Prospect News: Alan Roden The Thinker or Matt Shaw Nuff

Until yesterday, Cubs 3B Matt Shaw has been one of those strange cases where a rookie could be acquired in redraft leagues for very little currency, relative to his skillset and opportunity. This discount can be attributed to the relatively recent clearout of Cubs’ third base options and the fact that Shaw has been injured and hadn’t played this spring. During Tuesday’s game, however, Shaw looked 100 percent, smoking an easy looking single to the opposite field in his first at bat and stroking another single in his second. On the bases that second time, he got a good read off the bat and sprinted to score from first base only to run into Michael Busch at third base when Busch pulled up after rounding third and retreated in spring training style. I mention the sprint because Shaw is clearly feeling good and pushing to make the team. 

There’s still an outside chance the club decides to go with Jon Berti, which is reflected in the average draft positions, but with Shaw back on the field, he’s a decent week away from supercharging his draft cost. Get in where you fit in. I didn’t even construct a hypothetical scenario where I might land him for $12 in the CBS NL Only Auction last week. Just punted on having him from the outset, really. Good luck to the team that spent $11 on Arenado, which is good value if he remains in the NL. I might’ve been the one who bid ten. I know I was in there for the gamble when it seemed like he might go for $7 to me. 

I ranked Rockies OF Zac Veen 25th in my Top 100, and someone made a joke about it in the comments, only I didn’t realize it was a joke because A) that’s how locked in I am on Veen, and B) it wasn’t much of a joke, structurally speaking. Coors does what it does. Brenton Doyle was a roto monster last year with 23 home runs and 30 stolen bases despite hitting just .211 on the road. Zac Veen can do that. Maybe not this year, but he’s off to a solid start slashing .273/.333/.500 with a homer and three stolen bases in 24 plate appearances. I think the speed is maybe where the fantasy rankings feel a little confusing to me. There aren’t many guys with his stolen base upside in the high minors, let along with pedigree and opportunity in Coors field. 

Blue Jays OF Alan Roden cannot be stopped. Nickname should be “The Thinker.” I know Rodin the sculptor spelled his name differently, but Alan Roden is an astrophysicist, so the shoe fits. It’s only been 13 plate appearances, but The Thinker is slashing .375/.615/.625 with four walks and zero strikeouts. He hasn’t hit a home run, and power will be the big question about Roden at the highest level, but a guy can’t do much better than he’s done to this point. 

Guardians 2B Juan Brito is having the opposite experience. He has hit a home run, but that’s all he’s done: 1 for 13 with six strikeouts (40%) and two walks. He’s a switch hitter, and the sample size is miniscule, but you hate to see a guy in a roster battle struggling this much. Probably pressing just a bit. He stuck out just 16.1 percent of the time in Triple-A. 

Diamondbacks RHP Justin Martinez is up to three scoreless outings with five strikeouts. Radar guns are pinging in the 103 range. Some unlucky driver in the neighborhood got an accidental speeding ticket as Martinez short-circuited cop radars like an emp. 

Do I have to say sample size caveats apply every time? It feels like I shouldn’t, but then I always want to add it anyway because 13 plate appearances across six exhibition games is just a really poor evidence base from which to draw conclusions. Nonetheless, here I am looking at Cardinals OF Jordan Walker, who was removed from Tuesday’s game with pain in his knee. Is that a reason to dismiss his early struggles? He’s slashing .143/.133/.214 with eight strikeouts and zero walks. Tough times. 

Cardinals OF Victor Scott II is making the most of this potential window, slashing .583/.667/1.083 with one home run, four steals, three walks and two strikeouts. If I’m running this club, Scott II is breaking camp with the major league team and probably starting in center field, where Lars Nootbaar is not an ideal fit.

Red Sox 2B Kristian Campbell drew two walks on Tuesday. He’s hitting .067, but that’s a blip on the level of that weird guy in a bowtie making a successful kids show.  Watching the PA’s, Campbell appears to be simmering, just about ready to boil. 

I thought people were angry about the Dodgers spending money and getting Roki Sasaki for relatively free BEFORE he started pitching, but wow when Sasaki’s wiping away major league hitters with that splitter from the beyond, social media feeds could get a little ugly (for a change). Just remember that story about that doctor who said he’d need TJ if you’re struggling to get to sleep at night after the Dodgers come to town. 

Marlins 2B Max Acosta looks comfortable, slashing .333/.455/.667 with a homer in 11 plate appearances. Feels a little underrated in a general kind of dynasty way, even if the ceiling isn’t jaw-dropping in any particular area.  

Thanks for reading!