The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Jesse Chavez to be a depth arm. A journeyman expected to spend the season at AAA. But Toronto liked his live arm and gave him the chance to stretch out as a starter. Now, Chavez finds himself on the 40-man roster returning to Las Vegas fresh off a successful first appearance with the Jays. Let’s see how he got here and look at whether he can have continued success at the major league level.

PROFILE

The Chicago Cubs drafted Jesse Chavez in the 39^th round, 1158^th overall, in the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft out of AB Miller High School in Fontana, California. A late-round pick with little incentive to sign, Chavez instead chose to attend Riverside Community College and re-enter the draft in 2002. This time, the Texas Rangers selected him in the 42^nd round, 1252^nd overall, ultimately signing him in May of 2003.

He began his professional career that summer with the low-A Spokane Indians of the Northwest League, on a talented squad featuring, among others, John Danks and Ian Kinsler. Chavez served as a swingman across 17 games, starting 8 and going 2-2, 4.55 in 55.1 innings with good stuff but spotty command (48/31 SO/BB). He wasn’t highly regarded but held his own despite being the youngest arm on the team.

In 2004, Texas promoted him to the low-A Clinton Lumber Kings of the Midwest League. Pitching mostly out of the rotation, Chavez went 6-10, 4.68 in 123 IP with an improved 96/35 SO/BB count. The surface stats were mediocre but his velocity was impressive, often hitting 94-96, and his hard slider showed potential. He still gave up a lot of hits (10.8/9) and his strikeout rate dipped (7.0K/9) as the innings piled up. But Chavez also cut his walk rate dramatically (2.6BB/9). He still had a lot to prove but his arm withstood the innings increase and he appeared in line for another promotion if he could find a way to miss more bats.

The change of scenery came in 2005. With it, a change in role. Texas management shifted him to the bullpen and the early returns were outstanding. Chavez began with the high-A Bakersfield Blaze and went 0-0, 2.22 in 24.1 IP with only 16 hits allowed (.182 BAA) and an eye-popping 31/9 SO/BB. Chavez was still only 21 and now looked like he could advance quickly. For better or worse, it turned out. In May, the Rangers promoted him to the AA Frisco Rough Riders of the Texas League and Chavez hit his first real stumbling block. He got into 31 games for Frisco and went 4-3 with a 5.68 ERA in 57 innings. He got hit around and, worse, his command deserted him, resulting in a 27/25 SO/BB rate. More advanced hitters teed off on his straight fastball. But Chavez was again one of the youngest pitchers on the team. He’d obviously been rushed. But if he could stay healthy, there would be more chances.

Texas returned him to Frisco in 2006 and, this time, Chavez was ready. In 38 games, he went 2-5, 4.42 in 59 innings – but with great peripherals (only 54 hits allowed and a dynamic 70/28 SO/BB rate). By late July, he’d earned a promotion to AAA. But Chavez lasted 2 games there before another fateful move came. The Rangers were 4 games out of first in the AL West (they were also 2 games under .500 and sitting in last place), and decided to ship Chavez to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Kip Wells in a last-ditch effort to boost their beleaguered rotation. Of course, Wells was terrible in limited action. Mostly, he was injured – only pitching two games for Texas. Chavez was assigned to the AAA Indianapolis Indians. One phone call away from Pittsburgh. He pitched in 12 games, going 2-1, 4.24, in 17 IP with a 15/9 SO/BB line. Chavez was now consistently sitting at 95-96 mph and prospect evaluators were taking note of his live arm. The Pirates selected him to play for the Grand Canyon Rafters of the Arizona Fall League after the season and , there, Chavez really turned up the heat: 0.64 ERA, 14 IP, 1ER. The Pittsburgh pen was ripe with opportunity and Chavez now appeared closer than ever to his first taste of the majors.

Instead, 2007 tested his patience. Chavez spent the entire season in Indianapolis. He went 3-3, 3.92 in 46 games (and 80.1 IP) with a stout 65/17 SO/BB rate. He was hittable (10.5 H/9) but again showed improved control and used his slider and changeup to collect strikeouts. The Pirates’ decision to bury him in AAA seems indefensible. They were awful, again, losing 94 games. And any losing team willing to inflict dreadful, non-prospects like John “Way Back” Wasdin and Marty McLeary has no excuse for not rolling with a pitcher like Chavez. A guy who might be someone. It was typical of the team’s misguided decision-making. In the fall, Chavez returned to Arizona, this time with the Phoenix Desert Dogs, but struggled to a 6.00 ERA in 11 appearances. If he felt frustrated, you couldn’t blame him.

