This Sunday I wanted to sort of shoot from the hip about no particular subject, but sort of just share some things I’ve been thinking, and other I’ve observed. Baseball is back in full tilt and there’s lots of prospects vying for major league gigs, while others hope to leave an impression. Regardless, there’s a ton of players that they could fill a major league role at some point in the season. There’s plenty to talk about, so why not get into some of it. I love this time of year because you get to see prospects playing against major leaguers. Allows you to get a read on who’s the goods and who still has work to do. Not that spring training is the be all and end all, it’s obviously not, but it’s fun to take a look at who’s doing what, and what it might mean for their 2017 Fantasy Baseball values.
- Did you listen to the latest Prospect Podcast? You know, the one where we wax poetic about our totes fav sleepers. I use neither the word totes or fav once just in case I lost you after the Rachel Ray talk.
- Got to be totally open with you, I hope you appreciate that. It’s hard to admit, but I have no idea how to value Kevin Maitan. He’s 17! He could truly be a once in a generation superstar talent, or he could be Miguel Sano. Either way, you’re okay. Please don’t mistake me for a Maitan-hater, I’m as excited about Maitan as anybody. How could you not want a 17 year old Miguel Cabrera/Chipper Jones spliced DNA clone. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up oft injured, or a drunk driver, or an oft-injured drunk driver! I’m a nervous wreck. There in lies the reason I have trouble taking him any higher than 4th in first year player drafts.
- What have I done? I’m having trouble landing Benintendi anywhere. Particularly RCL’s. :( He’s been going well inside 100 in my RCLs. Then again it would help if i didn’t name my leagues things like “Benintendi Erection Club”. He might hit 3rd for the Sox, don’t mind me, I’m taking off my pants.
- I’m such a homer.
- It’s really great to see Harrison Bader hitting the ball well this spring. This could be a huge year for Bader if he hits early in AAA, and the Cardinals have a need open in the outfield. He’s slashing .375/.423/.750. I ranked him 49th in my top 100, and he should be owned in any league where minor leaguers are owned.
- Speaking of spring training and crushing the ball, Renato Nunez is doing just that. I wonder if there’s room for him in Oakland right now. He’d have to play in left field or DH. He’s technically a 3rd baseman, but he’d be a liability at the position at the major league level. Weaknesses aside, all the reports are raving about how hard he hits the ball.
- Gleyber Torres, Yankees super prospect hit an opposite field homer off Justin Wilson, a lefty. Torres is hitting .421 with 5 extra base hits.He’s still a year away, but I really believe he’s going to push for a starting job from the jump in 2018. I would try and acquire this kid in every dynasty.
- Speaking of Yankees prospects, Aaron Judge has been making consistently hard contact in the spring. He connected for his second homer of the spring on Friday. Everything seems to be setting up nicely for Judge. So what goes wrong to prevent a full major league season?
- There’s tons of buzz about Luis Robert and rightly so. The kid looks like the truth, the hyperbole however is through the roof. While I don’t necessarily disagree with all of it, don’t buy in without any reservations; the Cuban hype twists and distorts perception. That said, these scouting videos, and reports, Wow!
- Sam Travis has gotten some love from me before, and he’s back from the knee injury and hitting this spring. I wouldn’t be shocked if he saw a few hundred plate appearances with the Sox this year if there’s an injury to Hanley or Mitch Moreland. Travis isn’t a superstar but he’s got a solid hit tool and above average pop.
- Dan Vogelbach needs to break camp with the Mariners. He’s hitting .345 at the moment, but the power hasn’t really been there (.414 SLG%). I’ve always viewed him as a hit tool on base guy first, power hitter second, but a lot of people feel the opposite. I’m not sure why? He’s had one season over 20 homers in the minors, and that was last season. His career batting average across 6 minor league seasons is .286. He walks as much as he strikesout, and his power has always been solid, but not heralded like say an Aaron Judge. I own him in a few leagues, I hope he hits
- I watched a little Ronald Acuna and damn. The comps you hear are absurd, and there’s a reason for that. Other players in Braves camp making a lot of noise are Max Fried, who’s velocity is back up to 97, and the results have been very good. The other player is Austin Riley, who’s been drawing rave reviews and working with Chipper Jones of course. I try to own all three where I can.
- For a guy that hit a ton in college people are really off the Will Craig bandwagon. Mr. Halpern my Co-Host from the Prospect Podcast mentioned it last episode. Yeah that’s worth taking advantage of in first year player drafts if he falls to you.
- If you’re looking for the next hot international prospect, check out Estanli Castillo Abad. A 15 year old Dominican prospects who absolutely rakes. Check out these moonshots, seriously kid looks amazing.
- Getting to work on some of the draft stuff within the next month or so. If you’re not familiar with Hunter Greene or Royce Lewis check them out. Two very exciting prep players, Greene is a legit two way guy that could go either way, but more than likely goes pitching.
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