Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Daniel Labude]

[Ray]

Good guy Orelvis getting his trade value up right before we trade him for Soto.

 

Seriously though, that power is absurd for a 20 year old in AA. He doesn’t even have to make that much more of an improvement on his hit tool to be valuable.

[Spanky__99]

Good guy Orelvis getting his trade value up right before we trade him for Soto.

 

Seriously though, that power is absurd for a 20 year old in AA. He doesn’t even have to make that much more of an improvement on his hit tool to be valuable.

 

[Jonn]

Orelvis gonna look good in a Nats jersey. Future HR Derby champ.

[THANOS]

Good guy Orelvis getting his trade value up right before we trade him for Soto.

 

Seriously though, that power is absurd for a 20 year old in AA. He doesn’t even have to make that much more of an improvement on his hit tool to be valuable.

 

You're nuts, he absolutely has to improve it. He'll hit .150 in the majors in his current form.

 

You need to keep in mind he doesn't walk much as well, so he needs to hit like .270 just to get an OBP over .300 lol.

[Laika]

I think what Ray is trying to say is that Orelvis doesn't need to be a great "hitter" to be a good MLB player. He just needs to not be a bad hitter. So a 40 MLB hit tool might be enough.

 

That's still a big improvement for him to make though, to get to that point.

[Krylian]

Good guy Orelvis getting his trade value up right before we trade him for Soto.

 

Seriously though, that power is absurd for a 20 year old in AA. He doesn’t even have to make that much more of an improvement on his hit tool to be valuable.

 

[AMS528]

Does anyone know how good Addison Barger is defensively? Can he stick at short? I see Fangraphs mentioned him having a plus-plus arm.

 

The kind of power he's flashed over two seasons is pretty impressive. He's putting up similar power numbers to Orelvis (he is two years older) at SS.

[Laika]

Does anyone know how good Addison Barger is defensively? Can he stick at short? I see Fangraphs mentioned him having a plus-plus arm.

 

The kind of power he's flashed over two seasons is pretty impressive. He's putting up similar power numbers to Orelvis (he is two years older) at SS.

 

Sounds like he can handle SS at least. But not likely to be the starting MLB SS.

 

"Barger makes all the routine plays at shortstop and should do enough to stick at the position until someone with more tools comes along and pushes him to second base. He's a smart player who understands the game and makes adjustments at a level that encourages scouts about his on-field makeup."

[Brownie19]

Sounds like he can handle SS at least. But not likely to be the starting MLB SS.

 

"Barger makes all the routine plays at shortstop and should do enough to stick at the position until someone with more tools comes along and pushes him to second base. He's a smart player who understands the game and makes adjustments at a level that encourages scouts about his on-field makeup."

 

Sounds like another decent long term option at 2nd or 3rd. With Groshans' pool noodle bat and Orelvis' contact issues, it certainly doesn't hurt to have another potential option to eventually replace Chapman and/or upgrade Espy/Biggio in a few years.

[Laika]

Groshans gets a full mulligan from me based on his almost elite BB/K and his age.

 

Basically, I don't want him traded and would like to see him stick with the org and get a second crack at AAA next year. And in the offseason help him find a hitting lab to unlock the pop.

Edited July 29, 2022 by Laika

[Dagagad]

Barber’s k% at lower levels was pretty bad. I need to see a longer sample at double A to see if something really did click.

[Olerud363]

Groshans gets a full mulligan from me based on his almost elite BB/K and his age.

 

Basically, I don't want him traded and would like to see him stick with the org and get a second crack at AAA next year. And in the offseason I help him find a hitting lab to unlock the pop.

 

Rowdy Tellez and Teoscar Hernandez both had horrible seasons at 22. Tellez hit like .220 with 5 homers in Buffalo in a full year. Tellez hit worse at 22 in aa, then Orelvis is...

 

Really not that uncommon for guys to have terrible seasons somewhere along the line, even guys who end up successful.

[Laika]

Rowdy Tellez and Teoscar Hernandez both had horrible seasons at 22. Tellez hit like .220 with 5 homers in Buffalo in a full year. Tellez hit worse at 22 in aa, then Orelvis is...

 

Really not that uncommon for guys to have terrible seasons somewhere along the line, even guys who end up successful.

 

This is also NOT an Austin Martin situation where Toronto could maybe squeeze significant trade value out of him before his issues are known industry wide. When Toronto traded Martin he had a 133 wRC+ in AA and still carried his draft pedigree.

 

The cat is out of the bag on Groshans.

[Brownie19]

Groshans gets a full mulligan from me based on his almost elite BB/K and his age.

 

Basically, I don't want him traded and would like to see him stick with the org and get a second crack at AAA next year. And in the offseason help him find a hitting lab to unlock the pop.

