Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Slade]

Player types are like that often. Brett Lawrie was supposed to be a big hitting 3B but ended up being an elite defensive 3B with an average bat. Kevin Pillar was comped to Reed Johnson when he was coming up.. crushed the minor leagues and was supposed to be a fringe corner outfielder. Cavan Biggio was drafted as a defensive minded 2B. I'm sure there is more.

 

This is not true, his defense was always questionable.

[max silver]

Some AAA notes:

- Kevin Smith continue to succeed at the plate. 1-3, 2bb. OPS up to .985. Wrc+ up to 156. Strikeout percentage has come way down from last season. I think I'd like to see what this kid can do at the Major League level soon. If Rowdy is going to continue to not give us much, this seems like a possible move.

- Urena is on fire. Another 3 knocks today.

- Hobie Harris and Kirby Snead seem like interesting pen pieces that I wouldn't mind seeing what they are all about.

 

I suspect Smith may not be far off from being given a shot to take over for Espinal. In a perfect world he would replace Panik on the roster but that would never happen given how deeply in love Charlie seems to be with Panik.

 

I think the Jays should give Harris and Snead a shot sooner rather than later, it's not like they can possibly be any worse than the likes of Carl Edwards Jr. and Beasley after all.

[Olerud363]

Wander Franco is 20 years old and has a 154 wRC+ in AAA with a minuscule K rate and great power numbers. I don't care that Taylor Walls is also good, it is an absolute travesty that this guy has yet to debut in the bigs.

 

Not sure what the deal is there. Maybe it is just a cruel Tampa Bay thing. He is ready for the majors and can have a nice age 20-40 career. TBR wants age 22-28.

 

I guess the problem I see is that if they go the entire year without calling him up, they then have to hold him out 3 weeks in 2022.

 

Maybe they are also concerned about how a potential strike could effect service time. So what if next year is a disaster? 80 game season or wiped out? And then MLB players get a full year of service time for that crap.

[Daniel Labude]

[RustyTrombone]

 

Wow if Moreno can play a passable 3b we could be looking at him in the big leagues reaaaaaly soon.

[Laika]

Huuuuge development. Imagine Springer CF, Kirk DH, Moreno 3B, Biggio and Gurriel platooning in LF

[InsideThePark]

I would assume this is more to see if he can handle it a few times a year to get him and Kirk both more playing time in the big leagues. If they get to that situation down the road it's always nice to have tried it in the minors. I mentioned this in a thread here a couple weeks back I think, about trying him in the infield to give you options. I like Espinal, but when your starting 3B is not playing if you can use Moreno at 3rd to get his and/or Kirk's bat in the lineup more rather than Espinal(or whoever your backup 3B is) that's a win. At least you know you've tried it in the minors so you can can see now if you might potentially have that option available rather than guessing if he might be able to handle it when at the majors when you might want to try it 2 years from now.

[InsideThePark]

Moreno is the next Russell Martin?

 

The next Josh Donaldson actually who came up as a catcher for those who don't remember.

[Slade]

I didn't realize Moreno is already on the 40 man roster too, quite the interesting development!

[InvincibleTiger]

SWR on the mound today!

[BlueRocky]

The Rutschman and Moreno comparison is silly, they are completely different players and only thing similar about them is their position.

 

I’ve been talking about Gabriel Moreno since 2019. His bat to ball skills have been elite since Lansing and now he’s hitting for power. He has the possibility of moving positions, that bat can play anywhere. His actions behind the plate are very athletic, practically a shortstop behind the plate, hence the Realmuto comps. He’s not a walk and plate discipline guy like many catchers in the MLB with below average hit tools, Moreno has plus-plus hit tool like Bichette.

 

Moreno’s swing is also geared for doing damage, his high BABIP is a result of exit velo and ability to drive the ball to all fields. If he can adapt to third base, Martin can stay at CF and Springer at RF this would be the most ridiculous Blue Jays lineup since WAMCO.

[TwistedLogic]

The Rutschman and Moreno comparison is silly, they are completely different players and only thing similar about them is their position.

 

I’ve been talking about Gabriel Moreno since 2019. His bat to ball skills have been elite since Lansing and now he’s hitting for power. He has the possibility of moving positions, that bat can play anywhere. His actions behind the plate are very athletic, practically a shortstop behind the plate, hence the Realmuto comps. He’s not a walk and plate discipline guy like many catchers in the MLB with below average hit tools, Moreno has plus-plus hit tool like Bichette.

 

Moreno’s swing is also geared for doing damage, his high BABIP is a result of exit velo and ability to drive the ball to all fields. If he can adapt to third base, Martin can stay at CF and Springer at RF this would be the most ridiculous Blue Jays lineup since WAMCO.

