Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Spanky__99]

Wow... prospect porn is going on in here, lol.

[Spanky__99]

According to what system?

 

The space in his head.

[Dr. Dinger]

That's an absurd statement though

 

Yeah, every pitching prospect's floor is Mark Appel/Lucas Giolito. Putting aside the careless use of the word floor, I fap.

[P2F]

"We each get one word on Vlad - who's got the best one?"

 

"Superman."

"Goat."

"Generational."

 

"I'll just say this about Vlad: we could nitpick his defense, but who gives a flying f*** about his defense at this point. If he ends up at third base, first base, left field, or DH, we're talking about a 19-year-old kid who is a young Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Frank Thomas (with the bat)."

[BTS]

"We each get one word on Vlad - who's got the best one?"

 

"Superman."

"Goat."

"Generational."

 

"I'll just say this about Vlad: we could nitpick his defense, but who gives a flying f*** about his defense at this point. If he ends up at third base, first base, left field, or DH, we're talking about a 19-year-old kid who is a young Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Frank Thomas (with the bat)."

 

It sucks that we're going to have to wait until like April 20th to see him next year. I want to see gaudy full-season numbers.

[P2F]

It sucks that we're going to have to wait until like April 20th to see him next year. I want to see gaudy full-season numbers.

 

What are the chances that Vlad's bat is ultimately better than Trout's (not including the baserunning and defensive value that Trout provides)?

 

That would normally be an absurd question - and maybe it still is considering Vlad's 19 and hasn't played a game in the MLB - but he avoids strike outs at an elite level, which is something Trout hasn't ever done.

 

Has there ever been a prospect like Vlad before? Pedigree combined with an elite hit tool and power, and the numbers obviously speak for themselves. To cap it all off, he's only 19 and what he's doing at that age to level is literally unprecedented.

 

While I don't want to get ahead of myself, I feel like it's a fun question to explore.

[TheHurl]

What are the chances that Vlad's bat is ultimately better than Trout's (not including the baserunning and defensive value that Trout provides)?

 

That would normally be an absurd question - and maybe it still is considering Vlad's 19 and hasn't played a game in the MLB - but he avoids strike outs at an elite level, which is something Trout hasn't ever done.

 

Has there ever been a prospect like Vlad before? Pedigree combined with an elite hit tool and power, and the numbers obviously speak for themselves. To cap it all off, he's only 19 and what he's doing at that age to level is literally unprecedented.

 

I was talking with some strangers in Vegas and I said that I felt Vladdy would have a better bat than Trout. It might have been the fact that I had been drinking for 12 hours already at the time but saying it out loud left an odd taste in my mouth. I think there is potential for him to put up some monster wRC+ numbers, but 172 over 6 full seasons averaging over 600 PA's seems less likely. Although Pujols did it (or in around there).

[BTS]

What are the chances that Vlad's bat is ultimately better than Trout's (not including the baserunning and defensive value that Trout provides)?

 

That would normally be an absurd question - and maybe it still is considering Vlad's 19 and hasn't played a game in the MLB - but he avoids strike outs at an elite level, which is something Trout hasn't ever done.

 

Has there ever been a prospect like Vlad before? Pedigree combined with an elite hit tool and power, and the numbers obviously speak for themselves. To cap it all off, he's only 19 and what he's doing at that age to level is literally unprecedented.

 

While I don't want to get ahead of myself, I feel like it's a fun question to explore.

 

It's not an unreasonable question. Until he put up a wRC+ close to 200 this year, Trout wasn't really a better hitter than Miggy or prime Pujols, and people fairly draw comps between Vlad those two guys. The realistic upside right now is very much "best hitter in baseball".

 

I really hope he's not just here for 6 years. Toronto is a world lass city, and there's no reason why we can't enjoy this possible HoF career from beginning to end.

[King]

What are the chances that Vlad's bat is ultimately better than Trout's (not including the baserunning and defensive value that Trout provides)?

 

That would normally be an absurd question - and maybe it still is considering Vlad's 19 and hasn't played a game in the MLB - but he avoids strike outs at an elite level, which is something Trout hasn't ever done.

 

Has there ever been a prospect like Vlad before? Pedigree combined with an elite hit tool and power, and the numbers obviously speak for themselves. To cap it all off, he's only 19 and what he's doing at that age to level is literally unprecedented.

 

While I don't want to get ahead of myself, I feel like it's a fun question to explore.

 

Now just think there's another Vlad on the way but has a chance to stick at short.

[Krylian]

What are the chances that Vlad's bat is ultimately better than Trout's (not including the baserunning and defensive value that Trout provides)?

 

That would normally be an absurd question - and maybe it still is considering Vlad's 19 and hasn't played a game in the MLB - but he avoids strike outs at an elite level, which is something Trout hasn't ever done.

