Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Spanky99]

"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."

 

I guess that was written when he was just starting aa, but so far has past this test in aa and aaa.

 

Sounds like his defense is good.

 

It will be interesting to see how the Jays prospect list is reshuffled. Gabe Martinez and Barger had by far the best seasons, but aren't even top 10 on some lists.

 

And if Barger is not highly rated then the Jays can't really 'sell high'. Not like teams will just look at his .310 average and want him... they all look at way more advanced stuff now.

 

That was August 20'ish, ranked 18th in the org.

[Krylian]

I don't know what his defense is like but what reason is there to sell a 22 year old infielder that is hitting well in the upper minors?

 

I kind of feel like, just based on stats-scouting he's a pretty good prospect, not in the Kevin Smith tier.

 

Like Kevin Smith had a good season at 24, but was crushed to sub-Orelvis-2022 levels as a 22 year old at aa.

 

Barger hit well at aa at 22 and pushed himself up to aaa. Though you never know. Could just be a fluke season, with the missing 2020 and injuries in 2019 he doesn't have a lot of data.

 

Well... The reason would be adding to the major League roster for 2023. Would be nice to plug all our needs via free agency or internal promotions but I don't see enough elite bullpen arms that will be ready for next season from the farm and we know this FO doesn't like to spend on the pen. So trades it is...

[Olerud363]

Well... The reason would be adding to the major League roster for 2023. Would be nice to plug all our needs via free agency or internal promotions but I don't see enough elite bullpen arms that will be ready for next season from the farm and we know this FO doesn't like to spend on the pen. So trades it is...

 

If he's better than Biggio/Espinal though he is valuable to the major league roster as soon as 2023. Plus he's injury insurance for 2023 no matter what.

 

Also have Otto Lopez, Espinal, Biggio, Kirk/Jansen/Moreno, Gabriel Martinez, a bunch of guys from the 2022 draft who are farther away for potential trades.

 

Maybe Barger is the guy to trade, but as a lefty hitting for power I'd rather keep him then say Otto Lopez or maybe even Espinal (if Espinal was traded, replace him with Otto Lopez, if Biggio is traded replace him with Barger).

 

And who get's a better reliever(s) in a trade Biggio, Otto Lopez, Espinal or Barger? Hypothetically?

[goldbug103]

Jays desperately need LH bats in the lineup. Trading Barger would be as dumb as trading Max Castillo at the deadline, which did happen, so you never know.

[Olerud363]

Jays desperately need LH bats in the lineup. Trading Barger would be as dumb as trading Max Castillo at the deadline, which did happen, so you never know.

 

Max Castillo got destroyed at Royals triple a in Omaha. Though only 20 innings or something so maybe not meaningful.

 

Maybe Barger's k-rate is too high to be too optimistic about him.

[Jimcanuck]

Biggio is not getting moved because Barger might be something

 

If the Jays FO is confident that Barger or Lopez is at least as good as Espinal, Espinal could get moved. Quite unlikely

[Krylian]

To be clear, I'm not saying trading Barger is the right move... Just feels like the type of player that the Jays may consider putting in play. I don't see him getting any significant playing time in the show next season unless plans go completely sideways (Biggio and Espinal hurt or awful play). I wouldn't be surprised if they try to maximize his excellent season (unless they feel he's had a bright future here) to try and land a piece for next year's team.

[Olerud363]

Biggio is not getting moved because Barger might be something

 

If the Jays FO is confident that Barger or Lopez is at least as good as Espinal, Espinal could get moved. Quite unlikely

 

We don't know the internal evaluations of any of these guys.

 

One of the great things AA did in 2015 was give jobs out of spring training to Osuna, Castro, Norris, Travis, Pillar, Pompey and Goins while letting Rasmus go, and using Lawrie, Lind, Gose and Happ for trades. Not everything worked out, but he gave jobs to a lot of young guys while using some mid-career guys for trades.

[Olerud363]

Biggio is not getting moved because Barger might be something

 

If the Jays FO is confident that Barger or Lopez is at least as good as Espinal, Espinal could get moved. Quite unlikely

 

 

Espinal is short stop insurance. Let's say a trade opportunity arises and you need to use one of Espinal/Biggio. Would you rather have Barger/Espinal or Lopez/Biggio next year?

[Jimcanuck]

Espinal is short stop insurance. Let's say a trade opportunity arises and you need to use one of Espinal/Biggio. Would you rather have Barger/Espinal or Lopez/Biggio next year?

 

If one of them is being moved, move Espinal, use Biggio + 1 of Barger / Lopez

 

Biggio >> Espinal in my estimation

[Eat My Shatkins]

Hadn't been following the 'spects much lately, just saw that Zulueta pitched the other day in AAA

 

Not a great outing, but nice to see him still healthy at this point and getting yet another promotion.

 

It'll be interesting to watch and see what happens next season with guys like Zulueta, Pearson, Danner, Hernandez and Juenger. All home grown, potentially high end BP arms.

[Jimcanuck]

Hadn't been following the 'spects much lately, just saw that Zulueta pitched the other day in AAA

 

Not a great outing, but nice to see him still healthy at this point and getting yet another promotion.

