2024 Minor League/Prospects Discussion Thread

[hst420]

O. Martinez with another big game.. 3 hits double short of the cycle.. 3 run HR.. 31 RBIs in 36 games for Buffalo.

[dagger]

Adam Macko is becoming more interesting by the game. Last night, he threw five no-hit innings with two walks and 8K. For the first few months of the A+ season, he looked like a failing bet, but in August and now September, his outings have been a lot stronger, even dominant. He's punching his 2024 ticket for New Hampshire, and could become a factor for the 2025 rotation along with Ricky Tiedemann when Kikuchi's contract is done. At the very least, he could be an intriguing bullpen piece.

I don't know what Macko is throwing, but his MLB Pipeline assessment (he's the Jays #23 prospect right now but ought to end up higher when the list is next rejigged) is intriguing.

Adam
Macko
LHP, Vancouver Canadians, A+

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Born in Slovakia, Macko grew up in Ireland and played high school baseball in Alberta, Canada, making for a unique path. In Alberta, Macko pitched for Vauxhall Academy, one of Canada’s top baseball schools, which helped expose him to scouts. Much of Macko’s pitching is self-taught, though, from watching aces of his day like David Price and Justin Verlander.

An elbow strain and meniscus injury limited Macko to 38 1/3 innings in 2022, posting a 4.59 ERA, and he posted a 6.08 ERA while getting in another 13 1/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League. Macko’s upside is far brighter than those early numbers, though, and getting a full healthy season under his belt will be the first priority for the Blue Jays after they added him alongside Erik Swanson in the Teoscar Hernandez deal over the offseason.

Macko has added some bulk in recent years, which has helped greatly. It’s enabled him to reach into the upper-90s with his fastball at times, though it sits in the low-to-mid-90s range, and his strikeout upside is significant thanks to a strong curveball and fast-improving slider. He’s now a drastically different pitcher than he was when the Mariners drafted him in the seventh round in 2019. If he can continue on this trajectory, there is a very enticing ceiling to the young lefty, even if injury and control concerns have hampered his path in recent years.

Also, there was an Alec Manoah sighting in Buffalo on Labour Day, signing autographs. He was in a Buffalo uniform, so he's not on strike. Looks trim, but interpreting such photos, an offseason tradition of the Raptors' board, is a mug's game.

[dagger]

The NW League playoffs began last night with a 3-0 Vancouver win. Adam Macko threw five one-hit scoreless innings. He walked three and hit two batters, so he wasn't quite as good as his last regular season performance which was five innings of no-hit ball. But the opponent in tis best of five is better, so there's that consideration. If the series goes the full five games, he's likely to pitch Game 5 on Sunday. Otherwise, his season is over unless the organization wants to give him a start at a higher level (unlikely).

Macko is Rule 5 eligible this year, which will be an interesting decision for the organization. There is a non-zero chance he would be selected by a bad team that can justify holding him on the active roster. But I'd guess that the organization wouldn't risk the embarrassment of losing him, since he could become an asset that makes the Teoscar trade look better. Te team also will have a lot of flexibility with the 40-man roster given the number of free agents coming up.

[dagger]

With a 10-2 win at home, Vancouver are Northwest League champions. Solid performances in the four game series by the top prospects on the roster.


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[Lionel Hutz]

And what's best is although the bats showed up tonight it was the pitching that primarily carried them through. Good performances from Macko, Jennings, Churchil and others. Even Pardinho hit 100 on a dubious radar gun.
Hopefully it all portends well for some prospects coming through in next couple years because sure seems we could use some good stories on that front.

[dagger]

And what's best is although the bats showed up tonight it was the pitching that primarily carried them through. Good performances from Macko, Jennings, Churchil and others. Even Pardinho hit 100 on a dubious radar gun.
Hopefully it all portends well for some prospects coming through in next couple years because sure seems we could use some good stories on that front.

Jennings will be interesting to follow given that he was a fairly high pick (4th rd) in 2022 but missed a big chunk of this, his first season outside of the Complex, due to injury.


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[polo007]

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[dagger]

With so little starting RHP to boast about in the system, it was nice to see CJ Van Eyk have a game in the Arizona Fall League yesterday. The Jays 2021 second rounder missed all of 2022 with TJ surgery and was plagued by lesser medical issues this past season as he started his comeback.

https://www.mlb.com/news/arizona-fall-league-roundup-for-october-19?t=arizona-fall-league-coverage

https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-c-j-van-eyk-making-up-for-lost-time-in-fall-league?t=arizona-fall-league-coverage

[polo007]

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[bluerap23]

https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-prospects-to-watch-during-spring-training

These 7 young Jays could compete for jobs in spring

Too lazy to copy and paste all 7 so see article if interested.

LHP Ricky Tiedemann (No. 1 prospect)
Fresh off being named Pitcher of the Year in the Arizona Fall League, Tiedemann salvaged what he could from a season where shoulder and biceps issues limited him to just 44 innings in the regular season. Tiedemann will be one of the biggest stories in camp -- again -- and in the likely case he starts the year in Triple-A, it’s no longer about waiting on development. Tiedemann will be up when the Blue Jays think he makes them a better ball club, period.

Keep Tiedemann’s workload in mind. Measuring that by innings alone doesn’t work, but regardless, Tiedemann isn’t going to throw 200 in 2024. This leaves the door open to shorter starts or “bulk” outings as they manage this through the season. Nate Pearson is a lesson on how unpredictable elite pitching prospects can be, but Tiedemann’s talent makes it easy to dream.

[polo007]

Toronto Blue Jays Top 31 Prospects | FanGraphs Baseball

[bluerap23]

Some interesting players to follow this coming season. I wouldn't be disappointed if they trade Ricky for a major league bat. I just don't have a lot of confidence in him becoming a healthy starter.

[DelAbbot]

Some interesting players to follow this coming season. I wouldn't be disappointed if they trade Ricky for a major league bat. I just don't have a lot of confidence in him becoming a healthy starter.

Enough trading away our top prospects for middling players. Ricky T is a real one and must be kept. I thought Moreno was enough of a lesson already

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[bartron_44]

Tiedemann having a FV of only 55 is too low. We are talking a left handsd SP throwing upper 90’s.

Losing Gabriel Moreno was a body blow to the franchise. He’ll be one of the best catchers in baseball fornthe next 10+ years. Not to mention Gurriel would have been fine in LF beside a CF with range like KK too. Then they tossed away Teo’s bat for a 7th inning reliever…lol

Please don’t follow up the awful trades from last year by trading Tiedemann (or Martinez) too.

If they are going to pay a DH again, I could get behind JD Martinez, but I would rather pay Belt to come back than give a big payday to Soler.

People were concerned about losing Chappy, but I want Whit and Belt back more than Chapman wuth the money he is looking to get. Those 2 were both excellent FA signings last year, and would both help this team again this season without killing them long term on paper like Chappy would. They can’t have 2B and 3B both in question coming in to ST if they actually want a shot at competing again. So forget about 3B, and just resign your best 2B from last year.

They say they think the offense will be good enough without adding big time bats…. But those 2 guys were 2 of their best offensive players in 2023. Merrifield led the team in SBs, and was 4th on the team in RBI, doubles and runs scored. While Belt led all regulars in OPS…. and also happens to hit left handed. If they are simply going to “run it back” on offence, they should probably bring back those 2 to go along with KK out in CF.

[polo007]

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