2025 High 100 Prospects Chat

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from overcast Tempe, it’s High 100 Prospects day. I hope everyone seems to be having fun with this yr’s tome. Thanks for coming to the chat. I’m going to do my finest to get to as many questions as potential for about an hour…

JB: Apart from Sasaki, which T100 guys with out MLB expertise have the perfect shot at making Opening Day rosters?

Eric A Longenhagen: Shaw I feel is probably going. Possibly the Chander, Dollander, Sproat group…

Eric A Longenhagen: I’d say non-zero likelihood Kurtz and Freeland. Kurtz I think about years of management will matter to LVofSAC…

Eric A Longenhagen: One of many Guardians 2B, Brito or Bazzana…

Eric A Longenhagen: Possibly one of many ChiSox catchers…

Jesse: What about Colt Emerson isn’t doing it for you? Is he simply more durable to mission out as a result of he’s so younger?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m somewhat confused by this since Emerson is on the checklist, which implies I feel he tasks as a prime 15 participant at his place. I don’t assume it’s plus hit and energy *and* a shortstop, I feel it’s 2B/3B with some fastball vulnerability, strong common kind man.

Nick: I’m shocked that Zyhir Hope isn’t within the prime 100, are you able to present some perception as to why? Fall league efficiency doesn’t transfer the needle a lot?

Eric A Longenhagen: AFL efficiency positively moved the needle for me, he’s a gifted man who I’ve acquired simply exterior the High 100. Lemme simply paste his report in right here. It’ll be pushed reside to the board together with different related near-misses and picks to click on this week…

Eric A Longenhagen: Hope was traded to the Dodgers as a part of the Michael Busch deal earlier than 2024 spring coaching, simply six months after he was chosen because the Cubs’ 2023 Eleventh-round choose. He then missed a lot of the first half of the 2024 season with a shoulder harm and was restricted to simply 61 common season video games earlier than he picked up reps within the Arizona Fall League. He slashed .287/.415/.490 in 248 PA at Rancho Cucamonga after which .228/.301/.446 in 103 PA in Arizona. 
Hope’s energy is actual. He has grow to be tremendously robust since turning professional, he generates ridiculous energy for a hitter his age, and he does so in a brief mechanical distance. His peak exit velocities are comfortably plus on the massive league scale; throughout Fall League, I watched him hit a 470-foot homer at some point after which combat off a 97 mph fastball for an oppo homer the following. Why the apprehension, then? For one, Hope is now bodily maxed out. His thighs appear like tree trunks and he’s slowed down an excellent bit already in comparison with highschool. His swing is comparatively grooved

Eric A Longenhagen: Briefly, I feel there’s extra strikeout danger right here than at the moment exhibits in his knowledge, which I don’t belief due to the comparatively small pattern, the Cal League setting, and so forth.

Trevor: Excited by your ideas on Owen Caissie, as I observed he’s not listed in your prime 100. Do you assume the swing and miss will forestall him from being a premier OF/1B possibility for Chicago?

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel he’ll be an excellent platoon possibility, most likely not somebody you need within the lineup vs lefties, although.

Eric A Longenhagen: Yoho and GGH obtained heavy consideration. GGH will likely be a Choose to Click on, didn’t make it extra due to proximity than expertise. Yoho is fascinating. Elite changeup man, funky low arm slot. I feel he’ll be a worthwhile lengthy reliever. Good prospect, simply not fairly to this degree.

Eric A Longenhagen: Morfe, like with GGH, just a bit too distant to stuff on the hondo. These rookie-level arms play Russian Roulette with their UCLs for 4 or 5 years, I worth proximity on the subject of pitchers

Eric A Longenhagen: Raya is extra of a strong 45 kind

laxtonto: What can be your baseline expectation of Walcott be? What’s your ninety fifth percentile view?

Eric A Longenhagen: You possibly can see an in depth “vary of outcomes” graph by click on the “develop” button under his scouting report. His proper tail outcomes are Tatisian

Visitor: Another bluejays near the checklist?

