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Brendan Gawlowski Prospects Chat: 6/30/26
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Brendan Gawlowski
2:20
I think you try to learn a little bit from everyone, good or bad. But human beings are complicated, you can't perfectly backfit from someone else's trajectory
higginsford
2:22
Demetrio Crisantes cycle alert! Do you think his power outburst is real or a product of ball and home park?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:22
The latter
I like him, on talent he's a clear T100 guy.
He can really hit
No statistical sign that he's got more juice than when he was last evaluated
Beer:30
2:23
How correctable are lower level contact issues? Who have you seen alter his approach enough to overcome early career concerns and unexpectedly become a good hitter beyond the hyped power?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:23
It happens. Cam Cauley's on my mind b/c he debuted yesterday. His early minors numbers were dire.
rossredcay
2:24
Super small sample, but Patrick Forbes seems to be like not walking anyone so far?  Given that command was probably the big issue coming into the year, this is a positive sign, yes?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:24
I'd need to take a look, he's thrown, what 15 innings?
Ask again next week, I'll watch some video and ask around
rossredcay
2:26
Any dope on Jesus Castro (pop-up arm in SD system)?  Wasn't on my radar at all, but doing quite well in low A at 19 after jumping straight from DSL.
Brendan Gawlowski
2:27
Sitting 91-93, mostly pounding the sinker.
Might make the main section of the SDP list next cycle, he's having a good year, but it's still a pitchability over stuff profile.
Beer:30
2:28
Is Contact Rate purely putting bat to ball or quality bat to ball?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:28
The former; hard hit rate is 95+
Maurice Lepouttre
2:29
Any pitchers in Detroit's system making noticeable progress this season?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:30
Encouraged by Witherspoon's year, ready to see what it looks like against more appropriate competition.
JoshCleveland
2:30
Now the unreasonable fans of Fangraphs want to know, when can we expect the UPDATED prospects lists zipper_mouth_face
Brendan Gawlowski
2:30
Targeting HR derby day
fincampbell05
2:30
Which up-arrow Red Sox will be part of the top 100 conversation? Valera still there? Any consideration for Gonzales, Azocar, Godbout, Rivas.... Delzine?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:31
Valera will still be there. Gonzales, Azocar, and Delzine will come up for sure, gut feeling is that none will be added
Phil
2:31
Are we underrating Breslow's overhaul of pitching development just because he's kinda bad at the rest of his job? Really impressed by Tolle, Early, and Bennett so far.
Brendan Gawlowski
2:31
I think the pitching pipeline is humming spectacularly
Soup to nuts
rossredcay
2:32
Any notable offensive upside in Luke Stevenson's bat?  Or is this more of a low-ceiling, high-probability starting catcher?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:32
If anything, I've cooled on him slightly over the course of the year.
2:33
I still like him, but in April he looked like a potential quick mover, and the lack of game power in such a favorable environment is a little concerning.
andecobi
2:33
You said last week Farmelo had a long swing, are long swings purely because of long arms? Can a long armed player ever have a short swing? How do you shorten up a swing?
Brendan Gawlowski
2:34
Lots of good questions in here
Let's talk about Farmelo first
2:35
(Synergy picked a very bad time to crash, stand by)
2:37
In Farmelo's case, the head of the bat travels a long distance. It's a steep swing with a relatively high and deep load.
He has a fast bat, so he might get away with it, and we're projecting him to do so but the length of the path is a risk here.
2:38
Speaking more broadly, short arms help with length for obvious reasons
There's a reason why you see so few six-foot-seven hitters
And why the big guys you do so are freaky athletes
2:39
Thinking more about swing length: There's a tradeoff when it comes to balancing power and contact. Shortening a swing can help you generate more of the latter but, all else being equal, likely at the expense of the former.
2:40
So if you ever wonder why a guy doesn't just shorten up... that's part of it. Comfort is another factor, it's hard to change a swing, even a slight mechanical tweak can feel really awkward
Josh Jowdy
2:41
Eli Willits has had a great first month in A+ in a tough park for hitters. If he keeps it up, could the Nats move him up to AA before the season ends? Would that be in character for the ex-BOS front office?
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