2021 Minor League Thread

[BimboColesHair]

Is JJ Rodriguez still switch hitting? I've stayed on him despite outlets overlooking him, because he's kept hitting decently above average at every stop. If the power comes, he's a legit prospect.

Angel Martinez is one of my favs too. Had him Top 10 before the year.
Noel is quickly turning into an untouchable, not because of his performance, but because of his batted ball profile, low SwStr% and monster power is screaming HUGE upside.
Really liked the Cairo pick. He was overmatched in AZL after the draft, but I expected better results with physical maturation, much like Jose Fermin did.

You didn't mention Micah Pries. Both performance and peripherals look great. He needs tested in A+, the power/speed profile and D II background intrigues me.

Lake County hitters struggled a bit, as expected. Lots of young prospects got pushed there. Reinforcements from Lynchburg will come during the season.

Akron with more forgotten or overlooked bats in O. Gonzalez, Kwan, Palacios.

Some of those offseason decisions will be tough. I hope they trade as much as possible proactively during this season.

He's strange. He still switch hits (in 2019 at least, he may not any more), but he doesn't do the traditional righty vs LHP and lefty vs RHP. He maybe takes ~5 to 10% of his ABs LH and has always been situational, which has confused a lot of people on whether he still hits switch or just righty. All his cage work, BP, and ABs in the series were RH. I know a lot of people in the organization want him to drop the LH ABs and focus entirely on his RH swing (more power potential from the right side).

And Micah Pries is talented, but a little behind the 8-ball with the lost season. This organization has a lot of solid, LH hitting OFers and he gets lost in the shuffle a bit, but he's unknown which makes him a little intriguing. Very mature hitter who manages the strikezone with a classic lefty swing. He needs to clear at least 2 levels this year, IMO.

 

[Criznit]

Someone like Micah Pries is in a prime spot to come out of nowhere. Interesting amateur numbers, if he can rise to the level he may be a nice surprise this year.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Gaddis was impressive last night. Sat 92, touched 94. Used his slider very effectively and threw it early in counts and when behind. Shook off the rust his first start and commanded his stuff well. He owned hitters last night.

Lavastida had a tough game at the plate, but man did he catch and call a clean ass game. Best defensive C in the system by far. He can hit too, which makes him very intriguing in the current landscape of non-hitting Cs at the MLB level.

I love the aggressive assignment for Naranjo. He's going to be up and down all year as the youngest player in the league, but this year will be huge for his development. Yet another 1B that this organization loves. Long, smooth, clean lefty swing with easy pop. He is a terrific defensive 1B too, the best out of the group of 3 (Naranjo, Noel, Bartlett).

Valera was noticeably less aggressive this game at the plate and it paid off for him. Nothing has really changed, still the best swing in the organization by far. Good instinctual base-runner too, had 2 steals that didn't draw a throw because he got such good jumps. He still has a hole in his swing (it gets too long when he gets HR happy), but yet another of the youngest guys playing in this league so a big development year for him.

Bracho, Delgado, Rocchio, and Tena all looked overmatched at the dish, similar to how some of the younger Lynchburg players looked...just too gassed up and swinging out of their shoes after the missed season. Their defense was spotless though, even with Rocchio at 3B. Tena is so smooth and covers a lot of ground at SS.

This is the youngest team in their league, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs with this team all season long. The talent is there, but it's pretty clear by the assignments of some of the position players that the expectations are to focus on development, not necessarily production, at this level this year. The pitchers should move through fairly quickly though IMO. Excited to see Allen, Burns, and Hickman this week.

 

[Kevalier]

Gaddis was impressive last night. Sat 92, touched 94. Used his slider very effectively and threw it early in counts and when behind. Shook off the rust his first start and commanded his stuff well. He owned hitters last night.

Lavastida had a tough game at the plate, but man did he catch and call a clean ass game. Best defensive C in the system by far. He can hit too, which makes him very intriguing in the current landscape of non-hitting Cs at the MLB level.

