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Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
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Eric A Longenhagen
12:02
What's up hosers? Good afternoon from Catasauqua, PA where I'm seeing family and baseball (mostly Nats affiliates) through next week.
Guest
12:02
Is it possible that Jefferson Rojas has gotten back on track?  True that he’s put on muscle?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:05
We didn't think he ever got off track so much as he was a young player with an aggressive assignment last year. We had him as the top prospect in the system entering the year, 55th overall. He absolutely looks stronger, was selling out for power a little more than I liked when I saw him during the spring, though some of that was probably Breakout Game pressing.
Lord Thunder
12:05
With 17 walks in 15-plus innings including spring training, how long of a leash does Bubba Chandler have before he walks himself back to Triple-A?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:08
I wish Jared Jones were going to be ready to go sooner than mid-to-late May because there'd be a nice, natural swap there if Chandler is this wild until then. You're seeing why we had McLean ranked first among pitchers and Chandler in the tier behind him. I'm not too worried about it, long term, athletes with this kind of arm speed tend to take a minute to reign it in. They could just let him struggle and learn on the fly and I think it'd be fine. Don't burn an option year unless you really, really have to.
Jim
12:08
How fast should Jamie Arnold move through the minors?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:09
I don't think he's all that polished. Really struggled to throw strikes with his fastball all last year and again in my four looks at him this spring. He was the pitcher I saw most and he mostly labored. Good prospect, don't think he deserves an arrow up on my 45 FV grade from pre-draft based on his spring look. I have him graded the same (but ranked behind)...
Jim
12:09
Can Wei-En Lin add velocity and become a mid-rotation starter?
What do you think of Kade Morris? Just a back of the rotation Paul Blackburn type with a varied arsenal, but nothing that wows you?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:12
Lin needs to refine his command to be a mid-rotation starter. His fastball has the kind of ride that will allow it to thrive at 91-94, but he needs to command it to the top of the zone better, and he needs to find off-the-plate breaking ball location more consistently instead of constantly in-zone. Morris I really dig. East/west executor with multi-faceted fastball utility. Dots the slider. Super competitive guy, delivery is athletic... he's a no. 4/5 right now.
Jubs
12:12
Happy Friday Eric! So far this season we are seeing both one of the most impressive rookie classes so far, as well as many of said rookies getting long term extensions, even before they make their Major League debut. Are there any prospects you think will join this class of well paid young phenoms?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:13
Sal Stewart strikes me as a candidate. Caleb Bonemer maybe a year from now?
War2D2
12:13
Eric! Did you get eyes on Wiggins at all when you were scoping the Cubs in Scottsdale? Has his command/control gotten any better? Also the requisite “when’s the Cubs list hitting” weekly question, sorry to be a pest. Thanks!
Eric A Longenhagen
12:14
He was pretty wild in my lone Spring look. James and I are co-bylining Cubs. I'd expect that toward the end of April.
Tony Wroten
12:14
It seems like there’s suddenly a bit of a void of college arms behind Flora due to injuries or under performance. Anyone rising that’s not currently listed on The Board you have your eye on that be a first round arm and fill that gap?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:19
I saw the West Virginia an ASU arms last week and think they're more round 3 and later. Cole Carlon strikes me as second round and had his worst slider of the year in that game. Overbay is good but probably not a first rounder. LJ Mercurius in high school, he might have a shot. I need to see Reddeman and the kid from Liberty (probably when they're at NM State is my best shot) but I'm not really on Gaeckle or Rugger to that degree.
Bonnie
12:19
How much do you expect early seasons injuries to Josuar Gonzalez and Edward Florentino to affect their development this year?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:20
Josuar probably hangs in AZ for most of the year now, Florentino I'm not sure, hopefully I'll see him in Florida later this month.
Florentino is arguably advanced enough to go to Fall League if they wanna give him more reps late
Guest
12:20
Any idea what the Blue Jays will do with the 250k IFA money they got and do you have any idea how much money they have left?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:20
I don't, lemme see if I can get some dope on that while we chat.
Guest
12:22
What’s your thoughts on Dub Gleed?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:22
50 hit, 40 power infielder
Old Prospector
12:23
Who are the guys you are pushing up ranks after spring?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
Healthy DeLauter looks like he should be higher. Brody Hopkins was nails this spring, Yorger Bautista blew me away in an abbreviated look, Justin Campbell isn't suddenly gonna be on the top 100 or anything but I saw him pitch for the first time since the Tucson Regional and he's a real prospect again. Sirota maybe, wanna see how the contact rate trends.
JacobM
12:25
Excited to see the minor league season getting underway.  Thank you for your prospects coverage.  How long does it normally take before we can tell when prospects have made meaningful enough progress to be looked at in a more positive/negative light?  I imagine it's easier looking at pitchers wrt stuff.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:28
Pitchers you can see changes pretty quickly, it's just a matter of whether they'll sustain them for 130+ innings. If a guy is up 3 ticks I think that's enough to conclude at least some of it will stick. Hitters you want a month or two of data before you say "hey, this guy's contact rate held after promotion to double-a, or his hard hit rate is up, his swing has changed and the batted ball profile now looks like ____". I would side-eye anyone who is already like "Player X has an in-zone contact rate of 93% now!" even if they couch it in Small Sample caveat. Like, right. It's a small sample. Please stop making us dumber.
Old Prospector
12:28
Thoughts on Jose Fernandez after his big debut? Will he be a reliable MLB piece this year?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:30
I think so, we're re-evaluating. Brendan and I had pretty different opinions about his defense already. He's the sort of athlete/body who might break late he's yoked and could suddenly end up with big league power and play a plus or better 3B. There's a shot he ends up replacing Arenado as the full time 3B there at some point, but he also might K a ton. Contact and power were close to big league average last year.
JD
12:30
Any news on Thomas White or reason to worry? The original report was 3-4 weeks’ recovery, but that was >4 weeks and no updates…
Eric A Longenhagen
12:31
I don't think I'd "worry" in a long term sense, but it would be a bummer if he missed the whole year.
Guest
12:31
Who would you say are the most talented teams in milb this yesr
Eric A Longenhagen
12:33
Cubs A ball, Pirates High-A, Guardians A, Rockies A....those are off the top, I'm sure I'm missing an Orioles and Rays affiliate that's loaded.
Magic Morten
12:33
which of the big rookies so far is impressing you the most?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:34
Stewart (totally remade his body) and McGonigle (looks like a duck in water at 3B)
Sean
12:34
Dylan Jordan was reportedly sittin mid 90s the other night. Does that change his profile if that sticks?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:35
YEs
Sean
12:35
Is Cam Schlittler an ace? Or will the bully approach eventually stop working?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:35
You guys know I'm like Scrooge with the "ace" label, but that's one where I think he actually has a shot. I wanted to pick a novel AL Cy Young guy for our staff predictions and I was deciding between him and Cease.
RAH
12:36
Not looking for this to be posted, but you and BG have said these notes are appreciated - I appreciate you! And these chats! I always look forward to them, and love getting your insight into players and league trends and whatnot. I love your podcast appearances too. Your love of talking ball comes thru for sure.
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