2019 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[vaff87]

It's odd that Shatkins doesn't appear to address the outfield issue via trades, only more starting pitching.

Starting pitchers are a critical asset and a great trade piece. Given their fragility, you need a large supply of them - some would say oversupply - to assemble a good staff, and if you have more than you can fit without losing quality arms in a Rule 5 draft, you can trade them for outfielders. At the same time, you can convert many infielders into corner outfielders, as we have done, with good success, with Gurriel Jr. So if we have too many infielders coming up, or catchers for that matter, we can either convert them into outfielders if they have the requisite talent or trade them for an outfielder or two.

Yeah, someone like Jordan Groshans could probably be a good RF, if need be. However, by the time he makes it, they might move Vladdy to first.

[dagger]

It's odd that Shatkins doesn't appear to address the outfield issue via trades, only more starting pitching.

Starting pitchers are a critical asset and a great trade piece. Given their fragility, you need a large supply of them - some would say oversupply - to assemble a good staff, and if you have more than you can fit without losing quality arms in a Rule 5 draft, you can trade them for outfielders. At the same time, you can convert many infielders into corner outfielders, as we have done, with good success, with Gurriel Jr. So if we have too many infielders coming up, or catchers for that matter, we can either convert them into outfielders if they have the requisite talent or trade them for an outfielder or two.

Yeah, someone like Jordan Groshans could probably be a good RF, if need be. However, by the time he makes it, they might move Vladdy to first.

The Jays are so deep in infielders they will still likely have a surplus even after moving Guerrero to first. Kevin Smth still strikes out a lot but he is having a hell of a July at New Hampshire. In his last 10 games he's hitting .400. Groshens, Martinez, Jimenez, Hiraldo, etc, plus Biggio and Bo. Those are just the obvious guys.

[gundysmullet]

It's odd that Shatkins doesn't appear to address the outfield issue via trades, only more starting pitching.

Starting pitchers are a critical asset and a great trade piece. Given their fragility, you need a large supply of them - some would say oversupply - to assemble a good staff, and if you have more than you can fit without losing quality arms in a Rule 5 draft, you can trade them for outfielders. At the same time, you can convert many infielders into corner outfielders, as we have done, with good success, with Gurriel Jr. So if we have too many infielders coming up, or catchers for that matter, we can either convert them into outfielders if they have the requisite talent or trade them for an outfielder or two.

Yes, but there has to be some semblance of a balance. They have addressed starting pitching in spades, but have completely neglected outfielders, and sure you can convert an infielder to an outfielder and hope for the best but here’s a novel concept… Draft or trade for a quality stud outfielder.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Yes, but there has to be some semblance of a balance. They have addressed starting pitching in spades, but have completely neglected outfielders, and sure you can convert an infielder to an outfielder and hope for the best but here’s a novel concept… Draft or trade for a quality stud outfielder.

I'm sure they'll draft or trade for them in the relatively near future. The outfield isn't necessarily a horribly difficult place to fill. Gurriel is already in left and they could fill the right side in a pinch if they had to - Connine projects as an RF, though he strikes out a lot, or Biggio could move there, for example. It really isn't the OF that's an issue for the Jays, it's a CF very specifically. They're going to have to address CF at some point but they don't need to be in a rush. They still have another couple years to find one but they can be patient there. And they did draft a CF this last year nabbing Dassan Brown in the 3rd round. They can trade, draft, or sign either as a FA or an international FA. They aren't going to win anything next year, either.

[dagger]

Yes, but there has to be some semblance of a balance. They have addressed starting pitching in spades, but have completely neglected outfielders, and sure you can convert an infielder to an outfielder and hope for the best but here’s a novel concept… Draft or trade for a quality stud outfielder.

I'm sure they'll draft or trade for them in the relatively near future. The outfield isn't necessarily a horribly difficult place to fill. Gurriel is already in left and they could fill the right side in a pinch if they had to - Connine projects as an RF, though he strikes out a lot, or Biggio could move there, for example. It really isn't the OF that's an issue for the Jays, it's a CF very specifically. They're going to have to address CF at some point but they don't need to be in a rush. They still have another couple years to find one but they can be patient there. And they did draft a CF this last year nabbing Dassan Brown in the 3rd round. They can trade, draft, or sign either as a FA or an international FA. They aren't going to win anything next year, either.

I think it's also true that if the Jays are down to one need, i.e. pitching, catching, infield, corner outfielders all fine, you can get by with adequate at one position, like maybe a light-bat-great-defender type in CF who bats ninth.

[Gachibass]

It's easier being a good outfielders than a good infielders. Jays have done the right thing addressing the infield first

[polo007]

Read on Twitter

[dagger]

Read on Twitter

A good thing to remember about Andrew Kay who pitches tomorrow for Buffalo. When Zeuch was promoted, he had some uglier starts. There is an adjustment to the ball (they use the major league ball now in AAA) and to better talent. I don't know what the real ceiling is for either Zeuch or Kay, but I can't dismiss either of their chances to get to the majors and stick based on their first few starts in a higher class.