 

I'm all for this. I doubt he carries much trade value right now, so hang onto him and see if you can't unlock something in the offseason. 0.048 ISO is disgusting though.

[The Cats Ass]

Groshans gets a full mulligan from me based on his almost elite BB/K and his age.

 

Basically, I don't want him traded and would like to see him stick with the org and get a second crack at AAA next year. And in the offseason help him find a hitting lab to unlock the pop.

 

I wonder if he's still effected from his oblique injury.

[L54]

Groshans gets a full mulligan from me based on his almost elite BB/K and his age.

 

Basically, I don't want him traded and would like to see him stick with the org and get a second crack at AAA next year. And in the offseason help him find a hitting lab to unlock the pop.

 

Yes

 

Weird season for him, zero power whatsoever which is on the extreme end of his error bars. Can't be this bad

 

Give him an offseason to make the adjustments and reassess the player. His value can really only go up from here

[L54]

Groshans gets a full mulligan from me based on his almost elite BB/K and his age.

 

Basically, I don't want him traded and would like to see him stick with the org and get a second crack at AAA next year. And in the offseason help him find a hitting lab to unlock the pop.

 

Yes

 

Weird season for him, zero power whatsoever which is on the extreme end of his error bars. Can't be this bad

 

Give him an offseason to make the adjustments and reassess the player. His value can really only go up from here

[max silver]

Groshans gets a full mulligan from me based on his almost elite BB/K and his age.

 

Basically, I don't want him traded and would like to see him stick with the org and get a second crack at AAA next year. And in the offseason help him find a hitting lab to unlock the pop.

 

He should spend his offseason in Florida as the Jays already have a hitting lab in their new player development complex.

[Krylian]

Yes

 

Weird season for him, zero power whatsoever which is on the extreme end of his error bars. Can't be this bad

 

Give him an offseason to make the adjustments and reassess the player. His value can really only go up from here

 

Or he can have another season with zero power and any organization that did have hope for him, loses it.

 

I'm not saying trade him either, but I'm not willing to pretend that his value can't tank further. He's certainly not at rock bottom.

[Eat My Shatkins]

f***en Adrian Hernandez still hasn't pitched since June 19th.

 

Diagnosed with shoulder soreness.

 

Jesus christ why can't we have anything nice? Guy was on the cusp of bringing his swing and miss to MLB

[RustyTrombone]

Addison Barger batting .462!!!!!! in AA now. Kid is on a absolute heater. 24 for 52 with 4 doubles and 4 homers. Gonna shoot up prospect lists.

[L54]

Or he can have another season with zero power and any organization that did have hope for him, loses it.

 

I'm not saying trade him either, but I'm not willing to pretend that his value can't tank further. He's certainly not at rock bottom.

 

He’s close enough to rock bottom that it makes more sense to bet on player improving than it does selling for 40 cents on the dollar

[Iggy]

Anyone know why Tiedemann hasn't pitched since July 8?

He participated in the Futures game and then was promoted to New Hampshire but his player's page says he is on 'temporarily inactive list'

[RustyTrombone]

Anyone know why Tiedemann hasn't pitched since July 8?

He participated in the Futures game and then was promoted to New Hampshire but his player's page says he is on 'temporarily inactive list'

 

He was down in Dunedin for a couple weeks on the "Development List".

[Ehjays]

Anyone know why Tiedemann hasn't pitched since July 8?

He participated in the Futures game and then was promoted to New Hampshire but his player's page says he is on 'temporarily inactive list'

 

[Ehjays]

[max silver]

Addison Barger has really exploded onto the scene with a monster showing in high A and AA. I think he's easily the breakout offensive star in the clubs minor league system up to this point of the season. His numbers have rocketed upwards after he reached AA including a reduction in his k rate, so I was curious what kind of production he was putting up in Vancouver leading up to the promotion.

 

Barger really hit his stride towards the end of May. Over his last 34 games in Vancouver Barger slashed .347/.438/.653, good for a 1.090 OPS/199 WRC+. His k rate was a very solid 18.8% during this period. He hasn't missed a beat in AA as he's continued mashing with another 4 doubles and 4 home runs in his first 15 games. Put these two stints together and you see that Barger has had an extremely impressive run of sustained success. Heading into today's game in his last 48 games between the two levels he has produced some very gaudy offensive numbers at .382/.458/.688, good for a 1.146 OPS/212 WRC+. He has been an extra base machine with 17 doubles and 12 home runs in his last 201 plate appearances. His strikeout rate during this period was a perfectly acceptable 19.9%.

 

I haven't been able to track down any reports on his defensive abilities but he's certainly made himself into a very interesting prospect with the impressive offensive production. Coming into the season I thought Orelvis was the most likely candidate in the minor league system to take over from Chapman once his contract expires, but Barger has certainly placed himself into the conversation with what he's been able to accomplish.

