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Brendan Gawlowski Prospects Chat: 4/21/26
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Brendan Gawlowski
3:32
Were they taking all the way on a fastball just out of the center of the plate, or were they tracking like they were ready to swing but maybe wanted it in a slightly different spot? \
3:33
To build on the two strikes part: If someone's chase rate is x% normally and x+20% with two strikes, that's a pretty good indicator of passivity in my experience
If it's x+10%, that's pretty standard
Matt
3:33
That Moises Ballesteros. Pretty, pretty good, no?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:34
One of the things that jumped out in our evals this winter was that so many of his big league at bats last september came against monster arms.
Which gave us a little more conviction in the bat.
BobbyW
3:34
Any Royals you disappointed didn't make the list?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:34
Well, I'm making the list... so no.
Sean miller
3:35
Hasn’t Ian happ won 4 consecutive gold gloves?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:35
local prospect analyst fucks up
Insert Witty Name Here
3:35
I think Eric said he thinks the ability to spin a ball is an inherent trait.  Do you believe that as well?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:36
We've seen some pronators turn into supinators, but I think even those guys don't tend to develop huge spin?
3:37
I think there are things you can do at the margins, and maybe in the odd case wholesale if someone just doesn't know how to grip the ball well, but I think most improvements here are by degree rather than kind
Orley
3:38
Speaking of Emil Morales, does he have the chance to be a 60-65 type prospect? What does he need to continue developing to elevate himself to that level?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:38
My instinct is that that's a little hot but a 60 FV isn't out of the question some day..
RAH
3:38
Ronny Cruz says hi
Brendan Gawlowski
3:39
He's said it about 45 times this chat
Farhandrew Zaidman
3:39
How much does bat speed in your experience correlate with just pure physical strength and size? In other words, are we just finding another way to say "big guy good scrawny guy bad"?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:39
Not exactly, there are wiry guys with really fast bats.
3:40
Small/narrow types less so
Brendan
3:40
Piggybacking on the Emil Morales question, can you think of any guys you've evaluated so far this year and have rated as 40+ or less that have the potential to get to 60-65 in the future?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:41
Some of the toolsier complex kids.
It's an FV grade, so the guys who are really far away are capped pretty low on our lists, even if they're toolsy and talented. Some of them will mature into 60 FV's as they max out on our initial forecasts
3:42
Those are guys who, for a team, would have been given a more aggressive topline grade
If that makes sense
An Open Mook
3:42
Any other Franklin Arias Q's in the chat? What a start he's off to...
Brendan Gawlowski
3:42
A couple. I don't have much to add, he's just a really good player with a mature skill set performing at a high level
3:43
We're glad we stuffed him
Felnin Celestin
3:43
Is Felnin a 45 or 45+ these days? In your recent write up about him you mentioned his "at times lethargic motor." Is that a comment / question on his effort or do you mean he like, needs to "build up steam" when he's running?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:43
Effort
3:44
Too early to move him. We knew he'd be volatile and we bought the ticket. Time to take the ride.
Farhandrew Zaidman
3:45
Can you dig in on Troy Johnston a bit more? Is there something in the profile you're out on, or just the age factor? Between two small samples in 25 and 26, the offensive production has been dare I say good?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:47
I'm skeptical of corner guys without big power as a class. With Johnston in particular, there aren't a lot of walks coming with it, which makes him dependent on consistently squaring up the ball. He's done it so far and has earned his production. I'm just skeptical that he's going to maintain that for the long haul.
RAH
3:48
Is Bryce Harper elite again?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:48
No but he seems to declining gently with the bat at least
Charlie Condon
3:48
When should I get called up? And am I the next poor mans Nick Kurtz?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:49
My instinct would be to let Condon succeed for a while at AAA but the team should know more about where he's at physically and mentally and are better positioned to determine how he'll handle it if he starts slowly in Denver.
Mitch
3:49
Obviously this would never happen but how would Seth Hernandez perform pitching once per week in the majors right now?
Brendan Gawlowski
3:49
He'd get in trouble falling behind a lot
Jonathan
3:50
Did having access to PIT prospects' PD plans give you a meaningfully better perspective when evaluating them instead of opposing teams' prospects?
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