He began 2008 like the year before: in Indianapolis, this time as the closer. Only now Chavez displayed new resolve and, for the first time, indisputable consistency. He went 2-6, 3.80 in 68.2 innings with only 58 hits allowed and a strong 70/22 SO/BB rate. His 1.17 WHIP was a career-best as were his 14 saves. He was now undeniably ready to contribute in the Pirates’ pen and the team called him up, at last, in August. The results weren’t good: 15 total games, 0-1, 6.60 in 15 IP with a 16/9 SO/BB. But he’d made it. Few 42^nd round picks do. If his fastball lacked movement, it at least had velocity. His other stuff was still fringy but could play with more consistency. To wit: Chavez flashed odd inverted splits (.217 vs. LHP, .395 vs. RHP) that betrayed his minor league numbers (.282 vs. LHP, .177 vs. RHP). But the sample size was small. And Chavez had little left to prove in AAA. It was obvious he might never be a late-inning fireman but he showed the qualities of a future middle reliever. He just needed more time. He again played winter ball with the Gigantes del Cibao. He was now 25 and hopeful his chance to stick would come again.

It did. Chavez made the Pirates out of spring training in 2009 and built on his gains bigtime. He led Pittsburgh (and all major league rookies) in appearances by a country mile, with 73 – totaling 67.1 innings. He went 1-4, 4.01 with a 47/22 SO/BB rate. The numbers were just OK. But at least Pittsburgh was trying to utilize a guy that could help them down the road. Still, Chavez faded down the stretch, likely from overuse ,and his ERA ballooned in the second half (3.19 vs. 4.99). He also generated another insane inverse platoon split, with his high-80s slider proving very tough on lefties (.227/.286/.391) but very hittable (.301/.359/.526) against normal people. A poor GB rate (39.3%) contributed to 11 unsightly home runs. But on a terrible Pirates team he was invaluable.

That is, until the offseason when they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for Akinori Iwamura, a Japanese import they hoped would fill their organizational chasm at the keystone. Instead, he deepened it. Chavez, meanwhile, never actually dressed as a Ray, spending barely a month in the organization before the Rays sent him to the Atlanta Braves for flame-throwing closer Rafael Soriano. He’d only become available after surprising the Braves by accepting their arbitration offer. Advantage Rays. Soriano became an All-Star, Iwamura was out of the league in a year and Chavez entered 2010 on his third organization of the offseason.

Chavez had decent peripherals for the Braves but was again susceptible to home runs and big innings. The result was an ugly 3-2, 5.89 line in 36.2 IP despite a quality 29/12 SO/BB rate. He was the seventh man in an excellent bullpen. Forgotten and expendable. Looking to add depth for a playoff push, the Braves dealt him to the Kansas City Royals along with former Jays farmhand Tim Collins and outfielder Gregor Blanco in exchange for Kansas City’s closer, Kyle Farnsworth, and useful spare outfielder Rick Ankiel. Chavez scuffled in Kansas City, going 2-3, 5.88 in 26 IP with a subpar 16/11 SO/BB ratio – including a one-inning, 7-run drubbing in August. The Royals had few obvious relief options and Chavez was still just 27. But he was seen as a throw-in to Atlanta deal and his hold on a major league job was slipping. He needed a strong spring to make the Royals’ Opening Day roster.

It didn’t happen. The Royals promoted an influx of young relievers who proved ready for prime time early and Chavez was one of the first pitchers dismissed from camp. He plunged down the team’s depth chart and spent most of the season closing for the AAA Omaha Storm Chasers. Chavez was effective: 2-4, 3.75 in 57.2 innings, with a quality 54/16 SO/BB ratio and 16 saves – very respectable numbers for the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. When he finally did get a shot in the majors, he was terrible, going 0-0, 10.57 in 7.2 IP, with 12 hits allowed, an 8/5 SO/BB and a ugly 2.22 WHIP. He appeared destined to play out his years finishing games in the high minors for other teams’ top prospects.

At a crossroads in his career, Chavez sought to reinvent himself. He played winter ball in Mexico and worked tirelessly to develop a new pitch: a cutter. The Royals weren’t interested and cut him loose. But the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers in October and got a pleasant surprise. After learning he hadn’t made the Opening Day bullpen, Chavez requested the chance to return to starting. Two months into the experiment, he’s been the Jays’ most consistent AAA starter. Better yet, he acquitted himself well in his Blue Jays debut and appears to have supplanted Brett Cecil as the team’s next go-to starter.

