik Kratz expected to start the season in Toronto, the Puerto Rican will likely start the 2014 season in Buffalo where the priority will be on continuing to improve his arm strength after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2012.
“I didn’t see the arm that I heard about because he had surgery there,” Allenson said, referring to the surgery. “I think he was careful with it so he changed his throwing motion to protect his arm. I think he needs to get back to throwing the ball the way he used to throw it. Most catchers are short-armers. He didn’t have the arm strength last year but he had quickness.
“When his arm is playable in the big leagues – not everyone has a plus arm – he has the quickness and the ball transfer to make up for it. When he gets that arm strength back, he’ll be really special.”
Jimenez, who was drafted in the ninth round out of high school in the 2008 MLB Draft, represented the Blue Jays last July at the MLB Futures Game during the all-star break. Last season while splitting time between three levels he hit a combined .287/.332./406/.738 with 19 doubles, four home runs and 38 RBIs in 67 games.
But Jimenez wasn’t the only Jays prospect to catch Allenson’s eye in 2013, having also worked with pitchers Marcus Stroman, Drew Hutchinson, Kyle Drabek, Sean Nolin.
Of the bunch, it was Stroman, the 22-year-old first-rounder from 2012, who stood out to Allenson.
“Stroman came up and he’s got some special stuff,” said Allenson. “Everybody is concerned about how tall he is but he’s got really good stuff. The ball really comes out very well. He’s got life on
his fastball there. He came up with a changeup that I didn’t see and it really sets up the fastball well. He throws 93-94, sometimes 95 miles per hour. That fastball follows that changeup there and it’s like 98. He’s a very polished kid. Last year was his first year in the minor leagues. I’d like to see him get a shot. This kid has good stuff.
“He’s a very confident kid. I think he once he gets up (to the majors), the atmosphere won’t really bother him. He’s got some special makeup.”
