Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Krylian]

Kloffenstein is likely in the mix, same with Otto Lopez. Patrick Murphy might be a thing again now that he has recovered from his old delivery literally being a balk every time

 

Kloff has been horrible this season and has likely dropped quite a bit

[Sorrow]

I'm not too bummed that we traded SWR. Velocity is supposedly down, BB/9 is up though he is of course young. Martin is going to be interesting to follow. If the power develops and he finds a position he may be a really good player but I don't know how well a below average defensive player with an eye and a hit tool will end up doing at the MLB level. We're all just looking at this from an outsiders perspective without all the information available. Someone in the front office could have diagnosed an issue with Martin they don't believe they can fix.

[InvincibleTiger]

Why did Pardinho have two appearances early July and then stopped pitching? Is he hurt?

[Spanky__99]

The thing about prospects is you get new ones every summer. They are like vegetables.

 

lol

[Spanky__99]

Why did Pardinho have two appearances early July and then stopped pitching? Is he hurt?

 

Coming back from TJS with multiple setbacks, this is likely another.

[BlueRocky]

I don't know what this means. Yeah I was higher on Martin than most. So what?

 

I was the highest guy on Austin Martin, but came to terms and understood the trade. Martin is gonna be a great player. But competing in this powerhouse division comes at a cost. There’s no way to keep everyone, it softens the blow that we still have Groshans, Orelvis, and Moreno.

 

Berrios is gonna be great, it’s exactly what we need. And if he loves it here (he should) we can sign him long term. Developing and acquiring frontline starting pitching is the hardest thing in baseball. Ryu and Springer are in their 30s, we have a small window that Vlad/Bo are still cheap and we can pay guys around them.

 

Watching the Rays get Berrios is the worst thing that can happen.

[Spanky__99]

I don't know what this means. Yeah I was higher on Martin than most. So what?

 

I believe he means "RIP" to Martin being a Blue Jay, everyone was high on Martin, lol. Don't sweat it.

[Benito]

I believe he means "RIP" to Martin being a Blue Jay, everyone was high on Martin, lol. Don't sweat it.

 

I see. My bad.

[max silver]

I was the highest guy on Austin Martin, but came to terms and understood the trade. Martin is gonna be a great player. But competing in this powerhouse division comes at a cost. There’s no way to keep everyone, it softens the blow that we still have Groshans, Orelvis, and Moreno.

 

Berrios is gonna be great, it’s exactly what we need. And if he loves it here (he should) we can sign him long term. Developing and acquiring frontline starting pitching is the hardest thing in baseball. Ryu and Springer are in their 30s, we have a small window that Vlad/Bo are still cheap and we can pay guys around them.

 

Watching the Rays get Berrios is the worst thing that can happen.

 

I've gotten over my early post trade disappointment. He is going to be a huge contributor moving forward, and I have a lot of confidence that an extension will be worked out. Berrios is stepping into a great situation with the core that is present in Toronto.

Edited August 1, 2021 by max silver

[InvincibleTiger]

Orlevis in a deep slump and striking out a ton. Edited August 1, 2021 by InvincibleTiger

[Eat My Shatkins]

Smith is 2/3 so far today with two doubles.

 

The guy hates hitting singles apparently.

[metafour]

Smith is 2/3 so far today with two doubles.

 

The guy hates hitting singles apparently.

 

I don't think people realize how significant his season has been. He is absolutely torching through AAA, and he has a much better defensive outlook than Austin Martin. I think he legitimately has ~3 WAR upside with his power and defense, on top of significant improvement in his plate discipline. He has doubled his walk rate, has brought the strikeout rate back down, and he's actually hitting for even more power than he did in his big breakout season in Dunedin.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I don't think people realize how significant his season has been. He is absolutely torching through AAA, and he has a much better defensive outlook than Austin Martin. I think he legitimately has ~3 WAR upside with his power and defense, on top of significant improvement in his plate discipline. He has doubled his walk rate, has brought the strikeout rate back down, and he's actually hitting for even more power than he did in his big breakout season in Dunedin.

 

Totally agree. He's not a one hit wonder either. He's torched other levels too, but he gets forgotten about because after getting on the radar in 2018, he crashed and burned in 2019 at AA. Then he doesn't get a season in 2020 and gets forgotten about.

 

He's back, and in a big way.

[Jimcanuck]

Kevin Smith is fixed and a top 5 Jays prospect IMO

 

Hope we see him in TO this season and see how he fares against MLB pitching. A Smith, Bichette, Biggio, Vladdy IF with Espinal backup next year is fine with me, frees up $$ for pitching.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Kevin Smith is fixed and a top 5 Jays prospect IMO

 

Hope we see him in TO this season and see how he fares against MLB pitching. A Smith, Bichette, Biggio, Vladdy IF with Espinal backup next year is fine with me, frees up $$ for pitching.

 

I'd miss Semien, and if they don't re-sign Semien I want them to take a run at Correa or Story, but yeah they might be able to get by with that I suppose.

