After starting the season 1-8, the Dunedin Blue Jays have found a winning formula, thanks to a starting rotation that’s heavy on major league potential.

With 21 wins in their last 31 games, manager Clayton McCullough’s relief is palpable.

“It’s a heck of a lot better,” McCullough says after his team’s 5-0 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads that included a seven-inning, two-hit gem tossed by the Toronto Blue Jays’ first pick in the 2010 draft, Deck McGuire.

“We’re fortunate that our pitching has been good all year. It’s given our hitters a chance to get going.”

In the usually pitching-rich, Class-A advanced Florida State League, these young Jays are opening some eyes. Three starters, Nestor Molina, McGuire, and 2009 first-rounder Chad Jenkins, rank among the league’s top nine in ERA.

And while minor league stats don’t always tell the tale, McGuire’s last three starts — 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA, 8 hits and 6 walks in 18 innings with 20 strikeouts, show the 21-year-old is settling in just fine in his first season of professional baseball.

With low 90s fastball, the 6-foot-6 righty is not overpowering but his arsenal of pitches, changeup, curveball and a “very good” slider, may already be the most refined in the staff.

“He’s right up there in this league,” in terms of prospects, says McCullough of the 11th overall pick out of Georgia Tech.

“He’s learning the importance of commanding that fastball, paying attention to how hitters are adjusting to him and how we want him to pitch.”

McGuire’s running mate is another right-hander, Asher Wojciechowski, the 41st overall pick out of The Citadel in 2010. Together they form the vanguard of Toronto GM Alex Anthopolous’ first draft class, which went heavy on hurlers. Of the Jays’ 56 picks last year, 30 were spent on pitchers.

At 6-4, 235 lbs., the 22-year-old Wojciechowski is living up to his projections as a power pitcher.

“With Ash, everything’s hard. He has a very good fastball, slider and changeup,” says McCullough. “Ash can just overpower hitters with his (mid-90s) fastball.”

But Wojciechowski, 3-2 with a 3.53 ERA, like most of the staff, is still honing his craft says his manager. “Ash is on that learning curve, like the rest of them.”

The starting pitcher with the most FSL experience on the staff is also the youngest. Henderson Alvarez, who turned 21 in April, signed as a 16-year-old non-drafted free agent out of Valencia, Venezuela.

After starting out the season on the disabled list, Alvarez has made just two starts and sports an 0-1 mark with a 6.48 ERA. But according to his manager, those stats aren’t indicative of his ability.

“He’s maturing as a pitcher and as a person,” says McCullough, adding that pitching in the Dominican winter league and a stint at the Jays’ major league camp left a lasting impression on Alvarez.

“Last year, his numbers weren’t great (8-7, 4.33 ERA) but for him, it was a very positive year. He grew up a lot.”

Alvarez made the FSL all-star game after posting a 5-2 mark and a 2.78 ERA but struggled in the second half of the season. Yet at 6-1, 175 pounds, the right-hander is still filling out his frame. And adding miles per hour to his fastball.

“His velocity continues to jump. Now he’s pitching in the mid-90s,” says McCullough. “He’s got that easy arm action. The ball jumps out of his hand.

“If he can tighten up his breaking ball, he can be lights out.”

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On Thursday, Alvarez was promoted to the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

OTHER JAYS

Chad Jenkins (2-4, 2.53)

The 20th overall pick in 2009 is in his turn at Dunedin. The 23-year-old right-hander spent the second half of his first pro season with Dunedin and posted a 2-6 mark with a 4.33 ERA.

“He’s taking the necessary steps to pitching beyond here,” says McCullough.

Nestor Molina (4-2, 1.72)

The converted infielder is making the jump from reliever to starter with startling results. The 22-year-old right-hander was signed as a free agent in 2006 and comes from the same hometown as Alvarez.

“He throws strikes almost at will,” says McCullough. “He’s a very athletic kid who’s off to a great start.”

Brad Glenn

With a league-leading 12 HRs, the 24-year-old outfielder from Cedartown, Ga., is providing the offence for the club. A 23rd round draft pick in 2009, Glenn is on pace to easily surpass the 17 HRs and 69 RBI he posted in Lansing (A) last season.

“The last 15 games, he’s got the team on his back. He’s a big, strong guy who’s driving in some big runs,” says McCullough.

LAST WEEK

Gold Gloves predicted for Gose and Hechavarria