Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Orgfiller]

Any guesses on where he lands on Top 100 lists by the end of this season? I think there's a chance he's Top 30 (although my Jays bias might be strong).

 

Performance aside - although obviously this will be a big factor - it's going to depend on the usual evaluation criteria for pitchers. Can he stay healthy, can he go deep into games/maintain his stuff deep into starts, and how does his third pitch develop? Manoah is probably an MLB ready dominant 1-2 inning reliever if he wanted him to be right now, but as far as I'm aware he didn't really show his changeup too much this spring and like every other pitcher his appearances were short so we don't really know if he's capable of going 6+ strong innings while not losing much efficiency of his stuff and going through the lineup multiple times without getting shelled.

[Krylian]

Waiting for the next Sleeper, Bust, Legit New Guy thread.

 

Last year was a black hole for prospect development so I'm really looking forward to seeing our future get even brighter in 2021.

[Jimcanuck]

Any guesses on where he lands on Top 100 lists by the end of this season? I think there's a chance he's Top 30 (although my Jays bias might be strong).

 

I suspect Manoah has effectively closed the gap on someone like Max Meyer who is #52 on BA, so we could see a dramatic entry like Priester all the way to 60ish.

[BlueRocky]

Waiting for the next Sleeper, Bust, Legit New Guy thread.

 

Last year was a black hole for prospect development so I'm really looking forward to seeing our future get even brighter in 2021.

 

King want to start this up soon?

[Ray]

Any guesses on where he lands on Top 100 lists by the end of this season? I think there's a chance he's Top 30 (although my Jays bias might be strong).

 

I'll say Top 50 is reasonable. There's just a lot of graduations coming in very short order, and I think Manoah will be on the next wave of guys to hit the list. I count 12-15 of the Top 30 on Pipeline that are either on the cusp of graduating or likely will by midseason.

 

If he dominates AA/AAA, then comes up and dominates as a bullpen arm on September, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.

[Jimcanuck]

Kelenic and J-Rod looking like future superstars this spring. Have they eclipsed Wander? Interested in what BTS thinks.

 

Edited March 22, 2021 by Jimcanuck

[Ray]

Kelenic and J-Rod looking like future superstars this spring. Have they eclipsed Wander? Interested in what BTS thinks.

 

 

I still have Wander Franco way above any other prospect.

 

It's basically Vlad's hit tool, combined with average defense at shortstop (or above average at 2B), and he's a switch hitter. His hit tool will allow him to tap into a ton of his power, albeit it'll be more doubles power than home run power. Although who knows. I feel more comfortable in guys with elite contact developing into 30 HR hitters than guys with much better power tools. I think his ceiling is someone like Jose Ramirez.

[bendera3]

I have a friendly bet with a coworker who is an A's fan that the Jays will win more games than them. When I told him that most publications rank the A's farm system bottom 10 in the league he was pissed. I enjoyed it.

[Olerud363]

I still have Wander Franco way above any other prospect.

 

It's basically Vlad's hit tool, combined with average defense at shortstop (or above average at 2B), and he's a switch hitter. His hit tool will allow him to tap into a ton of his power, albeit it'll be more doubles power than home run power. Although who knows. I feel more comfortable in guys with elite contact developing into 30 HR hitters than guys with much better power tools. I think his ceiling is someone like Jose Ramirez.

 

Ramirez has a pretty crazy career arc. Hit like 3 homers a year in the minors with great contact rates. Hit .350 in rookie and low a but .270 with a .350 slugging in aa.

 

Then some how got major stints at 20, 21, and 22 and was completely useless. Looked like a failure at 22.

 

Then somehow he becomes a .300 hitter with 35 homers a year. lol. Maybe the contact rate does predict something.

[Ray]

[Krylian]

 

What's the stuff like? I haven't had a chance to see him yet...but from what I've been reading, average to above average. Command and craftiness is quite good though.

[Deadpool]

Page 1000 of this thread. Wow.

[Brownie19]

What's the stuff like? I haven't had a chance to see him yet...but from what I've been reading, average to above average. Command and craftiness is quite good though.

 

I'd say this is generally correct.

[Krylian]

Page 1000 of this thread. Wow.

 

Only 400 for me.