[Jimcanuck]

I'd miss Semien, and if they don't re-sign Semien I want them to take a run at Correa or Story, but yeah they might be able to get by with that I suppose.

 

We need to sign Vlad, Bo, Berrios to long term deals also. I don't think the money is there for Correa or Story. Between Smith / Groshans / Espinal I think 3B can be adequately covered for the next while.

[Jonn]

Anyone else think we would have seen Kevin Smith at 3B if Espinal wasn’t playing well? It is definitely nice to see him have a resurgence as a prospect.

[Laika]

Anyone else think we would have seen Kevin Smith at 3B if Espinal wasn’t playing well? It is definitely nice to see him have a resurgence as a prospect.

 

Yeah probably.

[InvincibleTiger]

Otto Lopez moved to AAA

[metafour]

[InvincibleTiger]

 

Hope he can cut down on K's

[metafour]

BA just released the Jays' Midseason Top 30 update. Who can post it, please?

[P2F]

1. Gabriel Moreno, C

2. Alek Manoah, RHP

3. Nate Pearson, RHP

4. Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B

5. Jordan Groshans, SS/3B

6. Alejandro Kirk, C

7. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP

 

A supplemental first-round pick of the Pirates in 2018 after he went 7-0, 0.27 at Fivay High in Hudson, Fla., Hoglund's command has long stood out. It made him an immediate contributor at Ole Miss, and it has helped him be one of the best pitchers in the Southeastern Conference in 2020 and 2021. Hoglund's 2021 season came to a premature end when he blew out his pitching elbow in his May 7 start against Texas A&M. His rehab from Tommy John surgery means he'll be sidelined until midway through 2022, and it likely ended any chance he had of being a top-10 pick. But Hoglund's body of work (154 innings in three years at Ole Miss) gives teams a lot of comfort with who Hoglund is—a relatively safe starting pitcher with plus command who has the ability to throw three pitches for strikes no matter what the count. Hoglund came into 2021 viewed as a starter likely to be taken in the back of the first round, but he quickly showed improved stuff. Hoglund had touched 95 mph going back to high school, but he generally sat 90-92. This year, he sat 92-94 mph. His slider got a little harder and sharper as well. Hoglund has shown he can spot his above-average fastball to the arm side or glove side, but he generally aims to keep his fastball away—he'll work glove side to righthanders and arm side to lefties. He consistently wins at 0-0 in the count, getting ahead which means he can then attack righties with his above-average, 80-84 mph slider, again generally staying away. Lefties have to worry about his low-80s, above-average changeup, but he's also shown he's comfortable working in on their hands with his slider. It's that ability to spot all three pitches and avoid the heart of the plate that is key to his success. Even after his elbow injury, he's seen as a low-risk surefire starter with a consistent, easy delivery.

 

8. Otto Lopez, 2B/CF

9. Miguel Hiraldo, 2B/3B

10. Adam Kloffenstein, RHP

11. Manuel Beltre, SS

12. Estiven Machado, SS

13. Victor Mesia, C

14. Yhoangel Aponte, OF

15. Luis Garcia, SS

 

The Blue Jays signed Garcia out of Venezuela in January. He had shown slick defensive skills as an amateur with plus speed and a strong arm from a frame that lacked strength, but his offensive game has been impressive early on as well.

 

16. Sem Robberse, RHP

17. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP

 

Tiedemann drew considerable interest out of Lakewood (Calif.) High last year, but teams weren't willing to meet his bonus demands and he went unpicked in the shortened five-round draft. Rather than stick with his commitment to San Diego State, Tiedemann enrolled at Golden West (Calif.) JC this spring to be eligible for the 2021 draft. Tiedemann has blossomed physically over the past year and now stands 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with broad shoulders and a strong, well-proportioned frame. With the increased physicality has come an uptick in his stuff. Tiedemann's fastball now sits 89-92 mph and touches 94 with life out of a low slot that creates a difficult angle for hitters. His changeup is a plus offering he can throw at any time to lefties or righties, and it has the potential to become a plus-plus pitch as he adds more separation from his fastball. His hard slider has become consistently average. Tiedemann has lots of promising ingredients, but he's still learning to put everything together. He underwhelmed at times this spring, posting a 3.55 ERA and allowing more than a hit per inning against subpar junior college competition, and requires a bit of projection. He is an excellent athlete who aggressively goes after hitters, but his arm slot can wander and make it harder to throw strikes. He'll show above-average control in some outings and struggle to find the strike zone in others. Tiedemann is only 18 and younger than many players still in high school. Teams are optimistic his stuff will continue to grow and he will become more consistent with experience.