 

It'll be interesting to watch and see what happens next season with guys like Zulueta, Pearson, Danner, Hernandez and Juenger. All home grown, potentially high end BP arms.

 

Danner is in the Arizona Fall League, fyi

[Eat My Shatkins]

Danner is in the Arizona Fall League, fyi

 

Yep, that's why I included him.

[Solaxys]

[Daniel Labude]

 

Swings with everything like Bo. Great season

[Laika]

Omfg that swing

[max silver]

Omfg that swing

 

It reminds me a lot of Ohtani's swing.

[Olerud363]

It reminds me a lot of Ohtani's swing.

 

It will be interesting to see where he ends up when the reshuffle the list. He is like not even top 10 on Jays lists.

 

Jays seem to have a pretty strong top 15. Barger is toward the lower end. Maybe he'll be boosted way up.

 

Strong top 30 really, with Dasan Brown near the bottom. Some reshuffling to come I guess.

[Spanky99]

It will be interesting to see where he ends up when the reshuffle the list. He is like not even top 10 on Jays lists.

 

Jays seem to have a pretty strong top 15. Barger is toward the lower end. Maybe he'll be boosted way up.

 

Strong top 30 really, with Dasan Brown near the bottom. Some reshuffling to come I guess.

 

There always be reshuffling, especially after winter ball... Baseball America didn't even have Barger on their top 40 preseason, he's now at 18, that's a huge jump...

 

18. Addison Barger | SS

Addison Barger

Born: Nov 12, 1999

Bats: L Throws: R

Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 175

Minors: .310/.380/.558 | 26 HR | 9 SB | 462 AB

VIEW PLAYER CARD

BA Grade: 45/High

 

Track Record: The Blue Jays drafted Barger in the sixth round in 2018 out of C.Leon King High in Tampa. 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.

[Krylian]

It will be interesting to see where he ends up when the reshuffle the list. He is like not even top 10 on Jays lists.

 

Jays seem to have a pretty strong top 15. Barger is toward the lower end. Maybe he'll be boosted way up.

 

Strong top 30 really, with Dasan Brown near the bottom. Some reshuffling to come I guess.

 

I think he'll come in between 6-8.

[Brownie19]

It reminds me a lot of Ohtani's swing.

 

The initial stance reminds me of Sean Casey - although the similarities quickly disappear.

[Laika]

You can definitely make a top 10 case for Barger.

 

The undisputed #1 - Tiedemann

Risk/reward incarnate at #2 - Orelvis

The new bonus babies at #3 and #4 - Barriera and Toman

The MLB ready fireballer #5 - Zulueta

 

And then it opens up IMO.

 

Kasevich and Doughty, people tend to overrate recent college picks so these guys are probably not in my top 10.

 

Barger, Horwitz, and Juenger are all mature prospects who can help in 2023 but Barger has, by my reading, the highest floor AND the highest ceiling so he's a tier above the other two.

 

Robberse is a tough rank... he's in the upper minors now but is still pitchability/projection to some degree.

 

Gabriel Martinez seems like one of those good hitters, and "five tool players" where all the tools are 50s. A real Cleveland kind of prospect?

 

Santos and Trent Palmer, the metrics on the breaking balls are apparently elite and they could be productive RPs if not more.

 

For a project pitcher Irv Carter's lowish walk rate is kind of great...

 

Everyone is sleeping on Manuel Beltre but he could still show a plus hit tool and rise quickly.

 

I think I go

 

1. Tiedemann

2. Orelvis

3. Barriera

4. Toman

5. Zulueta

6. Gabby

7. Barger

8. Horwitz

9. Robberse

10. Santos

11. Palmer

12. Juenger

13. Carter

14. Kasevich

15. Doughty

16. Beltre

17. Jimenez

18. Lopez

19. Van Eyk

20. Pinto

 

Something like that. I know I ignored several players who are probably top 10 prospects but was more concerned about doing a top 10 with some HMs.

[Laika]

Dahian Santos had 144 K's in 86 IP this year. lol.

[John_Havok]

Dahian Santos had 144 K's in 86 IP this year. lol.

 

The next Tim Collins! except Santos is a righty.

[Daniel Labude]

[Brownie19]

My how Leo Jimenez had fallen

[Laika]

My how Leo Jimenez had fallen

 

He's not a disaster.

 

21 in A+ is good

9.2% BB 19.7% K .156 ISO - these are good enough peripherals

106 wRC+

 

Could still be on track for an MLB career here.

[Olerud363]

How did Moreno lose rookie status? I thought it was 130 at bats or 45 days before September 1st? Did the September 1st part change.

[Spanky99]

How did Moreno lose rookie status? I thought it was 130 at bats or 45 days before September 1st? Did the September 1st part change.

 

A lot of things have changed in the new CBA, if it has, that would be the reason why.

[John_Havok]

How did Moreno lose rookie status? I thought it was 130 at bats or 45 days before September 1st? Did the September 1st part change.

 

September 1st has never been a cutoff for rookie status as far as I know, but previously may not have counted towards service time accumulation for September callups.