Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[flafson]

Even though he played a handful of games in the majors last year, I'd almost completely forgotten about Urena.

 

Him and Smith Jr both appearing in the majors just shows you how much weaker our infield and outfield depth was last season.

 

IMO, both of them showed glimpses of hope.

[John_Havok]

Show Hey O’Tawny: Outside of the big 3 of Guerrero, Bichette, and Alford, what other Blue Jays prospects do you recommend keeping an eye on?

 

Kiley McDaniel: Nate Pearson!

 

CW: Where do you stand on Danny Jansen? His 2017 was ridiculous in every way.

 

Kiley McDaniel: We really like Danny Jansen! Like more than you’re expecting us to like him

 

 

 

Nothing really substantive from that chat today but he did mention the top 100 from Fangraphs would drop on Monday, maybe from his comment on Jansen he could crack the list.

[John_Havok]

Also fom fangraphs today and article on Patrick Murphy...

 

Exactly.... who?

 

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/blue-jays-prospect-patrick-murphy-curveballs-his-injury-demons/

[Spanky__99]

Show Hey O’Tawny: Outside of the big 3 of Guerrero, Bichette, and Alford, what other Blue Jays prospects do you recommend keeping an eye on?

 

Kiley McDaniel: Nate Pearson!

 

CW: Where do you stand on Danny Jansen? His 2017 was ridiculous in every way.

 

Kiley McDaniel: We really like Danny Jansen! Like more than you’re expecting us to like him

 

 

 

Nothing really substantive from that chat today but he did mention the top 100 from Fangraphs would drop on Monday, maybe from his comment on Jansen he could crack the list.

 

Late to the party, bro. That was yesterday...

[Krylian]

Also fom fangraphs today and article on Patrick Murphy...

 

Exactly.... who?

 

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/blue-jays-prospect-patrick-murphy-curveballs-his-injury-demons/

 

A lot of us know who Patrick Murphy is.

[jays4life19]

Also fom fangraphs today and article on Patrick Murphy...

 

Exactly.... who?

 

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/blue-jays-prospect-patrick-murphy-curveballs-his-injury-demons/

 

Baseball America did a write up on Murphy last month too. It was a pretty s*** article though

[John_Havok]

Late to the party, bro. That was yesterday...

 

Awe gimme a break. ... I found a gray hair today too. It's all downhill from here guess

[Spanky__99]

Awe gimme a break. ... I found a gray hair today too. It's all downhill from here guess

 

lol... just saying, P2F posted it.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

IMO, both of them showed glimpses of hope.

 

Urena will never show anything on offense. His defense has always been stellar. I am not sure if he showed anyone differently. He could be a utility infielder on a team, not unlike Goins. But to expect any bat is silly.

[THANOS]

https://www.milb.com/milb/news/toolshed-blue-jays-nate-pearson-prepped-for-takeoff/c-265720346

 

Excellent article/interview on Pearson. He's into Driveline and uses Rapsodo technology for immediate returns on his pitch effectiveness. He's going to be great!

[flafson]

Urena will never show anything on offense. His defense has always been stellar. I am not sure if he showed anyone differently. He could be a utility infielder on a team, not unlike Goins. But to expect any bat is silly.

 

As a prospect, if I recall correctly all reports were always the opposite, good bat with no defense.

So if you believe he's good on defense and bad with offense, that's probably a sign that there is something there.

[Ray]

Hard to believe that Urena is still only 21. I’d give him at least a couple years before writing him off. Plus, switch hitters generally take longer to develop anyways.

[jays4life19]

The Blue Jays invited 13 prospects who don’t appear on the 40-man roster to big league camp. Conspicuously absent from the list are two of baseball's very best prospects: third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette.

 

What's up with that?

 

“Vlad and Bo certainly met the performance and teammate criteria, but they both have less than half a season above Low A," director of player development Gil Kim said. “The thought is that both would greatly benefit from the reps of individual skill development they will get at early camp."

 

The early camp will take place on the minor league side, and keeping the teenagers out of major league camp underlines how careful the Blue Jays continue to be with the pair of potential cornerstones.

 

Certainly the hype continues to build around both youngsters, but president and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins have--ever since they arrived--emphasized not skipping steps with any prospect.

 

Guerrero and Bichette finished last season at high Class A Dunedin after promotions following the Futures Game, and the Blue Jays have been cognizant of trying to manage expectations that one or both could debut in 2018. Guerrero signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and ranked second in the minors last season with a .425 on-base percentage. Bichette, a 2016 second-rounder out of high school, hit .362 to claim the minor league batting title.

