Travis d'Arnaud may have not gotten as much attention as Kyle Drabek when the Blue Jays acquired him in the Roy Halladay trade, but he could emerge as the best player Toronto received.
d’Arnaud is making a push to reach the big leagues at a very young age, particularly for a catcher drafted out of high school. A potential middle-of-the-order bat, he's a skilled defender who could surface as a valuable all-around big leaguer.
He is a very patient hitter at the plate, even though his 33 walks in 2011 might not suggest that. He typically knows what pitch he is looking for and is able to drive the ball to all fields. He can hit the breaking ball, he can hit the inside pitch, and he can hit a plus fastball. He is a well-balanced hitter at the plate who is ready to see big league pitching. He stays tall in the box, his hands are quick to the ball, and his leg kick generates plus power for a catcher.
Behind the plate he has proven that he can handle an upper-minors staff for a full season -- a staff that has produced three major league call ups in Joel Carreno, Henderson Alvarez and Zach Stewart. d'Arnaud also has an above-average arm. I have seen him throw out multiple runners from his knees. He has good instincts with balls in the dirt and his awareness for pitch calling has gotten better throughout the year.
I do not know how Toronto plans to handle its catching situation going forward, but d'Arnaud is talented and polished enough to make a push to break camp with a big league team next spring. I see him as a guy who could continue to improve and exceed expectations once he reaches the bigs.
- Anonymous Scout