 

18. Irv Carter, RHP

 

There's a good chance that Carter is the best No. 2 high school arm in the country as the teammate of fellow 2021 righthander Andrew Painter. While Carter might benefit from being on the same team as Painter in terms of scouting eyeballs, he's a talented prospect in his own right with a three-pitch mix, super projectable frame and athleticism that give him exciting upside. Carter throws a fastball that sits in the low 90s and gets up into the 95 mph range at its best, with good downhill angle out of a high, three-quarter arm slot. After throwing more of a traditional 12-to-6 curveball earlier in his prep career, Carter transitioned to a slider last summer, and the pitch has shown plus potential with power and two-plane break in the mid-to-upper 80s with spin rates in the 2500 rpm range. He'll need to improve the consistency of the pitch, as he'll get around the ball at times, but it has real out-pitch potential. Carter also throws a mid-80s changeup with good arm speed, though he'll bury the pitch in the dirt fairly regularly. Carter has the athleticism and starter frame that teams are looking for, but he'll need to refine his strike throwing and potentially clean up his delivery to avoid a bullpen projection. There's plenty of effort in the delivery and he has length in his arm stroke with stabbing action in the back that could create issues with timing and repeating his breaking ball. Coaches and scouts alike do love his mentality and demeanor on the mound, however. Carter was a Miami commit.

 

19. Kevin Smith, SS/3B

 

Smith has been an enigmatic prospect, following an outstanding 2018 at two Class A levels with a floundering 2019 that saw his strikeout rate skyrocket as his swing looked out of sync all year. Now in Triple-A, Smith is hitting well again, cutting down on his swing and miss while also hitting for power.

 

20. C.J. Van Eyk, RHP

21. Eric Pardinho, RHP

22. Thomas Hatch, RHP

23. Chad Dallas, RHP

 

A transfer from Panola (Texas) JC, Dallas led Tennessee with 21.1 innings in the shortened 2020 season and posted a 2.53 ERA in the process. While he didn't quite hold opposing teams to that sterling mark this spring, Dallas did impress over 15 starts and 90.2 innings, with a 4.27 ERA and standout strikeout and walk numbers. He struck out 106 batters (10.5 K/9) and walked 19 (1.9 BB/9) and had the fourth-best strikeout-to-walk ratio among SEC pitchers who started 10 or more games. He's been mostly a three-pitch arm this spring, with an average fastball that sits in the 91-93 mph range but has been up to 97, with both a curveball and a slider—pitches he improved over the offseason. The curve is a hard downer in the 79-81 mph range that is effective against righties and lefties, while the slider sits in the mid 80s with late and hard bite that makes it an effective swing-and-miss offering inside and out of the zone. Dallas has flashed a mid-80s changeup as well, but he rarely uses it and it's a distinct fourth pitch at the moment. Dallas' arm action gets a bit lengthy in the back with some plunging action, but he's been a strong strike-thrower for two years now and scouts have confidence he can start at the next level, with the sort of breaking stuff that should be able to miss pro bats.

 

24. Patrick Murphy, RHP

25. Samad Taylor, UTL

 

Taylor struggled to hit much at either of his Class A stops, but he's a plus runner who has performed well this year at Double-A New Hampshire and shown occasional power as well, albeit with a high swing-and-miss rate he will need to cut down on as he faces better pitching.

 

26. Leonardo Jimenez, SS

27. Tanner Morris, SS

28. Rikelvin De Castro, SS

29. Josh Palacios, OF

30. Will Robertson, OF

[Laika]

Kevin Smith below some of those guys is yikes stuff. big time statistical out of touch.

 

there is zero rational argument for having him any lower than say 13th. I can buy arguments for being below Kloff and Beltre just based on tools/pedigree/upside even if I would have him over Hoglund personally.

[metafour]

Kevin Smith below some of those guys is yikes stuff. big time statistical out of touch.

 

there is zero rational argument for having him any lower than say 13th. I can buy arguments for being below Kloff and Beltre just based on tools/pedigree/upside even if I would have him over Hoglund personally.

 

Yeah, thats a big miss to me. Are they still doing organizational chats? I'm sure that question will be prevalent. Doesn't really make sense because he has actual tools and performance at the highest level in the minors. Meanwhile they have Kloffenstein holding steady despite the fact that he's been a mess in High A. So it seems like if they're "confused" about Smith's AA struggles, why wouldn't they be equally "confused" about Kloffenstein?

[Daniel Labude]

For those asking, Estivan Machado had a hamstring injury (1st AB) and could be nearing a return soon

[Benito]

That still looks like a strong top 30 to me. Do they also update organizational rankings mid-season? Wonder where the farm ranks with the loss of Martin and SWR. Still top 5-10?

[metafour]

Manuel Beltre yesterday: 2 for 4, 2 BB, 1 SB

Manuel Beltre today: 2 for 3, HR, 2B, 2 BB, 1 SB

 

He had a big first game and then disappeared. Hopefully he's back on track now.

[connorp]

Damn just checking on my fantasy prospects and seeing Blaze Jordan destroyed rookie ball. Hopefully takes it to next level

[Krylian]

For those asking, Estivan Machado had a hamstring injury (1st AB) and could be nearing a return soon

 

Looking forward to him getting back