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Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
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Eric A Longenhagen
12:03
Hello hello, it's a gorgeous Fall day in Tempe and I've got a packed schedule that will likely compress today's chat. I'm going to allow a couple minutes for some more questions to flow in before we begin in earnest.
Alex
12:05
What have you made of the Nationals' hirings and how do you expect them to handle key players differently than the past regime?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:07
I think the way things have trended in Boston from a talent acquisition and development standpoint have been very positive, and I'd be stoked to have the people chiefly responsible for that helming my club. They're young kids with a lot of juice, too. Let's see how things continue to trend, but this feels like a strong start.
J Edna Hoover
12:07
Luke Adams isn't just a right handed Tyler Black because...
Eric A Longenhagen
12:08
He's much more physical than Black, but the power piece of it is still below what I'd consider impactful at 1B.
Nuxie
12:09
Josh Baez- thoughts on his prospects and are you a believer in the improved approach
Eric A Longenhagen
12:11
I am pretty skeptical. He looks great on a spreadsheet and has draft pedigree, but my Spidey senses tingle watching him swing, I don't think there's actually average-ish feel to hit there and will take the under on him sustaining a 74% contact rate.
Guest
12:11
Has Daniel Eagen made an impression on you with his season?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:13
Yeah, plus breaking ball, riding fastball. The vert # on his fastball is inflated somewhat because of how high his release height is (it's up around 80 inches) so don't take the 20 inch number at face value, it's more played like an average pitch. HIs curveball is real, but his slider (which also generated something near plus-plus miss) has a different enough release point that I feel like big league hitters will be able to pick it out. I think he's a 45, which is still a great outcome for where he was schooled/drafted. His split was barely used in 2025 (6% usage against lefties) and is the one piece that might yet develop more and boost his role.
J Edna Hoover
12:13
Ethan Pecko looking like a rotation mainstay after he got healthy this year, eh?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:13
I really like him, yeah.
Matt
12:13
Thoughts on Caden Dana?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:14
Disappointing regression in strikes lasted all year, and has me concerned about him being less efficient than I thought he'd be a year ago. His fastball shape needs him to have fairly precise command, it's very vulnerable when it's not located well.
Jackson
12:15
Will Crawford be ready to contribute in LF/CF in 2026 for the Phillies? The comments about him in the presser sounded promising and like he was ready, but they’ve been saying that for a while and haven’t taken action
Eric A Longenhagen
12:19
I think the speed and defense pieces can make an impact on a big league game right now, but while much of his data is awesome (his combo of contact and exit velos are so impressive and exciting) his swing is still too long for him to pull fastballs at all, he's driving them into the ground and playing pepper with the third baseman a ton. Tough to see meaningful offensive impact right now.
He might get there as he gets stronger, it's an exciting foundation of feel for contact and physical tools, just not mechanically functional
Mr. Burrito
12:19
Has ABS in the minors changed your evaluation of any pitchers?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:20
Not off the top of my head, is there an angle via which you think it might? I think some of the guys with big overhand curveballs that clip the top and bottom of the zone might have an advantage compared to before, those pitches don't read as strikes to the eye all the time.
Bencle Mens
12:20
What are your biggest offseason "to-do" bullet point?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:22
-Help hire another full time prospect writer
-I'm working on Asia Pro reports
-40 Man Crunch
-How's My Driving foundation for Prospect Week
-Int'l Amateurs
-2026 draft
-Team Lists
chris
12:22
which met pitcher are you highest on?  Mclean, Tong, Sprout
Eric A Longenhagen
McLean
Mr. Burrito
12:22
Should Sasaki be a starter next year?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:23
Let's see how their offseason shakes out. Might have a lot of turnover on the pitching staff, so many injured guys coming off the 60-day.
Thomas
12:23
Were you at all surprised that the Blue Jays didn't send Tiedemann to AFL? I haven't heard much about how his recovery is going and the silence is worrying.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
I don't know if I'm worried, but I agree it would have made sense to send him here given the timing of his surgery (which was July of last year)
Jerry
12:25
Were you surprised by Colson Montgomery’s debut performance this year?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
Lol yeah, if you'd have told me in the middle of him striking out like 50% of the time that he'd come up and have a productive rookie year I wouldn't have believed you.
robertobeers
12:26
Heliot Ramos was #38 on your 2023 Giants list (he was listed at 6'1 188 lol). Much of the analysis was spot on yet he's developed into an average everyday player with serious fielding issues. His body is basically Kyle Schwarber, is there any outcome for him to stay in the field?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:26
Maybe in certain outfields it'd be okay, probably not theirs.
Bob
12:26
Any early AFL thoughts on PJ Morlando?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:27
In the wilderness
He and Brailer Guerrero look like it's too fast for them here
Bob
12:27
Is a late blooming career like Brent Rooker a realistic best case for Tommy White?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:27
White's swing is so long into the hitting zone I don't think the power actualization piece is going to arrive to Rooker's level.
Jacob from Earth
12:27
Is Cooper Pratt trending the same way Trey Sweeney was?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:28
That's a fair comp for middle of the road outcome for him
dannyb
12:28
Do the Phillies have the pieces to trade for a good cost-controlled OF?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:31
Yeah I think if they wanted to trade a couple of the better prospects they could get an OF. I think the free agent crop of OF is deep enough that they shouldn't be desperate to get one that way, though.
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