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2024 Minor League Thread

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MadThinker88

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Ok ok... Better late to get this started than never.

With the truck already on its way & spring training around the corner, lets start the new thread with minor league thoughts/ questions etc.
Its also the best place to link/ announce the various prospect listings that are posted as well as the various farm system rankings.

Speaking for the farm rankings, both Baseball America & Kiley McDaniel of ESPN posted their rankings of all the farm system this week.
Both groups had Baltimore as the #1 system (even after the trade to acquire Corbin Burnes) & listed the CLE Guardians system at 19th overall (slightly above the bottom third).
Here is the info for the AL Central teams:
Source:Baseball AmericaKiley/ ESPN
ChiSox1820
CLE1919
Detroit53
KC3026
Minn149


Here is the link to a free article that posted all 30 teams for each source:
https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/news/houston-astros-farm-system-rankings-revealed-2024-matt9
 
19 seems about right. Lots of top guys graduated recently while others are still far away. I worry particularly about starting pitching depth.
 
I feel like we are way better than 19th, then again, we do have a big gap between like 10 in and 11 in a sense... but 11 through like 40 are like all the same ranking lol
 
19 seems about right. Lots of top guys graduated recently while others are still far away. I worry particularly about starting pitching depth.
Marty - To each their own on that one. Personally I'm not as worried about the pitching depth (either as development coming thru the system or ready for the MLB in 2024) as there were a number of players injured across the system last year.

Many recall Espino & continue to have him on their radar but others like Justin Campbell and Jacob Zibrin seem to be completely forgotten about.

As for 2024 depth I noted in another post a week ago that there are a number of options for the MLB club that simply won't be on the roster due to a numbers game. For the 5 rotation & 8 MLB bullpen spots there are a handful already claimed and it seems 3 competitors for each "unclaimed" spot. Many of those competitors are going to end up in Columbus (likely in the AAA rotation) so they can remain stretched out & be ready for when there is a need.

Also- Don't forget about Cookie. Maybe he doesn't have anything left in his tank & he hangs it up during the spring but its also possible he still has something remaining in the tank. If so, I doubt he is in Columbus & without an injury he likely pushes 1 of last years 3 rookies (LT Allen/ Williams/ Bibee) to CBus for further development (& some service time massaging).
 
Marty - To each their own on that one. Personally I'm not as worried about the pitching depth (either as development coming thru the system or ready for the MLB in 2024) as there were a number of players injured across the system last year.

Many recall Espino & continue to have him on their radar but others like Justin Campbell and Jacob Zibrin seem to be completely forgotten about.

As for 2024 depth I noted in another post a week ago that there are a number of options for the MLB club that simply won't be on the roster due to a numbers game. For the 5 rotation & 8 MLB bullpen spots there are a handful already claimed and it seems 3 competitors for each "unclaimed" spot. Many of those competitors are going to end up in Columbus (likely in the AAA rotation) so they can remain stretched out & be ready for when there is a need.

Also- Don't forget about Cookie. Maybe he doesn't have anything left in his tank & he hangs it up during the spring but its also possible he still has something remaining in the tank. If so, I doubt he is in Columbus & without an injury he likely pushes 1 of last years 3 rookies (LT Allen/ Williams/ Bibee) to CBus for further development (& some service time massaging).
Not a snowball's chance in hell that happens. If he has anything left in the tank it will be to fill in for Bieber when he's dealt or McKenzie when he's on the IL.
 
Not a snowball's chance in hell that happens. If he has anything left in the tank it will be to fill in for Bieber when he's dealt or McKenzie when he's on the IL.

I think Carrasco will have Curry's job from the pen, while Curry gets more work as a starter...
 
I think Carrasco will have Curry's job from the pen, while Curry gets more work as a starter...
Its also possible that Tyler Beede takes that role in the MLB bullpen.
If so its Curry & Gaddis being part of the AAA Columbus rotation to open the year.

Either way its going to be an interesting item to watch.
 
