Archive for Prospects

Eric Longenhagen Chat: 8/30/2018

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August 30, 2018
2:00
Eric A Longenhagen: Hey there, let’s chat. Last Daily Prospect Notes of the year will be out later today and I’ll have Fall League roster stuff at some point, too. They’re exciting this year, as always.
2:00
Rosie: who’s the biggest sleeper in the AZL that could become a big spec one day?
2:02
Eric A Longenhagen: Depends on what kind of perspective you have. Reivaj Garcia isn’t a sleeper down here but he might be to you. I’ll say Wilbis Santiago. Old for AZL but really loose, quick hands.
2:03
Joe: Best prospect from this group? Neidert, Palumbo, Duran, Thorpe, Widener, Santillan, and poche
2:03
Eric A Longenhagen: One of those guys is a 50 FV on The Board, the rest are not (yet)
2:03
regular: DeShawn Knowles has comparable slash to Wander (albeit weaker ratios). What kind of upside are we looking at? Shane Victorino a decent comp?

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FanGraphs Audio: An Hour of the Lead Prospect Analyst

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August 29, 2018

Episode 832
Eric Longenhagen is the lead prospect analyst for FanGraphs dot com. In this episode, he speaks for a period of time either (a) equivalent to or (b) very much resembling one hour. Topics considered: the 18-year-old right-hander in Cleveland’s system who’s better than any prep pitcher eligible for the 2019 draft, the challenge of evaluating Matt Chapman as a prospect, and why a 20 present-value hit grade for a prep prospect make sense.

Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or other feeder things.

Audio after the jump. (Approximately 1 hr 4 min play time.)

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Daily Prospect Notes: 8/29/2018

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August 29, 2018

Notes on prospects from lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen. Read previous installments here.

Cal Stevenson, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Level: Advanced Rookie   Age: 21   Org Rank: NR   FV: 35
Line: 3-for-4, 2B, 4 SB

Notes
College seniors are expected to dominate short-season leagues after signing but what Cal Stevenson has done merits some discussion, in part because he played through a hand injury this spring that may have clouded his actual skill. Stevenson has a .513 OBP at Bluefield because he has walked nearly three times more often than he’s struck out. He’s also stolen 21 bags in 22 attempts since signing. These numbers corroborate scouting reports which compliment Stevenson’s plus speed and bat-to-ball skills before noting his likely corner-outfield defensive projection and lack of characteristic power for the position. But let’s keep an eye on this guy because Toronto has a track record of making swing adjustments to bat-first college players that have helped those players become more viable prospects.

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Recently Added Prospects to THE BOARD

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August 29, 2018

The process of tweaking THE BOARD never ends. We’ll make it clear when there’s a wholesale update. For the moment, however, we’ve provided here some the most recent additions and subtractions. Players listed in order of preference.

Andruw Monasterio, SS, Nationals, 40 FV
Acquired from the Cubs for Daniel Murphy. Is flying under the radar as a solid utility type who makes contact, runs above average, and plays a solid shortstop.

Moises Gomez, RF, Rays, 40 FV
Just turned 20 at the end of loud full-season debut in Low-A. Is flashing everyday-right-fielder tools.

Bryan Abreu, RHP, Astros, 40 FV
Another Astros power arm up to 97 with above to plus breaking balls. Likely relief fit due to inconsistency.

Otto Lopez, SS, Blue Jays, 35+ FV
A high-energy athlete who can play almost any position. Is more contact-oriented, utility-type fit presently with a chance for better.

Ivan Herrera, C, Cardinals, 35+ FV
Has always performed. Has power and some feel to hit, along with a chance to stick at catcher.

Luis Santana, 2B, Mets, 35+ FV
Lacks physical projection and is currently playing in a crowded infield rotation at Kingsport, but has real feel to hit and has always performed.

C.J. Alexander, 3B, Braves, 35+ FV
A late pick this summer as an old junior-college player. Has plus lefty raw power and has recorded surprising early performance regarding contact. Plays passable defense at all four corner spots.

Recently graduated prospects include Rays SS Willy Adames (60 FV), LHP Jalen Beeks (45 FV), and RHP Diego Castillo (40 FV), along with Jays LHP Ryan Borucki (45 FV) and IF Lourdes Gurriel (40 FV).

We’re due to have some movement among already ranked prospects in the coming weeks, before rankings lock for offseason organizational lists.


Kiley McDaniel Chat – 8/29/18

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August 29, 2018
12:09

Kiley McDaniel: Coming to you live from my desk while Scout chews on her dinosaur toy in the next room, it’s chat time
12:10

Kiley McDaniel: I went to a bunch of games in the last week, cleaning up some needed looks on local prospects.
12:10

Kiley McDaniel: Only non Florida State League game was Jacksonville (AA Marlins) and Birmingham (AA White Sox) where I was going for Dylan Cease but got a bunch of other guys as well
12:13

Kiley McDaniel: FSL looks included affiliates of MIN (Royce, Kirilloff, Brusdar, Blankenhorn), ATL (Contreras, Waters, Ynoa, Wentz, Davidson),  NYY (Florial, Deivi Garcia, D. Castillo, Gilliam), DET (Fulmer rehab, Manning, Clemens, Castro),  CIN (Fairchild, Isabel), PHI (Llovera, Moniak, Gamboa, Brito, Falter), TBR (McKay, Brujan, Lowe, Fraley, Padlo, Gray, Palacios)
12:14

Kiley McDaniel: Anyway that took longer than I expected to flip thru my notes and compile, but those are the guys I saw recently if any of them or their teammates are of special interest
12:14

Kiley McDaniel: And there’s a post going up shortly of the prospect just added to the board

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Daily Prospect Notes: 8/28/2018

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August 28, 2018

Notes on prospects from lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen. Read previous installments here.