 

Guerrero and Bichette were the headliners during the club's annual development camp in Toronto, enjoying a week-long preview of life with the Blue Jays during the January chill.

 

But steps remain in their development process, and while there's constant speculation about whether Guerrero could break through this year, the Blue Jays are doing their best to avoid feeding into it.

 

“The basis for spring training invites is generally some combination of upper-level experience, performance and teammate qualities," Kim said.

 

The Blue Jays invited five non-roster position players to big league camp: catcher Max Pentecost, multi-position infielders Jason Leblebijian and Tim Lopes and outfielders J.D. Davis and Roemon Fields.

 

JAYS CHATTER

 

• Toronto also invited eight homegrown non-roster pitchers: righthanders Andrew Case, Jon Harris, Sean Reid-Foley, Jordan Romano, Chris Rowley and Justin Shafer; and lefthanders Jose Fernandez and Chad Girodo.

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/blue-jays-wont-rush-vlad-bo-toronto/#rxYuGE1ldLXX2H3E.99

[P2F]

FanGraphs Audio: Kiley McDaniel Previews Prospect Week 2018

 

by Carson Cistulli - February 3, 2018

Episode 799

Kiley McDaniel is a lead prospect analyst emeritus and a current analyst of all baseball for FanGraphs dot com. On this edition of the program, he introduces and previews Prospect Week 2018, which starts on Monday, February 5th, with a top-100 list authored jointly by McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen. Also discussed: what in baseball is like an owl’s curiously large eyes? And: a status update on the black sheep of the 2015 draft.

 

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 56 min play time.)

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-audio-kiley-mcdaniel-previews-prospect-week-2018/

[Jonn]

The Blue Jays invited 13 prospects who don’t appear on the 40-man roster to big league camp. Conspicuously absent from the list are two of baseball's very best prospects: third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette.

 

What's up with that?

 

“Vlad and Bo certainly met the performance and teammate criteria, but they both have less than half a season above Low A," director of player development Gil Kim said. “The thought is that both would greatly benefit from the reps of individual skill development they will get at early camp."

 

The early camp will take place on the minor league side, and keeping the teenagers out of major league camp underlines how careful the Blue Jays continue to be with the pair of potential cornerstones.

 

Certainly the hype continues to build around both youngsters, but president and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins have--ever since they arrived--emphasized not skipping steps with any prospect.

 

Guerrero and Bichette finished last season at high Class A Dunedin after promotions following the Futures Game, and the Blue Jays have been cognizant of trying to manage expectations that one or both could debut in 2018. Guerrero signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and ranked second in the minors last season with a .425 on-base percentage. Bichette, a 2016 second-rounder out of high school, hit .362 to claim the minor league batting title.

 

Guerrero and Bichette were the headliners during the club's annual development camp in Toronto, enjoying a week-long preview of life with the Blue Jays during the January chill.

 

But steps remain in their development process, and while there's constant speculation about whether Guerrero could break through this year, the Blue Jays are doing their best to avoid feeding into it.

 

“The basis for spring training invites is generally some combination of upper-level experience, performance and teammate qualities," Kim said.

 

The Blue Jays invited five non-roster position players to big league camp: catcher Max Pentecost, multi-position infielders Jason Leblebijian and Tim Lopes and outfielders J.D. Davis and Roemon Fields.

 

JAYS CHATTER

 

• Toronto also invited eight homegrown non-roster pitchers: righthanders Andrew Case, Jon Harris, Sean Reid-Foley, Jordan Romano, Chris Rowley and Justin Shafer; and lefthanders Jose Fernandez and Chad Girodo.

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/blue-jays-wont-rush-vlad-bo-toronto/#rxYuGE1ldLXX2H3E.99

 

I wonder if they plan to start Vlad and Bo in Dunedin and move them up to New Hampshire when the weather warms up. People thought it was a lock they would open the season in Double-A but now I'm not so sure.

[Krylian]

I wonder if they plan to start Vlad and Bo in Dunedin and move them up to New Hampshire when the weather warms up. People thought it was a lock they would open the season in Double-A but now I'm not so sure.

 

I never thought it was a lock. Dunedin makes complete sense. Start their confidence high then move them up to AA in May.

[John_Havok]

I think they will make the decision based on how they show in minor league camp. I believe this FO will let the players dictate where they play.

 

if they blow everyone away in camp I don't think they'll hold them back in Dunedin again. If there's something specific they want them to work on before going to AA, they'll start in Dunedin.

