2024 Minor League/Prospects Discussion Thread

[polo007]

Kiley McDaniel's 2021 American League team-by-team prospect rankings - ESPN.com

Toronto Blue Jays (No. 11 system)

1. Nate Pearson, RHP, 60 FV (14)
2. Austin Martin, 2B, 55 FV (38)
3. Jordan Groshans, 3B, 50 FV (47)
4. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, 50 FV (90)
5. Alejandro Kirk, C, 50 FV (96)
6. Gabriel Moreno, C, 45+ FV (124)
7. Alek Manoah, RHP, 45+ FV (126)
8. Orelvis Martinez, SS, 45+ FV (155)
9. Miguel Hiraldo, 3B, 45 FV
10. Julian Merryweather, RHP, 40+ FV

Top 10 reports

Moreno is a possible multi-positional utility type that's solid behind the plate (but is just an okay framer and would benefit from automated strike-calling) but isn't bulky and can also play the infield like Austin Barnes. He has a chance for average offensive output with the gains he made in 2020 at the alternate site and instructional league. Martinez has big raw tools (plus bat speed, plus raw power, plus arm) befitting a $3.5 million bonus in the 2018 international class. He's only played 40 official pro games and mostly has just shown flashes, but there's above average every-day upside if it all comes together.

Manoah was the 11th overall pick in 2019 out of West Virginia and projects as a 3rd starter or closer. He has an intense demeanor on the mound, sits in the mid-90s, and has a 65-grade slider with a good sense of how and when to use it. His changeup consistency and fastball command need some work and he'll need to keep an eye on his frame, but there's an impact big leaguer of some sort here. Merryweather came over in the Josh Donaldson trade and has a multi-inning future, whether as a starter or reliever. His fastball-changeup combo is plus, but his command and breaking ball point to a possible issue turning over a lineup.

Hiraldo is my breakout pick for the system. He got $750,000 in the 2017 international class due to his bat speed, raw power and potential infield fit. He's still largely the same type of prospect, with a decent shot to stick at third base, and above-average bat speed, bat control, raw power and arm strength. His tendency to chase a bit and continuing to get to his power in games are the question marks, along with only one game of experience in full-season ball. If he continues down this road in 2021 at low-A, he'll enter that top group of the Toronto system.

Others of note

RHP C.J. Van Eyk (11, 40+ FV) has flashed three plus pitches at times in high school and at Florida State, but his command and consistency has been an issue, which is why he lasted until the 42nd overall pick last summer. SS Leonardo Jimenez (15, 40 FV) took a step forward in instructional league, improving his in-game power, adding to his contact-and-defense type profile. RHP Sem Robberse (18) was signed out of the Netherlands (!) in 2019, already increasing his velocity from the mid-80's to the low-90's. He gets a lot of praise for his precocious feel and ability to improve, with flashes of average stuff, projection for more, and enough command to project him as a starter.

SS Otto Lopez (19) draws trade interest as a shortstop with contact skills and some power, the building blocks that every team is looking for. RHP Joey Murray (21) is a data-interested type with great feel to pitch and manipulate his stuff to match the situation. His stuff plays a bit above average so he could fit in a multi-inning relief type role. RHP Trent Palmer (22) was a 3rd rounder out of Jacksonville last summer that was trending up before the shutdown with excellent feel and performance of solid average stuff. C Riley Adams (23) has plus raw power and arm strength, along with decent defensive skills and some upper level performance; a consolation prize of sorts if a team wants but can't get Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk, and Gabriel Moreno.

[polo007]

Still a teenager, Orelvis Martinez's 'explosiveness' drawing attention in Dunedin - TSN.ca

As a teenager this spring, Martinez has impressed with his baseball maturity, even if his baby face gives away his age.

“Just the way he’s working on things and going about his business, it’s a very sort of calm and professional approach, with some legitimate explosiveness to his game,” Tinnish said.

A little early advice from Guerrero may have helped.

Sitting down for a Zoom chat that he called his first-ever interview, Martinez, via team translator Tito Lebron, relayed some simple instructions from Vladdy.

“Vladimir, first thing he told me is to respect everyone here and make sure to be on time for everything,” Martinez said.

“They’ve been great to me. Some of the guys talk to me and tell me what I should do to get better, things to do. It feels good being here in camp pretty much at the same level as them for now.”

Timing up a fastball isn’t going to be a problem.

When Martinez debuted in the now-erased Gulf Coast League in the summer of 2019 as a 17-year-old, about two-and-a-half years below the average age, he was already putting up some of the most impressive exit velocities in the circuit, according to those familiar with the data.

With impressive bat speed, barrel control and torque in his swing, Martinez smiles when asked if he’s always knocked seams off baseballs.

“Since I was a young kid,” Martinez said. “I mean, I knew I hit the ball hard and all the people around me, the people I played against, they all noticed that since I was young.”

A favourite saying of scouts is “hitters hit” and Martinez fits nicely into that bucket.

There are moving parts to the swing that might be tested when he reaches the upper minors eventually, but he checks all three of the important boxes: power, hit tool, plate discipline.

“I can be aggressive when I want, I can be a good contact hitter if I want,” Martinez said. “I’ve got some pop, so if I feel like I want to hit it hard or if I want to go the other way, I can go the other way. That’s the way I describe myself. I don’t want to describe myself as just a power guy or an aggressive guy.”

Given the pedigree and the early production, it’s not going out on much of a limb to say Martinez could find himself as a top 20 or so prospect in baseball in the next couple of years if things go as expected.

With his full season debut on the horizon this year if the minor leagues ever get going, Martinez is on just about every watch list out there.

Being exposed to advanced pitching as well as major league coaching last September when he got the call to go to the team’s alternate site in Rochester for some seasoning has helped ease the transition to big-league camp in Dunedin this spring.

