Nine five miles an hour, riding to his head. He hop him down
first with the plump bonius face, and on the very next pitch he up
and stole second face with gretest speed. He wasn't born. He had to
do yes, uniform. Welcome to episode twenty nine of The Prospect Besides podcast,
I am Nate handy, and unfortunately for your poor ears, the rookie
cannot join me tonight, so I will be riding solo, maybe a little
throwback to the first semi season of the podcast. On top of things,
I'm coming down with a little bit of a cold, so you will get
John c Riley with a clothes pin on his nose. But I wanted to
stay on schedule. I wanted to share some observations from the first full week
of the minor leagues, and to be honest with you, I'm not really
sure where to start because I have overdone myself. I just started watching and
taking some notes and taking some videos as the week progressed, just day by
day, adding more things, and the list now has gotten quite ridiculously along.
I will do my best to try to pick out highlight some of the
more interesting watches. As we shall every week during the season, go over
some prospects that are trending roster percentage wise. I'll highlight some fantastic quality outings
by pictures, just a certain kind of line, a certain performance that I
like to highlight more so as like a menu of which arms maybe I want
to start paying some attention to if I'm not familiar with them already. We'll
also take a look at the week to come and I'll highlight some matchups where
my eyeballs might be viewing, so we'll have plenty to get into. I
will try to do my best role in solo here. But as last week
when the game started, we got a little treat. We found out that
we had some new broadcasts happening, and we got a little bit more of
the same sort of treat this week. Tri City, the Angels hi A
affiliate, is now broadcasting. Now. Maybe this will change, because these
things can change as the season moves along. You know, they're just starting,
so who knows what it will look like moving forward. But I did
check in and it was just kind of a press box view there. But
Tampa is also broadcasting now, another FSL league team showing games. We don't
hate that and then Rancho Cucamonga is broadcasting as well, so that leaves us
now just six teams throughout the whole minor leagues that are not broadcasting. In
the High Asal League, Hickory and Asheville are still not broadcasting. In the
FSL, Jupiter, Palm Beach and Daytona are not broadcasting, and then in
the Carolina League down east, the Rangers affiliate is not broadcasting. Will that
change? I don't know. I haven't seen anything that it's going to,
but sometimes the way things go in the minor leage leagues, things just happened
upon us. The second week definitely felt the struggle, if you will,
of watching some minor leagues. There were some issues. Peoria for whatever reason,
was having some technical difficulties and I don't think they broadcast at all this
week, but they usually do, so hopefully they get that worked out.
I was trying to tune in to watch my Cardinals beside bat alex Adisernia,
who I am interested in a fan of for sure, but interested just how
good he might be swinging it. Last Sunday he had a three double outing.
I went back and reviewed those and those were three really nice swings put
on balls. I wanted to see what he was going to look like this
week, but no dice. But I want to lead off talking about what
might have been the most interesting observation of mine this last week, and that
involved my d backs that selection this season, Gavin Contacello. I say,
Contocello. Everyone I hear on broadcast says Contescello. The rookie likes to say
Countacello. I don't know, maybe he's right. Forget me if I'm saying
it wrong. But Contacelo, feel free if you want a little bit more
of an explanation of our interest on the NL West episode back in Oh geez,
I don't know what was that October November, but cont Sello got my
interest, as it seemed there was a real sort of there was a real
tangible change in some of his mechanics at the plate and eyeballs, stat sheets,
particularly bad at ball profiles like we're kind of driving and when that happens,
you know, it gets a little interesting. But we had thought that
perhaps Conticello had made some developmental leaps, learned how to hit the ball out
in front in the air, pull side better, and a very high percentage
of those pulled fly balls were leaving the ballpark, which had made me wonder
if it was craziness to think that Contaseello, with his raw natural power and
his new found abilities, might be able to flirt with a thirty home run
season. I was tuning into some Hillsborough watching some at bats early this week,
and he wasn't really swinging it all that great. I noticed pretty patient
approach throughout the week. I don't think I saw him swing at any three
oh's. I don't think I saw him swinging any three ones either, so
being pretty selective out there. And then my man got real hot over the
weekend. He popped a home run on Friday and two on Saturday, and
then I think he went like three for four on Sunday with two singles and
a double. I cut up the three home run balls and tweeted those out
at pitching Specs if you want to take a look at what I'm about to
talk about here. But I saw that he hit some home runs, so
of course I had to watch them. And of course all of this talk
that we had about got to Sello pulling the ball and how and how if
he was becoming a heavy pool side hitter hitting it in the air a lot
that the home run potential could really take off. And of course his first
two home runs of the season were opposite field home runs. But I have
to say now I watched a lot of him from the last couple of years,
but particularly last year, his opposite field bad at balls tended to be
pretty weak contact, lots of infield pop ups, nothing super great. The
home run he hit on Friday night left center field was definitely the prettiest stroke
I've ever seen him go appo with. Out of all his home runs last
year, he hit one opposite field home run and it was kind of an
excuse me, wall squeaker sort of deal, which was kind of like the
second home run that I shared, although I think the one from this season
was was better than the one from last year. And then his third home
run, I think he got a breaking ball down and in if I remember
correctly, and just absolutely dropped the head on it and smashed it. We'll
do a lot of mudding, and we'll do a lot of digging, a
lot of video, a lot of looking at some numbers. You know,
the large majority of the time you're not gonna like get super excited. But
my digging on on Contasello here has got me a little excited, like there
might actually be some signs, some crumbs, a trail to a potential breakout
here, at least statistically. Gottsela's been I think, kind of a bad
luck hitter, but also a developing hitter. Watching him now this first week
of the season has my man been like, all right, I got this
pull side stuff down, Now let's work on the opposite field stuff. Because
I've got to say, a lot of the swings, a lot of the
swing decisions kind of feel that way and that kind of really jives. Watched
a lot of aj Vukevich coming up through the same system. Now he's a
right handed hitter, another taller guy, but felt like a lot of the
same sort of feel to the approaches and maybe what is trying to be worked
on here. So what does this mean? I don't know if it means
a whole lot. It's just a week, It's just a couple looks.
