• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

2021 Minor League Thread

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Valera and Rocchio should be on a “best case” pathway of the All Star break.

Would love to see it, maybe they’ll be able to help a pennant race.

Who the hell knows, just keep hitting.

Love having Valera, Rocchio, Jones, Gonzalez, Freeman, Lavistida and Naylor at the upper levels knocking on the door.
 
Valera and Rocchio should be on a “best case” pathway of the All Star break.

Would love to see it, maybe they’ll be able to help a pennant race.

Who the hell knows, just keep hitting.

Love having Valera, Rocchio, Jones, Gonzalez, Freeman, Lavistida and Naylor at the upper levels knocking on the door.
Could we if things break the right way.. have ourselves something similar to the 90s in terms of big time prospects all emerging around the same time together?
 
Could we if things break the right way.. have ourselves something similar to the 90s in terms of big time prospects all emerging around the same time together?

The pitching is already there in a sense and if the position guys coming up hit their potential, then yes...
 
Could we if things break the right way.. have ourselves something similar to the 90s in terms of big time prospects all emerging around the same time together?
Not to that level. Having Belle, Thome, and Manny come up through the system (and then add in the trades for ML-ready youngsters like Lofton, Baerga, and Sandy Alomar) over a couple of years is harmonic-convergence-level stuff. That's three guys who had HOF careers absent anger issues, a bad hip, and PEDs. A farm system is simply not going to cough up multiple HOF-level players that often.

That said, I see your point -- and we have reason to be excited about Valera, Rocchio, Arias, and friends.
 
Anyone concerned only two of the 51 hits were doubles? Love the power potential but is this sustainable?
You’re right, that sort of distribution, it’s probably not sustainable.

Not concerning though.

The 22 XBH (which is a great number) is probably a more sustainable indicator of success, just with a more balanced distribution between 2B and HR with a triple here and there.
 
Last edited:
You’re right, that sort of distribution, it’s probably not sustainable.

The 22 XBH is probably a more sustainable indicator of success, just with a more balanced distribution between 2B and HR with a triple here and there.

Looking up the weird distribution, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle were guys who had more HRs then 2Bs... We don't see it a lot, but it does happen. I am okay if he ends up with their numbers in a sense...
 
Looking up the weird distribution, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle were guys who had more HRs then 2Bs... We don't see it a lot, but it does happen. I am okay if he ends up with their numbers in a sense...
I would hope so.

Even then, their ratios were more like 4 2B/3B to every 5 HR, not 3:8 like Valera
 
Anyone concerned only two of the 51 hits were doubles? Love the power potential but is this sustainable?

No, no one should be concerned.

Similar to what makes Nolan Jones such a highly touted prospect, special type of pop in Valera’s bat to the opposite field that guys his age shouldn’t have. Only difference between the 2 when it comes to power at the same age is Valera already has the pull power too.

The doubles will come, like they did with Jones. Comes with experience and a more professional approach. Easy to forget Valera only had 58 professional games played entering this season.

Big test making the toughest jump in the minors, but a lot of people think he’d be knocking on the MLB door had there been a season in 2020. Most well-known hitter in their system industry wide.
 
Last edited:
Valera gets a lot of people excited.
The last phenom we had in the system IMO was Lindor. He made his MLB debut when he was 21. Of course, being a SS there is a lot more pressure defensively than an OF.
The funny thing with Lindor, he performed better offensively in MLB than he did in the minors.
 
They aren't exactly getting a lot of attention in here, but the ACL Indians have the best offense in their league by a 35 run margin. Ton of high ceiling offensive talent there right now.

Isaiah Greene: .292/.421/.368, mentioned in here the Brantley vibes he is giving the FO staff who were around when Brantley was acquired, he's going to go through a similar developmental path. He has a very clean, very simple short swing which doesn't produce power yet but hopefully will grow in to. Well above average hitting approach and eye for his age. Can play all 3 OF spots effectively, but his raw speed isn't translating to game speed yet.

Junior Sanquintin: .289/.347/.547, another switch-hitting MIFer with pop acquired through their International signings of late. Ultra aggressive swinger with good pop from both sides of the plate. Tied for the ACL lead in HRs, leads the league in RBI, and is 6th in the league in slugging. Playing him predominantly at 1B right now, but I think he eventually winds up at 3B.