[Laika]

Prospects Live Jays list

 

https://www.prospectslive.com/lists/2021/3/24/toronto-blue-jays-2021-prospect-rankings

 

I dunno, they rank a lot of players and do their best. Lots of detail. Some of the grades are dumb though and not sure about the rankings. Kirk only a 55 hit tool? lol. Same grade as Groshans, Hiraldo, and Otto Lopez! as if

[Krylian]

Prospects Live Jays list

 

https://www.prospectslive.com/lists/2021/3/24/toronto-blue-jays-2021-prospect-rankings

 

I dunno, they rank a lot of players and do their best. Lots of detail. Some of the grades are dumb though and not sure about the rankings. Kirk only a 55 hit tool? lol. Same grade as Groshans, Hiraldo, and Otto Lopez! as if

 

Pearson 60FB (I wonder what it takes to have an 80)

Frasso 60FB (So Frasso sits high-90s)?

[Laika]

Pearson 60FB (I wonder what it takes to have an 80)

Frasso 60FB (So Frasso sits high-90s)?

 

hahahahahaa

[King]

Good idea but poor execution.

[Jimcanuck]

J-Rod OPS now 1.058

 

He's going to destroy the upper minors

[Ray]

[connorp]

J-Rod OPS now 1.058

 

He's going to destroy the upper minors

 

Same was prob said about Jo Adell couple years ago when he mashed ST before getting hurt

[connorp]

Think Adell was 1.000+ this year, wasn’t he?

[Ray]

NSFW level bat speed

 

[Olerud363]

NSFW level bat speed

 

 

That was similar to the Vlad HR last day of Spring Training 2018. He's still right on track with Vald. lol. (17 year old seasons were very similar).

 

Who knows where this guy is in reality. Will be interesting to see. To bad the minor league season is delayed a month. I'm ready for Orelvis box score watching.

[BlueRocky]

 

When you walk into the barber shop and ask for the Manny Ramirez

[Krylian]

I'm very much looking forward to a full season of Orelvis.

[BlueRocky]

Updated Baseball America Top 100 rankings

(03-31-2021)

https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2021-top-100-prospects/

 

18 Austin Martin

19 Nate Pearson

33 Jordan Groshans

69 Simeon Woods-Richardson

95 Orelvis Martinez

 

Top 10

1 Franco

2 Rutschman

3 J Rod

4 Kelenic

5 Torkelson

6 Sixto

7 Pache

8 Anderson

9 Carlson

10 Gore

 

18 Last: 19

Austin Martin

Blue Jays

SS/OF

Notes:

Final 2020 Ranking: 13

Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50

Skinny: The fifth overall pick in 2020 is an impressive young hitter, although his future position is up in the air.

 

19 Last: 14

Nate Pearson

Blue Jays

RHP

Notes:

Final 2020 Ranking: 5

Tools: Fastball: 80 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55

Skinny: Pearson has arguably the best pure stuff of any pitching prospect. Staying healthy and improving his control are his next steps to fulfilling his frontline potential. Pearson re-aggravated a strain of his right groin during spring training and may start the season on the injured list.

 

33 Last: 34

Jordan Groshans

Blue Jays

SS

Notes:

Final 2020 Ranking: 25

Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60

Skinny: There is a strong belief in Groshans' bat, but both the Blue Jays and general observers are more than ready to see him return to playing games that count.

 

69

Simeon Woods Richardson

Blue Jays

RHP

Notes:

Final 2020 Ranking: 56

Tools: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 60

Skinny: Woods-Richardson combines youth and an excellent arsenal into a prospect with both poise and upside.

 

70

Alejandro Kirk

Blue Jays

C

Notes:

Final 2020 Ranking: 98

Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 50 | Run: 20 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 50

Skinny: Evaluators are split on whether Kirk can stay behind the plate, but he should hit for average and power.

 

95 Last: 96

Orelvis Martinez

Blue Jays

SS

Notes:

Final 2020 Ranking: NR

Tools: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 60

Skinny: Martinez might have to move to third base, but potentially plus hittability and power will help him profile there.

[Krylian]

Interesting that they've got Martin overtaking Pearson.

[Ray]

Interesting that they've got Martin overtaking Pearson.

 

I'm incredibly excited to see Martin's progression this year. Usually college position players of his calibre breeze through the minor leagues. Bregman, Swanson, Rendon, Conforto, Schwarber, Bryant all made their debuts the year after they were drafted. And most of them didn't even play as well as Martin did in a tougher college division. He is a special kind of talent

 

Probably won't see him this year, but he could be looking at a debut early next season if all goes well.

[BlueRocky]

Martin is at a great starting point.

 

The previous couple times a Blue Jays prospect had a 70+ grade hit tool, they all shoved the lower and upper minors: Vlad Jr, Bo Bichette, Alejandro Kirk.

 

And the best part, Martin probably has the best glove and defensive tools out of the 4 plus-plus prospects with the stick.