OUTLOOK

Incredibly, Jesse Chavez is now on the verge of returning to the majors to fill the rotation slot vacated by injured Blue Jays’ ace Brandon Morrow. If he’s tabbed, his first start will be first in the majors after 144 appearances in relief.

In Las Vegas, Chavez’s stuff has, perhaps surprisingly, held as he’s been stretched out. In 12 starts, he’s 7-2, 3.84 in 70.1 innings with a very strong 65/15 SO/BB ratio and a 1.12 WHIP. Most significantly, Chavez has limited his walks (1.9/9) more effectively than at any point in his career. He still profiles as a fly-ball pitcher so keeping runners off base is imperative for him. So far, the improvement appears real. He has decent velocity, now sitting between 92-94, and his split-change can be effective when he doesn’t overthrow it. The slider remains somewhat inconsistent, too, but he has a chance at 3 passable pitches when they’re all working.

Speaking frankly, Jesse Chavez is almost certainly not the answer to any long-term vacancy in Toronto. But as a spot starter or seventh man in the bullpen, he seems a likely to contribute more than the Dana Evelands and Jo-Jo Reyeses of staffs past. Toronto deserves credit for allowing him the opportunity to follow his heart. But Chavez who deserves his due most. His success story, so far, is the result of his commitment to the cut fastball – itself a product of his faith in his abilities.

If this isn’t his time, Chavez will still almost certainly return to the Jays’ bullpen at some point this season. When that happens, I’ll be rooting for him. As a 42^nd-round pick for whom perseverance has meant more than even his pitching talents, Jesse Chavez is more like you and I than most players on your favourite team. Here’s hoping if his chance to start doesn’t come here, he’ll find an arm-starved team willing to give him a shot this winter.

STAT SHEET

Jesse Chavez, SP/RP
08/21/83            Bats: R             Throws: R       HT: 6-2          WT: 160
Victorville, California                    College: Riverside Community College
Drafted by Texas in the 42^nd round, 1252^nd overall, of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft.
Acquired: Selected off waivers October 2011.
Contract Status: Not eligible for arbitration before 2013.
Salary: N/A
Service Time: 2.065

Rajai Davis returns for his second year with the Blue Jays in a new role as a reserve outfielder and pinch runner. Davis can be one of the most exciting players to watch in any game. But hitting limitations continue to hold him back. Interestingly, Davis hit well in his minor league career. Let’s look at his case to see what’s happened since – and whether there may still be more to his game than speed.

PROFILE

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Rajai Davis in the 38^th round, 1134^th overall, of the 2001 amateur draft out of the University of Connecticut. At the time, he was an extremely athletic switch-hitting (!) second baseman (!!) but Pittsburgh profiled him as a centre fielder due to his great range and plus speed. It was a tough draft for the Pirates. They chose injury bust John Van Benschoten 8^th overall and also selected Jeremy Guthrie and Stephen Drew but couldn’t convince either to sign. Davis, however, signed quickly and got started with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters before a reassignment to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates. He played in 32 games, hitting .240/.345/.250 with just one double and a problematic 30/15 SO/BB ratio. The walks looked good, but the whiffs were untenable and Davis showed zero power. He stole 11 bases in 15 tries. But speed was the only interesting part of his game.

Davis returned to the GCL in 2002 and ripped: .384/.436/.554 with 16 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, an excellent 25/20 SO/BB line and 24 steals in 58 games. He was named the GCL’s Player of the Year and Pittsburgh granted him a late promotion to the South Atlantic League champion Hickory Crawdads. On the surface, the numbers looked great. He’d reached base in 61 of his 65 total games. But, at 21, Davis was old for these levels, and doing most of his damage against teenage competition. Still, he’d put himself on the organizational map and now had a shot at becoming more than low-level roster filler.

In 2003, Davis spent the whole season with Hickory and excelled. In 125 games, he hit .303/.383/.416 with 21 doubles, 7 triples and 6 HRs, a very strong 65/55 SO/BB and 40 steals in 53 tries. The extra-base hits were easily a career high and he led the Crawdads in several offensive categories. He also had an impressive 15 outfield assists – an indication that his great range surprised many baserunners – but also made 7 errors. He still wasn’t turning many heads. But it was a second straight campaign of good results. In the offseason, Davis decided to stop switch-hitting and dedicate himself to hitting right-handed going forward.