I love the aggressive assignment for Naranjo. He's going to be up and down all year as the youngest player in the league, but this year will be huge for his development. Yet another 1B that this organization loves. Long, smooth, clean lefty swing with easy pop. He is a terrific defensive 1B too, the best out of the group of 3 (Naranjo, Noel, Bartlett).

Valera was noticeably less aggressive this game at the plate and it paid off for him. Nothing has really changed, still the best swing in the organization by far. Good instinctual base-runner too, had 2 steals that didn't draw a throw because he got such good jumps. He still has a hole in his swing (it gets too long when he gets HR happy), but yet another of the youngest guys playing in this league so a big development year for him.

Bracho, Delgado, Rocchio, and Tena all looked overmatched at the dish, similar to how some of the younger Lynchburg players looked...just too gassed up and swinging out of their shoes after the missed season. Their defense was spotless though, even with Rocchio at 3B. Tena is so smooth and covers a lot of ground at SS.

This is the youngest team in their league, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs with this team all season long. The talent is there, but it's pretty clear by the assignments of some of the position players that the expectations are to focus on development, not necessarily production, at this level this year. The pitchers should move through fairly quickly though IMO. Excited to see Allen, Burns, and Hickman this week.

Great write up. To your final point, Tanner Burns has prototypical Indians pitching prospect written all over him. Considering that he's only 22, I could see him flying through the system a la Bieber and possibly even ending up here in Cleveland at some point next season.

 

[Kevalier]

Regarding Owen Miller, when he is eventually recalled, I would hope that it would be with the full intention of playing him every day. I've seen the scenario floated where he essentially replaces Yu Chang on the big league roster and serves only in a platoon with Jake Bauers. To me, I don't see the logic in that move, especially since Naylor and Luplow both need to be in the lineup against a LHP. So, not only are you giving Miller limited plate appearances, but also doing at the expense of Naylor, Luplow or Eddie Rosario.

I wonder if Miller's spot on this team is actually SS if Andres Gimenez continues to look overwhelmed at the plate, despite Miller not being seen as a long-term fit at SS. Obviously, it's only May 12th and Gimenez has been platooned for much of the season so far, but the metrics are not kind to him whatsoever this season.

 

[AZ_]

First Vargas, now Hankins.

 

[Criznit]

Here is a "hot take"

Is Brayan Rocchio the next Dorssys Paulino?

I think he is someone I definitely would trade/add in a package for a MLer. Pretty sure he needs added to the 40 man or will be exposed in the next rule 5 draft.

 

[MadThinker88]

First Vargas, now Hankins.

Sadly I expected this outcome once word got out that his trip to the Cleveland Clinic regarding the elbow was for a 2nd opinion...

 

[BimboColesHair]

TJ is going to be up league-wide this year.

Don't think it effects Hankins long-term one bit. Think it starts the process of Vargas as a reliever fairly quick though (whose own surgery went real well).

 

[Tondo]

That sucks, as Hankins will miss a good chunk of 2022 too, and needs rostered 2023

 

[xmasbuck]

Regarding Owen Miller, when he is eventually recalled, I would hope that it would be with the full intention of playing him every day. I've seen the scenario floated where he essentially replaces Yu Chang on the big league roster and serves only in a platoon with Jake Bauers. To me, I don't see the logic in that move, especially since Naylor and Luplow both need to be in the lineup against a LHP. So, not only are you giving Miller limited plate appearances, but also doing at the expense of Naylor, Luplow or Eddie Rosario.

I wonder if Miller's spot on this team is actually SS if Andres Gimenez continues to look overwhelmed at the plate, despite Miller not being seen as a long-term fit at SS. Obviously, it's only May 12th and Gimenez has been platooned for much of the season so far, but the metrics are not kind to him whatsoever this season.

