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Brendan Gawlowski Prospects Chat: 2/24/26
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Brendan Gawlowski
2:31
In my experience, they're not always all that reliable. One factor is that the level of umpiring is just so much lower, which introduces a big variable. It's also a skill that players can improve drastically, so, particularly for guys who aren't good at it, it's a tough thing to project just from the data. None of this is a comment on Rainiel, to be clear.
As for that data, private only I believe. There are enough twitter/substack analysts out there now that I can't promise someone hasn't made it available though.
Ryan
2:31
Who are you top guys from the DSL league last year outside of guys on the top 100 or picks to click?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:32
Guys with 40+'s or better. Yilver De Paula is a sneaky one that I'm excited to see.
Tacoby Bellsbury
2:32
Who's got 80-grade ballpark food?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:32
Nobody, but pound for pound Tacoma does a good job. Hillsboro too.
Avoid The Clap
2:33
Owen Murphy has dominated the low minors in a smallish sample and returned strong following TSJ. He has lower velocity but great fastball traits. Assuming continued health, what would you be looking from him in 2026 to take the next step?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:33
Maintaining his stuff/command over longer outings. If he does, he'll be on the 100.
gamer
2:34
how much stock do you put into large velo swings during small samples of spring training? does your eval of a guy like bishop letson immediately change when you see that he can hold 96 across an outing? Or do you want to wait to see him hold it over a longer period of time?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:34
It can be encouraging, especially if there's a reason to think it's sustainable, but you don't want to get caught chasing the gun too much.
2:35
I once went nuts projecting Case Williams after he gained a tick or two in the best start of his life; he didn't sustain that. In hindsight, I should've been looking more for the "why" than the "what"
WagnerCrystal
2:36
I dunno if you're working on the Giants system, but any interesting trends or philosophies you've noticed under the newish (Posey) management
Brendan Gawlowski
2:36
Their drafts have been a little odd. Really like what they've done in Latin America the last year or three.
Inspector Houlihan
2:37
You know what, Gawlowski?  You draw a lot of water for the flim-flam you've been hawkin'.  Hows about you make with the feet and dip the bill.
Brendan Gawlowski
2:37
Thank you for your punctual attendance, Inspector.
Keith
2:37
Any general thoughts on the 2026 draft class? Any guys that have stuck out since the start of the season?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:38
I wish I could have watched more, prospect week kept me away from the tube a little bit. Flora looks really sharp; Liam Peterson less so, at least in week one when I was watching. I like Strosnider.
Ike
2:38
You have 4 Mariners prospects (hitters) that have a Future Value of 50. If you had to pick one of those 4 (Farmelo, Montes, Arroyo, Celesten) to exceed that average regular projection to become an all-star, who would it be?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:39
In order of likelihood to become a star: Farmelo, Montes/Celesten, Arroyo
Mr. Met
2:39
Of Santucci, Wenninger, and Thorton, who do you like best?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:39
The guy we put on the 100
Steve
2:39
What do you make of the trajectory of the Cardinals pitching development & acquisition processes given the changes within the Front Office?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:40
Need more time. Not a pithy comment: It's one thing to say all the right things, it's another to demonstrably prove that you can effect change.
Nils
2:41
Speaking of catcher framing, is that something that you guys will start to fade out of scouting (assuming ABS coming into play more)?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:42
I'll be paying a lot of attention to how framing works in the new environment. I think it'll still be a factor, there's a disincentive to challenge borderline pitches early in games or in certain counts, so it'll still matter. But you'd think it would matter quite a bit less.
2:43
The thing I'm even more curious about is whether ABS changes how catchers set up to control the running game.
Nick
2:43
Do you think JR Ritchie will be ready to contribute at the MLB level this season or would he be best served spending the full season in the minors?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:43
I expect him to debut this season. Health permitting as always for a pitcher.
O's
2:44
So what's the story on Enrique Bradfield? Will he become an O's regular, or is he doomed to be a pinch runner and defensive replacement?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:44
I'll split the gap; solid fourth OF.
NFP
2:45
Every offseason you see how some guy added xyz pitch, changed his arm slot, added 2-3 ticks of this and that - do players go to Driveline/Tread-types with a recommendation or agenda provided by their team, or are teams getting credit for third party development?

We can see teams are prioritizing "types" of pitchers (e.g., Boston with supinator/cut-fastball types like Sonny Gray and Marcus Phillips) and there's some level of biomechanics scouting on the hitting side to ID guys capable of bat speed gains beyond just force plate measurements. But who's really doing the work other than the player?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:46
This feels like an article idea. The short answer: all combinations of things. Players may make changes from working with team personnel in the offseason. Others may go to a facility that works hand in glove with their club's PD staff. Others may do the exact opposite thing their team wants them to do.
Also: For every successful story you hear of a guy going to a third party and taking a step forward, there are plenty that go the other way too
sodo mojo
2:47
What would it take for Luke Stevenson to jump into the 50 tier this season.  The SSS debut was encouraging if he can continue that approach at Everett is that enough or do you need to see what he can do at AA?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:47
Depends what he looks like at Everett. Another who was on the PTC long list and just ran into a numbers game.
Guest
2:47
Yeremy Cabrera popped in both Zips's and OOPSY's top 100. He seemed like a bit of a low-key add on in the Gore trade. What do you think of him? Is he an FV45? Why or why not?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:48
A little disappointed in the lack of year-over-year growth to be honest. Liked him in 2024, looked like the same guy last spring.
Billy Ocean
2:48
Which organizations have a reputation for tinkering with a prospect and ruining what made them interesting to begin with? Like "I'm going to downgrade this guy a bit because he's in [Organization X] and they're going to inevitably mess up his swing"
Brendan Gawlowski
2:49
It's less that teams "ruin" guys (although it's happened) and more that some systems seem less able to help guys get better/shore up obvious weak spots.
Different Ryan
2:49
In evaluating a pitcher, does it move the needle much if he's got, say, five or six grade 50 pitches, versus four? You can't throw them all at the same time, but occasionally it might predict future success, yes?
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