2019 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

Post #4901 » by **Schad** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:37 am

And what I'm hearing is Willians Astudillo, but with more power. Can't wait to see him in CF.

Players built like beanbag chairs: the new inefficiency. And given that Kirk looks like he got lost on his way to a Magic: The Gathering tournament, he's gotta be elite.

-MetA4- · Post #4902 » by **-MetA4-** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:39 am

Also:

bk (Vancouver, BC): Jordan Groshans is off to a really hot start. Are the reports as good as the numbers?

Kyle Glaser: Yes. Ben Badler who does the Blue Jays system for us was right on it when Groshans started earning glowing reports last year. I actually talked to a scout the other day who said the first time he saw Groshans he assumed he was a college guy because he was so advanced at the plate, he was stunned to learn he was a high school draft pick. The reports are good, the numbers are good, and kudos go to Ben for being on it and getting Groshans onto our Top 100 early.

2018 Draft Class (HS Hitters): Of the 2018 draft class HS hitters, would you rank Gorman, Kelenic, and Groshans in that order? I assume Gorman is at his own level now but how close are Kelenic and Groshans to each other?

Kyle Glaser: I would refer you to our Top 100 to see how close Kelenic and Groshans are to one another.

vaff87 · Post #4903 » by **vaff87** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 3:24 am

Schad wrote:And what I'm hearing is Willians Astudillo, but with more power. Can't wait to see him in CF.

Players built like beanbag chairs: the new inefficiency. And given that Kirk looks like he got lost on his way to a Magic: The Gathering tournament, he's gotta be elite.

How is his production for his age? Doing what he’s doing at 20 years old in the Midwest League is _______ impressive?

Post #4904 » by **Schad** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:28 am

vaff87 wrote:
Schad wrote:And what I'm hearing is Willians Astudillo, but with more power. Can't wait to see him in CF.

Players built like beanbag chairs: the new inefficiency. And given that Kirk looks like he got lost on his way to a Magic: The Gathering tournament, he's gotta be elite.

How is his production for his age? Doing what he’s doing at 20 years old in the Midwest League is _______ impressive?

As a point of reference, here's a complete list of players who qualified in the top 100 in MiLB in OPS (because that's easily searchable, heh) in their age 20 season or younger last year, playing primarily in full season, min 100 PAs in full-season:

Vlad, Juan Soto, Alex Kiriloff (MLB.com #9, BA #15, BP #39). And that'd be it.

2017: Bo Bichette, Brendan Rodgers, Eloy Jimenez, Rafael Devers, Keston Hiura (in a smallish sample).
2016: Eloy again.
2015: Willie Calhoun (smallish sample), Carlos Correa, Roberto Ramos.
2014 Correa again, Jesse Winker, Clint Coulter, Matt Olson, Corey Seager, Joey Gallo.

There are definitely a number of caveats: it's still April, and many of the players above were playing at higher levels, and a few of the above are absolutely Some Guys. But players of Kirk/Groshans' age hitting like that in full-season isn't exactly a common occurrence, and most of the players who hit like that are major prospects.

vaff87 · Post #4905 » by **vaff87** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 5:01 am

Schad wrote:
vaff87 wrote:
Schad wrote:And what I'm hearing is Willians Astudillo, but with more power. Can't wait to see him in CF.

Players built like beanbag chairs: the new inefficiency. And given that Kirk looks like he got lost on his way to a Magic: The Gathering tournament, he's gotta be elite.

How is his production for his age? Doing what he’s doing at 20 years old in the Midwest League is _______ impressive?

As a point of reference, here's a complete list of players who qualified in the top 100 in MiLB in OPS (because that's easily searchable, heh) in their age 20 season or younger last year, playing primarily in full season, min 100 PAs in full-season:

Vlad, Juan Soto, Alex Kiriloff (MLB.com #9, BA #15, BP #39). And that'd be it.

2017: Bo Bichette, Brendan Rodgers, Eloy Jimenez, Rafael Devers, Keston Hiura (in a smallish sample).
2016: Eloy again.
2015: Willie Calhoun (smallish sample), Carlos Correa, Roberto Ramos.
2014 Correa again, Jesse Winker, Clint Coulter, Matt Olson, Corey Seager, Joey Gallo.

There are definitely a number of caveats: it's still April, and many of the players above were playing at higher levels, and a few of the above are absolutely Some Guys. But players of Kirk/Groshans' age hitting like that in full-season isn't exactly a common occurrence, and most of the players who hit like that are major prospects.

I guess the encouraging thing is his numbers last year were extremely similar. So hopefully this really is an indication of the type of hitter he is.

dagger · Post #4906 » by **dagger** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:18 pm

Biggio went 1-2 today with 0K, 3BB, 2 RBI. He also played 3B, which is third infield position he's played this week.

BigLeagueChew · Post #4907 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:15 pm

jj cooper, exec editor for BA: "bichette likely a top 5 prospect soon, meeting coming up to re-rate prospects for May with the top 3 graduating.

Post #4908 » by **Schad** » Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:30 pm

dagger wrote:Biggio went 1-2 today with 0K, 3BB, 2 RBI. He also played 3B, which is third infield position he's played this week.