But Conticillo had himself of fantastic opening full week. He slashed four seventy five,
five forty five a thousand slug on the week, five singles, one
double, three home runs four walks to three strikeouts, natural raw power,
pull side loft, patient, good eye, doesn't strike out too much,
and now he's gonna be lacing some stuff opposite field potentially. I'm super excited
to watch how this might go with Contocello here. I'd also noticed that my
Royals b side arm Felix Ronde put up a pretty good line last Sunday,
two sundays ago, and I watched that before we recorded, so I went
back and took a look because he was pitching in Augusta, and we know
Augusta has a great angle, so I didn't want to miss this. Mind
you, I saw very little of Aronde when I made him my selection for
the Royals. He made just two A starts last year. Last year,
I'm not even sure how many innings were viewable, So you know, the
rook was was kind of jabbing at me a little, like, you know,
why are you taking all these guys and you barely saw any look of
and you know, because maybe lack of better options, whatever it might be,
they caught my attention. I wanted to watch some you know, maybe
maybe there is something here. And we've seen him with the B side pick
sometimes that is a horrible call, but sometimes it has worked out. Catcher
in the White Sox system. We're going to talk about a little bit fit
that bill. But I gotta say with a Rendez and a couple of my
other choices that we're going to get into that like had some really nice debuts.
So it's just one outing, just one little track mark. But Aronde
here man. He so he's a Cuban, what twenty years old? I
think he is. He's a little lanky, good size, taller, righty
fastball ninety three to ninety four. I think with some armside run. He
throws a slider, a curveball, change up, and a splitter. But
he went five innings, give up two hits, one en run, two
walks, seven strikeouts. Fifty of seventy pitches went for strikes. That's seventy
one percent. He got six groundouts and one air out first couple of innings.
It was mostly kind of like fastball slider. Yeah. I think it's
just he's got some good weapons, and if you know, Augusta is not
a bunch of world beaters, feel like him sort of just loosely commanding that
throwing strikes, was doing the job. Then we got into the third inning
and he started busting out change ups and splitters, and I don't think it's
a surprise then that it all got a little bit loose on them. He
started off the third with a walk, a single off, a middle middle
change up, another walk, double play with a run scored, and then
a ground out. After that, my man went on a tear and I
posted this, caught it up identified pitches, but he went on to strike
out the next five batters he faced on seventeen pitches, a near immaculine inning
ten pitches. Then struck out the first two hitters of the fifth on seven
pitches. He did make a start this then last week Sunday again against Myrtle
Beach. I did not watch this one. He went four innings, gave
up one hit, one walk, only one strikeout, sixty seven percent strikes,
six groundouts, five air outs. But arounde remains very interesting. Aball
Young a ball arm to keep an eye on might be a nice combination of
weaponry and ability to throw strikes. I would not call him a super precise
execution guy at this juncture in his career, throwing these offerings merely for strikes
at a ball was maybe against some questionable lineups, can probably put up some
lines that aren't necessarily translatable to upper levels, but nonetheless Felix Aronde firmly on
my B side radar. Then getting into like this actual week Tuesday, I
wanted to watch my a's arm Eduardo Rivera's the debut, but no dice for
whatever reason, as happens in the minor leagues. He turned on the game
and it was just a minor league logo. Couldn't get an ass. So
then I turned to Carlos yem Andez of the Pirates, who was pitching down
in Bradenton. You know, you get a good angle, get some stat
cast stuff. Yem Andez was my Pirates B side selection heading into last season,
who got hurt into that pitch very much. I wanted to see what
was up there. I don't know. I mean, this is just a
guy, a jag, but he's got some interesting stuff. Liked enough of
him to kind of roll the dice and see if he gets more popular.
But forcing fastball, curveball change. First inning, I was watching Maddy Backpack
and I were watching this kind of together and chatting during it, and it
looked really enticing. It looked pretty good the first thing, and it just
kind of all fell apart on him on the second. But this is a
guy who has not been on the bump very much the last couple of seasons.
Interesting guy that I might check back in on. You know, Tuesday
was admittedly just kind of a stinker of a night in the minor leagues,
at least for what I was trying to look at. There weren't any fqos.
I didn't really think there was anything too exciting offensively from anyone. I'm
sure Norfolk probably hit some home runs or whatever, but you know, that's
not really what what I'm trying to dig on, trying to learn and catch
some new names and some new developments. But I did notice that while on
Flores hit a Grand Slam that night. I had scraped up and tweeted this
out. But I believe there there was just a three, four, maybe
five that were jumping from the DSL to full season to start the season.
The others are probably fairly recognizable names, but Juan Flores was the one that
wasn't recognizable to me. Catcher Angel System currently zero percent rostered and fan tracks
leagues, and I've been tuning in watching some of his at bats. He
went three seventy five four to twelve eight seventy five with two home runs,
zero walks in three strikeouts this week. He's a right handed hitter. He
looks like a catcher. You know, he's got that sort of build.
There isn't going to be speed here. People will worry about what he grows
into, grows to be, and all that stuff. But all that aside,
I think this young kid can swing in a little bit. I'd like
to look at him at the plate thus far, sitting three forty five,
three eighty seven, six fifty five on the season. On the short season,
that's thirty one plate appearances, three doubles, two home runs. He
hasn't walked once. So you know, my little crazy theory, I like
the aggressive young guys. Get your swings in, young man, see where
you can do with that barrelhead. I think I've already seen a couple tweets
go out. I'd be very surprised if Juan Flores doesn't get some more attention
coming up here. I don't know what your desire to roster a teenage catching
prospect might be, but mind you, this is now the second time.
They had a pretty young catcher come up just a few years ago and do
some things enable and he's kind of taken off in edgar Quero. So sometimes
a little B siding on these catchers does pay off, whether you sign up
for the long haul or use them as a trade tip chip or what have
you. So you know, I was kind of grasping for a pitcher to
watch that night, and I turned on some Aaron Davenport, an older former
B side first year player, kind of deep sleeper, hopeful of mind.
He did some things that looked a little different. I thought I was going
to get into it more, but I might just hold off for another day
because he had a second outing on the week where it just kind of felt
like negated and felt like more older Aaron Davenport. But if he starts popping
some lines, maybe I'll get into it deeper, deeper dig of him in
the future. Moving on Wednesday night, there was an interesting matchup in the
Sale League that I wanted to get my eyes on. My Pirates B side
arm versus my White Sox B side arm, Alessandro Erkulani versus Tyler Schweitzer.
Admittedly I did not watch this game as if I was, you know,
I wasn't like charting pitches, wasn't pausing making sure I knew what every offering
was and like I was going to write them up or anything like that.
