JotCast | Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat

Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat

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Sailor Jerry

12:54

What were your thoughts on Trayce Thompson coming up as a prospect? He seems to be holding his own this year when he receives playing time

Eric A Longenhagen

12:56

Projectable athlete, 7 run, 6 potential defense in CF, 55 raw power but the approach, lever length and pitch recognition all pointed to a 40 bat or less. Saw him late last year and thought he had made real strides, grown into his body and was ready to take off. I'm in on Trayce.

12:56

When will Clint Frazier be up and what do you see him developing into?

Eric A Longenhagen

12:59

Not sure when he'll be up. The bat speed and power are crazy but it comes at the expense of effort and he has a little mechanical hiccup in his swing that has him pushing stuff to right field that he should be pulling into the left field seats. If that gets ironed out, he could be a monster. If not I still think he's a big leaguer. Could play CF in a pinch, too.

Oklahomabrave

12:59

Which of the Braves pitching prospects out of Newcombe, Fried, Toussaint, Sims, Soroka, do you like best?

Eric A Longenhagen

12:59

Newcomb

1:00

Err... who are you?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:00

I'm Batman.

AJ Preller

1:00

Good Morning Eric, and welcome aboard. What do you see the Padres doing with their top 10 pick? Baseball America mentioned they have shown up in force for prep hitters, is that an indication of which way they lean?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:01

If Moniak or Rutherford fall there they'd be good values. Perez too, obviously. I expect the Padres do some creative things given the picks and bonus $ they have. Expect a splash with 24 or 25.

Jimmy

1:01

Not sure if you do fantasy oriented questions but just in case - better use of a roster spot in a league where about 300 prospects are rostered - Franklyin Kilome, Domingo Acevedo, Junior Fernandez or Dylan Cease?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:03

Kilome, but Acevedo is closest to generating value as a reliever (which is what I think he is, ultimately). Cease probably needs 4+ years of devo.

1:03

Is a reasonable expectation for Corey Ray's floor something like a 100-105 wRC+ with good-not-great defense (maybe +2.5 runs saved) in left field?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:04

Yeah, I think that's very reasonable.

Bing Crosby

1:05

Favorite minor league parks/cities?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:05

Fort Myers, Lehigh Valley, Springfield (MO), Lake Elsinore

Kevin

1:07

What are your thoughts on the crop of young Brewers prospects at Low-A Wisconsin (Clark, Diaz, Harrison, Gatewood, Denson)?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:09

Clark looks great. I think he's going to hit and stay in CF. Diaz I think could be a 45/50 everyday player at 2B. I loved what I saw from Monte Harrison this spring and expected a breakout but he's not hitting. Gatewood, I don't think, will ever hit, but of course the raw power is very enticing.

Poopy McPoopyFace

1:10

Which draft prospects do you really like that would be available in the second round where the Giants pick for the first time?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:11

Bryson Brigman, Hudson Sanchez, Brandon Marsh, Jameson Fisher.

Dr Yes

1:12

What's the 411 on Yohander Mendez?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:14

I love him. Saw him this spring and he was low-to-mid 90s with some wiggle, above average changeup and slider, already knows how to use the slider vs righties. Think he's got mid-rotation potential.

ClickClick

1:15

You mention that Senzel has a good hit tool. How is he different from, say, Colin Moran. Senzel may have slightly better defense, but neither seem to have the power you want in a Corner Bat.

Eric A Longenhagen

1:16

I was never on Moran. I think Senzel's raw power plays down in games and have a 50 on his game power. He's a pretty good athlete and might tap into more with an adjustment or two. I had a mid first round grade on him after seeing him here in A early this spring.

Nancy

1:16

Noticed Gilbert Lara had a rough end to 2015. Is that just a fatigue thing? What's your overall opinion on him?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:17

He definitely looked tired, bat speed was gone. He's looked a little bit better this spring but is still having issues with timing and is starting to fill out to the point where it'll be time to move him off SS.

1:18

What do you think the future holds for Austin Meadows? Maybe a challenge trade of some kind for a SS prospect?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:19

Can't see PIT selling low there. If they were though, I'd be buying.

Frank

1:20

Alex Reyes a top of the rotation guy? Future ace? Thanks and welcome

Eric A Longenhagen

1:22

"Ace" is a term thrown around far too loosely. I think Reyes is one of the top 10 pitching prospects in all of baseball and he's likely a future #3. He was 95-97 in Fall League, flashed a plus curveball, above average slider, average change.

1:25

For reference, Jake Arrieta threw on the backfields while rehabbing and it looked like this on paper:
Fastball: 60
Curveball: 70
Cutter: 70
Changeup: 50/55
Above average control. That's an ace.

Proswagonist

1:26

Any chance Braxton Garrett makes it down to the Astors at 17?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:27

Doubt it, but one of those top prep arms has to fall. Garrett, Wentz, Anderson, Manning...they can't all go top 15. Whitley will probably be there.

Yorman

1:28

Peaches on pizza?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:28

GTFO

Brendan Brattengurg

1:29

Dodgers prospects usually focus on their arms but what do you think of Verdugo, Bellinger and Yusniel Diaz?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:31

I like all of those guys, Diaz does a little bit of everything but is going to make an adjustment or two to hit balls in the bottom of the zone more regularly. Verdugo has one of the quickest bats in the minors.

LioneeR

1:31

I am probably missing an inside joke, but who is Bocaton?

Eric A Longenhagen

1:32

Bocaton is Miguel Sano's nickname.

Steve

1:32

Based on what you've heard thus far, who are the top three players taken in June, in order?

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