Performances from 8/26

Evan White, 1B, Seattle Mariners
Level: High-A   Age: 22   Org Rank: 2   FV: 45
Line: 3-for-4, 2B, 3Bho

Notes
We now have a full season of data to help us figure out whether Evan White’s weird profile is going to play. A plus-running backwards guy (bats right, throws left, a generally unfavorable combination due to the defensive limitations and platoon issues caused by both) who plays plus defense at first base, White was slugging .391 at the start of August, which is rather uninspiring for a college hitter in the Cal League. In August, however, White has 30 hits in 90 plate appearances and is slugging .763. He has made subtle changes to his lower half, drawing his front knee back toward his rear hip more than he did at Kentucky, and taking a longer stride back toward the pitcher. White is more often finishing with a flexed front leg, which has helped him go down and lift balls in the bottom part of the strike zone by adjusting his lower half instead of his hands. It’s a more athletic swing that was implemented before White’s explosive August, though he may just be getting comfortable with it now. Read the rest of this entry »


Eric Longenhagen Chat: 8/23/2018

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August 23, 2018
2:03
Eric A Longenhagen: What’s up, everybody? Baseball chat engage
2:03
Mike: Your Bryse Wilson–Michael Fulmer comp has me really intrigued. What is that based on? Velocity and GB rate? I was impressed with Wilson’s first start.
2:05
Eric A Longenhagen: The body, the pitch mix and quality of the stuff, the limitations with pitch utility and repertoire depth. Lotta similarities.
2:06
Dan: Brailyn Marquez. Thoughts?
2:09
Eric A Longenhagen: 19y/o Cubs lefty in short season. Thoughts are same as last year. Low-to-mid 90s, will show a 55 curveball and knows how to work it to both-handed hitters. I bet the changeup comes, he has good feel. Body went backwards from last summer to this year but it hasn’t affected performance.
2:09
Chris: Any clue what has happened to Mickey Moniak as of recently?

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Daily Prospect Notes: 8/22/2018

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August 22, 2018

Notes on prospects from lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen. Read previous installments here.

Bubba Thompson, CF, Texas Rangers
Level: Low-A   Age: 20   Org Rank: 5   FV: 45
Line: 4-for-6, HR

Notes
Were Bubba Thompson wrapping up his season with poor numbers, I’d be excusing it based on context. A multi-sport high-school athlete who had focused solely on baseball for just one year, Thompson also had his reps limited, after he signed last summer, due to nagging lower-body issues. I expected him to hang back in extended spring training and then head to Spokane in June. Instead, after a month in extended, Thompson was pushed by Texas to a full-season affiliate as a 19-year-old. He’s hitting .295/.350/.460 with 28 extra-base hits in 323 PAz and 28 steals in 35 attempts. He’s projects as a center fielder with power.

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Kiley McDaniel Chat – 8/22/18

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August 22, 2018
12:10

Kiley McDaniel: Hello reader, puppy took a long detour on the walk and I’m a pushover so here I am at 12:10. Lets see what you’ve got for me today.
12:11

Tommy N.: Did you see Ryan Weathers start yesterday? Looks like he’s pretty polished already is he more polished than Gore coming out of high school?
12:12

Kiley McDaniel: Didn’t see the start, but the level of polish is definitely comparable. Gore flashes 60’s with a better delivery and Weathers is more 55’s with no projection, short stride. Not like hugely different, but HS pitchers are risky and there’s lots of teenagers with big stuff, so these sorta small differences become important
12:12

Garrett: Anthopoulos just said he believes the Braves internal talent is better than what’s out on the market? Do you believe it’s true or is this just leverage.
12:14

Kiley McDaniel: Well in the sense that they didn’t need to go acquire a bunch of high octane arms bc they have Fried, Gohara, Wilson, Toussaint, Allard, Wright, etc. all hanging around is true. They still picked up a few veteran arms, but if fans think they should’ve cashed in two of those guys for Archer when there’s a chance one of those guys just is Archer going forward (but younger and way cheaper) is probably correct.
12:14

Shawn: Between Loaisiga and Domingo German – Who has the better chance to start and who would be the better RP? Overall, who has more FV?

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Daily Prospect Notes: 8/21/2018

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August 21, 2018

Notes on prospects from lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen. Read previous installments here.

Johan Quezada, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Level: Low-A   Age: Turns 24 on Saturday   Org Rank: 46   FV: 35+
Line: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 6 K

Notes
This was Johan Quezada’s first career appearance in full-season ball. An imposing mound presence at a towering 6-foot-6, he has recovered from the shoulder surgery that cost him all of 2017, and his velocity has returned. He sits 94-97 with extreme downhill plane created by his height, and he’ll show you an average slider every once in a while. Quezada’s breaking-ball quality and command need to develop as they’re understandably behind due to his limited pro workload. He’s a older-than-usual arm-strength/size lottery ticket. On the surface, he seems like a candidate for extra reps in the Arizona Fall League.

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