I kind of had him on, had this game on in the background with
the kids. But generically speaking, Schweitzer, I've seen them look a lot
better. Mind you, this is their first outings of the year. But
nineteen year old Alessandro Erkulani in his hi A debut, put up a pretty
nice line. He went four innings, gave up two hits, one walk,
five strikeouts, thirty nine of sixty two pitches for strikes as sixty three
percent, And I saw him working the slider that I'm very interested in.
We talked about his slider in past episodes. A slider with maybe some ride
doesn't move vertically as much as your classic slider, which has been an interesting
pitch I've heard talked about. And then he definitely had him more. I
don't know if he's calling it a curveball or if a different kind of slider
had something going with a lot more vertical drop, not the greatest angles.
You know that we don't pitch data for this outing, but I thought a
pretty encouraging first outing for Erku Lani. There will continue to keep tabs on
him. That night, Caden Dana went up against the Rooks White Sox B
side arm and double A Mason Adams. Adams seemed to get beat up maybe
a little bit. I didn't watch too much. I just watched like one
inning of each Cane Dana continues to become more popular and get more interest in.
I'm still curious about like East West sort of weapons and if that's going
to matter for him. But he looked great, did well his Double A
debut. My former White Sox B side bat Jacob Burke got him for a
couple of RBIs. I think an RBI single. Burke has not been off
to the greatest Double A start, and I apologize. I think last week
I had incorrectly said that that Dana was in Double A at the end of
last season, and that just wasn't true. I don't know why I had
that in my head. Victor Barracotto had a big night, had sold the
home run, had a couple of singles, but he's not off to the
hottest start in the world. And then I saw my B side guardian's bat
Diane Frees hit a grand slam. He's not off to the how to start
either, But I've been watching a few of his at bats, and man,
I don't know, he's more of like a he's been more of an
off fields hitter. I don't want to say slappy. He's got some pop
and can drive the ball, but he just seems like a different sort of
animal, different sort of dude at the plate, and I don't know if
I necessarily like it. He's doing like a little bit of like Wan Soto
esque, like bull charge stuff and like just stay up a little bit more
different sort of confidence at the plate, and I'm wondering if he's one who's
trying to tapp into a little bit more home run, a little bit more
pull side damage and stuff like that. So I'm gonna be watching there.
My guardian's b side arm had a just a just a rough rough first.
First, I didn't watch any of this. But Jackson Humphreys, who is
you know, he's a prospect, he's the name. He's making it on
on some top thirties and what have you. Young lefty. I don't know
if he's nineteen still twenty, but an a ball at Lynchburg. He started
off giving up a solo home run walk walk, single scored two runs walk
walk, they got pulled. There was three to nothing and a dude who
came in did not help him out. All three runs came around to score.
So my man went zero innings, gave up two hits, six or
in runs on four walks, in a home run, zero strikeouts. Obviously
didn't get an out, but you know, one Hunter Brown esque outing is
not going to end my man's career. Here. Kate Morris, my Mets
b side arm and kind of deeper first year player Draft Curiosity made his debut.
It was not televised as Saint Lucy was at Jupiter, but he went
five innings to give up four hits, one walk, four strikeouts through seventy
two percent strikes. Looking forward to getting my eyes on him some. We
did get some stat cast. He was throwing a sinker, a four steamer,
a slider, curveball, cutter, change up. At least that's what
stack cast has labeled. You know, velocity is averaging ninety two and ninety
three on his fastballs. First savage of the year. I think he is
capable of throwing a little bit harder than that. So nothing too crazy to
report on Morris's debut. So then Thursday, well four to eleven Man so
many postponed games, tons of postponed games. But Nato was turning twenty one
and going up against Jacob Mizerowski, so I watched those. Natro Drew nice
walk had a nice APO single against him. Nato on the night was one
for two with two walks, and he's off to a pretty good double a
start for a guy who just turned what one years old, thirty nine plate
appearances. He's got ten singles, a double, five stolen bases, he
has struck out just as many times as he has walked, slashing in three
twenty three, four sixty two with just a three point fifty five slug.
That's a point zero three two ISO. Watching Nacho, I know a lot
of folks are hoping on more home run, more slug, and I just
don't know if we're ever going to get that from Nacho. And it's not
because I don't think he's strong or has the ability for bat speed or any
of that sort of stuff. I just don't think that's the kind of hitter
that my man's trying to be here watching his bats. He'll gladly just kind
of slap something the opposite way. He's sitting a lot of balls on the
ground early sixty one percent at this juncture, So I don't know, we'll
see. I think Nato is a good bat. I just don't know how
exciting it's ever gonna get for fantasy purposes. I don't want to like bag
on Missowski too much, but like just it's just the same inefficiency at knowing
where the ball's going real well, no doubting the high quality stuff, but
it's just hard for me to get too interested in Misrowski. That night,
Maddy Backpack hit me up again. He told me to tune in to some
Aldrin Batista. Well, I think I have watched before, but he's one
of the arms that came over from the Dodgers when they traded I don't know
Joe Kelly and Lancelne over to him or whatever. Twenty year old right hander,
and he was giving a gust of the business. He went five and
a third, give up, one hit, one walk, struck out eight
seventy percent of his pitches went for strikes. He's a leaner frame again,
a guy with like just good stuff throwing strikes at this level can do these
sorts of things. I don't know how interested I really am or hopeful this
turns into some sort of useful dynasty piece. We were talking about his head
whack. You know, I don't like headwhacky guys. It just does not
usually translate to the sort of consistent and see an execution that is required to
become a major league starter. Of course, there are always exceptions. Of
course, my favorite pitcher in the majors right now is a bit headwacky and
Zach Allen, but this is a little different. We've talked about that before.
But nonetheless, maybe a young arm to keep an eye on. If
he keeps racking up k's and putting up these kinds of lines, you bet
some dynasty folks will probably get intrigued. That night, Logan Evans. I
was really hoping chat about Logan Evans again with Matt because this is probably the
second most interesting observation for me this week. Logan Evans went up against Justin
Robleski. The Rooks said that Evans will remain an enigma for him. This
outing, I think kind of reiterated that sentiment. He went four and a
third, five hits, three year in runs, two walks, two strikeouts.
You give up two solo home runs to Brandon Lewis and Dalton Rushing.
I cut those full that bats up and shared those on Twitter as well.