Eric A Longenhagen: Alan Roden. Lemme pull up his report for you

Eric A Longenhagen: Roden has posted god-tier surface-level stats relationship again to school, and he’s completed so in professional ball whereas making a number of important mechanical changes to his swing. In 2023, he was given Craig Counsell’s batting stance and a giant leg kick, whereas his arms have been lowered nearer to his ear in 2024. The adjustments have helped Roden, who turned 25 in December, to entry extra energy with out buying and selling off a lot contact…

Eric A Longenhagen: He slashed .293/.391/.475 break up between Double- and Triple-A in 2024, operating a 93% in-zone contact charge and 83% total. His measureable energy (37% hard-hit charge, 103 mph EV90) was a shade south of the general huge league common, however comfortably under what’s typical for a nook outfielder. The short-levered Roden is finest at accessing his energy towards breaking balls that end middle-in. It’s towards these pitches you’ll be able to actually see how a lot his swing permits him to make use of the bottom to assist generate energy. Properly-executed backfoot breaking balls, nonetheless, are Kryptonite to Roden’s bat path; he struggles to scoop these, and swings excessive of them. He’s adept at flattening his bat path to cowl excessive fastballs to drive them the opposite means, however tends to develop the zone towards them somewhat too typically…

Eric A Longenhagen: Roden obtained heavy consideration for the High 100 checklist. Three issues shaded his grade down into extra of a platoon position. He’s way more chase-prone towards fastballs and with two strikes (each relative to his chase in different counts, and to the massive league common with two strikes), which means that his glorious stroll charges from the minors will dip within the huge leagues. He’s additionally a boxy 25-year-old, and I fear that he’ll be topic to athletic decline throughout his six-year window of group management. Roden shouldn’t be at the moment on Toronto’s 40-man, and the Blue Jay’s huge league nook outfield scenario may be very, very crowded. It’s crucial for issues to shake out among the many Loperfido/Barger/Lukes/Wagner group pairing with George Springer and enjoying reverse Anthony Santander. It may not be till 2026 that Roden, who will then be 26, will get to entrench himself as a Pavin Smith kind contributor.

John B: Who’s the following group prospect checklist to drop

Eric A Longenhagen: They’re related. Jensen’s protection is way more polished. Mitchell nonetheless can’t block balls within the dust and chases a ton.

JD: Eric, Walker Jenkins is available in at 17. Do you see this as his peak in your prime 100. Is there one thing he can do to maneuver up? What can he do to enhance his prospect worth?

Eric A Longenhagen: No, he’ll most likely climb simply through graduations of gamers in entrance of him. I’d wish to see extra measurable energy in 2025. I purchase that he can hit, I feel his energy is at the moment nearer to common.

Eric A Longenhagen: Eldridge is youthful and has extra room for mass. His professional knowledge pattern (which I simply belief greater than faculty stuff as a consequence of pitcher high quality) is greater and extra dependable.

Ryan: You appear to be the low man on Jaison Chourio what points do you see in his profile that have you ever decrease on him?

Eric A Longenhagen: Jaison Chourio report incoming:

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m nonetheless apprehensive sufficient about Chourio to exclude him from the High 100 as a result of I don’t assume his right-handed swing is usable, and there are some indications that he may battle with higher velocity from the left aspect as he climbs the minors. Chourio nonetheless does sufficient from the left aspect of the dish to contemplate him an excellent prospect. He swings onerous for his age, he has terrific breaking ball recognition, he strikes the barrel round nicely from the left aspect, and he’s proven the occasional skill to flatten his bat path to cowl excessive fastballs. He additionally tends to drive the ball into the bottom a number of the time, and a big portion of his balls in play towards fastballs find yourself going oppo as a result of Chourio is late to the contact level. He posted a 144 wRC+ as a youngster in full season ball, largely as a result of Chourio’s plate self-discipline is so mature…

Eric A Longenhagen: There are some changes to be made right here if Chourio goes to hit for energy within the huge leagues, and it’s believable these adjusments will merely happen as he’s pressured to take care of higher velocity than he noticed at Low-A. These tweaks are going to be necessary, although, as a result of he’s proabbly going to finish up in an outfield nook. Sure, he stole 44 bases in 2024, however Chourio is a mean runner whose really feel for enjoying protection is just truthful. It’s extra probably he leads to proper subject than heart. Once more, he’s an excellent prospect and his metrics are nice. I take into account him to have a nook platoon flooring with the upside of a real on a regular basis man if the facility actualizes in a extra apparent means.

John: how shut was Franklin arias to the checklist?

Eric A Longenhagen: Not particularly shut. His trackman knowledge is fairly good, however I assumed he was simply okay throughout my in-person look final Might, and through movie examine throughout work on the checklist. You might take into account him a choose to click on. Had been he to be included he would have stacked round Francisca, whose contact skill I purchase as being fairly particular.

EV: How far is B Guerrero from 2025 prime 100?

Eric A Longenhagen: Brailer Guerrero, Rays OF. I like him, nook man within the FCL who has barely performed as a consequence of harm. I simply need to really feel extra strong concerning the guys towards the underside of the defensive spectrum than I at the moment do about Brailer. He’s extremely robust, I feel his swing is kinda funky and I wanna see it work towards full season pitching.