I know nothing, but the Cookie invite looks to me as though we're giving him a chance to show out and get picked up by another club.
I have no problem with that, though I'd certainly love to have him around.
 
hmm.. musing on the penultimate week before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Goodyear...

InRe Cookie: By signing a MiLB contract, Cookie is making it clear that he is ready willing and able to show he belongs back in the show.. He'll make a wager on himself that he can and will be part of the OD Roster.. This is from Carlos Carasco's perspective.. From the Guardians & CleFO's perspective.. they would love to have Cookie prove the same to himself.. This isn't a charity gig or a ceremonial signing.. There is waaaaaaaaay too much work involved with being ready to compete for a spot on a ML roster to dismiss the effort as ceremony..

InRe CleFO's 1-1 Draft Pick: Nick Kurtz is the "current" BPA by several publications.. He passes the eye test too.. A half a year from now, and that is more than a little likely to change.. The first outing of the year by Nick's teammate, Chase Burns (gives me a Cal Quantrill Jr/Gavin Williams vibe) says, the # 1 overall might be an SP.. it's where the Guardians bread is buttered, IRL... (Chase Burns' first outing for the Demon Deacons Link: )

InRe Corbin Burnes Trade: DL Hall and Joey Ortiz plus a 2024 Comp B draft pick for Corbin Burners plus a compensatory draft pick QO a year later, essentially makes this a Two-Fer.. The Brewers did well for the 2024 season.. and perhaps better as the 2025/8 seasons come. The Orioles did exceptionally well for the 2024 season, alone..

Thoughts?
 
Chase Burns first outing very impressive. He keeps that up he should be in consideration for 1st overall and in the first 5 selections.
 
Keith Law (not a fan) top 100 list:

13) Rocchio
66) Manzardo
81) Delauter

Just missed: Chourio
 
Kudos to @Wham with the Right Hand (he posted this info in another thread)

Keith Law came out with his top 100 list last week and now has his farm system rankings up. For the AL Central:

Tigers 6th
White Sox 10th
Twins 17th
Guardians 22nd
Royals 25th

His Guardians comment:

If I were just comparing systems’ top eight prospects, Cleveland would be in the upper half, at the very least, but I think they fall off very quickly after that, the result of some weaker draft classes that have focused a lot on undersized hitters and guys who are just young for their levels. That said, I could see any of five guys leaping onto the top 100 next year, including Daniel Espino, who hasn’t pitched in almost two years but was the best pitching prospect in baseball in April 2023.

Not bad given the youth of the major league roster and the spate of recent graduations, most notably Bibee, Williams, Allen, Bo Naylor, Freeman, and Arias. Law has three Guardians in the top 100 now (Rocchio, Manzardo, DeLauter) so if some of those five that Law referred to make a jump next year we could be right up there.

Because the Guardians are set for the future at a decent number of positions (C, 2B, 3B, LF, SP, SP, SP, closer) and have excellent prospects at SS and 1B (and the possibility to extend Josh Naylor), I don't think they need quantity and depth in the farm system. What they need is a few guys who are going to be really good, especially at CF, RF, and starting pitcher (in case Bieber doesn't extend and McKenzie and Espino can't stay healthy).

So it's good to hear that if Law was only considering each team's top eight prospects the Guardians would be "at least in the upper half".
 
Kudos to @Pierre Pan (he posted this info in another thread)...

From Kiley McDaniel and ESPN+ content :

Cleveland Guardians

19th overall
15th in quality depth (prospects over 40 FV)
$187 million total value