It's tough to get a read on Evans here. On one hand, I
feel like I could be really into and excited what's going on here, and
on the other not so much. Part of the problem is I have no
idea, don't have a long enough track record of watching Evans to know what
his intentions are here. Part of the blow up has been like his added
velocity of maybe some added quality to his fastball, added quality to his breaking
ball, and my man was not pitching like a guy who has a big
fastball or exciting fastball. At least the at bats that I watch, I
would say i'd watch. I watched two thirds of the at bats closely,
and would miss about every third at bat because I was dealing with kids and
what have you. He was throwing a lot of secondaries, and I saw
a lot of secondaries to start off batters. And not that that's not bad
and that's pitching backwards is great. I mean, you probably need to do
it sometimes when you're you're going to sustain yourself as a major league pitcher.
The problem was maybe the problem was he wasn't throwing them for strikes a lot.
I felt like a lot of his oh oh secondaries would have been like
great with two strikes just off the plate, sliders and what have you.
Right, So I know, I'd love I'd love to know is there a
concerted effort to throw your secondaries, to throw a certain amount of all your
secondaries, because then if that's the case, if you're pitching to development,
some here, get you up, sign me up, let's go. That's
like exactly what Matt Brash didn't do coming up that I didn't like. So
I don't know if this was Evans putting like, you know, his best
game forward, so to speak. I am not that intrigued, to be
honest, but we can't tell. We don't know, So just need to
see more of Evans before. I'm you know, as excited as some out
there. Now. He was my b side arm, so I'm pumped that
he's gotten more popular. You know, been on a few dates. I
don't know how serious I want to get here quite yet, but it was
a tricky watch. It didn't quite what his intentions were, and if we're
talking about just execution of those secondaries, it wasn't super great. Wasn't the
worst I've ever seen, But of sharpening that and rounding that up is you
know, a big intention right now early in the season's that's great and probably
called for. Yeah, it was a pretty good night from some of my
B side arms. Gary gil Hill rays a Ball had a pretty nice looking
debut. He went four, gave up two hits, walked too, struck
out eight through strikes at a sixty five percent clip. Turn this one on.
He was in Fayetteville. I don't know if you've watched anything from Fayetteville,
but it's got a pretty not great right center field camera. Gil Hill's
a righty, so not a great angle to watch. I didn't really even
bother watch him too much, but he put up a real nice line.
We'll get him in a better angle and see what's up. The fastball slider
combination is what drew me in. He throws a change up to young kid.
I just kind of imagined that the Rays would probably sharpen up his offerings
as sharp as they could get. So my Orioles arm cam Weston put up
a really nice line. He went five hit lists, no walk, struck
out nine through strikes at a seventy one percent clip with five groundouts and one
air out. You know, striking out nine of the sixteen batters you face
and not giving up the hip. That's pretty It's a pretty loud debut.
This was nice. Aberdeen has broadcast the last two years I think it was,
but it's always been from a press box few and now they've moved back
to center field camera. But the angle is not great. I watched a
few at bats of this outing and then just kind of skipped it. I'll
wait for a better angle, better day. But he was an interesting college
arm from Michigan, and I don't remember how the story went to. Feel
free to review the Ale East episode if you want more on Weston. But
he was either bad in college and good on the Cape, or good in
college and bad on the Cape, something like that. But laid a round
college arm, as is the case with a lot of Orioles guys deeper in
their system. I'm not really sure what the plan is now he's been starting,
he's made two starts already, but like last year. He was kind
of piggybacking starting sometimes they have I feel like the Orioles, there's not a
lot of name recognition for pictures in their system, but they think there's some
interest in talent throughout it. I kind of feel like they've maybe done like
some bargain rack shopping and drafts with some guys with injury history. A lot
of guys. I'm just not sure what the plan is that. Maybe they're
not really sure either. They're kind of throwing guys out there for some innings
and kind of seeing how it goes. But Weston, I don't know if
there's future reliever here. I don't know if there's future starter, but there's
a fastball slider combination that interests me enough and I imagine did some things.
Was a Thursday night, so looking forward to keeping tabs on Cameron Weston Maser
went that night put up another great line, you know, six six innings,
three hits, no walks, but then the only four strikeouts with a
seventy five percent strike But man just still continues to like groove strikes. Don't
know. I don't know about this getting more popular. Very talented arm I've
been sort of touting to him since his Iowa days. So had a Mazer
good, I guess. And then there was some chatter from an outing this
night that I went back and watched Andrew Morris, a Twins pitching prospect down
in high Ace. Your rapids put up an FQO and there was some chatter
going on. I was like, you know, I haven't really watched Andrew
Morris, So I went back and did. He went six, gave him
three hits, one earned run, nine strikeouts to no walks, three strikes
at a seventy four percent clip, three ground outs, six air outs,
twenty one batter's faced. Morris had some draft pedigree. He was a fourth
round pick out of Texas Tech in twenty twenty two. Kind of a good
sized, ridy, kind of a clunky delivery, had the smoothest looking looking
stroking guy out there, got a big hook, more over the top north
south attack. You know, he started the game with like eight straight strikes
twenty out of the first twenty five or strikes and just just pumping the strike
zone with his fastball, curveball, slider change up arsenal Again, I think
it's fastball curveballs or the main the main weapons here and I don't know,
great line, great numbers. Again, I just kind of want to see
how this plays when he gets to the uppers. Him putting up this sort
of line at a High A beginning of the year isn't like the most impressive
video. Look if you will, isn't the most impressive to eyeballs. He's
sort of lacked so when he moved up to Hi A last year, kind
of lacked the k juice. You only struck out seventeen point eight percent to
a five point one percent walk right. Kind of hit up some in High
A last year, But I don't know, not a guy that I'm super
familiar with. Nothing like got me super excited with the arsenal, at least
for my eyeballs. But the Twins have a slew of interesting guys in Cedar
Rapids right now that I think will We'll be up in a Double A at
some point this season and maybe we can get a better idea and then moving.
It's a Friday Night man, former Angels B side selection now with the
White Sox Edgar Cairo at a two home run night. He is off to
an interesting start to the season. Thirty two played appearances, He's hit four
home runs and they've all been from the left side. This is a guy
who what he was in High A and hit like he was an a ball
in High A. His first full pro season combined hit like eighteen home runs
or something like that. Got off to a really hot start last year with
Rocket City, really hot first month, was hitting some home runs, and
then the power just seemed to go away for several months, and then he
kind of closed out stronger. But I know a lot of people have been
questioning, like his home run ability here it is showing back up as a
you know, just twenty one in Double A. So I don't know.
