[EmpireWF]

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects list for the Toronto Blue Jays include:

1. Travis Snider, of
2. Brett Cecil, lhp
3. Kevin Ahrens, 3b/ss
4. J.P. Arencibia, c
5. Ricky Romero, lhp
6. Justin Jackson, ss
7. John Tolisano, 2b
8. Curtis Thipgen, c/1b
9. David Purcey, lhp
10. Ryan Patterson, of


"The Blue Jays held seven of the top 88 picks and put them to good use, selecting high-ceiling prospects at critical defensive positions, such as third baseman Kevin Ahrens (16th overall), catcher J.P. Arencibia (21st), shortstop Justin Jackson (45th) and second baseman John Tolisano (85th). All four shot to the top of Toronto's depth chart, as did center fielder Eric Eiland (88th), a raw talent on whom the Jays could afford to gamble with its extra picks.

Most talented of all was lefthander Brett Cecil (38th), a closer at Maryland whom Toronto will develop as a starter, as they will righthanders Trystan Magnuson (56th) and Alan Farina (third round), relievers while at Louisville and Clemson. The Blue Jays successfully developed two other college relievers, Shaun Marcum and since-traded David Bush, into major league starters.

The new talent infused via the draft will need a few years to develop. And the Jays signed just one player to a six-figure bonus during the international signing period, but they believe 22-year-old Cuban righthander Kenny Rodriguez can move quickly as a reliever."