Milan Tolentino: .301/.362/.496, 4th round pick from 2020, getting promoted to Lynchburg. Took advantage of the development site in AZ after he was drafted and didn't play to strengthen up and is showing more pop than anyone expected him to show at 19. Really good defensively at SS and 2B, his glove will carry him a long way. Cleaned up his swing a lot during his off year, already has a nice lefty approach to left-center, but all of his pop is pull power right now.

Jorge Burgos: .353/.463/.461, 2019 International signing, another guy going to Lynchburg. Soft hitting lefty, but a terrific hitting approach which has led him to be the ACLs leading qualified hitter at the time of his promotion. Like Greene, very professional approach at the plate and good pitch/plate recognition. His body has a lot longer to go than Greene, he is still a small kid. Gap-to-gap hitter so he hits a lot of doubles, but will see HR pop come as he matures. Most likely ends up in a corner OF spot so it'll almost have to come.

Jose Pastrano: .256/.392/.410, biggest International signing from 2019, made his pro debut this year and is off to a solid start. Yet another switch-hitting MIFer with a lot of intriguing tools. Lot of early Rocchio to his game, down to the clean mechanics from both sides of the plate and a gap-to-gap hitter with no HR pop right now but you can see it developing in time. Promotion of Tolentino means he should play more SS moving forward. Has played a good 2B up to this point, and like every other MIFer in their system has played SS, 2B, and 3B at points in the season.

Richard Paz: .393/.487/.721, he has always had one of the best eyes in the organization since he was signed in 2017. Bat has always lagged behind a bit until this season. 3rd consecutive year at the rookie level, so will need to see it translate as he moves up, but has always had a body type and swing that suggests he could be an above average hitter with some pop. Like Lavastida, bilingual catcher that speaks fluent English and Spanish, which is huge for that position. Defense behind the plate is still a bit of a work in process, but the tools are there.

Skeiling Rodriguez: .319/.397/.594, gives off some Valera vibes with how smooth his swing is from the left side. And he wasn't signed with that swing at all, the Indians have worked with him on some things (and he has worked with Valera) and it is paying off big for him. Behind the rest of his very heralded 2017 International class, and like Paz 3rd year at the rookie level. Needs to show it up at the next level. He is a straight corner OFer.

Dayan Frias: .279/.370/.423, stop if you heard this before...recent International signing, MIFer, switch-hitter, intriguing tools. Playing and hanging in the Columbian Winter League prior to this season has brought along his game at the plate quite a bit. High confidence player, solid defensively at SS, 2B, and 3B, repeatable and clean mechanics from both sides of the plate, and good plate command at a young age. Him and Pastrano should share SS duties the rest of the season.

Luis Durango: .300/.399/.400, another highly touted 2019 guy making his pro debut this season. Instantly the fastest guy in their system, leads the ACL in steals by a wide margin. Speed translates well to the field, especially in CF. Dude covers a ton of ground and will 100% stick in CF moving forward. Has shown more pop than I expected, but wasn't sure what to expect from him after having TJ in 2020. Mechanics are a little loud and need simplified. Will be curious to see if his speed sticks as his body matures and he adds weight, cause he is going to need to add weight.

Lot of position player talent coming from Arizona and the Dominican soon.
 
Yep, the AZL bats have been impressive. I'd add Jesus Lara, who got a late start due to injury and of course they've done all this without 1st rd pick Carson Tucker.

You can basically write in this entire roster into 2022 Lynchburg, minus a couple of guys like Devers and Brown, who might repeat or start in xST as depth.

In DSL, A. Genao and R. Lopez look promising as advertised, Alduey otoh with a lot of unexpected swing and miss, but several other mid tier signings are making up for it (Montilla) and there's even a handful of promising pitching talents to come stateside. Panamian RHP A. Aldeano the most exciting looking at age/performance.
 
Am I wrong for saying, Tyler Freeman and David Fletcher have a lot in common as ball players?
 
Am I wrong for saying, Tyler Freeman and David Fletcher have a lot in common as ball players?
I think Freeman will hit for a little more power than Fletcher, but a guy who can get on base, hits for decent average, steals a few bases, and has versatility, that's pretty fair.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-14: "Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:14: " Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey."
Top