[Spanky__99]

Addison Barger has really exploded onto the scene with a monster showing in high A and AA. I think he's easily the breakout offensive star in the clubs minor league system up to this point of the season. His numbers have rocketed upwards after he reached AA including a reduction in his k rate, so I was curious what kind of production he was putting up in Vancouver leading up to the promotion.

 

Barger really hit his stride towards the end of May. Over his last 34 games in Vancouver Barger slashed .347/.438/.653, good for a 1.090 OPS/199 WRC+. His k rate was a very solid 18.8% during this period. He hasn't missed a beat in AA as he's continued mashing with another 4 doubles and 4 home runs in his first 15 games. Put these two stints together and you see that Barger has had an extremely impressive run of sustained success. Heading into today's game in his last 48 games between the two levels he has produced some very gaudy offensive numbers at .382/.458/.688, good for a 1.146 OPS/212 WRC+. He has been an extra base machine with 17 doubles and 12 home runs in his last 201 plate appearances. His strikeout rate during this period was a perfectly acceptable 19.9%.

 

I haven't been able to track down any reports on his defensive abilities but he's certainly made himself into a very interesting prospect with the impressive offensive production. Coming into the season I thought Orelvis was the most likely candidate in the minor league system to take over from Chapman once his contract expires, but Barger has certainly placed himself into the conversation with what he's been able to accomplish.

 

This is his latest write up from BA, he's already ranked 18th on their latest ranking update, he's moving...

 

The Blue Jays drafted Barger in the 6th round in 2018 out of C.Leon King HS in Tampa, Florida. The signed him for an at slot bonus of $271,100, and assigned him to the gulf coast league out of the draft. He was limited in 2019 to just 13 games after he was placed on the restricted list. He remerged with Dunedin in 2021 with added strength and game power, clubbing 18 home runs. Scouting Report: Dating back to his time as an amateur Barger has always had a plus or better throwing arm. His all-around play was his calling card with a plus arm and a toolbelt of average skills. He added power in 2021, seeing big jumps in his top end exit velocities and showing a steeper launch angle. He traded some contact for power however and struckout over 31% of the time in 2021. He regained some of that contact heading into 2022, and has cutdown on the swing and miss tendencies this season. While his approach is still aggressive he’s cut down on his chase rate and is now making contact at an average rate. He’s managed to keep the power gains too, allowing Barger to take a major step forward at the plate. His swing is highly unusual with a pronounced leg kick, and a hands driven swing with a highly rotational finish. It’s worked over the last two years but leads to some questions as to how he’ll fare against higher caliber pitching. Defensively he has the ability to handle shortstop, third base, and second, but he has the kind of arm you want on the left side of the infield. His ability to make all the throws and handle shortstop defensively make him a potential everyday hitter if he makes enough contact. The Future: A player with a standout tool on both sides of the ball - will Barger make enough contact long-term to be an everyday player? - is the primary question around his profile. If he does he has the ability to be a super-utility infielder or an everyday regular on a second-division squad.

[max silver]

Three Jays prospects made it onto Keith Law's midseason top 60 list.

 

5. Gabriel Moreno, C, Toronto Blue Jays

Previous ranking: No. 6

 

There’s no real reason for Moreno to be on this list, when he should be in the majors – the Blue Jays optioned him because they activated Danny Jansen from the injured list and already have Alejandro Kirk in the midst of a huge breakout season. In almost any other organization, Moreno would be in the big leagues, as he played well in his brief stint with Toronto and doesn’t have much to learn in Triple A. At this writing, he’s had a hit in every game since the demotion, and continues to make a ton of contact. He’s hitting more groundballs this year than before, with less power, but even as an 8-to-12 homer guy with high OBPs and plus defense, including at least a 70 arm, he projects as a longtime regular who’ll make some All-Star teams.

 

41. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Previous ranking: Unranked

 

Tiedemann has been up to 100 mph this year and sits in the mid to upper 90s with an above-average to plus changeup and above-average slider. He starts on the extreme first base side of the rubber and finishes a bit on that side too, so left-handers get a horrendous look at the ball. And he’s dominated batters on both sides. He’s supposedly headed for Double-A New Hampshire, where his below-average command will be better tested, but hasn’t pitched anywhere since July 8.

 

49. Yosver Zulueta, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Previous ranking: Unranked

 

Zulueta threw all of one pitch in the Futures Game, so yay for that, but he’s emerged from nearly three lost years as a four-pitch starter who mostly needs to build up his workload. Zulueta defected after the 2018-19 offseason, ended up having Tommy John surgery and suffered a season-ending knee injury in his first outing back in 2021. His outings this year have been short, but he’s been up to 100 mph with improvement to both his slider and curveball, while he needs to throw his changeup more consistently for strikes. If he can handle the workload, he’s a mid-rotation guy at least, while he could also help the big club as a reliever right now.