Envious: It’s fairly wild that the Dodgers have the perfect group, and in addition nobody has extra prime 100 guys than them too.

Eric A Longenhagen: The Alex Freeland improvement is absolute nuts, can’t say I’ve seen something like that earlier than.

Do you’ve got any Gray Papelbon?: What would want to occur  for Eduardo Quintero to make it again to the High 100?

Eric A Longenhagen: Higher CF protection

Ryan: Observed that Jordan Lawlar dropped from a 60 FV in your Diamondbacks prospect checklist to a 55 within the prime 100, is that only a common re-assessment of him towards the broader prospect class or one thing extra particular?

Eric A Longenhagen: Each. The height exit velos are fairly bleh, and have been for a few years. As soon as I stacked everybody (i’ll do a knowledge desk dump on the location this week I feel so you’ll be able to see some related knowledge factors for everybody) it felt onerous to maintain him in that 60 group. Conversely, Crisantes moved up on their checklist for a similar causes.

Ken: How far off from the High 100 was Denzel Clarke? After shaking off the rust, he hit .299/.366/.487 from Might 11 to the top of the season.

Eric A Longenhagen: Not far, as you’ll be able to see on the A’s checklist, he’s a forty five+ FV, that’s juuuust behind this prime 100 group.

Justin: If we strip protection out of the valuation equation, who’re some guys who’re exterior of, say, the highest 30, you you would see turning into actual offensive mashers?

Too Many Mooks: Who on this checklist do you most really feel like you’re the excessive man on? Low man?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m so excessive on Alfredo Duno that I’m beginning to hallucinate

Tiger Fan: Tremendous excited to see so many Tigers in your t100 this morning. What’re the percentages of a Rainer, Lee or Hamm popping on by Midseason? They appear like the perfect of the remaining on the farm

Eric A Longenhagen: Rainer is the perfect of that group. Tigers checklist is coming within the close to future. I get why you may actually like Hamm and his monster curveball. Extra of a forty five for me, nonetheless an excellent participant. Lee I feel is a 350 PA position participant kind.

cake: Was Hurston Waldrep slip down a half grade due to command issues/aid danger?

Eric A Longenhagen: Sure, and fastball playability.

Eric A Longenhagen: Nonetheless good!

Jamey: Quinn Mathews as the highest Cardinals prospect was a minor shock. As was that he’s projected as arriving this season.

Eric A Longenhagen: Man has constructed a 140 inning workload, he’s prepared. Evaluate that to Tink.

Neil Mills: What separates Angel Genao most from the remainder of the Guardians by no means ending line of swap hitting infielders?

Eric A Longenhagen: In comparison with Bazzana it’s the protection. Athleticism and projectability are additionally elements. You possibly can evaluate their device grades and see the place the deltas are: The Board | FanGraphs Baseball

Victoria: Are you all the way in which out on Mo Baller?

Ben J: Can Moises Chace be a midseason prime 5 pitching prospect? Can he maintain a decrease stroll charge (subtracting just a few blow up begins) and be an influence starter?

Eric A Longenhagen: That’s most likely somewhat aggressive, but when he abruptly has a plus secondary pitch this spring then all bets are off.

Josue Briceno: Apparently, since his knee harm final season, Briceño has labored solely at 1B and DH. If he does goes that route (1B/DH), does that change your analysis of him?

Eric A Longenhagen: He has however that’s due to the harm, not his talent. He’s an excellent defensive catcher.

Visitor: Is it higher to prioritize contact skill or energy for prospects? I can see arguments for each (for instance, energy is extra worthwhile however simpler to develop)

Eric A Longenhagen: You’re on it. It’s why Boston took Campbell and Durran, proper?

Qane: Actually fascinating checklist. Any arms on this checklist who’re flying a bit beneath the radar (pondering of a Jared Jones final yr) who you see making a major contribution in 2025?

Eric A Longenhagen: Rattling, was Jones beneath the radar? That man has been well-known since highschool. I suppose Curet? Messick? Right here’s who I’ve a 2025 ETA on: The Board | FanGraphs Baseball

Yuniesky Betancourt: What do it is advisable to see from Termarr Johnson this yr for him to get again into the 50 FV tier?

Eric A Longenhagen: Nonetheless has good uncooked energy for a MIF, actually wanna see him faucet into it in video games (idc if he Ok’s a bunch, simply please do one thing) and it’d be good if he acquired higher on protection.

Nervous Flyball Pitcher: To begin with, thanks for one more yr of considerate evaluation (and welcome to David Gerth).

