In conversation with Blue Jays prospect Rowdy Tellez: The Bat

Part one of a two-part interview with Toronto Blue Jays’ first-baseman Rowdy Tellez. Part two, ‘The Glove’, will be published on Friday morning

With one quick glance, it’s easy to mistake Rowdy Tellez for a hitter he isn’t.

Looming over the plate at every bit of six-foot-four, 245 pounds, the 21-year-old Tellez could easily be cast as a classic power prospect, but there is more to his game than pulling the ball over the wall.

“I’ve always been a patient hitter and I’ve always known my strike zone and the strike zone very well,” Tellez said. “I’ve always been a plate discipline guy and I’m not afraid to take my walks.”

Tellez was challenged with an assignment to the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to open the year, and despite carrying a low batting average through the first month of his season, an on-base tool that is well advanced for his age allowed Tellez to remain an impactful bat.

“I can’t go out of my way to try and create hits and create things when they’re not giving me anything to paint with,” Tellez said.

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Since the beginning of June, the well-hit balls have begun to fall for Tellez as he’s hit .354 in 148 plate appearances with six home runs and 24 RBI. He’s also set a career high already with 46 walks, a rate of 13.1%, compared to a strikeout rate of just 18.9%.

“Everybody knows that I have good power,” said the Eastern League All-Star. “Now, I’m understanding and starting to learn how to use my power. It’s all about being a good hitter. If you can’t hit, then how are you going to get to your power?”

Originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the 30th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Tellez’s draft slot does not at all represent his ranking coming out of Elk Grove High School. Widely considered as one of the top pure bats in his class, Tellez dropped due to a perceived strong commitment to play NCAA baseball with USC.

Since Alex Anthopoulos and the front office at the time lured Tellez away, he’s taken consistent steps each season. In 2015, Tellez hit .296 with 49 RBI over just 68 games with the single-A Lansing Lugnuts before a promotion to the advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays where he hit seven home runs with an .811 OPS.

With the majority of Toronto’s prospects receiving a level placement that was relatively conservative compared to past years, that performance, along with his advanced bat, earned Tellez his shot in New Hampshire.

“I showed well in Dunedin in my short time there and I showed well in the Arizona Fall League. They decided to give me a challenge and I accepted it with a smile.”

With Edwin Encarnacion set to hit free agency this coming offseason and Justin Smoak‘s recent contract extension not guaranteeing any sort of starting role, Tellez could enter the MLB-level conversation as soon as next spring. As Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro is fond of saying, the easiest decisions are the ones that players make for the organization.

“I’m going to go out, play my best, do what I do, and force them to make those moves,” said Tellez. “I feel like I’m knocking on the door. I feel like I’m getting closer and closer to my goals and my dreams.”

Next: What the Blue Jays have acquired in Joaquin Benoit

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