2021 Minor League Thread

[BimboColesHair]

From low A down to the DSL the entire system is filled with "lotto ticket young players", and pretty much all of them play SS/2B.

As mentioned before, depth of pitching is not there due to small 2020 draft and how position player heavy they have gone with their international signings the last half decade.

Not losing sleep over one of the 20 young infielders in that age range getting moved for a potential big league arm in the near term.

 

[sportscoach]

From low A down to the DSL the entire system is filled with "lotto ticket young players", and pretty much all of them play SS/2B.

As mentioned before, depth of pitching is not there due to small 2020 draft and how position player heavy they have gone with their international signings the last half decade.

Not losing sleep over one of the 20 young infielders in that age range getting moved for a potential big league arm in the near term.

My question is just how good is the Rays farm when it comes to pitching? They traded 4 starters at AA/AAA level (two to us and two to the Twins for Cruz) all were the good command type as well... You just don't trade pitching unless you think you have a surplus...

 

[Tondo]

From low A down to the DSL the entire system is filled with "lotto ticket young players", and pretty much all of them play SS/2B.

As mentioned before, depth of pitching is not there due to small 2020 draft and how position player heavy they have gone with their international signings the last half decade.

Not losing sleep over one of the 20 young infielders in that age range getting moved for a potential big league arm in the near term.

I get that, but Caminero was way more than just a stat line flash. His batted ball profile is good, crazy power/age. All of that has been better at the same age than some of our best prospects. He's like a best of mix of Rocchio, A. Martinez and Noel (statistically). That's more than 1 of 20, and it's why the Rays wanted him. I still like the trade, just as I liked similar deals for Luplow and Mercado for T. Thomas and J. Torres

 

[BimboColesHair]

I get that, but Caminero was way more than just a stat line flash. His batted ball profile is good, crazy power/age. All of that has been better at the same age than some of our best prospects. He's like a best of mix of Rocchio, A. Martinez and Noel (statistically). That's more than 1 of 20, and it's why the Rays wanted him. I still like the trade, just as I liked similar deals for Luplow and Mercado for T. Thomas and J. Torres

I didn't say a word about Caminero's skills there.

I know what he is, I've gotten to work with him.

Just a comment about "lotto ticket young players".

 

[DCTribefan]

 

[DCTribefan]

 

[DCTribefan]

 

[CATS44]

My question is just how good is the Rays farm when it comes to pitching? They traded 4 starters at AA/AAA level (two to us and two to the Twins for Cruz) all were the good command type as well... You just don't trade pitching unless you think you have a surplus...

Or you have more pitchers than you can fit on a 40 man or into a system.

The way the Rays use a pitching staff forces them to go thru an extraordinary amount of pitchers in a season. Last season they used 41 different pitchers. A few were position players in blowouts, but you get the picture.

In other words, they used more pitchers than can fit on a 40 man, even without a lineup of position players.

At the moment they still have 23 pitchers on their 40 man.

While their use of pitchers has been successful at the MLB level, it does put their backs to the wall in trades....and they are forced to sometimes accept lower value in return.

 

[CDAV45]

All I know is that I'm giddy that we were able to get Battenfield. Then we got Myers who fits the mold as well. Neither are very far off, especially Battenfield.

 

[macbdog]

Or you have more pitchers than you can fit on a 40 man or into a system.

The way the Rays use a pitching staff forces them to go thru an extraordinary amount of pitchers in a season. Last season they used 41 different pitchers. A few were position players in blowouts, but you get the picture.

In other words, they used more pitchers than can fit on a 40 man, even without a lineup of position players.

At the moment they still have 23 pitchers on their 40 man.

While their use of pitchers has been successful at the MLB level, it does put their backs to the wall in trades....and they are forced to sometimes accept lower value in return.

The Gs need to pry Brett Phillips away. He is part-time outfielder, excellent mopup pitcher, and as entertaining as any of the game day staff like Slider and the Stuffed Meat Casings. Dolanz could fill 3 jobs with one player.

 

[DCTribefan]

 

[DCTribefan]

Private Site

guardiansbaseballinsider.com

 

[Kevalier]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/sto...s-with-intriguing-analytical-characteristics/

Jhonkensy Noel, 1B/3B Guardians | .275 ISO, .436 wOBA, 5.9 BB%, 70.1% Contact Rate

Recently added to the Guardians 40 man roster, Noel missed time due to injury in 2021 but made the most of his time on the field, hitting .340/.390/.615. His expected data backs his surge as well, with his expected isolated slugging a facsimile of his actual ISO. His expected weighted on-base average was below his actual .436 mark but was comfortably in plus territory, pushing up on .400 and ranking within the top 30 of non-Triple-A exWOBA leaders. His exit velocity numbers are breathtaking, with his max exit velocity in 2021 above 115 mph with a 90th percentile of greater than 109 mph (per sources). He ranks extremely high among estimated bat speed leaders as well, ranking within the top 10 of players 20 years of age or younger. This brute strength and twitch allow Noel’s power to play at an elite plus-plus level. This in turn allows him to overcome his aggressive tendencies, but there’s always likely to be swing and miss.

Takeaway: Once again, hitting the ball hard often translates to success. When you hit the ball as hard and with as much consistency as anyone on the planet it leads to greater success. That’s Noel’s season described succinctly, but there are some concerning trends in regards to chase (above 33%) and his fringe-average bat-to-ball skills. Additionally, he’ll need to prove he can hit lefthanders as he moves up the ladder. He struggled versus southpaws in 2021 and it’s further evidence that he’s walking a tightrope with his approach. Noel has Superhero power with unrefined plate discipline.

 

[KluberSociety]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/sto...s-with-intriguing-analytical-characteristics/

The contact/chase issues are a concern but does anyone actually have an example of a RHB who got held back due to his ability to hit LHP? This feels like something that should sort itself out or maybe I'm just being unreasonably optimistic?

I feel like overall we just haven't been able to really teach great plate discipline to unrefined hitters, what seems to be the biggest weakness of the player development part of the organization.

 

[petes999]

I feel like overall we just haven't been able to really teach great plate discipline to unrefined hitters, what seems to be the biggest weakness of the player development part of the organization.

I think Bimbo has even alluded to pitching development being ahead of hitting development. Really, who have the Indians developed hitting wise? Think it is about to improve with Freeman, Rocchio and Valera but we have had a lot of swing and misses.

Ramirez - best example of developing
Lindor - drafted high but improved (was thought more glove than power)
Brantley - Milwaukee
Straw/Rosario/Gimenez/Reyes -- trades
Choo/Gomes - Trades
Perez - defense only
Chisenhall - Was suppose to be a lot better
Kipnis -- was nice for a few years anyways
Bradley -- we will see if he can adjust

You can look at the draft list and see how many 1st rounders have made it -- Naylor (still can - been pushed up the ladder and struggled), Holmes, Benson, Zimmer, Frazier (more injury than anything), Naquin, Mills, Crowe, Aubrey, Smith, Hartley, Peoples, Miller .... so out of 15 top draft picks of position players (back to 1995), only Lindor (who fell into our laps - BPA) and Chisenhall were decent everyday players.