“I really felt very comfortable,” Martinez said. “As soon as they gave me the news that I was going to Rochester, I just prepared my mind for that and when I got there I was really comfortable.”

[polo007]

Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects list 2021 - MLB.com

Here’s a look at the Blue Jays’ top prospects:

1. Nate Pearson, RHP (MLB No. 10)

2. Austin Martin, SS/OF (MLB No. 22)

3. Jordan Groshans, SS (MLB No. 46)

4. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP (MLB No. 87)

5. Alejandro Kirk, C

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2020 preseason list to the 2021 preseason list:

Jump: Joey Murray, RHP (2020: NR | 2021: 18) -- Murray eventually crept into the Top 30 as some of the Blue Jays’ top prospects graduated in 2020, but the right-hander has really built some momentum entering 2021. Murray’s fastball spin rate is exceptional, creating an “invisible” pitch up in the zone, and a recent velocity bump has him sitting in the 92-93 mph range. Murray has an opportunity to force himself into the Major League picture this summer.

Fall: Kevin Smith, INF (2020: 23 | 2021: 30) -- One year ago, Smith was coming off a tough 2019 season with Double-A New Hampshire but still wasn’t all that far removed from a breakout 2018, when he hit 25 home runs with an .886 OPS between Low Class A and High Class A. The missed season allowed other prospects with more upward momentum to surpass Smith, but the Blue Jays are encouraged by the work he’s done to reset his plate approach and his strong defense helps to project him as a big leaguer.

[polo007]

2021 farm system rankings: Pitchers - MLB.com

6. Toronto Blue Jays

Top 100 Prospects: Nate Pearson (No. 10), Simeon Woods Richardson (No. 87)

Pitchers among Top 30 prospects: 14

Nate Pearson has struggled to stay consistently healthy during his days in pro ball, as evidenced by his current bout with a groin strain, but with his triple-digit heater and plus slider, he is one of the most electric arms in prospectdom when he's on. Case in point: he is MLB Pipeline's top-rated right-handed pitching prospect heading into 2021, and only MacKenzie Gore ranks higher among pitchers in general. Lower down the Top 100 list, Simeon Woods Richardson was acquired from the Mets in a 2019 trade and has spent his days in the Toronto pipeline sharpening a four-pitch arsenal that features 55 and 60 grades across the board. Alek Manoah -- the 11th overall pick in 2019 -- has flashed Top 100 potential this spring and could easily climb to that status once he pitches consistently in the Minors after missing out on a full season last year. In the more immediate term, Joey Murray, Julian Merryweather and T.J. Zeuch could all be options to help the big club this summer. It's that nearby help for Toronto, at a time when the club is truly pushing for contention, that helps put the Jays in this spot.

[vaff87]

That HR today by Orelvis Martinez was pretty impressive. 415 ft with a 107.7 exit velocity.

[guvernator]

Like most others I had a picture of a lanky kid with a long swing in mind when it comes to Orelvis... But hes got bat speed for days. He should be ranked ahead of groshans.

[Schad]

Like most others I had a picture of a lanky kid with a long swing in mind when it comes to Orelvis... But hes got bat speed for days. He should be ranked ahead of groshans.

He's a popular pick to rocket up prospect lists. Primary reason he hasn't done so is that his sole professional experience to date is 162 PAs of rookie ball, and his swing mechanics and pitch selection were sometimes pretty iffy (he was 17). If he hits in A ball and shows a more refined approach, he'll be pretty highly-ranked by midseason.

[polo007]

2021-22 International Big Board - Baseball America

11. Luis Meza

Venezuela

C

Notes:

Born: Sept. 11, 2004. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 185.

Venezuela consistently is home to top international catchers, with Diego Cartaya (Dodgers), Francisco Alvarez (Mets) and Ronnier Quintero (Cubs) in the most recent signing classes. Meza fits into that tier of players as a catcher who projects to stick behind the plate and is one of the better hitters in Venezuela. He has a loose, easy swing with a knack for being on time and strong game performance. He's a high-contact hitter who uses the whole field, with room on his broad-shouldered frame to fill out and drive the ball with more impact as he gets stronger. Meza's catch-and-throw skills are also advanced for his age. The Blue Jays are expected to sign Meza, who trains with Kander Depablos and Reynaldo Gonzalez.

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Prospects we're excited to see in 2021 - MLB.com

Blue Jays: Jordan Groshans, SS (No. 3/MLB No. 39)

A foot injury suffered in his first full season and last year’s canceled campaign means we haven’t seen Groshans on a Minor League field since May 13, 2019 with Class A Lansing. He’ll open this season at Double-A New Hampshire, where he’ll show off plus bat speed that could result in a solid average and above-average power. The Jays want to keep Groshans at short as long as they can, but as he gets closer to Bo Bichette’s shadow, expect him to see more third base.

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[dagger]

Alek Manoah will start at AAA. Skipping fullseason A, A+, AA. Competiton between him and Pearson will be interesting.

[StringerBell]

Alek Manoah will start at AAA. Skipping fullseason A, A+, AA. Competiton between him and Pearson will be interesting.

I'd put my money on Manoah.

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[dagger]

Austin Martin hit the first pitch he saw in an official game for a line drive single. Auspicious debut

[StringerBell]

Fishercats line-up gonna put some crocked numbers lol

[dagger]

New Hampshire looks like a powerhouse. First game 11-2 win, 16 hits

Martin 2-4
Lopez 2-6
Groshans 1-4
Moreno 3-5
Young 2-3, 3 RBIs

[bluerap23]

Nate Pearson had a solid start for Buffalo. Would love to see his next start with jays.