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Eric Longenhagen Prospect Chat
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Eric A Longenhagen
12:03
Good morning, everyone. I had two ESPN Insider pieces go up yesterday and today, so head over there if you're interested in checking those out. Let's chat...
Tommy N.
12:03
Has your outlook on Joey Lucchesi improved this year? What do you think he can be?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:04
Yes, he went from being an honorable mention on the Padres list to a high-probability 40 for me, a likely backend starter.
Gary
12:04
How do you project someone like Joey Wentz? Looks like a great season on paper, but reportedly not with great velocity. With a guy who has shown better velo in HS, what are the chances it takes a jump?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:06
Most guys never throw harder than they do in high school. You're pitching more and toeing the rubber with less rest than you were in high school. Wentz wasn't all that projectable, physically, in high school and velo peaks and valleys. I think he'll be fine because the curveball and changeup will both be very good, but I wouldn't expect him to have an elite fastball or anything like that.
Jonathon
12:06
Is there a good way to reach out to companies you want to work for as a junior in college?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:07
I'd ask your academic adviser or someone with more corporate knowledge than I do. I was never one to network for the sake of networking, just something about it that felt uncomfortable to me.
PF
12:07
Acuna or Vlad? Who do you take?
Eric A Longenhagen
Mac
12:08
Since mejia at 3b for all was announced a few hours after last week's chat ended, what's your take on it and what do you feel he is long-term position wise?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:09
I have none until I see him play there. If I had to pick a position for him, it'd be catcher. For reasons that I hope are obvious. Mejia still has aspects of catching to refine but I haven't heard anyone say he's a lost cause back there.
Ed
12:12
Is the 2019 draft class another 2015 in terms of shortstop depth? Bobby Witt and Rece Hines at high school level, Logan Davidson, Drew Mendoza and Nick Quintana at the college level all seem to go very high in the draft. And who among the college bats stands out to you the most so far?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:13
Witt is a yes for me but I haven't seen Hines. Carter Young is a name to add. I'm not certain any of the college guys you mentioned stay at SS, in fact I think Quintana and Mendoza are a firm 'no' for me already.
I quite like Jeremy Eierman for 2018.
Lilith
12:13
Have you been impressed at all by Jeter Downs? Could he become a top 100 prospect in the next year or so? What are your thoughts on him?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:15
Opinions on Downs are all over the place because some think he stays at short, some think he hits, some think he does one of those, some think he'll do none. For me, he's a 2B who has enough hitting ability and power to have a shot to be an everyday guy.
Jack
12:15
Gohara may start tonight for Atlanta. What should we expect from him next year?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:16
Assuming he keeps his body in check (he's big, especially for his age) then he should just be what you'll see in his first start. Mid-to-upper 90s with a good slider.
Davell
12:16
Did the Cubs get a steal with Nelson Velázquez?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:18
He has looked good and may have been under-valued on draft day due to a hamstring injury that limited his mobility during the spring. Ask me about him again next week after I've seen him three more times. AZL Cubs are in the finals.
Lilith
12:18
If you had to choose one trio, who would you take? Senzel - Trammell - Okey (Reds 2016 draft), or Greene - Downs - Fairchild (Reds 2017 draft)? Could you explain why?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:18
2016 Trammell > Downs by a wide margin right now.
LegallyEagle
12:19
How many innings should the Dodgers limit Walker Buehler? Would it be risky, even if he's pitching well, to put him on a playoff roster (presuming they make the playoffs) to add even more innings?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:20
No magic number. If he says he feels good and his stuff is still great, I'm riding the wave as long as possible, even if it means starting him later next year. We're at that time of year where chasing the ring usurps all else.
Dave
12:20
Will Norge Ruiz be in Oakland's rotation at some point next season?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:21
I'm not sure he's all that good. Looked very relievery to me this summer.
Aussie Bossy
12:23
Are Lewis Thorpe's numbers encouraging? How has his velocity look?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:23
It's good he made it through an entire season without a DL stint. Mostly low-90s last I checked, though it was a while ago.
Nick
12:24
Why do certain players have random power spikes for one season of their careers (i.e. Joe Mauer and Jacoby Ellsbury)? Is it just luck/random variance or is it an adjustment they made that year but "forgot" the next?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:24
Variance
BK
12:25
Any chance we see Acuna in Atlanta this year? Or are the Braves playing with the service clock?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
They're not slow-rolling other promotions, so maybe we see him for a little bit. But I have no knowledge of it ahead of time.
rqiii
12:26
What is a fair comp for Jonathan Machado? He has had Ichiro comps in the past, but is someone like Jon Jay more realistic?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:27
The Ichiro comps are probably refering to his style of hitting, not the kind of player he's going to be. Ichiro was 80 hit, 80 run, 80 glove, 80 arm at peak. Machado isn't that guy. Nobody is that guy. I think Machado has good feel to hit and some leadoff hitter traits, unsure what kind of physicality he'll have in his 20s
Dylan
12:27
Alex Speas seems to be pitching a lot better of late, albeit in 2 inning stints. Is this an indication they're looking at him as a reliever or is he just young?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:27
I thihnk they should keep trying to develop him as a starter but I think he's more likely a high-octane bullpen arm.
t
12:28
So JP Crawford got it going and received his call-up, basically right on schedule. What's your impression given the ups and downs he's had?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:30
I think he'll be a good all-around player. Jordy Mercer has been a 1.5 WAR shortstop this year, not hard to envision Crawford hitting better than Mercer.
Fred
12:31
Are Jahmai Jones's tools in the same ballpark with Jesus Sanchez and Estevan Florial?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:34
Jones is a much different player than the other two. Different build, more under control and  about hard, low-lying contact than Florial's extreme violence or Sanchez's strength.
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