Prospect learns difficult lessons
From tying Alex Rodriguez’s home run record in high school to hitting .333 at the University of Tennessee to driving in 105 runs in his first full professional season, 51s catcher J.P. Arencibia had excelled at every level of baseball.
But the 2007 first-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays has encountered adversity for the first time on the diamond in his first Triple-A season, batting a career-low .227 and leading Las Vegas in strikeouts (101) with 12 games left.
“I’ve never failed,” Arencibia said Wednesday before going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in the 51s’ 6-4 loss to Reno at Cashman Field. “It’s been a struggle this season. But still, for struggling, I’ve held my own as far as producing and helping the team.
“I’ve had ups and downs, but I’ve learned a lot of things that are going to help me later on in my career.”
Arencibia, who has 30 doubles, 15 homers, 60 RBIs and 59 runs scored in 104 games, said one of the biggest things he’s learned this season is how to deal with failure.
“It’s part of the game,” he said. “Everyone in this game has gone through some kind of failure, and this was my year to go through it. I’m not saying I won’t go through it again, but it’s going to make me a better player.”
Rated the No. 2 prospect in the Blue Jays organization by Baseball America, the 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound Arencibia has improved his defense throughout the season.
He has thrown out 33 percent of runners attempting to steal (20 of 61) since starting this season by gunning down just five of 31.
“Now I’m getting respected as a defensive catcher,” said Arencibia, who often throws out runners from his knees. “I feel I’m throwing better than I’ve ever thrown, and all aspects of my defense have gotten better.”
51s manager Mike Basso, Toronto’s catching instructor the past two years and a former pro catcher, has worked extensively with Arencibia and said he has made great progress this season.
“He’s improved leaps and bounds from last year,” Basso said. “He has done a good job behind the plate, and he’s had spurts where he’s done good offensively.
“I think he’s got a bright future, but I also think he’s got a lot to learn.”
Arencibia, 23, matched A-Rod’s career home run record at Miami’s Westminster Christian School with 17.
He played three years at Tennessee, hitting .333 with 33 homers and 165 RBIs in 174 games.
Arencibia batted .298 with 27 homers and 105 RBIs last season in 126 combined games for Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire.
“Offensively, I’ve got to stay more consistent,” he said. “I’m a good player. I’m going to have these bumps, and this is a steppingstone I have to go over.”
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.