Unless you spent 2004 watching a lot of Lynchburg Hillcats games, you’d have been hard-pressed to notice. Pittsburgh promoted Davis to its high-A affiliate and he rewarded them with a virtual replica of his previous season: 127 games, .314/.388/.424 with 27 doubles, 7 triples, 5 HRs, and a terrific 60/59 SO/BB rate. He won the Carolina League batting title, made it All-Star team, and led the circuit in runs, hits and steals. It was quite incredible considering he’d done the whole thing right-handed. Better yet, his steals spiked as Davis nabbed 57 bases against just 15 times caught. He showed no obvious platoon split (hitting .325 vs. LHP, .312 vs. RHP) and finally attracted real interest as a burner prospect and potential major league leadoff man. He made 8 errors but clearly had all the tools to handle centre field. Pittsburgh added him to its 40-man roster in the offseason but he was still behind Nate McLouth and Chris Duffy on the Pirates’ prospect chart and was only now entering AA at 24.

Davis arrived in AA in 2005, playing 123 games with the Altoona Curve. His slash line dipped slightly (.281/.351/.369) but he produced similar counting stats (22 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR) and was again named a league All-Star. Unfortunately, his SO/BB rate declined to 76/43 against tougher competition. Playable, certainly, but worth monitoring. He also saw his contact, walk and slugging rates slip, costing him almost 100 points of OPS. But he continued to improve his base stealing, taking 45 of 54 attempts – an excellent 83% theft rate – and leading the league in steals. He might have been even more prolific but Davis was hit by a pitch and fractured his right hand in August, ending his season early and potentially costing him a late call-up. Hes again contributed 10 outfield assists but, curiously, also made 10 errors. Most were the result of bad reads on fly balls that he couldn’t rescue despite his speed. Davis appeared to be a useful pest but not a true leadoff threat. He could handle centre and provide a spark. But it looked like advanced pitchers would knock the bat out of his hands if his approach didn’t improve. He got healthy in time to play winter ball with Guasave in the Mexican winter league. Pittsburgh had been very methodical with Davis. But he was now on the verge of the majors and looked ready to help in the right role.

In 2006, the Pirates assigned Davis to the AAA Indianapolis Indians. He started slowly but ultimately hit .283/.335/.348 in 100 games with a stagnating 59/27 SO/BB ratio. He showed minimal power and had to overcome a fractured right middle finger but stole 45 bases, seemingly determined to swipe his way to the show. When McLouth sprained his ankle in August, Davis finally got his call-up after six years in the minors. But the Pirates buried him on their bench, never letting him start a game, mostly using him as a pinch-runner. He received just 17 plate appearances and was caught stealing 3 times in 4 tries. Teams were ready for his wheels. Pittsburgh was unsettled in centre entering the offseason. Both McLouth and Duffy had disappointed in their trials. And Duffy was reportedly clashing with manager Jim Tracy. Some guy named Jose Bautista even played 57 games in the midfield in 2006. Entering 2007, it looked like Davis might have a chance to make the team with a good spring.

He didn’t make the opening day roster but provided real spark in his return to Indianapolis. In 53 games, he hit .318/.384/.469 with 20 extra-base hits and a dramatically improved 25/21 SO/BB ratio with 27 steals in 36 tries. Davis seemed to have overhauled his approach, resulting in better discipline and power. He was no longer a grip-and-rip type in the box and didn’t appear overmatched. Pittsburgh liked the adjustments and recalled him up in June. He’s been in the majors ever since. Davis started slowly, but Pittsburgh stuck with him and, this time, gave him regular at bats. In 24 games, he hit a capable .271/.357/.354. He was now particularly effective against lefties, and with Nyjer Morgan rising from AAA, looked ready to assume part of a capable, and very fleet-flooted, platoon. But Pittsburgh judged McLouth a more complete package. So despite a 42-62 record that put them 14.5 games out of first, the Pirates made a buyer’s move at the trade deadline, sending Davis and a player to be named (Stephen McFarland) to San Francisco for veteran starter Matt Morris. Morris was 32, an innings eater, and, significantly, had nothing left. Zero. He’d make 16 starts for Pittsburgh, going 3-8 with a 7.04 ERA and a 62 ERA+. Terrible stuff.

Davis started fast with the Giants, hitting .364 in his first 18 games, and received more opportunities in a straight platoon with Dave Roberts. In total, he went .282/.363/.380 with a good 25/14 SO/BB ratio and 17 steals in 21 tries, covering all kinds of ground in centre next to 42-year old Barry Bonds who was in the midst of what would be the last season of his polarizing career. Davis looked to have a home at last. But that offseason, in search of a new post-Bonds identity, the rebuilding Giants signed scrappy Gold Glove winner Aaron Rowand to play centre, effectively eliminating Davis’ role.