I mean, catching prospects are tricky, right, I mean he's not the
first catching prospect whose offense just kind of seemed to go away for a minute,
right, I mean Romo has done that, and not that Romo is
some accomplished major leaguer, but Kiro, I don't know, Sometimes catching it
it's a different animal, you know, and who knows that kind of getting
banged up and what else is on their plate. But I don't I don't
think Gia lacks home run potential, and maybe his early season is kind of
backing up that belief a little bit, and then Friday night, man,
I was really excited about a b side arm last year at Dnson Batista with
the Astros, and I think I'd even got on some podcasts and made some
bold take, bold prediction that Batista will kind of jump up or something like
that. But twenty twenty three was basically it was full of a lot of
injuries for him. I don't think he ever really got quite right, but
he made his I don't think it was his debut. I think he pitched
a couple winnings in relief the weekend prior, but he went five, gave
up two hits, no walks, struck out six through strikes at a seventy
one percent clip against Brooklyn. I solely watched this outing with the intention of
putting together a highlight reel because Batista is a fantastic sort of pitching Ninja look
gets a lot of silly swings, makes hitters just look foolish. Sometimes he's
got a breaking ball with a lot of run, he's got a two steamer
with a lot of run, And so I just put together a clip of
like all of his whiffs, all the times he made hitters look stupid and
put that out on Twitter, and it is quite lengthy from this outing.
You've seen it. You know what, his walk rates in the past have
been like five point six five per nine and you know, but you can
see some of the some of the sliders just take off so like video game
like, and you know, our pass balls. The catcher even has a
hard time catching him. Like his stuff is just wild. And I don't
know if this is just like a future reliever if it goes really well or
what. But A Denson Bautista remains one of the funner guys to watch when
he's healthy, and I'm excited to see what his season might looks like.
It look like he's still just twenty one years old in Hya and they've got
him starting games and you know what, sixty six pitches on his first real
outing and he's he's just kind of fun and we shall see what what happens
here. That night, Quinn Matthews had a really nice line, but we
could not watch it. It was not broadcast. He went five for a
single a Palm Beach against Daytona, gave up one hit, struck out eleven
sixty eight percent strikes. Now he is maybe a quote fairly more advanced college
arm, and maybe quote should be doing stuff like this in a ball,
but a lot of guys who should be doing that in a ball aren't or
don't. But I know matt had talked about Quinn Matthews, so I just
wanted to mention that outing. And then there was another FQO that went on
that night that day that I had to I had to go back and review
and take take a look because Ben Koondra, Now forgive me if I'm not
saying his last name correctly, but whatever broadcast you watch, they say it
a different way. But a former prep selection of the Royals, they paid
him three million out of a local high school, went six again and West
Michigan gave up no runs, walked one, struck out seven through sixty four
percent of his seventy pitches for strikes. Now, initially, when Kunder was
with Columbia, when I first started getting my eyes on, and he struck
me as a potential power arm, like there was I think, more velocity
if I remember right, than what's going on now. But I had even
nabbed a couple of chairs just to see what was going on. But the
CA juice and electricity. I don't know, just kind of seemed to fizzle
maybe the last couple of years. Got a fastball with some armside run a
slider change up, you know, and change ups are hard to measure either
way spreadsheet metrics, eyeballs. Really the hitter will be the best teller of
that tale. But this change up seems to get a lot of fade,
and I think it might be might be his best pitch. And this was
his second outing of the year. He filled out his frame over the last
few years. I felt like he was getting really squeezed early on in that
game, but handle it well. He walked the first batter that he faced,
and then Jensen threw him out trying to steal. And then he hit
a lefty with a back foot slider on the back foot and then forced a
double play, and then he sat down fifteen in a row. But and
I had forgotten to mention this during our preview show. West Michigan has a
fantastic viewing angle, very straight center field. But it was unbelievably windy that
day, and the wind was blowing in and the batter's eye tarp gotten loose,
and the batter's eye tarp would obstruct our view from the center field camera
from time to time, and the camera was shaken quite a bit, so,
you know, welcome to the Wasatcherton Minor League baseball. I actually had
to like turn it off at one point because the shaking was kind of like
making me feel a little sick and stuff. But you know, he filled
up the zone, he gave up some loud contact, and I dare say
that he gave up we would have been a few home runs if there wasn't
a mad wind blowing in because of the tart thing. There was a lot
of the way that it just kind of played out. A lot of strikeout
pitches we got press box view from, so I don't even know what he
was necessarily punching guys out with. But overall, i'd have to say a
really great line, but I don't know if it was really a great reflection
of that performance and that situation. Also that night, Tink Hence went and
I watched a good bit of that, And you know, Matt and I
have been critical of tin Hence have thrown plenty of shade on him. I
gotta give him credit. I think this was the best I've ever seen ting.
Hence he went five against Wichita, gave up three hits, one earned
run, snow walk, struck out eight through eighty two pitches sixty six percent
strikes. We have been knocking about how if hence his stuff is so great,
hol come he doesn't miss bats? More come he doesn't get more strikeouts.
We have thrown question about his ability to stay sharp and his offerings to
be so juicy and nice later and starts as he goes and gets deeper into
the pitch counts. And I gotta say for this one outing gave me a
little crow to you on. He impressed me much more than his outings in
the past. So good sign if you're a tink Hens truther, I think.
And then also that day class and wins. George Klassen, who we
talked about last week, kind of did it again through five innings. Gave
up two hits, walk too, struck out eight through strikes at a sixty
one percent clip forcing fastball. This outing sixty four percent at the time.
Last time he was sixty three percent of the time, so about the same.