 

Has there ever been a prospect like Vlad before? Pedigree combined with an elite hit tool and power, and the numbers obviously speak for themselves. To cap it all off, he's only 19 and what he's doing at that age to level is literally unprecedented.

 

While I don't want to get ahead of myself, I feel like it's a fun question to explore.

 

I'm gonna go with no, just because of math. What are the odds that Vladdy's bat, as promising as it appears, is actually as good (or better) than one of the best bats of this generation. Could it happen? Sure...but that's an insanely high bar to reach.

[L54]

Realistically, projects as an AAAA reliever.

 

He’s 100% more interesting than Thomas Pannone who likely doesn’t miss a top 30 list because he spent times in the bigs this year.

[Captain Adama]

Now just think there's another Vlad on the way but has a chance to stick at short.

 

Orelvis Martinez or Bichette?

[Jimcanuck]

He’s 100% more interesting than Thomas Pannone who likely doesn’t miss a top 30 list because he spent times in the bigs this year.

 

I'm not saying the inclusion on a top 30 is wrong, just that it's understandable given his age, the TJS, and his MiLB results to date, if he is not. You said he should be on every top 30 list.

[Jimcanuck]

The space in his head.

 

What's your prediction on Merryweather?

[Boxcar]

I'm not saying the inclusion on a top 30 is wrong, just that it's understandable given his age, the TJS, and his MiLB results to date, if he is not. You said he should be on every top 30 list.

 

He should be because he's far more likely to provide tangible ML value in the very near future than a lot of the guys who would make the list. I'd personally put him top ten because I highly value proximity to the majors. Even assuming his worst case scenario as a AAAA guy, that's still better than what you can realistically expect from many org top 30 prospects.

[Spanky__99]

What's your prediction on Merryweather?

 

I'll go by what the people at BA say that you linked me to, Jim, and what Longenhagen said about him prior to TJS.

 

BA writeup after 2017 season

 

Following a breakout 2016 season, Merryweather carried that momentum into 2017. After a strong start to the season with Double-A Akron, he was promoted to Triple-A at the end of May. While Merryweather's results suffered down the stretch with the Clippers, his stuff and peripherals remained strong. Merryweather has the stuff to start, but still is learning some of the finer points of pitching. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and regularly reaches 97 mph. His changeup can be an above-average pitch with fading action, but he will need to tighten the pitch up to get hitters to chase it more often. He throws both a curveball and a slider, which can be average offerings. He does a good job of using his 6-foot-4 frame to his advantage and works well down in the strike zone to create groundouts. He throws a lot of strikes and repeats his delivery well. Merryweather has the potential to be a starter in the big leagues, but he will be 26 on Opening Day and breaking into the Indians' already crowded rotation is no easy task. He'll start 2018 back at Columbus and have a chance to pitch his way into the mix in Cleveland.

 

From last year by Longenhagen...

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/inst...ect-notes-531/

 

Julian Merryweather, RHP, Cleveland (Profile)

Level: Triple-A Age: 25 Org Rank: NR Top 100: NR

Line: 8 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K

 

Notes

I left Merryweather off of Cleveland’s offseason list entirely because I had reports from scouts who thought he was succeeding as a 24-year-old in A-ball due to deception, a good changeup, and little else. Turns out that was foolish. Merryweather is 25 but he’s pitched his way to Columbus and he carved up one of the more talented lineups in the International League yesterday, garnering swings and misses with all three pitches. He’s deceptive, athletic, touched 95 several times, flashed a plus curveball and changeup, and despite some issues timing all the moving parts of his delivery, he threw lots of strikes. There are scouts who think he fits better in relief, but he has mid-rotation stuff.

[Spanky__99]

Orelvis Martinez or Bichette?

 

I suspect the kid in his avatar.

[King]

I suspect the kid in his avatar.

 

Wander Franco.. better than Vlad as a 17 year old in the Appy league.

[Krylian]

Wander Franco.. better than Vlad as a 17 year old in the Appy league.

 

I wander if he'll still be better than Vladdy by the time he gets to AA.

[Spanky__99]

I wander if he'll still be better than Vladdy by the time he gets to AA.

 

Haha... I see what you did there.

[TheHurl]

I wander if he'll still be better than Vladdy by the time he gets to AA.

 

BTS do you want this bad pun ban or should I take it?

[Krylian]

BTS do you want this bad pun ban or should I take it?

 

It's ok. I'm a dad. I'm expected to fill a daily quota of bad puns.

[Ray]

Vladdy at the AFL:

[P2F]

[King]

---

Inject this right into Todds veins

[P2F]

Inject this right into Todds veins

 

 

Ok

[Bobthe4th]

[Bobthe4th]

 

[Bobthe4th]

[Jonn]

 

If Stubby Clapp pulled that off he would be a National Hero.