[dagger]

Bryan Baker, the PTBNL in the Oh trade last year, continues to excel in relief at BUF. He may warrant a look.


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[dagger]

Okay, it's time to raise the prospect ghost of Kevin Smith from the grave

Yes, he sucked at the plate for the better part of April through June.

Then July.

These are his July numbers (minus 7 days on the DL) heading into tonight: .338/.370/.708/1.078

So far tonight, he's 2-2 with a walk in three plate appearances, including his 16th homer.

I don't know who spiked his coffee, but considering he's a strong defensive SS by all accounts, he may yet have a say in the future.

As for Nate Pearson, he wasn't as sharp as usual, but threw six shutout innings (2H, 3BB, 5K). Too many hitter's counts and fly balls for him, although it would be a stellar night for a lesser pitcher. Tonight's big achievement for him was going through six and getting his pitch count up to 91.

[Sanyo]

Okay, it's time to raise the prospect ghost of Kevin Smith from the grave

Yes, he sucked at the plate for the better part of April through June.

Then July.

These are his July numbers (minus 7 days on the DL) heading into tonight: .338/.370/.708/1.078

He's 2-2 tonight, including his 16th homer.

I don't know who spiked his coffee, but considering he's a strong defensive SS by all accounts, he may yet have a say in the future.

As for Nate Pearson, he wasn't as sharp as usual, but threw six shutout innings (2H, 3BB, 5K). Too many hitter's counts and fly balls for him, although it would be a stellar night for a lesser pitcher. Tonight's big achievement for him was going through six and getting his pitch count up to 91.

Bichette has SS locked so either he goes outfield or maybe goes to 3rd base and Vladdy to 1st. Or maybe flip Smith for a comparable pitching prospect or outfielder

[vaff87]

Okay, it's time to raise the prospect ghost of Kevin Smith from the grave

Yes, he sucked at the plate for the better part of April through June.

Then July.

These are his July numbers (minus 7 days on the DL) heading into tonight: .338/.370/.708/1.078

He's 2-2 tonight, including his 16th homer.

I don't know who spiked his coffee, but considering he's a strong defensive SS by all accounts, he may yet have a say in the future.

As for Nate Pearson, he wasn't as sharp as usual, but threw six shutout innings (2H, 3BB, 5K). Too many hitter's counts and fly balls for him, although it would be a stellar night for a lesser pitcher. Tonight's big achievement for him was going through six and getting his pitch count up to 91.

Bichette has SS locked so either he goes outfield or maybe goes to 3rd base and Vladdy to 1st. Or maybe flip Smith for a comparable pitching prospect or outfielder

It’s still possible Bo won’t be able to handle SS. Not saying I think that will happen, but it conceivably could.

[Schad]

Bichette probably has SS locked in, though it'll depend how we feel about his range after a year or two. He has grown by leaps and bounds defensively from someone who was thought to be certain to move off the position, but if a good defensive SS who can hit were to come up through the system, moving Bichette to 2B is certainly a possibility.

Smith is certainly playing better, and his K rate has been a bit better of late (though still not good). I'd leave him in AA to start next year; even with the HRs, his approach at the moment will get exposed at the major league level, and probably at the AAA level as well (though with the new ball, he could post gaudy HR rates).

[dagger]

Okay, it's time to raise the prospect ghost of Kevin Smith from the grave

Yes, he sucked at the plate for the better part of April through June.

Then July.

These are his July numbers (minus 7 days on the DL) heading into tonight: .338/.370/.708/1.078

He's 2-2 tonight, including his 16th homer.

I don't know who spiked his coffee, but considering he's a strong defensive SS by all accounts, he may yet have a say in the future.

As for Nate Pearson, he wasn't as sharp as usual, but threw six shutout innings (2H, 3BB, 5K). Too many hitter's counts and fly balls for him, although it would be a stellar night for a lesser pitcher. Tonight's big achievement for him was going through six and getting his pitch count up to 91.

Bichette has SS locked so either he goes outfield or maybe goes to 3rd base and Vladdy to 1st. Or maybe flip Smith for a comparable pitching prospect or outfielder

Nobody has a lock on any position at this point on a losing team. Montoyo likes players who can play multiple positions, and by all accounts Smith may be the best fielding SS in the system who also has a bit of offence, at least he's tops in the middle/upper part of the system. I don't have any insight into Martinez or Hiraldo or Jimenez. Somebody is going to end up long term at 2B, and Guerrero may be ticketed to 1B, so there is 3B.

This is MLBpipeline's profile on Smith's D.

Smith's offensive profile is only enhanced by his abilities at shortstop, where he's an above-average defender with soft hands, good range and plus arm strength. His defensive profile also fits well at third base, and Smith appeared in 27 games at the hot corner in 2018 on top of his usual reps up the middle. The Blue Jays rave about Smith's baseball IQ and work ethic, believing those qualities will allow him to always get the most out of his tools and surpass expectations.