But the cutter he threw much more than last outing thirty one percent of
time as opposed to seventeen percent of the time, threw less curveballs, only
threw a couple of curveballs. Now, there's some labeling stuff here that I'm
not one hundred percent sure about. But this outing, he's got four percent
whiffs. Last time least go around he fifty eight percent, forty six percent
csw last go around it was forty five percent. But nonetheless, class in
is getting real trendy here. I see some folks getting real aggressive about how
they want to value him. Like we had mentioned last time. Mind you,
this is a guy who throws hard, didn't have a ton of success
in college. I don't know if there's injury stuff, but there's just a
lot more to be proven here. Wouldn't be surprised if he turns into a
walk monster. But you know, so far, so good, and I
do like what the Phillies do with pitchings. So again, no brainer,
pick up to me if that's, you know, if that's the kind of
game you want to play. But I'm not thrown down too too much value
at this juncture. And then Sunday Jonahtoan went and he kind of did his
thing again too, right, he did start this game, he went four
innings, gave up one hit, walked three, struck out ten of the
seventeen batters he faced through eighty pitches at a sixty one percent strike clip.
You know, eighty pitchers to get through four innings ain't really uh what we're
after. But he's young, just getting his few wet now. There is
history of walks with him as well. That four steamer rides a lot,
and like I had mentioned watching that first start, he did struggle in the
beginning to find the feel. Guys who are thrown over the top like that,
I don't know. Obviously, there are some that I have done it
well in the majors, But like I got Mitchell Parker on right now against
the Dodgers, more over the top guy who can be really really good but
can really really lose that release point, tong I think is similar. There's
a little bit of a debate today in the Prospect one room, and I
kind of mentioned now, I think I'm a little bit more inclined to take
a dice roll on tongue than I am classing, just because there seems to
be a richer, fuller arsenal here. And you know, if we're gonna
go strike out King Chase Young strikeout King Chasing give me the stronger looking build
guy with perhaps more than just one nasty cheat code. I mean these at
the A level, I think both these guys are working with a foreseen cheat
code and are going to continue to get strikeouts with those pitches if they get
them over the plate consistently. And Tongue like he so starting fifty percent with
rate, he was up to sixty two percent the second outing. You know,
that's just that's just like kind of video game stuff. And his his
spin is wild to me on the fastball. But we shall see with both
these guys. Are these just kind of like some sort of versions of Joe
Boyle younger versions some walk monsters with high cave potential. I don't know.
But again, if you're playing the game within the game, Tongue is a
fantastic pickup, I think. But we just we need to see more,
or at least I need to see more before I get too too excited.
Uh. There's a first year player bat that we spoke a little bit about
during the First Year Player Bat episode. Will Simpson with the A's who I'm
quite intrigued with and have some shares in deeper leagues, but he had a
pretty nice first full week. He hit three sixty eight five hundred six thirty
two this last week with a home run, five walks to seven strikeouts,
stole a bay. Well, maybe that was over the weekend, so maybe
not a part of this week, but regardless, continue to see him put
some nice swings on balls all fields hitter. He absolutely destroyed a pulled left
field grand slam that was pretty nice. For whatever reason, he and William
Sullivan of the Cardinals will be like ever connected to me. William Sullivan another
first baseman, first year player bat who is getting some attention. Simpson just
strikes me as maybe a more mechanically sound, higher quality hit tool sort of
guy with some pop, where Sullivan is just kind of like the ev Arlang,
a more murder baller. Sullivan is left handed and Simpson is right handed.
So it would also make a lot of sense that Sullivan's track or potential
to get to the Biggs is more enticing than Simpson's. Here, Adam Mayer
had a good start again. He went five, gave up two hits,
no walks, struck out six sixty seven percent strikes that did not tune into
this Cannapolis outing because he will be at home in Augusta with a fantastic angle
plenty to check him this year. I noticed we mentioned this last week a
little bit, but Jackson Joe Man he walked four in three and a third
innings, So I don't know. I don't know the early season RUSS,
but Jack Joe didn't walk at anybody last year, and now he's out walking
guys. I don't know what's up there. At another good outing by one
of my B side arms selections, chen Way Lynn, you know, catching
some attention because he hit one hundred. There was no stat on his during
his first outing. There was no stat cast for this second outing, where
he went six innings, gave up five hits, two earned runs, one
walk, five strikeouts through and this was really nice to see from him through
seventy one percent strikes. I'm eighty two pitches love to hear like Jeff Poncers
or somebody like that who's got some pitch data tell us more about his big
velocity for scene fastball. You know, when we talked about him initially,
we talked about how this is probably a sort of a twenty two year old
Taiwanese project arm with you know a lot of power, but uh yeah,
off to a pretty good start to a season getting attention in deeper formats.
Nobel Meyer's second outing of the season worse than the first. That's great.
He went two thirds of an inning, gave up two hits, three earned
runs, walked for, struck out none, and three strikes at a forty
one percent clip. He went ground out, walk, walk, line out,
triple single walk walk. Not a great start from some are hoping as
a top pitching prospect in the game someday. And then, man, I
was gonna play a little guessing game with Matt. But we got our first
B side arm FQO of the season and it came from probably an unlikely source,
but then makes a lot of sense too. But Phillies Samuel elde Gary
threw an FQO on Saturday. He went six innings, gave up two hits,
no earned runs, walked none, struck out six. He threw strikes
at a sixty nine percent clip. Nice fourteen ground out seven air outs,
and that was against Hickory in Hickory, So guess what we didn't get to
watch, But wanted to note that I didn't watch a ton from Sunday.
CJ. Culpepper made his debut FIDS. You know, I'm excited for his
season. Four innings pitch, two hits, one earned run, one walk,
three strikeouts through sixty six percent of his fifty two pitches for strikes.
Maybe it's nice to Rook's not here because I was planning on getting teased a
little bit for TJ. Walton's debut week. But he had a big day
on Sunday salvaged it for me. He had a two run double and a
three run home run. But my initial impressions of him have been he doesn't
cheat himself on swings. If it's in the zone, he's probably gonna swing
really hard at it. He's struck out a lot. When he struck out
forty five five point eight percent of the time so far and twenty four played
appearances. What is that eleven strikeouts? Right? He just walked a few
times. But what I do like and what it is encouraging is I've seen
him spit on some pretty nasty pitchers, Like he ain't up there with like
no concept of the strike zone or anything like that. So a lot of
his batter balls that I've seen are going opposite field, but you know,
some pretty hardline drives. I think he's far from a polished hitter or finished
project. Now. Just some guys that I wanted to bring up had had
interesting starts to seasons, some hitters, Creed, Willems, my Man did.