Two O’s who missed the minimize: Brandon Younger and EBJ? How did you revise your analysis of Younger (beforehand 50 FV)? Extra recreation tape? Extra knowledge? Comparability towards the remainder of the category?

Eric A Longenhagen: Bradfield’s CF protection isn’t so good as to tip him into the 50 tier with out there being energy on offense. He’s a forty five, good participant. Younger I agonized over. Nonetheless assume his fastball is plus regardless that it sits 92. Curveball is common, remainder of the repertoire performed somewhat under. He’s additionally 26 they usually like *barely* stretched him out, innings smart.

Eric A Longenhagen: Once more, good participant. It’s razor skinny stuff like this that pushes a man like Curet in and a man like Younger out.

Yuniesky Betancourt: Was shocked to see no Braden Montgomery on the 100.  An excessive amount of uncertainty concerning harm restoration, or one thing else?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yep, some hit device questions, too. Once more, superior prospect, let’s see him hit professional pitching.

Eric A Longenhagen: Report: Montgomery comes from a household of a number of Division-I athletes. He was among the many most distinguished of the 2021 excessive schoolers to go to high school. He spent two seasons at Stanford, the place Montgomery performed each methods and confirmed significant bat-to-ball enchancment as a sophomore after a strikeout-prone freshman yr. He transferred to A&M and was probably the most gifted participant on their School World Collection runner-up squad; he suffered a fractured proper ankle on a slide into residence through the postseason. Montgomery slashed .317/.428/.646 all through his complete faculty profession, with 20% Ok% as a junior.

Eric A Longenhagen: An excellent bodily 6-foot-2 switch-hitter, Montgomery has monster bat pace from the left aspect. He has a crouched leg kick, his arms load at a conservative depth, and his hips completely explode although contact and assist ignite a giant end within the dust behind him. His lefty swing generates energy to all fields, and he has some skill to change his higher physique’s posture throughout his swing to be able to filter the highest of the zone, one thing that Montgomery solely appeared to develop throughout his time at A&M. His righty swing is extra generic; he has a low-ball tendency from that aspect and his minimize isn’t particularly dynamic. He’s weak to changeups as a lefty, and up-and-away fastballs and backfoot breakers as a righty.

Eric A Longenhagen: Montgomery has an enormous arm in proper subject, was as much as 97 as a freshman reliever (his stuff was down throughout his sophomore yr at Stanford and he didn’t actually pitch at A&M), and has the pace to provide heart subject a attempt in professional ball. Among the adjustments he made at A&M have improved the strikeout points that have been as soon as brought on by his lever size. It is a switch-hitter who was additionally a two-way participant till 2023, and Montgomery’s efficiency is much more thrilling on condition that context. Above-average plate self-discipline and a swing geared to get to his energy will assist Montgomery overcome what are prone to be elevated strikeout totals. He has the ceiling of a power-hitting proper subject cleanup hitter.

Eleazar: Eric, the place do you see Lazaro Montes? He greater than held his personal at superior A as a 19 yr previous. Sure, the strikeouts have been too excessive however he was nearly three and a half years under the common age there. And with reviews that his athleticism (like Julio Rodriguez earlier than him) is significantly better than initially marketed, looks like an thrilling prospect, no?

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s okay. Mariners followers want to appreciate what Modesto and Everett do to offensive numbers. Listed below are some park unbiased numbers for Laz in comparison with the common MLB nook OF: (gimme a sec por favor)

Eric A Longenhagen:

Harry Ford: My eyebrows raised at his omission from this years checklist. Why the drop? How far out of the highest 100 does he land now?

Eric A Longenhagen: Harry’s report:

Eric A Longenhagen: A few of Ford’s dip in floor degree manufacturing in 2024 (he slashed .249/.377/.367 after slugging a minimum of .430 at every earlier degree) will be attributed to the change in hitting setting from Seattle’s low-level associates (which inflate offense) to Double-A Arkansas (which suppresses it), however a few of it seems to be a minimum of a brief regression in his bodily instruments. Ford has at all times had a comparatively grooved swing and struggled to get on prime of elevated fastballs, however particularly late in 2024, his bat pace regarded prefer it had backed up fairly a bit. He’s now had two consecutive seasons during which his underlying energy knowledge (his peak exit velos and hard-hit charge) has been a tad shy of the massive league common. It’s beginning to appear like Ford’s plate self-discipline will likely be his solely plus offensive trait, which on the very least caps his ceiling and arguably places him susceptible to busting if his hit device bottoms out.

