JotCast | Kiley McDaniel Chat

Kiley McDaniel Chat - 3/21/18

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Kiley McDaniel

11:25

Their recruiting strategy dictates this. Big toolsy bats get paid out of high school, but if a talented P has a big number or velo dips some or is at a rural school, etc. they can get to campus and often do (pitcher attrition and all that). They can grab gutsy guys and Juco performer bats and have frontline arms and they've obviously proven they can get those guys on campus

Tyler

11:25

Is Kelenic a top 10 lock if he was from the south and had the same production and track record?

Kiley McDaniel

11:25

Don't think so, he's been seen a ton the last two summers and he's seen in the middle of the first round right now

11:25

Reading your tweet about Acton last night-he seems to have some traits the Giants like. Are they considering him for their 2nd/3rd round pick or are teams still primarily focusing on lining up who they want in the 1st?

Kiley McDaniel

11:26

He's generally seen as a college guy but some team could fall in love and try him in the 3rd-5th if the money is right

Vegan Man!

11:26

ETA for Ke’Bryan Hayes? Chances he can turn into a 20-25 HR bat? Thanks!

Kiley McDaniel

11:27

Lots of questions like this on Top 100 guys. Almost everything you're looking for is here, or at the links at the top of this page: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2018-top-100-prospects/

11:27

With the *possibly* changing landscape to pitch usage at the major league level, has there been any discussion about the way certain amateur players are evaluated? I'm thinking leaning more towards players that might not have a great fastball but can really spin a breaker (maybe Alex Lange?).

Kiley McDaniel

11:28

Been talking to scouts about this recently. I think it's happening, you're seeing HS power arms that are athletic with stuff but have a head whack or bad command with good Trackman stuff and teams are just taking them now, where they rarely did in the past. I think Zack Burdi is gonna shove when he gets back from TJ and he should've gone higher. Lange and Brendon Little fit that description too. We've written about how Madrigal fits the Betts/Altuve/Albies mold of sneaky power...it's happening as GMs and analytics staffs have more say in draft decisions

Luzinski’s Sweaty Gooch

11:28

How did Ronald Acuna only get signed for ~100k when he had to be a sick athlete even then with a dad who played in the minors?

Kiley McDaniel

11:30

It happens a lot. Just talked to a scout about this yesterday, but normally when a huge prospect signs after July 2nd (so he's out on the market for awhile for every team), he will show some new tools or velo or physical development...and the first team to see this won't let him leave the academy. The kid is happy to sign but may not know he could get 2x the bonus if he waited a month and shopped around. Many top 100 guys have this basic story. Many GMs are mad they don't have amateur reports on these guys, but they go from basically unsignable to real prospect so quickly and quietly you can't see them all.

Blorg

11:30

Have any spring training updates on any prospects? Any 3rd pitches or velo upticks you're excited about?

Kiley McDaniel

11:31

Just got a bonkers report on Luis Medina. He may be a 50 FV now (but we'll wait until in-season to adjust it). Also got a new name that will be on the Yankees list (which is basically done) that I had literally never heard until today. He just got to America this week, so many Yankees people don't really know much about him.

Joey Lucchesi

11:33

Will my deception work at the MLB level and allow my stuff to play up?

Kiley McDaniel

11:33

I think so. Loved your work at the Starkville regional. Big fan.

Joe

11:34

Top Sleeper in the Brewers System?

Kiley McDaniel

11:34

He's not a sleeper per se, but we're clearly the high guys on Tristen Lutz. He's gonna blow up.

Rio

11:34

Did you see Albies 2 homers? Amazing

Bork

11:34

Wednesday? 11 am? What is this black magic tomfoolery?

Kiley McDaniel

11:34

There's your black magic

11:34

Who would you pick as dark horses for both leagues ROY?

Kiley McDaniel

11:35

Miguel Andujar in the AL. Brinson or Kingery in the NL. Acuna/Ohtani the obvious favorites.

11:36

I also wouldn't rule out Kyle Tucker if he somehow gets a path to regular ABs

Vegan Man!

11:36

What is the main culprit of Florial's high k%? Pitch recognition, aggressive approach? Given his decent BB%, it seems like he has a decent grasp of the strike zone? Thank you!

Kiley McDaniel

11:37

He's a late-count, flyball oriented guy with a steep plane. He's not bad picking out pitches and he has tools to hit, but his approach is basically to hit it hard and deep. Don't think it's ever more than 50 hit/.260 with this approach but that's enough with everything else he has.

Sandy Ravage

11:37

If Riley Pint can cut his BB/9 to even just 3, could you see him being a top 100 prospect again next year?

Kiley McDaniel

11:38

We had him at #75 this year and I saw him last year and it was electric stuff and shrug emoji command https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2018-top-100-prospects/

Ron Swanson's Mustache

11:38

Is Travis Swaggerty a fit for Atlanta at 8? Would that be too much of a reach?

Kiley McDaniel

11:38

There's some thought Swaggerty doesn't get out of the top 5 now. I'll see him this weekend.

Ryan E.

11:38

More likely to stick at catcher - William Contreras or MJ Melendez?

Kiley McDaniel

11:39

They both will but Melendez is probably a little better

Adam

11:39

How does the relationship between a player and the scout who “signed” them progress once the player goes pro? Does the scout still play an active role in their life or is it on to the next draft class?

Kiley McDaniel

11:39

Almost always stay in touch the whole career

Mike

11:39

Will the Tigers and other teams at the top get good medical info on Mize, McClanahan and others pre-draft? Or is there still a chance for another Brady Aiken situation?

Kiley McDaniel

11:40

They usually do, but one adviser (you'll never guess who!) is normally very tough to deal with on these things. Some agents just don't deal with it until after the deal is struck, but post Aiken maybe more want to avoid a fiasco like that.

Willie

11:40

I know the Gators well but who should I look for on the Razorbacks in their series this weekend?

Kiley McDaniel

11:40

Arkansas is loaded with underclassmen

11:42

Fr RHPs Bonnin and Rutledge are mid 90's and heard Rutledge has been up to 98. Fr OFs Kjerstad and Turney are real prospects, Kjerstad more average tools, Turney with easy plus raw but hitability issues. Zebulon Vermillion has an 80 name

Campbell, Knight are both draft guys for this year on the mound, Koch a bat for this year, all top 5 round types

11:43

Cronin and Fletcher both solid guys for 2019

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