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Brendan Gawlowski Prospects Chat: 2/3/26
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Brendan Gawlowski
2:01
Finishing a call with Eric and James, so I'm going to get started a tick late today. My apologies.
2:06
My Angels list went live last week, as did Eric's Phillies list.
2:07
There may also be some polls in this chat
First up: We've got prospect week coming up soon, and I will (probably) be doing some sort of feature in addition to the Top 100, helping on the college baseball update, picks to click, etc. What would be of most interest to you?
2:09
Most interesting feature article:

Who is suffering from the end of short season? (10% | 9 votes)
 
My worst scouting report (14.4% | 13 votes)
 
Why Scouting in Person Remains Valuable (14.4% | 13 votes)
 
How Soon Can You Tell You’ve Made a Big Mistake in the Draft? (60% | 54 votes)
 
Eh, these are all meh (1.1% | 1 vote)
 

Total Votes: 90
2:10
Okay, sorry for the delays, let's roll
Oaktown Blues
2:10
Do you have any hope for Luis Medina to re-emerge as a FOR candidate? Should certainly get opportunities on the pitching-starved A's, no?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:10
I think he's a reliever and nothing about the injury makes starting any more likely
Alec
2:11
Travis Bazzana went first overall in a top ten that included Konnor Griffin, Chase Burns, and Nick Kurtz among others. Everyone's careers have only just begun, but what does Bazzana need to look like over the next couple seasons for Guards fans to not feel disappointed with the pick?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:13
I think there's inevitably going to be some 'what could have been' even if it's not really fair. Nobody is particularly happy when the game's top prospect has a Bruce/Benintendi career even though it's a perfectly fine outcome.
Matt
2:13
In the Angels system overview write-up, you mentioned their heavy fastball usage in the minors despite poor fastball characteristics. Is this something you’d anticipate changing under Jared Hughes’ new position, or is it always going to be a problem with the presence of old-school coaches?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:14
Imagine it will change somewhat. I imagine that there will be a lot to glean on how Hughes has/hasn't put his mark on the org as soon as this spring.
Nate
2:14
Is Michael Arroyo the guy the Mariners should be/are trying to trade, because he's potentially blocked and his defense is a question? Or is he the guy they should be/are trying to keep (over, say, Cjintje/Ford) because they're that confident in the bat?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:15
That was where my head was this past July. A pull fly ball righty with 50/55 power in that park isn't a great fit.
Bob
2:15
Jonah Tong rocketed through the minors last season and had a cup of coffee in the majors in September. What does he need to work on while he is in the minors since the Mets currently have 6 starters? Better movement on his fastball? Better control over his secondary pitches? There's comparisons to Yesavage of the Blue Jays and Yesavage was awesome in the postseason.
Brendan Gawlowski
2:16
Finding a better breaking ball would help a lot. I'm also curious to see if there's another command gear. His fastball is good enough to dominate minor league hitters in the zone. Big leaguers gave him a rough ride, in part because he's prone to missing middle-middle. Can he fix that?
Naylor Sailor
2:16
Your grade on the Donovan deal?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:18
Seattle: This is what they should be doing, especially if they're not going to pony up
St. Louis: This is what they should be doing, I'm maybe a little surprised that the second piece isn't better. But also Jurrangelo could be very, very good and maybe that's enough.
Tampa Bay: The team that doesn't look like it really belongs in the deal is usually in good shape. The renter, if you will.
Tate
2:18
Will Nelson Rada make the angels opening day or will they go with Bryce Teodosio in center? Is there a chance that they trade for someone?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:19
I suspect Rada doesn't break camp but if anyone was gonna push him...
Idiotic Failson
2:19
I know he's technically not a prospect anymore, but what are your thoughts about Jordan Lawlar and his less than thrilling exposure to the majors so far? What needs to click for him, and what evidence are we looking for to see that it's happening?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:19
Pretty concerned. Doesn't look good at second.
Tate
2:20
Should the Royals trade Blake Mitchell? They might have the best catching depth in the Majors/Minors and they need outfield help and he is a top end prospect.
Brendan Gawlowski
2:21
One of the catchers would make a good trade chip. With Mitchell, all probably want to see what he looks like this spring.
Tony Lazzeri
2:21
Who do like best over the net ten years - McGonigle, Wetherholt or Jackson Holliday?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:21
That order
Roch Cholowsky
2:21
I was 36th on the FG draft board in 2023 out of High School. Defense was my carrying tool. How do you grade me now? (I know you were not at FG in 2023).
Brendan Gawlowski
2:22
Text from a scout last week: "Roch is so f*ing good"
Phil
2:24
Odds that Griffin is on the opening day roster?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:24
Under 50/50 but there were people curious what it would like in the bigs as early as last summer so it's not gonna be long.
Oaktown Blues
2:25
Any red flags in Edgar Montero's profile? I noticed his swing rate was definitely on the passive side
Brendan Gawlowski
2:27
Really hard to judge patience vs. passivity off numbers at that level. On the one hand, lowest swing rate in the org. On the other, huge jump in swings on balls down the middle, chase rate barely budges with two strikes. That doesn't strike me as passive.
Potato
2:28
Is Henry Godbout just Nick Yorke again? Or is there more there?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:28
Don't think they're especially similar. If you mean "high pick who doesn't really pan out," well, most of them don't.
Doog
2:28
Do the Giants have any SP prospects comparable to Jurrangelo they could have used to get Donovan?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:29
No, I like their low-level arms a good bit but neither they nor Whisenhunt would tempt me quite the same way
Guest
2:30
Tong needs to improve his command some, for sure, but it isn't also fair to suggest that his final numbers in the bigs were influenced by some bad luck? His ERA was more than 3 full points higher than his FIP and xFIP, his HR/FB would have ranked in the top 10 worst among qualified starters, and his BABIP was .396 (!). This site's projection systems are all suggesting that he would have an ERA somewhere between 3.35 and 4.07.
Brendan Gawlowski
2:31
Not a Tong specific thought, but I suspect that small sample high BABIP or HR/FB are less noisy than they may seem; reverse survivor bias.
Like, if I gave up a .380 BABIP and 20% home run rate, you wouldn't just regress that, right?
Todd
2:32
Carson Benge... do you think the Mets are correct in believing he's potentially ready to be their starting LFer? or do you think he's be better served with more time in Syracuse?
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