25 replies to this topic

[makoman]

Yeah, they did a great job with Westburg.  So far that seems to be the exception.  Not that they haven't hit with some other guys obviously, I'm talking specifically about guys that had a questionable hit tool that they seem to think they can fix.  The list of failures is a lot longer than the list of successes.  Which isn't entirely surprising, but still, I'm just surprised they keep taking those types of guys.  

Right, Westburg wasn't really that type, just a solid all around guy in college with a seemingly fine hit tool.

 

I'm not sure who you're thinking of as poor hit tool guys, I'd say Beavers, Fabian, Bradfield, Honeycutt aren't failures yet, but are still TBD and not successes either. John Rhodes maybe but he's gone. 

[glenn__davis]

Lets cool the jets a bit here. Thet traded Ortiz who looks like he is probably gonna be a reg. TBD on Norby but hes made it to the bigs. Fabian is probably a 4th OFer. Beavers just made it to AAA and has been solid doing it. Horvath still has potential albeit it in the Rays org

 

Talking specifically about the "low hit tool" guys.  Ortiz and Norby not in that group, in fact I specifically remember Norby was supposed to have an advanced hit tool.

 

Fabian is in that group and is a borderline non-prospect to me.  I know Bob likes him but you have to be able to make some contact.  

 

Beavers is in that group and took a pretty big step back last year.  Started great but slumped pretty badly towards the end.  He didn't get promoted to AAA on merit, I think that was just Elias trying to kick start him a bit.

 

Shoot, you could include Stowers also.  He's in the show but hasn't produced yet.  Zach Watson never developed.  Max Wagner has done nothing of note.

 

Of course there will be more misses than hits, but to me they going to the well with that type of player and I'm not sure it's worth it.  Honeycutt obviously is in the group so I think it will be interesting to follow him this year.

[glenn__davis]

Right, Westburg wasn't really that type, just a solid all around guy in college with a seemingly fine hit tool.

 

I'm not sure who you're thinking of as poor hit tool guys, I'd say Beavers, Fabian, Bradfield, Honeycutt aren't failures yet, but are still TBD and not successes either. John Rhodes maybe but he's gone. 

 

Westburg definitely had some concerns regarding swing and miss.  There was question on whether or not he'd be able to keep his k-rate low enough without sacrificing power.  He's been great and is a clear win for the drafting/development team.

 

I liked the Bradfield pick a lot, I think the issue there was more just power as opposed to hit tool.  

 

Yeah, Rhodes is another good pull.  Reed Trimble, though he just hasn't been able to stay on the field.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Broadly speaking I do wish they would put a bit more emphasis on contact. To be fair though, speed and defense also seem to be a big part of the profile. So its just about what you tools you want to trade off when you start talking about some of the prospects in this range.

[RichardZ]

There is strength in numbers. Elias track record on college hitters after the 1st round isn’t great. Of course, no team has a great track record after the 1st round.

They took the 4 HS players later in the draft last year and I like that strategy for maybe getting a lucky hit on one of them.

With our lineup pretty set for the next two years, last years draft plus a burgeoning international program, this might be the year to go <gasp> college pitcher heavy with a majority of those top 100 picks.

[RichardZ]

Mock Draft 1.0. (Me)

2025 Draft

https://www.mlb.com/...rospects/draft/

(19) Dean Curley SS Tennessee. (Ranked #24)
(31).Nick Dumesnil OF Cal Baptist. (#35)
(32).Quentin Young 3B/OF HS. (#37)
(59) Patrick Forbes RHP Louisville (#62)
(71) Nelson Keljo LHP Oregon St. (#89)
(94) Miguel Sime RHP HS. (#100)