[Spanky__99]

I think they will make the decision based on how they show in minor league camp. I believe this FO will let the players dictate where they play.

 

if they blow everyone away in camp I don't think they'll hold them back in Dunedin again. If there's something specific they want them to work on before going to AA, they'll start in Dunedin.

 

MILB Camp?

[BTS]

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/37535/baseball-prospectus-top-101-prospects-2018-top-mlb-prospects-ronald-acuna-victor-robles-vladimir-guerrero-jr-eloy-jimenez/

 

BP 101 is out

[King]

I remember when BP was relevant.

[jays4life19]

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/37535/baseball-prospectus-top-101-prospects-2018-top-mlb-prospects-ronald-acuna-victor-robles-vladimir-guerrero-jr-eloy-jimenez/

 

BP 101 is out

 

Some really weird choices just quickly looking at it.

 

- Torress over Vlad?

- Wentz 45?

- Kopech the 6th highest pitcher?

- Gohara 62?

- Seuly Matias 75?

 

I could keep going. Not the best list.

[BTS]

Some really weird choices just quickly looking at it.

 

- Torress over Vlad?

- Wentz 45?

- Kopech the 6th highest pitcher?

- Gohara 62?

- Seuly Matias 75?

 

I could keep going. Not the best list.

 

They're really on Seuly Matias, and nobody else is really talking about him. Crazy that a guy is 75th on a major list and just went undrafted in LoD. He'd probably go 3rd round if the draft started today.

[Captain Adama]

After a rigorous 5 minute search on the guy. I cannot see any justification for him being in a top 100 list, let alone top 75.

 

Woof.

[P2F]

They're really on Seuly Matias, and nobody else is really talking about him. Crazy that a guy is 75th on a major list and just went undrafted in LoD. He'd probably go 3rd round if the draft started today.

 

He was on my list, but there were always players I had ahead of him every time my pick came up.

 

He's not that exciting. BP always has to have a guy that they're inexplicably in on before the other publications.

[BTS]

He was on my list, but there were always players I had ahead of him every time my pick came up.

 

Same. I'm regretting not picking him now though. Trade value seems to really increase when a player appears on one of these lists.

[jays4life19]

They're really on Seuly Matias, and nobody else is really talking about him. Crazy that a guy is 75th on a major list and just went undrafted in LoD. He'd probably go 3rd round if the draft started today.

 

Well, BA ranked him 3rd on the Royals top 10 which is considered one of the worst farms in baseball with no top 100 guys. He's a teenage that just hit sub 90 wRC+ and has struke out more than 30% on his minors AB.

 

It sounds like he has "loud tools" so there is some potential there, but he's so far away and has sucked that he really has no business on a top 100 list.

 

_____

 

 

Track Record: Matias was the jewel of the Royals' 2015 international class and signed for $2.25 million. He reached the Rookie-level Arizona League at age 17 in his pro debut season in 2016 and tied for the AZL lead with eight home runs. He hit seven more homers in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2017 after wowing scouts at extended spring training with long home runs and impressive exit velocities.

 

Scouting Report: Scouts like to say that Matias passes the eye test. He's an impressive physical specimen with twitchy athleticism and raw strength. He flashes explosive power to all fields with plus bat speed and a swing plane built for carry on fly balls. While still plenty raw at the plate, Matias handled breaking balls better in 2017 and didn't chase as many pitches in the dirt. He still swings at fastballs up in the zone but has shown an ability to adjust. His plus arm makes him a natural fit for right field, his most likely position. He's an above-average runner but may slow down a tick as he ages.

 

The Future: While he'll still be a teenager in 2018, Matias will likely break camp with low Class A Lexington, where he'll be challenged by better pitchers. He has prototype right field tools--but also a long way to g

 

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2018-kansas-city-royals-top-10-prospects/#A1lZEfwBL9tuPmfD.99

[P2F]

I'm looking forward to the other list today.

[Brownie19]

I remember when BP was relevant.

 

I remember when King was relevant too.

 

 

 

Miss you King

[Orgfiller]

Who the f*** is Arquimedes Gamboa? That's a terrible list, lmao @ Gohara 62.

 

Edit: Ranked 28th on Phillies' top prospect list by fangraphs. Generic young and toolsy SS prospect from Venezuela. This is a top 100 prospect, really?

[Dr. Dinger]

Mind-blowing that they have any faith in Alfaro at this point. He has some of the worst plate discipline I've ever seen. I even own a share of Alfaro in DDL and I have already written him off, I expect that stock to go to zero.