In 2008, Davis still made the team out of spring training but rarely played and landed on waivers in April. Oakland had witnessed his raw from across the Bay. With plans to embrace more athleticism in their lineup, they snapped Davis up and played him often. He got into 101 games but hit just .260/.288/.372 with little pop and a miserable 34/7 SO/BB rate – though he did manage 25 steals in 31 tries. Trouble was, Davis couldn’t buy his way on base and hit only .223 when used as a leadoff hitter. Once again he seemed useful only as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. He was a fringe major leaguer saved by one excellent, exploitable skill.

Or so it seemed until 2009. Davis began the season as Oakland’s fourth outfielder. But saw few opportunities. On June 2, he had 41 at-bats and was hitting .146 with no extra base hits. But injuries began to deplete the A’s brittle Oakland lineup and Davis eventually got a chance to start. He didn’t look back. He hit .324 the rest of the way – fourth best in the league – for a final line of .305/.360/.423 with 27 doubles, 5 triples, and 3 home runs with 41 bases swiped in 125 games. He became the first Athletic since Rickey Henderson to steal 40 bases, nabbing three-quarters of them after the All-Star break. Indeed, his entire second half was excellent. He was still overly aggressive at the plate, with a 70/29 SO/BB rate, but he was finding gaps and utilizing his wheels. A .361 BABIP didn’t hurt, either. It seemed unlucky that Davis could sustain it – but, with his speed, figured to beat averages on balls in play. The overall approach was a more pressing concern. But he’d assembled an excellent 3.8 WAR season. Clearly, it wasn’t completely holding him back. Once old for his levels, Davis now seemed young at just 29. For the first time, he entered the offseason as a sure starter. The question was: could he repeat the performance, or would this prove to be Davis’ career peak?

Unfortunately, all signs now point to the latter. Davis’ luck ran out in 2010. He was healthy. Oakland committed to him. But he couldn’t sustain his breakout success. Davis hit a .284/.320/.377 slash. He even stole 50 bases, only getting caught 11 times – a great 82% success rate. Davis also set career highs in games played (143), runs (66), hits (149), doubles (28), home runs (5), and RBI (52). In many ways, his performance was identical. He simply was as fortunate. His BABIP (.322) normalized. He didn’t drive the ball as much (a -4.5% LD Rate) and his discipline completely eroded (78/26 SO/BB), resulting in just a 4.6% walk rate. He was pressing and it showed. Davis averaged just 3.40 pitches per plate appearance, the lowest of his career, and played to a poor 1.2 WAR. There were grumblings about mental errors both on the bases and in the outfield. Adding it all together, Oakland prepared to enter 2011 with Coco Crisp in centre and sent Davis to Toronto for relief prospects Danny Farquhar and Trystan Magnuson.

The 2011 Blue Jays started the year short on outfielders sans Vernon Wells. They were also short on speed. Davis was essentially gifted the role of Opening Day leadoff man and centre fielder. At worst, he seemed capable of hitting lefties. He was, as they say, an adventure. Exhibit A: He was the first Blue Jay to reach base in 2011. Got picked off dead-to-rights. Then scampered his way out of it. Behold:

Curious stuff like this became the norm with Davis and between bizarro baserunning and a bunch of bad breaks on fly balls, came questions about his baseball sense. Worse, he couldn’t get on base, going just .238/.273/.350 with 21 doubles, 6 triples and a single home run, his SO/BB rate (63/15) plummeting further. That’s a lot of strikeouts for 320 at bats. He flailed badly against righties (.221 AVG, .504 OPS) and played his way out of a job in June, hitting .163/.171/.000, with a 21/1 SO/BB. Despite his 34 stolen bases (and some electric moments on them) he gave John Farrell little choice but to platoon him. Corey Patterson, Mike McCoy, Dewayne Wise, Adam Loewen and even Travis Snider all saw time in centre field and, in July, the Blue Jays acquired Colby Rasmus from St. Louis, ending any real shot Davis had of winning the starting job back. The position was still messy. Davis’ season was a disaster. To cap it off, he tore his left hamstring in August (virtual death for a speed player) and didn’t return. He looked like a possible roster casualty in the offseason – particularly after the Jays added right-handed hitting Ben Francisco in a trade with Philadelphia – but Toronto retained Davis and he enters 2012 as a pinch runner and fifth outfielder.

