Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[ColdPint]

Am I seeing things or is Vlad 4 for 4 today, now with a .418 BA

 

WHAT THE f***

 

With his 7th home run, at that. Honestly the longer this continues with him at AA it almost becomes torturous that we potentially won't see Vlad arrive for another year.

 

Oh, and Romano just put up 6 hitless innings.

[Daniel Labude]

Am I seeing things or is Vlad 4 for 4 today, now with a .418 BA

 

WHAT THE f***

 

I mean call him up already. Triple shy of the cycle with 2 2B, 1 1B, 1 HR, 1 SB...leads all of the minors in AVG

[jaysguy44]

Vlad is f***ed. Man, we are so lucky

[Dr. Dinger]

Am I seeing things or is Vlad 4 for 4 today, now with a .418 BA

 

WHAT THE f***

 

This is just getting to be ri-god-damn-diculous.

[LGBJ29]

These are the kinda numbers you see guys putting up in their senior year of high school. Not in AA

[Dr. Dinger]

These are the kinda numbers you see guys putting up in their senior year of high school. Not in AA

 

If a 21 year old was doing this he'd still the the slam dunk #1 prospect in baseball. That a 19 year old is doing it, put him in the f***ing HOF right now.

[Laika]

Cavan Biggio could become a left handed hitting Dan Uggla. Is that a fair comp?

 

I don't really think so... despite the ISO right now, it's still hard to assume that Biggio all of a sudden has legit easy plus power that would equate to continuous 30 dinger seasons.

 

If he works out, I would expect something more like Kelly Johnson - a very white guy without a ton of athleticism, some whiffs, but some pop and most importantly some idea at the dish. And mediocre D.

[Dr. Dinger]

a very white guy with... mediocre D.

 

Sounds like your Tinder profile.

[Laika]

The fun thing about Biggio is the unknown. I found this report from baseballdraftreport.com, written by a big fan who had been following him a while. The comps, range of outcomes, and discussion of the tools is kind of informative.

 

I like how he mentions in context that it's almost up to Biggio whether he wants to be a Billy McKinney type bat, or sell out for more pop and by something more like Tyler O'Neill. That kind of seems a bit explanatory now.

 

5.162 – 2B Cavan Biggio

 

Old draft favorites are hard to give up. I’m going down with the Cavan Biggio (77) Future Big League Regular ship if it’s the last thing I do. A quick recent timeline of my Biggio love beginning in October 2015…

 

Without having seen every Notre Dame game the past two years — I’m good, but not that good — one might be confused as to how a player with Biggio’s pedigree and collection of scouting accolades (“line drive machine; born to hit; great pitch recognition; great approach, patient and aggressive all at once”…and that’s just what has been written here) could hit .250ish through two college seasons. I say we all agree to chalk it up to bad BABIP luck and eagerly anticipate a monster junior season that puts him squarely back in the first round mix where he belongs.

 

That monster junior season didn’t come to pass, but Biggio still had a solid final season (.311/.473/.454 with 54 BB/32 K and 14/14 SB) for the Irish. That final line (adjusted for competition) feels like the type of player Biggio can be at his peak: solid batting average, plenty of walks, some strikeouts, middling pop, and sneaky speed. More on him including a few comps from January 2016…

 

Biggio’s hit tool, patience, and ability to play important infield spots at a high level still have him at or near the first round range for me. Not sure if it’s instructive or not, but I like looking back at Biggio’s placement between Tyler O’Neill and Billy McKinney (the two hitters who signed pro deals that sandwiched Biggio in his initial draft year) and using that as a starting point as to what kind of hitter I think he can be as a professional. O’Neill if he sells out some of his patience and contact skills for power and McKinney if he keeps progressing as a hitter as is. McKinney in the infield is a pretty interesting prospect and one that I think can play his way into the first round even in a top-heavy year. Two pros that I’ve heard him compared to so far are Ryan Roberts (realistic floor) and Justin Turner (hopeful ceiling). I can see it.

 

Justin Turner had another incredible year for the Dodgers, so I think we can toss that comp right on out the window. Still like that (lefthanded) Ryan Roberts floor, though. A new ceiling comp that doesn’t really work but I still like: Derek Dietrich. Here’s Dietrich’s pre-draft report from Baseball America…

 

He’s a difficult player for scouts to judge because he doesn’t fit an obvious pro profile. His lefthanded bat brings value, as do his strong arm and developing power, and he tied his career high with 14 homers this spring. He plays hard and has been a serviceable college shortstop defensively. Scouts believe he lacks the footwork or athletic ability in his 6-foot-1, 196-pound frame to stay at short, though, and wonder if his footwork can improve enough for him to play at second. Most doubt that and believe third base is his best fit with the glove, and he may not produce enough power to profile as a regular there. He also could prove to be a versatile big leaguer in the mold of Geoff Blum or Scott Spiezio, who both had the advantage of switch-hitting.