Creed. He's off to a pretty hot start again. Kind of seems
to be his pattern. It's like, start off real hot, get promoted,
struggle, start in the same spot next year, get hot, et
cetera. Right on the year, hitting three ninety one, four forty,
slugging nine to thirteen. He's got four home runs nine two WRC plus putting
the ball on the ground only five point six percent of the time. Now,
granted this is twenty five plate appearances, but can't argue with the week
that that Creed had. And I know that he's a lot of fun.
I like to joke around, but you know, fantasy wise, I don't
know if you want to invest in this type of I mean, the Orioles
gave him a million dollars for that swing, and I don't think you know
as much as some others on the ground, and may have kind of poked
some fun at that. Maybe they weren't too crazy, Like someone needs to
maybe take the role of Daniel Vogelbach in the Big someday. But he is
catching a lot and all jokes aside, like he is in probably the best
shape of his life. But Creed continues to be a super interesting b side.
A first year player for the Blue Jays that we spoke about a little
bit. Nick Goodwin in Hi, a twenty two year old is off to
a really hot start, thirty six plate appearances. He's got two doubles,
a triple, two home runs, he stole a base, he's been caught
once. He's twenty two point two percent of the time. He has struck
out twenty seven point eight percent of the time. Slash in three thirty three,
five hundred and seven O four the two forty seven WRC plus and I
put out a tweet of him hitting his two home runs, And dude's got
a little he's got a little attitude to him when he puts a good swing
on the ball. But he got my attention when I put out the forty
four first year player bats. That got my attention during the video reviews.
As you know, maybe a college guy to keep an eye on. I
think he can swing it a little bit. Augustin Ramirez man just just tearing,
tearing the shit out of it in Double A. You know, he's
got six home runs already. We've talked about him a little bit. I
wondered about some of the mechanics in his swing, but there's no doubt.
You know, I'm just a hack at that, but there's no doubt that
he knows how to pull the ball and put it in the air and hit
home runs. At least at this level. Matthew Etzel has kind of been
the talk of Aberdeen, even though you know Creed's been putting up better numbers
than him, but he was my oels B side bat. Imagine if he
keeps doing what he is doing, he will be in Double A shortly.
In short time. Thirty plate appearances, he's got nine hits, two doubles,
one home run. He's stolen five bases out of six tries. He's
walking thirteen percent of the time, striking out twenty three percent of the time.
Three sixty four thirty three, five sixty slash. Benny Montgomery. Interesting.
I think it was kind of a project pick of Bill Schmidt. But
off to a pretty is he off to a pretty good start. I don't
know. He's slashing three thirty three, three sixty seven oh eight, he's
hit two home runs, three doubles, is striking out forty four percent of
the time, and it's like, man, these rockets, just like all
these guys who can play defense, swipe some bags, hit some home runs
and just strike out a shit done. We'll see there. But interesting start
for Benny Montgomery. I mentioned alex hid Decernia earlier. He is off to
a pretty nice start three thirty three, four twenty four, five fifty with
no home runs, but he's hit six doubles, playing center field, batman
like third for Peoria. I want to get my ass on him some more.
He's twenty three in High A, and my hope is that he is
swinging the bat well in Double A by the time we get to the end
of the season. Batom mind Diego Velasquez is off to a pretty nice start.
We had wondered how his maybe light bat light offensive potential would play as
he moved up a level of forty played appearances. He's slashed in three thirteen,
four to thirty six, slugging four to thirty eight. He's got two
stolen bases, four doubles. Been watching a little bit of Eugene and you
can pick it a little bit. I don't know how juicy he is for
dynasty purposes, but nonetheless a young, interesting, very much prospect in the
Giant system. There's a couple other fqos on the week that I wanted to
note. Blake Adams with the Rockies Okaane six innings, two hits, six
strikeouts, no walks, seventy three percent strikes. Adams is a twenty twenty
two thirteenth round pick out of Kansas State. I've watched some some and I
can't say I've ever gotten too excited. Seems to throw a lot of strikes,
but the ability to miss bats, I just don't know about that,
especially moving forward. Perhaps some things have changed now, I don't know,
but wanted to note that. And then Tristan Reeling in the Yankee system has
gotten some attention because of his outing his FQO. He went on what would
that be? On Sunday. He threw six innings, three hits, one
earned round, two walks, six strikeouts, three strikes at a sixty one
percent clip. What's wild here to me is that he was their third round
pick out of Gonzaga, and I wanted to ask the rookie about about him.
He pays some attention to that program, I think, but he has
now logged literally two pro starts and they're both this year in Double A.
Obviously had some success that. I can't say that I know much about Tristan
Reeling. My guess would be that he's got a big hook getting into some
players of the week hitters International League, the Royals Logan Porter got he hit
five twenty something, I don't know whatever. Joey Lapraffito, who I wanted
to talk to the rook about a little bit, was the Pacific Coast League
Bad Hitter of the Week, although by MIILB dot com. Although I think
Andy Andy Pages should have won it, but that's my own opinion. Eastern
League was Benny Montgomery. Carson Williams had a big week in the Southern League,
Emmanuel Rodriguez had a big week in the Texas League. Midwest League.
Guy that I am not really familiar with, Cedar Rapids, Rubel Cespides had
a monster week like eleven RBIs or something like that. I thought Gavin Conteslo
got kind of maybe had an argument to win the Northwest League hitter of the
week, but that went to Ryan McCarty. Vancouver Creed won the sal League
hitter of the week over Etzel and some others. Call League Jake gayloff for
Rancho one hitter of the week. I had not been paying attention to what
he's been up to. Ralphie Velaska as young. What was the first rounder?
Yeah, I think so won the Carolina League Hitter of the week,
and then first year a muddy first year player won the Florida State League hitter
of the week. We spoke about a little bit. Mark Cooley the second
the Marlins. Interesting, he's a college guy but still younger. He's a
younger college guy, but an interesting power speed outfielder. There, I got
my own a little bit. Pictures of the week. Clayton Beeer won International
League, Mason Black won the PCL. Doug mccasey Eastern League, Southern League
was Cole Wilcox, Texas Texas League was Ryan Custick. Midwest League was Ben
Cadernao. We talked about then my own like kind of little personal cheese ball.
Victor Warrez one Northwest League Pitcher of the week. I'm curious to see
how that little like pitching acumen command guy, if you can take a step
forward after a really rough year in Spokane last year. But he's still quite
young. Cam Weston won the sal League Pitcher of the Week. Dylan CARMOCHI,
well, I'm not familiar with San Jose Giants won the CAL League Picture
of the Week. Hunter Pattison with the Royals Carolina League Picture of the Week.