OUTLOOK

Players like Rajai Davis inspired the old baseball line that you can’t steal first base. Once he’s there he can be a joy to watch – even when he causes grey hairs – and, when used correctly, can be a tremendous weapon. He cost the Jays virtually nothing (Farquhar and Magnuson are both back in the organization) while also providing defensive depth at all three outfield positions and a speed no other player on the roster possesses.

As a 38^th round draft pick, he’s had a great career. He seems like a great guy, liked by his teammates. And should contribute as a role player around the majors as long as his legs will let him. But it’s hard to see Davis lasting in Toronto beyond this season, even in a platoon capacity, with Eric Thames, Travis Snider and Anthony Gose jockeying for jobs.

Blue Jays fans should enjoy the ride while it lasts. Because, as one of Davis’ old platoon partners once proved, you never know what might happen…

STAT SHEET

Jose Bautista is one of the great power hitters in baseball. He is the centerpiece of the Blue Jays offence and one the game’s most patient, lethal bats. He is also one of its greatest stories. His journey to stardom may be the most unconventional in major league history. Let’s examine the path he took before arriving in Toronto and his chances to get even better.

PROFILE

Incredibly, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Jose Bautista out of Chipola junior college in northern Florida in the 20^th round of the 2000 draft, 599^th overall. Bautista is from the Dominican Republic and attended a private high school there (the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Reds tried unsuccessfully to sign him), becoming fluent in English by the time he arrived stateside to enroll in school and enter the Amateur Draft. In college he played centre field but Pittsburgh converted him to third base.

He debuted professionally in 2001 with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters and hit .286/.364/.427 with 5 HR and an acceptable 41/21 SO/BB ratio. He handled the transition to third well and showed enough with the bat to enter 2002 as a quality sleeper.

In 2002, he graduated to full-season ball with the Hickory Crawdads, hitting an impressive .301/.402/.470 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs and a good 104/67 SO/BB ratio. The performance was very good for the league (+27 OPS) and put Bautista squarely on the Pirates’ prospect map. He made 24 errors, sometimes letting throws sail into the stands, but reports were still positive about his glove, arm strength and overall athleticism. More growth seemed forthcoming.

But most of Bautista’s gains were erased in 2003. He slumped early for the high-A Lynchburg Hillcats and hit just .242/.359/.424 with 4 home runs and a 48/27 SO/BB rate. His plate discipline was improving but he was asked to split time between second and third and struggled with the transition, making 10 errors. His frustration boiled over in May and he punched a dugout garbage can, breaking his right hand. He missed two months and finished the season rehabbing with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Pirates before heading back to the Dominican to play winter ball. During the offseason, Pittsburgh General Manager Dave Littlefield left a number of intriguing Pirates prospects unprotected in the Rule 5 draft (5 of the first 6 picks were Pittsburgh players). Bautista was one of them and he was selected 6th by the Baltimore Orioles, kickstarting one of the strangest transaction chains in league history.

Per baseball rules, Bautista had to stay on the Orioles roster all season in order for Baltimore to keep him in the organization. He was only 22 and hadn’t played above A ball. He was obviously very raw and, worse, attempting to rebound from a season ruined by injury. Still, Bautista showed enough in spring training to make the team. But Baltimore had visions of competing in the AL East and, with Melvin Mora established at third, Bautista barely played; only 16 games and 11 at bats in two months before Baltimore mercifully waived him. He was claimed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays but only played 12 games for them (receiving only 12 at bats) and was sold to the Kansas City Royals. His career there lasted 13 games and 25 measly at bats. By July, Bautista had just 48 at bats in 4 months with three organizations. At the trade deadline, Kansas City traded him to the New York Mets for Justin Huber. The very same day the Mets also traded him – back to, yes, Pittsburgh with Ty Wigginton and Matt Peterson for Kris Benson and Jeff Keppinger. Bautista got into 23 more games and 40 at bats but struck out in nearly half of them and batted only .200/.238/.250. All told, he hit .205/.263/.239 in 64 games and 88 at-bats in six months. The season was a complete write-off. He remains the only player to be on five different rosters in one season. Some rookie season.

Pittsburgh knew Bautista needed regular playing time and assigned him to the AA Altoona Curve in 2005. He regained his hitting lustre, knocking a .283/.364/.503 slash line with 27 doubles, 23 home runs and a 101/48 SO/BB rate. He also led the team with 90 RBI and earned a late promotion to AAA Indianapolis where he got into 13 games (.255/.309/.373) before finishing the season in Pittsburgh. He struggled badly (only 4 hits in 28 at bats), but he had made it back to the majors. The Pirates hung with Bautista at 3B all season, too, even though he did make 25 errors between the three levels. Still, the flashes of power inspired optimism, his discipline was playable and his arm now rated among the best in the minors. He played in the AA All-Star Game, the FuturesGame and Pittsburgh named him their Minor League Player of the Year. Despite two seasons of stalled development, his career was back on track and he was still only 24.