Clearly he has to show more plate discipline. A high K rate is among his current faults. So the jury is still out. But he's showing he's at least not dead as a prospect. One thing I liked about his walk tonight - with runners on first and third and two out, he fell behind 0-2, then took four straight balls, rather than giving into the temptation to swing at pitches out of the zone for more RBIs. If her can develop a bit more discipline, he at least forces himself back into the conversation for 2020-21.

[rarefind]

Allard or our haul from the Mets?

[guvernator]

Allard or our haul from the Mets?

not the guy who cant throw 90.

[vaff87]

Allard or our haul from the Mets?

What we got from the Mets, easily.

[Schad]

Allard's not very good. He's probably a pitchability reliever unless he finds 4-5 mph.

[dagger]

Lets delve into Woods Richardson a little deeper/ This trade could end up being meh, but if they have Woods Richardson pegged right, it may prove to be an exceedingly good return, all things considered.

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2019/7/29/8934275/toronto-blue-jays-new-york-mets-simeon-woods-richardson-anthony-kay-marcus-stroman-trade-deadlne


At only 18 years of age, Simeon Woods Richardson is dominating Low-A hitters.
By Patrick Brennan Jul 29, 2019, 12:00pm EDT
S
In case you somehow missed the news that reigned over Baseball Twitter late Sunday afternoon into the evening, there was a trade that perplexed the minds of many.

One of the top arms on the trading black in Marcus Stroman is no longer available and is now currently a Met. This all seems like a single piece to the puzzle that is a larger plan for the Mets, as the possibility of future trade(s) and extension(s) still looms. For the Blue Jays, their return seemed lighter than what they were originally expected to bring back for one of their top assets. In return, they get pitching prospects Simeon Woods Richardson nad Anthony Kay, neither of whom find themselves as a consensus top 100 prospect, but their profiles still bring plenty of intrigue to the table.

The main draw for the Blue Jays looks to be Woods Richardson, a highly-regarded right-handed starter who was selected by the Mets in the second round of last year’s draft. While he currently finds himself out of most top 100 lists, it was noted back in February over at FanGraphs that Woods Richardson could be flying up rankings in a short amount of time. Compared to other high school prospects, it was brought up that he had a high floor, along with a relatively good ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.

Woods Richardson works so quickly that it often makes hitters uncomfortable, though scouts love it. He’s also shown some nascent changeup feel, but it will be hard to turn the cambio over consistently from his arm slot. Though he was one of the 2018 draft’s youngest prospects, his frame is pretty mature, so we’re not rounding up on the fastball even though he’s still a teenager. His reasonable floor is that of a high-leverage or multi-inning reliever (a role that would seem to suit his fiery on-mound presence), but if a third impact pitch develops he could be a mid-rotation starter.
After appearing in seven games across two rookie levels in his debut season, Woods Richardson has spent the full duration of the 2019 season pitching for the Mets Low-A affiliate, starting in 20 games accumulating to 78 1⁄3 innings.

To say he’s been fantastic would be an understatement, as supported from his ranks among 55 qualified South Atlantic League starters. All of this while being the youngest pitcher of that group.

FIP: 4th
xFIP: 1st
K%: 7th
BB%: 13th
K-BB%: 1st
SwStr%: 14th
HR/9: 18th
GB%: 10th
IFFB%: 1st
Pitching as an 18-year-old at the Low-A level is impressive in its own way. Putting up league-leading results is at a whole other level. To put Woods Richardson’s performance into a historical perspective, there have been 27 pitchers age 18 or younger to pitch at the Low-A level since 2006 (minimum 70 innings). Woods Richardson is one of them. His ranks out of those 27 pitchers go as...

FIP: 4th
xFIP: 1st
K%: 3rd
BB%: 6th
K-BB%: 2nd
HR/9: 15th
The only pitcher that can really hold a comparison to Woods Richardson’s 2019 season from an age and performance standpoint is 2008 Madison Bumgarner (2.06 FIP in 141 2⁄3 innings). It took Bumgarner one year after that to log innings in Double-A and another year two years to mold himself into one of the game’s best pitchers. Obviously, those standards are completely unfair to hold to Woods Richardson, but with a similar polish to Bumgarner, a fastball that tops in the mid-90s, and an early track-record of strong numbers, it wouldn’t be unreasobale to think that Woods Richardson could have that same ascendance up the minor league ladder and the prospect ranks.

Patrick Brennan loves to research pitchers and minor leaguers with data. You can find additional work of his at Royals Review and Royals Farm Report. You can also find him on Twitter @paintingcorner.

[SharoneWright]

Pretty sure this was updated today... Nice to see 7/top12 and 7/top11 (excluding Bichette) are pitchers.
http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=tor