If your ole buddy mentions trades or possible acquisitions, holler back. His stuff is interesting even if some things do not happen.
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Yes, please. I’m still stuck on the Grandal idea from a couple weeks ago.
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I liked that one also.
I’ll ask him about Grandel
Profile on last year’s 7th round pick AJ Blubaugh, who allowed just 52 hits with 88 Ks vs 22 BBs last spring/summer in 80.2 combined innings between college, the Cape Cod League and in his pro debut. In his last 2 appearances of the year (with the Peckers), he whiffed 16 in 10 innings with just 3 baserunners allowed (2 hits, 1 walk).
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The new top 10 list from Baseball America…
- Hunter Brown
- Yainer Diaz
- Drew Gilbert
- Jacob Melton
- David Hensley
- Pedro Leon
- Korey Lee
- Spencer Arrighetti
- Justin Dirden
- Miguel Ullola
Also their best tools list and some projections:
Hidden
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average: Yainer Diaz
Best Power Hitter: Yainer Diaz
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: David Hensley
Fastest Baserunner: Logan Cerny
Best Athlete: Zach Daniels
Best Fastball: Hunter Brown
Best Curveball: Hunter Brown
Best Slider: Spencer Arrighetti
Best Changeup: Shawn Dubin
Best Control: Colton Gordon
Best Defensive Catcher: Korey Lee
Best Defensive Infielder: Cristian Gonzalez
Best Infield Arm: Joe Perez
Best Defensive Outfielder: Drew Gilbert
Best Outfield Arm: Pedro Leon
PROJECTED 2026 LINEUP
Catcher: Korey Lee (27)
First Base: Yainer Diaz (27)
Second Base: Jose Altuve (36)
Third Base: Alex Bregman (32)
Shortstop: Jeremy Peña (28)
Left Field: Chas McCormick (31)
Center Field: Drew Gilbert (25)
Right Field: Kyle Tucker (29)
Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez (28)
No. 1 Starter: Framber Valdez (32)
No. 2 Starter: Lance McCullers Jr. (32)
No. 3 Starter: Cristian Javier (29)
No. 4 Starter: Luis Garcia (29)
No. 5 Starter: Hunter Brown (27)
Closer: Rafael Montero (35)
Thanks for sharing. Really surprised not to see Colin Barber rank in there.
Ranked at #11 it was said in the chat. Continuing concerns over his shoulder issues (among other things) holding him back.
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A couple of CFers in there though. Gilbert and Leon. I’m not sure if Melton and Dirden are suited for CF.
Maybe Dirden.
Melton with CF potential as well (moreso than Dirden).
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Three guys mentioned in the chat who will show up in the Top 30 list when it’s published and who weren’t in any of the rankings in '22–pitcher Jose Fleury, utility guy Joey Loperfido and outfielder Kenedy Corona.
Fleury pitched in the DSL last year with an incredible 60 Ks vs just 4 BBs in 38 IP.
Loperfido (7th rounder, 2021) put up combined numbers of .316/.408/.492 in time split last year between the 2 'villes. Though he’s played a number of positions he’s expected to end up at 1B.
Corona was referred to as “probably their best defensive outfielder” who made a swing change last year to add some pop. Hit .278/.362/.495 at the 'villes.
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According to mlbpipeline
(Run-Arm-field)
Gilbert: 55-60-55
Leon: 70-80-50
Barber: 55-50-50
Melton: 60-55-55
Dirden: 45-50-45
Cerny: 70-55-60
Hamilton: 60-50-55
Daniels: 60-50-50
Julks 55-50-50
I have not been able to find McCormick or Meyers on mlbpipeline any more to use as comparison
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What’s Spencer Arrighetti all about? Not someone I would have guessed for a top-10 list.
Fastball/slider guy with the latter his best pitch and accounted for the bulk of his 152 Ks in 106.2 IP last year. Also walked 55 though so the pen might be his ultimate destination unless he can show progress there.
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Interesting notes on Miguel Ullola: (1) at 19 on opening day last year was one of the youngest pitchers in a full season league (2) his FB touches 98 and among pitchers who threw at least 700 fastballs in '22 his 48% whiff rate was the highest in the minors by nearly eight full percentage points (3) Cristian Javier comp from “some” with the org.
120 Ks in just 72 innings for the Peckers in '22.
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Just looking back a little at these lists …
BA Projected 2023 Lineup:
C Korey Lee (could still happen, but more likely a backup)
1B Abraham Toro traded
2B Jose Altuve (of course)
3B Alex Bregman (of course)
SS Carlos Correa (What time is it?)
LF Kyle Tucker (dyslexic)
CF Miles Straw traded
RF George Springer traded
DH Yordan Alvarez (of course)
SP1 Lance McCullers (maybe)
SP2 Forrest Whitley (oops)
SP3 Jose Urquidy (close enough)
SP4 Cristian Javier (close enough)
SP5 Hunter Brown (maybe)
Closer Bryan Abreu (pretty close)
So 4/9 starters on offense plus a probable backup; probably 4/5 SP; and a “just missed” on the closer. Not too bad.
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More on the same theme:
BA Pre-Season Top 10 from 2018
RHP Forrest Whitley (languishing at AAA)
OF Kyle Tucker (Career WAR 12.8 and counting)
1B/OF Yordan Alvarez (Career WAR 13.6 and counting)
RHP JB Bukauskas (traded & DFA; Career WAR -0.9)
SS Freudis Nova (injured; on Asheville roster)
RHP Jairo Solis (injured; protected from Rule 5 on AAA roster)
RHP Hector Perez (to BJs in Osuna trade; played 1 game in 2020; claimed off waivers by TB from Orioles in Dec)
RHP Jorge Alcala (to MIN in Presley trade; 0.9 WAR in parts of four years)
RHP David Paulino (to BJs in Osuna trade; played 7 games there in 2018 and 1 for PHI in 2021; career WAR -0.3)
3B JD Davis (to steM after 2018 in mostly minor league deal; 450 ML games - 384 since the trade; Career WAR 2.2)
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That Osuna trade pretty much worked out for nobody
38 saves in 2019. That is working out in my book.
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Better than they usually do. It is hard. These projections are done 3-4 years out, right?