Prospect Preview - Kevin Nolan

Blue Jays minor league position players report to Spring Training and begin workouts this week.  With that, we continue our look at potential Fisher Cats this season with a look at a New Hampshire native coming off his best pro season.

When shortstop Kevin Nolan makes his Fisher Cats debut, he should become an immediate fan favorite among Granite Staters, because he is one himself. The 25-year old was born in Nashua, and starred on the baseball field and basketball court at Nashua South High School. He was named the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball his senior year.

He left New Hampshire to play at Winthrop University in South Carolina, where he hit .392 his senior year. He became the Blue Jays 20th round draft pick in 2009, and was assigned to Auburn of the Short Season New York-Penn League for the rest of the year. The following year he was promoted to Class-A Lansing of the Midwest League, and hit .295 with 25 doubles.

The 6 foot 2 inch, 200-pound right-handed hitter enjoyed his best pro season last year with Advanded-A Dunedin, hitting 23 doubles and posting career-bests with a .316 average, 98 hits, 5 home runs, 40 RBI, 54 runs, 5 triples, and 12 stolen bases.

His professional career has shown off his versatility, having played at least 20 games at first base, second base, third base, and the outfield in four seasons.