And then Quinn Matthews, who we spoke about one Florida State League Picture
of the week. Who is trending on fan tracks? This was this is
fresh this morning. Christian Scott with his impeding speculation on him debuting soon,
is up six percent forty two percent of league's now. Joey laperfdo and all
his home runs is up five percent, so your hope is up four percent.
George Klassen is up four percent now up to ten percent total. That's
a he was zero percent eight days ago. Hesson Kristed is up four percent.
Christian Campbell is up three percent of the Red Sox. James Wood has
jumped up a few percent, as you know, his season's back. Caleb
Durban it's up two more percent. He's up to four percent. Now.
Now, who is Byron Cheerio? I mean, is he related to Jackson
Minnesota prospect down in a ball? I know he's off to a pretty good
start. He is up two percent, which is a total of four percent
now start the year. Forty one played appearances. He's slashing three zho three
four thirty nine, four eighty five, no home runs, a couple of
stolen bases. He's walking nineteen and a half percent of the time, striking
out almost thirty two percent of the time. But a young teenager who seems
to be getting some buzz for whatever reason, reasons that I may not be
privy to. Adam Mazer is up a few percent. Dustin Ramirez is up
a few percent. He's still only five percent. I would change that if
I were you. Colby Thomas, I know a smaller college bat who has
done some things early in the season and the A system is up a couple
percent. Jonah tong is up just one percent. So classing and tongue kind
of an interesting debate to me, but clearly folks like classing a lot more.
He's ten percent in Tongue is two percent total. Aiden Smith is up
a percent, up to six percent. Prep bat and the Mariners system.
It's getting plenty of see some folks are brave in taking some shares of Sean
Sullivan. He is up to four percent. Et Sel up a percent,
my b side Tiger's arm who I have not watched any out and maybe maybe
I tuned in briefly, but I know he's he's gotten up to four percent.
Mitchell Parker has increased the percent as he was debuting tonight, and I
was brave enough, stupid enough, stupid enough to throw him out there.
I think he's through three innings right now, he's only given up two runs.
But I have not been watching as I've been talking into this microphone.
Coming up this week, here's where my eyes may stray to or where they
might start. In the Florida State League, Daytona is visiting Bradenton, so
we're gonna get that good Bradenton angle. And I want to check out this
young nineteen year old lefty, big lefty in the Red system, Adam Sirwinowski
probably butchered that, but he has put up a couple of big lines to
start the season in the Carolina League, Carolina at Augusta again, I want
to look at that good Augusta Angle, maybe checking on Meyer and Cooler,
but also the Brewers. Carolina has got a slew of interesting looking arms,
guys that I think are getting a little bit of buzz and are not familiar
to me. Of course, they got an Oath in the draft, Burchard,
Glindez, Timmerman, Rivero, Mogollon, and then this you Hainr Herrera
getting some buzz. So I'll probably be looking in there and seeing what's up
with some of those guys. In the Cal League. Modesto is at Inland
Empire, Barrett Kent versus Emerson if he's around. I don't know what the
injury is there, but Aiden Smith, Vermelo Arroyo and some more. Looks
on Juan Flores who we talked about. In the Sale League, Aberdeen at
Hudson Valley, got Creed at sel Bradfield versus maybe the best pitching staff in
the league. I think there's some talented arms there without a lot of name
recognition, at least so far. You know, got Schlitter, car Fristoe
Hendry kind of want to see how Cam Weston backs up his big week for
Aberdeen in the Midwest League. Lansing at Lake County. I want to see
some more Will Simpson versus some good pictures there and like Austin Peterson and Parker
Messick in the Northwest League, Tri Cities at Hillsboro. Get me some more
Contacello as he goes up against some I think some sneaky high quality hi A
Arms and Chris Clark, Jorge Marcheco, Duel Hurtado. Maybe we get Costeus
return from injury. I think he's close. What was my astros B side
arm Espinoza's that. I don't really know what they're doing with him right now,
but maybe a good chance for Catselo and those other interesting Hillsboro bats.
In the Eastern League, Hartford at Somerset. Now watch a lot of Eastern
League over the last couple of years, and Hartford versus Somerset as there's been
some as much as minor league baseball can get some like big time matchups between
the two. I think this is easily the pretty boyist lineups in the league.
Lots of bigger names, so that's just kind of a no brain on
one and what was maybe a little bit of a snooze or Eastern League compared
to the past years at this juncture. Southern League Mississippi is at Birmingham.
We get to see Natro and Baldwin versus some good Birmingham arms. Kind of
a loaded Double A lineup for Birmingham and Kiro, Ramos Brooks, Baldwin Birmingham.
You know, the White Sox are just a sad tale. But if
there's anything that's nice is that they might have a pretty decent Double A team.
Texas League San Antonio at Corpus Christy Maser and Snelling versus Kennedy Corona.
And they got Quincy Hamilton now down at Double A. Some good bats,
maybe some good matchups there. International League are mud Hens, who are a
game and a half back are at Rochester. But James Wood is back doing
things, lots of buzz. He'll have a nice test against some good starting
pitchers with the mud Hens. Nnning Herder Montero might be a fun challenge.
And then in the PCL, I'm going round Rock at sugar Land. But
I planned on talking about Lapperfdo and home runs and strikeouts with the rookie tonight.
But maybe at some point during the week we'll get a nice look at
Lapperfedo versus the PCL strikeout leader right now, Jack Lighter, watch some more
of him and see how legit this improvement may be. But yeah, I
don't know. Hopefully that wasn't too painful. I'm sick of talking in this
microphone, but I wanted to get this little rundown. Get just some observations
that were early in the year. Not going to be digging around super deep,
just trying to gather some information, getting some eyeballs, matching it up
with some numbers, and sharing what we might be seeing. But looking forward
to watching some more this week, reporting back. Hopefully the rookie is here
and we'll have maybe some more interesting dialogue for you. But that'll do it
for episode twenty nine of the Prospect B Sides podcast. We'll let Chicago Farmer
take us out, posting a lot of video and referencing here on Twitter.
Check that out if you want at pitching specs. But as Matt says,
see you five miles an hour riding to his head. He hopped down the
first with the lumpbon in his face, and on the very next pitch he
up and stole second face with gradest speed. He wasn't born. He had
the dirty Yes uniform