Bautista’s game needed more seasoning at AAA but he played only 29 games for Indianapolis before Pittsburgh summoned him to replace injured starter Joe Randa. At AAA, Bautista hit a quality .277/.370/.426 but could manage only .235/.335/.420 in the bigs. Still, he swatted hitting 16 home runs and showed patience with a 110/46 SO/BB rate. Pittsburgh’s hitting coach, Jeff Manto, guessed Bautista was capable of 25 home runs within four years. How right he’d end up being. For now, though, Bautista was asked to play all three outfield positions in addition to second and third and never did settle in defensively. His production was strong for a super-utility player, particularly his walk rate and pop. He’d earned a place on the roster entering 2007 – the question was where he would play. Bautista again played winter ball, winning the Caribbean Series with Tigres del Licey.

Pittsburgh made him their Opening Day third baseman in 2007 and Bautista spent the entire season in the majors, sometimes filling an outfield position but mostly improving his defense at third, reducing his errors there to 15. He hit .254/.339/.414 with 36 doubles, 15 home runs and101/68 SO/BB, showing subtle improvements but disappointing overall. He had proven himself a capable super-sub but didn’t show enough to be seen as a core piece and, by now, the Pirates’ brain trust was becoming restless. If another opportunity came Bautista needed to seize it. Statistically, quiet signs showed he was capable of more. He grew more patient, struck out less (despite receiving 150 more at bats than in 2006) , showed impressive doubles power and an abnormally low HR/FB ratio (7.9%) – tough luck given the spacious power alley in PNC Park’s left field. He also missed time in July after slicing his hand on Chipper Jones’ cleats attempting to steal third.

In 2008, Pittsburgh played Bautista exclusively at third but remained highly streaky and his overall output again disappointed: .242/.325/.404 in 107 games with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and a declining 77/38 SO/BB ratio. Far from contention again, Pittsburgh traded Jason Bay to Boston in a three-way blockbuster that sent Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles and brought perpetual prospect Andy LaRoche to Pittsburgh. The Pirates immediately dubbed LaRoche their third baseman of the future. Bautista was told he would be demoted to AAA and asked to be put on waivers. He was quickly dealt to Toronto for Robinson Diaz. Since the traded happened in August every team in baseball had a chance to submit a free claim on Bautista before the deal went through. No one did. He slumped in Toronto initially and only managed a .214/.237/.411 line in 21 games, completely losing his plate discipline (14/2 SO/BB) in the new league. Still, Toronto liked his versatility and track record and re-signed him. He played in the World Baseball Classic and entered 2009 part of Toronto’s bench.

He remained a part-time player until early August when the Blue Jays released Alex Rios and his $69.35M contract to the Chicago White Sox. A straight salary dump. But also the start of something truly remarkable. Bautista got the first crack at regular playing time but scuffled, hitting only .175 with one home run in his first 21 games, as a starter. But he continued to work tirelessly with Cito Gaston and hitting coach Dwayne Murphy on his swing mechanics. Together they discovered he was starting his swing late, forcing his shoulders to open too quickly to get his hands through the hitting zone and causing him to roll over on pitches he ought to drive. The changes, they hoped, would enable Bautista to utilize his quick hands and natural uppercut swing to get in front of pitches with the tremendous pull power generated in his hips.

The Blue Jays coaching staff stuck with him and Bautista applied the refinements, still utilizing his good pitch recognition, but now starting much earlier. The results were immediate and incredible. He hit .270 with 9 HR in the final 23 games boosting his final line to .235/.349/.408 with 13 home runs. But in September alone it was: .257/.339/.606 with 10 HRs. He showed very strong discipline (85/56 SO/BB) all year, too, despite erratic playing time, torching left-handed pitchers (.293/.382/.537) but struggling against righties (.202/.331/.333). He was reliable in right field and Toronto vowed to start him there to begin 2010. Buoyed by the power spike, Bautista eased off weight training and concentrated his offseason workouts on plyometrics and cardio.