His floor is probably as a useful multi-position guy. Hard not to get a few Matt Carpenter vibes though, as a largely unheralded infield/utility player with an advanced approach who went from a nothing prospect to a significant contributor when he developed some power.

vaff87 · Post #4909 » by **vaff87** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:15 am

Riley Adams is really off to a good start this year.

dagger · Post #4910 » by **dagger** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:27 am

Dunedin killing it tonight. Riley Adams with a grand salami on top of a 7-0 lead. Pearson great through four and then after a long wait in the fifth as his team demolished Jupiter pitching, he feel apart a bit. First a fielding error by Samad Taylor, then a double - first hit he gave up. That got a mound visit which settled him down. He struck out the next three batters on 11 pitches for a total of 10Ks through five innings.

Post #4911 » by **Schad** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:27 am

Keep waiting for Adams to start striking out a tonne, but it's not happening. New Hampshire might be in his not-too-distant future, which will be a real test.

Pearson has been utterly dominant, again. 1 hit over 5 IP, 10:1 K:BB. Now a 30:2 K:BB on the year,

On the other side of the coin is Kevin Smith, who is really struggling in New Hampshire. Was decent but not spectacular in Dunedin last year after destroying Lansing, and his contact issues seem to be on full display now.

dagger · Post #4912 » by **dagger** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:40 am

Schad wrote:Keep waiting for Adams to start striking out a tonne, but it's not happening. New Hampshire might be in his not-too-distant future, which will be a real test.

Pearson has been utterly dominant, again. 1 hit over 5 IP, 10:1 K:BB. Now a 30:2 K:BB on the year,

On the other side of the coin is Kevin Smith, who is really struggling in New Hampshire. Was decent but not spectacular in Dunedin last year after destroying Lansing, and his contact issues seem to be on full display now.

Riley just struck out with the bases loaded again and Dunedin leading 14-0. It was just too much prosperity for one night.

Cullen Large, our 2017 Round 5er also having a night.

dagger · Post #4913 » by **dagger** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:51 am

Dunedin killing it tonight. Riley Adams with a grand salami on top of a 7-0 lead. Pearson great through four and then after a long wait in the fifth as his team demolished Jupiter pitching, he feel apart a bit. First a fielding error by Samad Taylor, then a double - first hit he gave up. That got a mound visit which settled him down. He struck out the next three batters on 11 pitches for a total of 10Ks through five innings. Pearson got to 72 pitches tonight (50 strikes).

Post #4914 » by **Schad** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 3:38 am

Hagen Danner Watch: 8 XBHs (2 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HRs), 1 single, 19 strikeouts. I'm extremely dubious that he can be a major league hitter, but if he switches back to the mound, he could be Madison Bumgarner I suppose.

Lateral Quicks · Post #4915 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Fri Apr 26, 2019 12:29 pm

I'm more concerned about the quantity and quality of prospects than the positions they play. With free agency having taken a recent turn to the sane, it should be possible to supplement home grown arms with some veterans without totally breaking the bank. Plus if we have redundancy at a position trades are always a possibility.

I look forward to a Vlad-Tellez-Kirk 3-4-5 heart of the order in a couple years

.

Eat. Sleep. Rake. Repeat.

Post #4916 » by **Schad** » Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:27 am

Schad wrote:No idea, but probably. The problem with the hamate is that it's apparently really hard to operate on if someone suffers a displaced fracture (it's a weirdly-shaped, tiny-ass bone down near the wrist with a hook on it), and a lot of times ends up simply getting removed. Second metacarpal = index finger below the bottom knuckle...so, should be easier to deal with, if it's just a non-displaced fracture. Toss a cast on there for a few weeks and away you go. He'll miss at least a month if it's non-surgical (and probably 6+ weeks if surgery is needed), but that's not the end of the world.

Doctor Schad, MD was right*: apparently 4-6 weeks, non-displaced fracture, no surgery.

*Do not consult Doctor Schad, MD for any medical purposes. Doctor Schad, MD is neither a doctor nor an MD, and all of his knowledge of medical problems comes from i) Google, or ii) bones he has personally broken. Taking Doctor Schad, MD's advice is tacitly admitting that you deserve to have an injury that never heals.

vaff87 · Post #4917 » by **vaff87** » Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:33 am

That’s really not too bad, I guess. Could have been much worse.

vaff87 · Post #4918 » by **vaff87** » Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:38 am

Man, the Nationals handle prospects so much differently than us. When you compare how they’ve handled Juan Soto and Carter Kieboom compared to how we’ve handled Guerrero and Bichette.

vaff87 · Post #4919 » by **vaff87** » Sat Apr 27, 2019 2:43 am

Alford’s numbers are not encouraging. Ugh.

dagger · Post #4920 » by **dagger** » Sat Apr 27, 2019 1:32 pm

vaff87 wrote:Man, the Nationals handle prospects so much differently than us. When you compare how they’ve handled Juan Soto and Carter Kieboom compared to how we’ve handled Guerrero and Bichette.

What's the problem - the end game is what counts, not the timeline necessarily? Is Vlad not a good prospect? Might it have been productive to bring along his defence? If we can keep him at 3B, that's golden. And Bo is right about where you'd expect him in a moderately conservative development program. It's not like we're suffering at 2B or SS. (No surgery for him, BTW, so he's out 4-6 weeks).

If you want to compare to other systems, you have to take a more systemic POV. Are we being smart overloading on infielders with our high picks and international signings (;probably). How is our record on bringing along pitchers? Are we successful at developing secondary pitches needed to get them to the majors? We see Tampa Bay has a pitching philosophy that they apply, with success, from top to bottom in the organization? Do the Jays have any such philosophy?