 

Gurriel - Martin - Springer

 

Moreno - Bichette - Biggio - Guerrero

 

Kirk

 

Hernandez

 

9 deep. One can dream.

[Grant77]

I didn't realize Moreno is already on the 40 man roster too, quite the interesting development!

 

He had to be protected this year. I don't think it's indicative of any plans to call him up this season.

[Eat My Shatkins]

It's not indicative, but it certainly makes it easier to call him up.

[InsideThePark]

Moreno is 2 for 2 with a HR and a double in his short career as a 3rd baseman thus far

[InvincibleTiger]

SWR having a rough day

[InsideThePark]

SWR having a rough day

 

I disagree. He's given up 1 walk and 3 hits in 4 innings so far but 1 of those hits was a bunt single, and another an infield single. So he's essentially only given up 1 hit that got to the outfield(the 3 run double) and 1 walk. He's struck out 6. His first 3 innings were perfect.

 

Are the results good? No, 3 runs in 4 innings doesn't look great, the timing of the double after 2 weak hits and a walk caused 3 runs, but 6 K's, 1 walk and just 1 hit that got out of the infield is pretty solid.

[Jimcanuck]

BA has the prospect catcher rankings as:

 

Adley, Alvarez, Bart, Moreno

 

I would have Moreno ahead of Bart, but the 2 years younger than Moreno and 1 level lower and beasting Alvarez looks like a special player.

[Benito]

SWR having a rough day

 

It was a rough 4th inning. Started inning with 2 SO, ran into some trouble, but still ended up striking out the side.

[Laika]

Kirk and Moreno were basically free prospects. I think they signed for $50k combined. f***ing mental.

[Benito]

SWR strikes out the side in the 4th, and now the 5th.

[Daniel Labude]

[TwistedLogic]

lol, Moreno got another single after his home run.

 

Moreno went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI's, 2 Runs. His BA is up to .388.

 

Samad Taylor and Austin Martin each went 1-for-4.

 

Otto Lopez hit his first homer of the season, finished 1-for-5.

 

Groshans was 3-for-4 today with a homer. Average up to .274.

 

This Vinny Capra guy also continues to absolutely rake.

 

Capra went 2-for-3 with a walk and a homer. BA up to .411.

 

SWR had a solid outing which looked worse due to a string of hits in the 4th.

 

Finished with 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. ERA for the season sitting at 2.70.

[Daniel Labude]

 

[Deadpool]

Is his name pronounced "Groshins"?

[InsideThePark]

Is his name pronounced "Groshins"?

 

I think so yes. I was told it rhymes with Oceans

[InvincibleTiger]

NH vs Bowie (Orioles AA) for 6 games starting Tuesday. Get to see Moreno vs Rutschman. Also get to see Orioles top pitching prospect, Grayson Rodriguez.

[max silver]

lol, Moreno got another single after his home run.

 

Moreno went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI's, 2 Runs. His BA is up to .388.

 

Samad Taylor and Austin Martin each went 1-for-4.

 

Otto Lopez hit his first homer of the season, finished 1-for-5.

 

Groshans was 3-for-4 today with a homer. Average up to .274.

 

This Vinny Capra guy also continues to absolutely rake.

 

Capra went 2-for-3 with a walk and a homer. BA up to .411.

 

SWR had a solid outing which looked worse due to a string of hits in the 4th.

 

Finished with 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. ERA for the season sitting at 2.70.

 

The Fisher Cats roster is just crazy stacked with great prospects this season. I'm super pumped about the Moreno breakout, the reports from the alternate training sight were glowing about his ability to square up baseballs on a regular basis. That's continued right into the AA season but with an uptick in power as well. The Samad Taylor offensive explosion is a really nice unexpected bonus that came out of nowhere. He was purported to have a solid speed power mix but hadn't shown much professionally up to this point. I'm not sure what would be a good major league comp if he were to hit his full ceiling level though, but a speedy 2nd baseman with good power sounds like an interesting possibility. There's always the possibility he could be moved to center field long term as well.

[THANOS]

Gurriel - Martin - Springer

 

Moreno - Bichette - Biggio - Guerrero

 

Kirk

 

Hernandez

 

9 deep. One can dream.

 

Wonderful.

 

Alternately, if Groshans pans out, could have below

 

Hernandez - Martin - Springer

 

Groshans - Bichette - Biggio - Guerrero

 

Moreno

 

Kirk

 

Beast-mode with Gurriel as the 4th OF.

[Eat My Shatkins]

So, Kevin Smith...

 

What are our realistic expectations for him? Cavan Biggio but with slightly more power and a better glove that can play SS, 3B and 2B with plus defense? Their 24 year old AAA numbers are very similar.

 

That'd be a damn nice player to have I'm thinking.