Bautista began 2010 as the Jays’ leadoff hitter, showing great patience but little power. But when the calendar turned to May, he absolutely exploded – hitting 12 home runs – and by the end of June he was up to 20 and leading the league. The Giants, Phillies, White Sox and Tigers all inquired about his availability but Alex Anthopoulos kept him in Toronto. Bautista made his first All-Star appearance and finished the year with an astounding .260/.378/.617 slash line, 35 doubles, 54 home runs, 125 RBIs and an amazing116/100 SO/BB ratio. An unbelievably impressive season. He hit countless memorable home runs, setting the Blue Jays’ all-time record, and was hailed for his defense, netting 12 outfield assists – a figure made even more giant by the fact that he also played 48 games at third base. His isolated power more than doubled (.357, up from .173 in 2009) and his fly ball rate went through the roof (54.5%). He earned the Silver Slugger, the Hank Aaron Award as the AL’s top power hitter and finished 4^th in MVP voting. He also earned Toronto’s John Cerutti humanitarian award. Observers were nearly universal in declaring it a career year. But the Blue Jays believed he could sustain, or at least approximate, his performance and rewarded him with a daring 5-year, $65-million contract. He had surgery to repair a nagging sports hernia in October.

Of course, in 2011, he did better than repeat his breakthrough. He started even hotter, leading the AL in home runs in April, May and June, thus becoming the first player to lead a league in 5 straight months (dating back to 2010) since Jimmy Foxx in 1934. He also hit .363 in April & May, set a major league record by receiving 7.4 million All-Star votes and volunteered to shift back to third base again to boost Toronto’s offense. He suffered a couple of freak injuries (a twisted ankle and a Jake Arrieta beanball to the head) and slumped mildly in the second half but it couldn’t diminish the strength of his tremendous overall line: .302/.447/.608 with 43 home runs and an astonishing 111/132 SO/BB rate – an incredibly well rounded statistical line. His HR/FB ratio actually increased (to 22.5% from 21.7% in 2010) and he hit more line drives (16% to 14.4%). He again won the Silver Slugger and Aaron awards. Bautista even stole home during a double-steal. How many 40-HR hitters do that? He notched 13 more assists in right but also had six errors and some advanced defensive metrics weren’t kind in evaluating his range. But his arm strength remained impressive and, anecdotally, the errors seemed more the result of aggressive attempts to gun down runners than any physical problem. He enters 2012 as the face of the Blue Jays (not to mention the Canadian edition of Sony’s “MLB 12 The Show” video game) and one of the most feared hitters in the game.

OUTLOOK

There is little Bautista can do to statistically improve on his performance. We can quibble about his range and future position. At this point, Blue Jays fans – hell, baseball fans – should just enjoy him. In Jose Bautista we find the best parts of the sport. His example shows us that redemption is available to all and that perseverance and hard work can be rewarded.

The key to his future success is health. The Blue Jays are deeper now than at any point since Bautista joined the team and he will not have to switch positions midseason. If his history is any indication, eliminating that distraction should bode well for his offence. Yes, Bautista may eventually move to first base. But at 31 he should be capable of handling the outfield for a few more seasons. Expect Bautista to play in 150+ games and again be among the league leaders in most offensive categories. While he may not hit .300 this year, he will get on base a ton and hit close to 40 home runs. And if, the Blue Jays make a run at the new Wildcard, which I think they will, Bautista will again receive heavy consideration for MVP.

It’s fascinating to think what he might have achieved with a normal career trajectory. He always possessed strong tools and above-average control of the strike zone. Who knows what could have been had he not lost two seasons to injury and roster shuffling. Players with Bautista’s arc are typically fortunate to turn out as journeymen. Most wash out. Very few become something more. He is one of baseball’s rare homemade superstars.

He has also grown into the leader of the Blue Jays clubhouse, demanding accountability of his teammates, taking Yunel Escobar under his wing after the shortstop played his way out of Atlanta, and openly discussing his participation in baseball’s drug-testing program.

However unconventional Bautista’s rise has been he is precisely the type of player you want to build a rising team around. That his contract rewards both him and the Blue Jays for the faith they showed in each other signing it when they did is just icing on the cake.

STAT SHEET

Jose Bautista, RF
10/19/80            Bats: R             Throws: R       HT: 6-0          WT: 195
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic            College: Chipola JC (Florida)
Drafted by Pittsburgh in the 20th round, 599th overall, of the 2000 MLB Amateur Draft.
Acquired: Traded to Toronto in July 2008.
Contract Status: Signed through 2016.
Salary: 12: $14M 13: $14M 14: $14M 15: $14M 16: $14M club option/$1M buyout)
Service Time: 6.165