Pentecost Finally Returns For Jays — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

TORONTO—The Blue Jays still see a promising future behind the plate for Max Pentecost, the 11th overall pick in the 2014 draft who is steadily moving toward an on-field return after three shoulder surgeries.

Making up for lost time is going to be the priority for the 23-year-old, since his last action on the field came in his draft year. He appeared in a combined 25 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and at short-season Vancouver in 2014 before his injury woes began.

The product of Kennesaw State finally returned to the field on May 12 and did so with emphasis, rapping out three hits, including a home run. He did not catch, however, as he eased back in as the DH.

“The best way to put that is: We’re confident in Max’s ability and confident that he’s got a chance to be a major league catcher—and a pretty good one,” director of player development Gil Kim said.

“He brings some things to the table that, looking throughout baseball, you don’t see very often. Sure, it’s unfortunate that it has taken some time, but he’s doing catching drills, and he looks great back there. In talking to some of our high-performance trainers and our physical therapists, the belief is that his arm is going to be back to full strength and play behind the plate.

“That’s what we’re thinking right now.”

Pentecost had a rotator cuff interval repair last fall. The Blue Jays might limit him to first base or DH while his throwing program continues.

“That we’re not sure of yet,” Kim said. “The main goal is that he gets at-bats, since he has had so much time off. For now, it’s getting at-bats and building that (arm strength) back up better than it used to be.”

JAYS CHATTER

• The Blue Jays aren’t ruling out starting for righthander Adonys Cardona, the electric-armed 22-year-old who is coming back from a second broken olecranon. Through 11 relief appearances at high Class A Dunedin this season, he had thrown 12 shutout innings, with his fastball sitting in the mid-90s. Along with his changeup and slider, Cardona still has the repertoire to start, but his injury history raises questions.

• Center fielder Anthony Alford returned on May 2 from a right knee injury suffered in Dunedin’s season opener, and “he’s had no setbacks whatsoever,” Kim said.