1. Chase DeLauter, RF, 55 FV (42nd on the Top 100)
2. Brayan Rocchio, SS, 50 FV (79)
3. Kyle Manzardo, 1B, 50 FV (83)
4. Daniel Espino, RHP, 50 FV (92)
5. Juan Brito, 2B, 45+ FV (173)
6. Jaison Chourio, RF, 45 FV
7. George Valera, RF, 45 FV
8. Welbyn Francisca, SS, 40+ FV
9. Angel Martinez, SS, 40+ FV
10. Ralphy Velazquez, C, 40+ FV
11. Kahlil Watson, SS, 40+ FV
12. Petey Halpin, CF, 40+ FV
13. Angel Genao, SS, 40 FV
14. Jake Fox, 2B, 40 FV
15. Robert Arias, CF, 40 FV
16. Alex Clemmey, LHP, 40 FV
17. Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B, 40 FV
18. Joey Cantillo, LHP, 40 FV
19. Parker Messick, LHP, 40 FV
20. C.J. Kayfus, RF, 40 FV
21. Milan Tolentino, SS, 40 FV
22. Jose Tena, SS, 40 FV
23. Justin Campbell, RHP, 40 FV
24. Dayan Frias, SS, 40 FV
25. Johnathan Rodriguez, RF, 40 FV
26. Wuilfredo Antunez, CF, 40 FV
27. Will Dion, LHP, 40 FV
28. Andrew Walters, RHP, 40 FV

Notable 2023 graduations: C Bo Naylor, RHP Tanner Bibee, LHP Logan Allen, RHP Gavin Williams, 2B Tyler Freeman, SS Gabriel Arias, RF Will Brennan, RHP Xzavion Curry, RHP Hunter Gaddis, LHP Tim Herrin

2024 impact: Rocchio
Above 40 FV breakout: Chourio
40 FV breakout: Clemmey

Non-Top 100 scouting reports

It may sting a bit for the Guardians that they traded their 2016 second-round pick Nolan Jones before the 2023 season and he then posted a 3.7 WAR season for the Rockies, but the return was Brito who is also a solid prospect. He frankly fits the Guardians style of player, a hit-first type with a good approach and defensive value. Brito projects for plus OBPs and average power (15-18 homers) while being a fine but not great defensive second baseman who should get a look in 2024.

Valera was a big-bonus international signing in 2017 who now has only one minor league option year left, so he'll need to establish himself in the big leagues this season. He's a late-count hitter who racks up lots of walks, strikeouts and home runs so he can be more prone to streakiness or the vagaries of ball in play luck. On the upside, he could hit 25 homers and post a strong OBP. Velazquez was a well-known prep prospect from Southern California who was teetering on the wrong side of the catcher/first base spectrum. The good news is even his biggest detractors concede that the lefty hitter can really hit: he's above average at everything in the batter's box with plus raw power that he gets to in games. It'll be a bit of a letdown if he's just a true first baseman since he was the 23rd overall pick, but he may hit enough that it won't matter

You may recognize the name Chourio from the No. 2 prospect on the Top 100, recently extended for $82 million Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. Jaison is his little brother and he is broadly similar, but not quite the same level of talent right now. Jaison is an average runner who fits in right field with above-average bat control and the raw power potential to potentially profile as an everyday player there. He's a switch hitter who made it to Low-A as an 18-year-old after tearing up the domestic complex league with more walks than strikeouts. He'll need to lift the ball more to tap into his power in games, but it's still very early. Speaking of which, Francisca made his pro debut in the DSL last year after signing for $1.4 million in January. He is the familiar Cleveland type of shorter switch-hitter who fits up the middle, but doesn't have overwhelming physical tools. Francisca can really hit and has a strong approach, so he's a candidate to move up this list with his U.S. debut in 2024.

Cleveland collects a lot of high floor/lower upside players but two recent acquisitions stand out for their loud tools and big upside. At draft time, Clemmey was a 17-year-old 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher who had touched 100 mph with an all-arms-and-legs delivery. He also mixed in a plus breaking ball but his command (as you'd expect with his long limbs and recent velo spike) was sorta all over the place. There's frontline upside if Cleveland's pitching dev machine can tease average command out of Clemmey. In the Rule 5 draft, Cleveland selected De Los Santos from Arizona, a corner type with explosive plus-plus raw power that chases too much and looks out of control at types. He'll have to stick the whole year in the big leagues for Cleveland to keep his rights and this isn't really the kind of player that does that, so I'm fascinated to see what the Guardians can do with him.
 

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