 

Sounds a little Biggio-y to me, though I think Dietrich had a little more power upside whereas Biggio has a better idea at the plate. On to March 2016…

 

Sometimes I feel as though I’m the last remaining Cavan Biggio fan. I know that’s not literally true, but I do still believe in him as a potential long-time big league regular. Offensively he strikes me as the kind of player who will hit better as a pro than he ever did as a college player. I don’t have much of anything to back that opinion up, but this is a mock draft so unsubstantiated claims are part of the deal.

 

There you have it. Cavan Biggio: potential long-time big league regular. I think the hit tool (bat speed, pitch recognition, approach) and good enough power/speed are enough for him to profile as an every day contributor offensively while his glove at second should be dependable enough to make him an average or so all-around player. I’m comfortable enough betting on the hit tool that I don’t mind being on an island with that forecast. Now, we wait…

[Laika]

Sounds like your Tinder profile.

 

I'm an Indigenous woman...

[Stoneyen]

Jesus Vlad

[P2F]

Vlad the Assailer

[Ray]

Way too early to tell for Biggio, but Jake Lamb could be a good comp. Strikes out a fair bit but takes his share of walks, 20+ HR power, meh defense. All in all, solid 2 WAR INF.

[Brownie19]

Way too early to tell for Biggio, but Jake Lamb could be a good comp. Strikes out a fair bit but takes his share of walks, 20+ HR power, meh defense. All in all, solid 2 WAR INF.

 

I think we'd be tickled pink if he became Jake Lamb

[Dr. Dinger]

I think we'd be tickled pink if he became Jake Lamb

 

Hell yeah we would, Jake Lamb is sexy AF. Just look at this golden god!

 

[Stoneyen]

[Stoneyen]

 

I don’t think a single player on the field even moved an inch when it was hit, my god

[Dr. Dinger]

Basically Vlad is Manny Ramirez with half as many strikeouts.

[Spanky__99]

Basically Vlad is Manny Ramirez with half as many strikeouts.

 

In the MLB? Manny's arguably one of the best RHB's in MLB ever.

[Dr. Dinger]

In the MLB? Manny's arguably one of the best RHB's in MLB ever.

 

And he can bow down and kiss King Vladito's ring, meat!

[Spanky__99]

And he can bow down and kiss King Vladito's ring, meat!

 

lol

[Spanky__99]

So he's Pujols.

 

That would be awesome, with a real age attached to the kid.

[el diego]

That would be awesome, with a real age attached to the kid.

 

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR SCOUTING REPORT

 

PROS: advanced approach at the plate... natural power to all fields... hits for contact and power... great pedigree... born in Canada so certain of age

[Krylian]

Will Vladdy be the greatest Canadian born baseball player of all time?

[BTS]

Will Vladdy be the greatest Canadian born baseball player of all time?

 

Pretty tall order. Larry Walker had 69 fWAR in his career, Fergie Jenkins had 80, and Votto is at 54 and still going strong. That's pretty tough territory for a player who will have no defensive value and negative baserunning value.

[John_Havok]

Pretty tall order. Larry Walker had 69 fWAR in his career, Fergie Jenkins had 80, and Votto is at 54 and still going strong. That's pretty tough territory for a player who will have no defensive value and negative baserunning value.

 

Actually... Votto seems like he'd be a pretty close comp to Vlad's ceiling... maybe more pop and less obp...

[Jimcanuck]

Actually... Votto seems like he'd be a pretty close comp to Vlad's ceiling... maybe more pop and less obp...

 

why less obp? kid has extraordinary eye and bat to ball skills

[Orgfiller]

why less obp? kid has extraordinary eye and bat to ball skills

 

It might have something to do with Votto having the 12th highest OBP of all time.

[Jimcanuck]

It might have something to do with Votto having the 12th highest OBP of all time.

 

vlad is GOAT though

[John_Havok]

why less obp? kid has extraordinary eye and bat to ball skills

 

I think it's the bat to ball skills that will keep his obp down. I think Vlad has a lot more strike zone aggression and will put way more balls in play than Votto, which will keep his OBP down (and by down I mean... something like .380ish). I don't envision Vlad walking upwards of 16% of the time long term.