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Klawchat 6/5/25
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Andy
2:29
Exit velocities are clearly being tracked much more at minors and amateur levels. Are launch angles as well? The Dodgers have had success changing launch angles, but that's at the major league level. Are there teams doing that for lower level players too?
Keith Law
2:29
Yes, it's all measured by the same equipment.
MarkH
2:29
Thanks for doing the chat. What to make of Noelvi Marte? If healthy, an occasional All-Star?
Keith Law
2:29
I could see that.
Heather
2:29
Still picking Atlanta over Boston this fall?
Keith Law
2:29
joy of course not
Jivas
2:29
I noticed Thomas White did not make your updated top-50 prospects.  What improvements do you need to see him make for him to rise up your rankings?  Thank you!
Keith Law
2:29
How about strikes? Strikes are good. Let's try throwing strikes and see what happens.
Miller
2:30
Any love for The Rehearsal?
Keith Law
2:30
Never watched.
Miller
2:30
Esmerlyn Valdez a guy?
Keith Law
2:30
Not really. Corner only bat who's taking advantage of a great hitter's park.
Chuck
2:30
Keith, you mentioned the Arizona Complex League. Basic question, but how does it work? Do prospects play against other teams, or just Complex guys from their own MLB franchise? 9 inning games or nah?
Keith Law
2:31
It's a league, every team that trains in AZ has an affiliate there and they play a proper schedule against other clubs. You can find schedules and stats on milb.com.
Finnegan
2:31
Kristian Campbell has been terrible for a month and a half.  What should the Red Sox do with him?  Back to the minors, or let him figure it out in the Majors (it's not like he's going to hurt their playoff chances).  But I look at their coaching staff, and I really don't see them helping anyone get better, so perhaps Campbell would be better off far away from Pete Fatse, who seems to deny the very existence of the slider.
Keith Law
2:31
I don't love demoting guys unless you think it's hurting them psychologically to stay up and struggle, and I can't answer that last part for any player, really.
Drake Baldwin
2:31
Is he good enough now to justify trading Sean Murphy or would you need to see more to justify such a move? Does he have more upside offensively?
Keith Law
2:32
I would explore trading Murphy because Baldwin looks like he can handle the job, Murphy is already kind of injury-prone at 30, and they have a lot of other needs.
Andy
2:32
Will the stupid ban on Venezuelans make a difference to any MLB teams?
Keith Law
2:32
Probably.
Santaspirt
2:32
Re: Your newsletter about food. I have a very limited palate, and don't venture outside my comfort zone. You love food and your taste is pretty vast. We pitch this TV show idea where we travel around to different cities, you pick the restaurant and order for me, and I have to eat whatever you order. All of it. You get to talk about the food you ordered, the flavors, why you picked it, etc. and I get to talk about the absolute hell I'm going through. I'm sure you know more producers than I do.
Keith Law
2:33
Hey, I'm sold. As long as I don't have to clean up after you.
Aaron C.
2:33
Hey, Keith. I may or may not be a Sacramento A's fan under this paper bag. Any new scouting intel on Colby Thomas and Henry Bolte or is the former still making mostly soft contact and the latter still "a great athlete, but..."?
Keith Law
2:34
I'll give Bolte credit - he's hitting much better in pro ball than I ever expected. He's also still punching out too much, even as a sort-of AA repeater, but he's done more than enough to change to show he wasn't as bad a pick as it first seemed (and it seemed awful, he couldn't really hit in HS for a second-rounder).
Adam D.
2:34
I'm curious how often you chat with your peers like Eric Longenhagen, Kiley McDaniel, etc. about prospects during the season. Is there an open dialogue about what you're seeing or hearing as a way to verify things, or do you guys tend to keep that info to yourselves?
Keith Law
2:35
I talk to lots of those guys, mostly in person, but I don't hold info back. We're probably all going to hear the same stuff at some point, and even if I don't, say, text Eric to tell him something (which he and I have definitely done with info), it's going to appear on the site anyway.
There are a very small number of us who do prospect writing full time. I prefer to see us all as members of the same small circle than as competitors or enemies. I don't think I take audience away from them or them from me ... seems like most of you want to read more than one prospect writer and that's great.
Matt K
2:35
Brewer question, Keith.  Could Dinges be a "guy"?  Between his bat looking so good, his good-enough athleticism behind the dish, and the Brewer system being so good at developing/tweaking catcher defense, I have a lot of optimism for him.  Am I way off?  Thanks!
Keith Law
2:36
I'm buying. Got a *great* report on him from a scout who saw him in low A, so just bear in mind he was old for the level, but he's a guy.
Turd Fergison
2:36
Keith, I know this is pedantic, but the search capability at your employer is HORRIBLE. When I look up a player - say Chase Burns -  it returns more results from other sports than it does baseball. And nowhere in the results would you find any of your articles on Reds Prospects, or Top 100. Am I using search the wrong way, or is it really as bad as I'm making it out to be? I know you don't control this - is there any place or person I can give feedback?
Keith Law
2:36
I actually agree. I have other ways to find my own archived columns because I can't find them through our search function.
Joshua
2:36
Do you have any more intel on who the Nats may draft at 1.1, or who they may have truly narrowed their board down to? Any "surprise" names that may be there due to the uncertainty at the top of the draft this year? Thanks.
Keith Law
2:37
I don't think we're going to know who they're taking until the afternoon or evening of the draft. It's still wide open. I've heard at least 5 names still in the mix.
Braydon
2:37
If the Nationals pick someone other than Holliday is he a real possibility for the Cardinals at 5 or is that still highly unlikely?
Keith Law
2:38
The scenario where that happens is that the first four picks, in some order, are the three college LHP (Doyle, Anderson, Arnold), and either Aiva Arquette or Ike Irish. Then Holliday's there at 5. Seemed outlandish a month ago; with Anderson almost a lock to go top 4 right now, I think it's possible.
JBC
2:38
Is Druw Jones officially a bust?
Keith Law
2:38
Uncomfortably close to yes.
Sam G
2:38
When do you believe the Reds will call up Chase Burns? I don’t think he is learning anything in the minors and needs to learn at the big league level. Thoughts?
Keith Law
2:38
Absolute nonsense. You're definitely just scouting the stat line here. His four-seamer is very straight and he needs to throw his changeup a lot more. I wouldn't even consider AAA for him until we see some real adjustments.
romorr
2:39
I'm more amused by Elias' not taking pitchers highly. 2023 draft arms are looking good at least. But with 19, 30, and 31, is this the year he takes one in the first round? Has to be, right? Or do I just have to take it that 3 college left-handed hitters are incoming?
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