View attachment 5714

It is indeed only may 12th - and wondering if ml teams will be back to using memorial day as the time to make roster adjustments, esp for those who have played regularly the first two months and struggled --- part of the problem for cleveland is that in a couple of the "struggling" positions they dont have guys down below who would project to play better than the "strugglers"

 

[Criznit]

Gaddis was impressive last night. Sat 92, touched 94. Used his slider very effectively and threw it early in counts and when behind. Shook off the rust his first start and commanded his stuff well. He owned hitters last night.

Lavastida had a tough game at the plate, but man did he catch and call a clean ass game. Best defensive C in the system by far. He can hit too, which makes him very intriguing in the current landscape of non-hitting Cs at the MLB level.

I love the aggressive assignment for Naranjo. He's going to be up and down all year as the youngest player in the league, but this year will be huge for his development. Yet another 1B that this organization loves. Long, smooth, clean lefty swing with easy pop. He is a terrific defensive 1B too, the best out of the group of 3 (Naranjo, Noel, Bartlett).

Valera was noticeably less aggressive this game at the plate and it paid off for him. Nothing has really changed, still the best swing in the organization by far. Good instinctual base-runner too, had 2 steals that didn't draw a throw because he got such good jumps. He still has a hole in his swing (it gets too long when he gets HR happy), but yet another of the youngest guys playing in this league so a big development year for him.

Bracho, Delgado, Rocchio, and Tena all looked overmatched at the dish, similar to how some of the younger Lynchburg players looked...just too gassed up and swinging out of their shoes after the missed season. Their defense was spotless though, even with Rocchio at 3B. Tena is so smooth and covers a lot of ground at SS.

This is the youngest team in their league, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs with this team all season long. The talent is there, but it's pretty clear by the a

Kinda surprised to hear Lavastida is the best defensive catcher in the system "by far". I was under the impression Andres Melendez was.

Either way sounds like A ball is loaded with very intriguing catchers this year.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Kinda surprised to hear Lavastida is the best defensive catcher in the system "by far". I was under the impression Andres Melendez was.

Either way sounds like A ball is loaded with very intriguing catchers this year.

Melendez has a ways to go.

Best natural fundamentals and a strong arm, but coaches still call 100% of his games, his framing leaves a lot to be desired, and he gets inconsistent/lazy later in games with his receiving and blocking.

Lavastida is the entire package right now. Athletic, good enough arm, calls games, speaks fluent English and Spanish, good footwork fundamentals, soft handed receiver, good at framing pitches. He doesn't have some of the natural gifts Melendez has, mostly the arm strength, but he outclasses Melendez everywhere else right now.

One is 19, the other is 22 and has had multiple springs learning from Sandy Alomar though. Ways to go.

 

[Criznit]

Melendez has a ways to go.

Best natural fundamentals and a strong arm, but coaches still call 100% of his games, his framing leaves a lot to be desired, and he gets inconsistent/lazy later in games with his receiving and blocking.

Lavastida is the entire package right now. Athletic, good enough arm, calls games, speaks fluent English and Spanish, good footwork fundamentals, soft handed receiver, good at framing pitches. He doesn't have some of the natural gifts Melendez has, mostly the arm strength, but he outclasses Melendez everywhere else right now.

One is 19, the other is 22 and has had multiple springs learning from Sandy Alomar though. Ways to go.

As always thanks for the info Bimbo.

Thoughts on Palacios?

 

[Kevalier]

Melendez has a ways to go.

Best natural fundamentals and a strong arm, but coaches still call 100% of his games, his framing leaves a lot to be desired, and he gets inconsistent/lazy later in games with his receiving and blocking.

Lavastida is the entire package right now. Athletic, good enough arm, calls games, speaks fluent English and Spanish, good footwork fundamentals, soft handed receiver, good at framing pitches. He doesn't have some of the natural gifts Melendez has, mostly the arm strength, but he outclasses Melendez everywhere else right now.

One is 19, the other is 22 and has had multiple springs learning from Sandy Alomar though. Ways to go.

Sounds like Lavastida is a safe bet to be added to the 40 man at the end of the year since he's Rule 5 eligible this December.