A Look at the Newly Acquired Blue Jays

On the last day of the 2009 July 31st non waiver trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays traded third baseman Scott Rolen to the Cincinnati Reds for third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, right handed pitcher Josh Roenicke, a pitching prospect by the name of Zach Stewart and cash considerations.

In this article I will give readers a detailed and in depth look into who Encarnacion and Roenicke are (sorry but Zach Stewart will not get the same treatment, as I would like to focus on the current Blue Jays roster).

Let us start with the lesser known of the two players Josh Roenicke.



Joshua Roenicke was born August 4th 1982 in Baltimore, Maryland, growing up in Nevada City, California.

Roenicke was born into a baseball family.

Roenicke’s brother Jason also plays for the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Jason Roenicke currently pitches for the Blue Jays Single A affiliate Lansing Lugnuts.

Roenicke’s father Gary played twelve major league seasons from 1976 – 1988 and is currently a scout in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

Roenicke’s uncle Ron also played eight major league seasons from 1981 – 1988.

Roenicke attended UCLA and was not only a relief pitcher, but played the outfielder as well.

Roenicke was drafted in the tenth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds out of UCLA.

In 2006, Roenicke began his professional baseball career with the Gulf Coast Reds, allowing only one run over eight innings pitched. Roenicke was quickly promoted to the rookie level Billing Mustangs where he finished out his 2006 season.

Roenicke began the 2007 season with the Reds high A ball affiliate Sarasota Reds, before being promoted to double A Chattanooga. Combined between A ball & double A ball, Roenicke ended the 2007 season with a 3-2 record, an ERA of 2.31, striking out fifty six and gaining twenty four saves.

Roenicke remained with double A Chattanooga to being the 2008 season, but was promoted to triple A Louisville after twenty two appearances. After only thirty five games with Louisville, Roenicke was promoted to the major leagues on September 9th 2008.

Roenicke made his major league debut September 13th 2008 for the Cincinnati Reds, walking one, hitting one batter, and striking out one.

Roenicke appeared in five games for the Reds in 2008, throwing three innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs, walking two and striking out six.

In 2009, Roenicke appeared in eleven games for the Reds, throwing thirteen and a third innings, allowing thirteen hits, four earned runs, walking four and striking out fourteen, before his eventual trade from Cincinnati to his new home in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen.

Roenicke has made one appearance for Toronto since the trade last week, pitching one scoreless inning, walking one and striking out two.

Roenicke projects to be a crucial part of the Blue Jays bullpen for the future.

The 27 year old right hander is a possible future closer candidate.

Roenicke features a fastball, which has touched 100mph in the past, but sits consistently between 93-96mph, and a hard slider that Roenicke uses as his outpitch.

Let’s take a look at our now everyday third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.



Edwin Elpidio Encarnacion was born January 7th 1983 in La Romana, Dominican Republic, but grew up mainly in Puerto Rico.

Encarnacion attended Manuel Toro High School in Puerto Rico.

In 2000, Encarnacion was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the Major League draft in the ninth round.

Encarnacion would never play for the Rangers, as he was traded with Ruben Mateo to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Rob Bell.

Encarnacion made his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds on June 24th 2005, appearing in sixty nine games, hitting a .232 average with nine home runs, thirty one runs batted in, forty nine hits, and sixteen doubles in two hundred and eleven at bats.

Encarnacion slowly won the third baseman job in Cincinnati posting the following numbers between 2006 – 2008 with the Reds.

Encarnacion’s 2006 statistics - .276AVG, 15HR, 72RBI, 6SB in 406AB
Encarnacion’s 2007 statistics - .289AVG, 16HR, 76RBI, 8SB in 502AB
Encarnacion’s 2008 statistics - .251AVG, 26HR, 68RBI, 1SB in 506AB

Encarnacion has not been a sure handed defensive third baseman committing 25 errors in 111 games in 2006, 16 errors in 137 games in 2007, 23 errors in 143 games in 2008, and 8 errors in 43 games in 2009.

Encarnacion has struggled this season, having the lowest batting average in the major leagues through May 1st, hitting only .127

It turns out the poor start could have had to do with an injury. Encarnacion was sidelined due to a broken wrist up until recently in July.

Encarnacion saw some immediate success upon his return; his batting average rose from .125 to .228 over the span of 12 days.

The Blue Jays acquired Encarnacion July 31st from the Cincinnati Reds, along with Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart.

Encarnacion is currently hitting .125 for the Blue Jays, but has only had eight at bats in two games, which includes one single, and two strikeouts, with one run scored.

Encarnacion will man the “hot corner” for the Jays this season and next and if his power potential comes to fruition, should be a necessary component for the Jays 2010 playoff push.