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Blue Jays Prospect Wins Top Pitcher Award in Arizona Fall League

By David Corcoran

Sep 5, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; A detail view of a Tampa Bay Rays hat and glove lay in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; A detail view of a Tampa Bay Rays hat and glove lay in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Blue Jays had a few prospects playing in the Arizona Fall League and one of the names making some noise was relief pitcher Graham Spraker.

The 26-year old Spraker not only was selected to the AFL All-Star Game but was also announced as the Fall League Reliever of the Year after making 11 appearances for a total of 11.1 innings pitched.  During those appearances, he failed to allow a run while surrendering just six base runners and striking out 17.  Spraker was part of the Mesa Solar Sox where he recorded the final three outs to help his team win the championship.

His Fall League appearance capped off a successful season for the 6’3” right-handed pitcher.  Spraker pitched the entirety of the 2021 MiLB season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Double-A, with the exception of one appearance in mid-August with the Buffalo Bisons.  With the Fisher Cats, Spraker threw 42.2 innings, registering a 2.74 ERA and an astonishing 13.1 strikeout per nine innings.

Blue Jays prospect Graham Spraker wins the Arizona Fall League Reliever of the Year award after putting up great numbers with the Mesa Solar Sox.

Spraker who was originally a starting pitcher, transitioned full time during this past season to the bullpen.  He relies on a mid-90s fastball that was reported to hit 96mph during the Fall League All-Star Game, as well as a mid-80s slider.  He was drafted in the 31st round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Blue Jays and had progressed steadily through the organization until the 2020 COVID season found himself with nowhere to play.  He showed during the season, that despite missing league baseball last year, nothing was going to slow him down.

The Arizona product finds himself in an interesting situation heading into the 2022 campaign, as he looks close to being given a major league opportunity but is not seen as one of the Top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline.  Recently, the Blue Jays added a handful of players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft, but Spraker was not one of those players.  Spraker could become a good gamble by a team looking to take a chance on a bullpen prospect.  If he is not selected, Spraker could still see himself as a midseason call-up for the Blue Jays.

dark. Next. Five Players Blue Jays Could Lose in Rule 5 Draft

Was Spraker ever on your radar?  Do you think he will get selected during the Rule 5 Draft?

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