Toronto Raptors: Who has benefited from Norman Powell’s injury?

Norman Powell’s injury is a large loss for the Toronto Raptors but this opens doors for the young core to shine. Which three players have benefitted the most? When Kawhi Leonard left for Los Angeles, the Toronto Raptors lost the main player that they relied on during late-game situations. What Nick Nurse has done so […]
Toronto Raptors: Who has benefited from Norman Powell’s injury? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Lee Tanner / Raptors HQ

Baseball America’s new Top 100 features Nate Pearson (7th), Jordan Groshans (29th), and Simeon Woods Richardson (61st)

Interested in some Large Adult Son content? Well, Baseball America has you covered, as they’ve released their much-anticipated annual Top 100 prospects list.

Three #BlueJays crack Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list: 7 – RHP Nate Pearson29 – SS Jordan Groshans61 – RHP Simeon Woods Richardson
(Sub required) https://t.co/4y30jXyoCz
— John Lott (@LottOnBaseball) January 22, 2020

Given that Vlad Jr. and Bo Bichette, the organization’s top two prospects graduated this year, it’s pretty impressive that the Jays have three guys in the Top 100 ranking. We all knew Nate Pearson would be there as he’s arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball. Seeing Jordan Groshans get this much love from BA is really encouraging as he’s set to become the organization’s next big position player in the system. And, finally, Simeon Woods Richardson being ranked as high as he is mean that Marcus Stroman trade return that pissed so many fans off maaaaaybe doesn’t look too shabby.
Remember when everyone was mad the Jays didn’t get a Top 100 guy back for Stroman? Well, there you go!

BA thinks Simeon Woods Richardson could be “on …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Why Toronto is Signing Cody Ceci, and What That May Bring

In the aftermath of the acquisition of Cody Ceci, in large part, the opinion of Toronto fans seems to be that the team should do what it can to ensure that Ceci sees no time on the ice for the Maple Leafs. There are a number of very good reasons why that could be the best route to take. Namely, potential contract amount, the potential to flip him for draft picks or other undervalued assets, and the fact that he’s just not very good at hockey. This piece is not trying to say that getting rid of Cody Ceci would be necessarily wrong. It only seems prudent to explore some reasons why keeping him and playing him might be the better call, since the resounding vocal majority seems to be ignoring that possibility.
Contract Reasons
The most important reason to keep Ceci is the ultimate goal, maximizing his value in a trade. Because he’s a restricted free agent this year, the Leafs have to negotiate a new contract with him to keep him around.  The new contract can be structured as mostly a signing bonus, so he’ll get paid that money once the contract is signed. He …

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Author: Ryan Hobart / The Leafs Nation

The next few months are critical for the Shapiro era’s rebuild

It’s Large Adult Son Season.

The Blue Jays own the 11th overall pick in this year’s Major League Baseball first-year player draft and they’ll use it to acquire a new prospect to join the system. The window for signing International Free Agents also opens on June 15th and the Jays, who have acquired International bonus pool money in the Dwight Smith Jr. and Kendrys Morales trades, are expected to be in the mix for some of the top names on the market.
This will be the fourth draft overseen by the Cleveland Crew. Since taking over in 2015, Mark Shapiro and Co. have used top picks to add studs like Bo Bichette, Nate Pearson, and Jordan Groshans, but they’ve also had some misses, like (a guy who’s already out of baseball) J.B. Woodman, (possibly) T.J. Zeuch, and (as it seems right now) Logan Warmoth.
The Cleveland Crew has had the most success in Toronto when going younger in the draft. Warmoth, a low upside college senior, already looks like a bust. Woodman, another senior, is already out of baseball. I hate to throw Zeuch into this mix because his issues have been injury-related, but …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Hot Takes From the Farm: Week Seven

That whole large adult son thing is getting real in Toronto. Now that Cavan Biggio has joined Vladdy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr is back, all eyes are on Bo Bichette’s healing hand . . . and the calendar. Not only that, the trio busted out for a huge game on Sunday which can only give weary Jays fans something to cling to as they impatiently wait for the future to arrive. Of course, the future is taking it’s own sweet time on the mound. The (likely temporary) appearance of Jacob Waugespack on the roster – presumably only until Elvis Luciano returns from the bereavement list – is most certainly not any kind of answer. The player and team notes this week are a mixed bag, let’s dig in.
Lansing
With another two homers this week, first baseman Jake Brodt is more and more making folks take notice. The system is exceptionally thin at first base so any positive news is encouraging but as a word of caution – Kacey Clemens looked great at Lansing in 27 games to start of 2018 and hasn’t hit a stinkin’ thing since he was promoted. Both were college players, 23 (a bit old for the MWL) and not highly …

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Author: Tammy Rainey / Blue Jays Nation

Bo Bichette reportedly has a broken hand

This isn’t the kind of Large Adult Son content anybody wants to consume. Bo Bichette has reportedly suffered a broken left hand after getting hit by a pitch in Buffalo’s loss last night.

#BlueJays No. 2 prospect Bo Bichette reportedly has a broken left hand after being hit by a pitch in last night’s @BuffaloBisons game. Bichette is #MLB’s No. 10 overall prospect: https://t.co/GHKO6yYsIe pic.twitter.com/QepJm89uYm
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 23, 2019

This is really unfortunate because Bichette was starting to heat up at the plate. Earlier on Monday, the Bisons named him Player of the Week for his .400 batting average and his seven runs batted in. For the season, Bichette is slashing a .250/.310/.404 line with one homer, eight runs batted in, three steals, five walks, and 10 strikeouts. He’s also the youngest player on the team not named Vlad Jr.

This week’s @ADPROSports Player of the Week is @19boknows Congrats, Bo! pic.twitter.com/RsWzofYY6w
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) April 22, 2019

Bichette is seeking a second opinion on the diagnosis, but given the accounts of him screaming in pain after getting hit last night, it doesn’t look good.

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation