You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
powered byJotCast
Eric A Longenhagen
12:01
Good morning from Tempe.
12:02
Chat, go.
Tommy N.
12:02
Did you get to see the Padres' prospects recently? What can you tell us about what you saw?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:02
Yes, several.
Hold on, let me grab my notes so I can do this properly....
Okay..
12:03
Enyel de los Sanots was not great. Scout who saw him last year and again this spring was not fond of what he thought was a mechanical change. 93-94 with a fringe breaking ball.
12:04
Mason Thompson was 92-95, good curveball, some arm slot variation and fringe command in my short look, change looked fine, good arm speed.
Jordy Barley (teenage SS that got $1 mil last July) was taking much better, stronger swings than when I saw him last fall.
12:05
He's a 60 or 70 runner still, too. Very toolsy. Was raw as an amateur, looks like he's taken a step forward.
Adrian Morejon was up to 96 and attacking hitters while locating three pitches. He's going to move very quickly.
There are more, it's a very fun system, but let's move on.
Sam
12:05
Could Austin Beck now go in the top five in the draft? Teams still have concerns?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:07
Yes, concerns are that 1) teams aren't going to pitch to him the rest of the year which means you better have seen him already and 2) that not everyone has seen him versus elite pitching competition. Tools are for real though, and that's all that matters. Have heard Tampa had heat in to see him. They pick at 4.
And THat
12:07
Suppose DL Hall, Jordon Adell, and Brendan McKay are on the board when the Brewers pick at 9 and for argument's sake those are the top 3 guys remaining on their list. Who would you pick at that point? Does the Brewers' deep depth in minor league OFs and relative lack of LHP depth weigh on your decision?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:08
If any of those guys is still there at 9 for me, I'd be doing backflips. McKay is probably the guy if he's there (I don't think he will be) just because he's a lefty with a good body, delivery, velo and hook. And a fall back option if you like the bat, too (or vice versa)
Erik
12:08
Have any prospects showed up in the WBC as worth a closer look?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:08
He might be over=hyped eventually because he's Yo's brother but Yoelkis Cespedes is a dude.
Wylie Woodrow Wilson
12:08
How do you factor intangibles (leadership ability, work ethic, behavioral issues) into reports? Does it ever change a numerical grade or is it more about adjusting risk level (like Player A has a better chance of maxing out his tools than Player B because of his work ethic?)?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:10
There are a few guys whose makeup (which, when I use it in text is only to describe a player's on-field work ethic, not off-field stuff) is lauded because it's so good and others who you hear about because it isn't, but on either end of the spectrum that's maybe 5% of the entire population of prospects.
12:11
I tend to avoid writing about it unless I hear it consistently about the same guy and you're right, it doesn't effect the numerical grades on the tools, just the risk profile that gets baked into the FV at the end.
Derrick W
12:11
Is it possible that if Gavin Cecchini has a 6 hit tool and can grow into an average/average+ 2B(both seem plausible), he's being a bit underrated by the scouting community?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:12
I guess it's possible but his throwing issues were so bad in the AFL that I have a hard time projecting him anywhere.
UCIrvineFan
12:12
What do you think of Keston Hiura's tools? 1st round worthy because of the hit tool alone?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:13
I'm in. I'm hearing the same sort of thing from some scouts as I did when Scott Kingery was draft eligible. Love the bat, but what else is there and am I stoked on this guy in round 1 without anything else there? I like guys who hit and Hiura does. He's at least an analytically-minded, back of the first round guy for me, and mayube someone's under slot pick earlier than that. Hell, look at where Matt Thaiss went last year, and he has less pop than Hiura.
David
12:14
To what extent do you continue to evaluate Minor Leaguers after they have exhausted Rookie eligibility?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:15
I try to look at big leaguers once a month just to remind myself what the finished product is supposed to look like, but I'm not monitoring them with the same intensity I do prospects because I just don't have the time.
Q-Ball
12:15
KATOH really likes Cub farmhand Isaac Paredes. More than Brendan Rogers! Do you think KATOH is nuts, or do you see that steady offensive potential?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:16
I like Paredes but KATOH doesn't know, for example, what Paredes' body looks like and that he showed up to camp quite a bit heavier than he was last year.
I saw him..Saturday I think? He can hit, but it's 3B right now so he's going to have to.
Saw Rodgers yesterday and he looks a little bigger, too.
12:17
I like KATOH a lot and Chris' work is good, but we all understand it has limitations, just like my eyeballs do.
Dave
12:17
How good will Norge Ruiz be?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:17
Relief for me.
Ryan Nolan
12:17
Two part question: 1) How often do you/most scouts move a fastball grade up or down based on things other than pure velocity 2) How much would you/most scouts move it.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:18
Some orgs have separate grades for velo and movement, others lump it all into one. Most I've moved it based on mvmt is a full grade.
Zonk
12:18
Generally, how would you characterize the upcoming draft talent pool? Deep, thin?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:18
Solid average, maybe a tick above.,
MLBDraftJunkie
12:18
Is Brendon Little in the top 15 conversation after transferring to JUCO?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:19
Possibly, but I've heard reliever worry which would make it unlikely if that's a pervasive feeling throughout the industry.
Load More Messages
Connecting…