Eric A Longenhagen: The excellent news is that Ford nonetheless does a number of great things on protection and provides worth on the bases along with his pace. There appeared to be some experimentation occurring along with his throwing towards the top of the season. He’d extra typically minimize it free from his knees, and his 2024 caught stealing charge of 19% is worse than what one would hope for a man with Ford’s arm power, however visually he regarded nice. He nonetheless popped sub-1.9 a number of the time, and he’s a particular athlete who’ll do some nutty stuff to forestall wild pitches. He’s nonetheless not the perfect receiver and pitch framer, however Ford does sufficient different stuff at a really excessive degree to be an above-average catcher. The presence of Cal Raleigh on the huge league degree would make it powerful for any catching prospect to interrupt via in Seattle, so Ford performed eight video games in left subject final yr. He regarded fairly good on the market given his relative inexperience. Readers may recall that there have been scouts who although teenage Ford, who stole 35 bases in 44 makes an attempt in 2024, had the pace

Eric A Longenhagen: …had the pace to be developed in heart subject, however with Julio Rodríguez patrolling the center pasture, it most likely isn’t vital for the M’s to attempt him there. General, Ford has the flexibility of a second-division main catcher. He’s a ok defender to play recurrently, however he most likely received’t hit sufficient to be thought of a prime 15-ish participant at his place. On the Mariners, he’s extra probably a extremely particular and enjoyable position participant who serves as a part-time catcher and left fielder.

Ken: How did doing the audit of the 2018 checklist influence your desirous about any prospects for this yr’s checklist?

Eric A Longenhagen: Pitcher proximity

Refugee: Would FanGraphs ever take into account publishing this work (i.e., prime 100, org lists) a la BA prospect handbook?

Eric A Longenhagen: I doubt it. I’m unsure they make e book spines sufficiently big for the quantity of writing all 30 groups require.

Aldo Rayne: What do you see because the variations between Chandler Simpson and Enrique Bradfield, Jr. that pushed Simpson forward for you?

Eric A Longenhagen: Simpson it’s elite contact and pace, Bradfield is extra 70 on each accounts, and I’m projecting on Simpson’s protection due to how new the place is for him.

George: I audibly gasped on the Susana rating. Would you confidence in him panning out be markedly completely different on a special group? Looks as if that Nats have taken steps ahead of their pitching dev the final couple of years and they’re most likely preventing an unfair status, however what’s your opinion on their skill to max him out?

Eric A Longenhagen: You’ve gotta see this man’s slider.

Eric A Longenhagen: The dev factor is necessary, however factoring dev into these rankings shouldn’t be actually possible as a result of the personnel doing it change so typically.

I miss Carson: Who would you guess as a few of “Carson’s guys” or “fringe 5” sorts after posting this years checklist?

sliptoad: As a giant Melton (Astros org) fan, what modified in your analysis of him to drop him from the highest 100

Eric A Longenhagen: Not a CF protection match, inside outed a ton of fastballs, fear he’ll ge crushed by lefties. Plaoon man, nonetheless good.

Mr. Burrito: One other query: Your checklist runs 100-ish gamers, and I’ve seen different lists that go a bit longer. Should you have been in a entrance workplace what number of minor league gamers would you mission in this sort of element?

Eric A Longenhagen: As many as they’d let me.

Varitek: On the finish of the yr, which non 60s do you see with the ability to climb into the 60 fv tier? Any you consider are probably?

Eric A Longenhagen: Miller, Jenkins, Duno, the MIFs close to and together with Bazzana, Rosario, any of the Mariners toolsheds towards the again of the checklist

tbone26: query about arjun nimmala’s listings; he clocked in at round 170 kilos on draft day and doesn’t look meaningfully larger, is the 215-pound itemizing correct to latest knowledge or is it partially projection?

Eric A Longenhagen: That’s my eyeball evaluation. There’s no means that man is 170 kilos. I’m 5-11, 185 and you may see two of my abs

Nick: No critique however some attention-grabbing inclusions/omissions. I respect there’s much less group assume right here.

Curet within the High 100 was as shock; what about his profile has you extra bullish than others?

On the flipside Ballesteros is omitted from the checklist regardless of being prime 50 in lots of different locations – is the defensive residence the fear right here? one thing else?

Eric A Longenhagen: I can’t communicate for the others, I didn’t seek the advice of their work when compiling my checklist, this isn’t a repackaging. Ballesteros’ report is on the location and fairly clear.

Aldo Rayne: Roden shut however not Yesavage?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yesavage was shut too

Pud Gavin: Observed no Griffin or Rainer. Simply ready to see some precise recreation reps?

It’s within the CARDS: Concerning your charts of possible FV outcomes, might you present examples about what really occurs to gamers who fall quick or leap ahead out of your prediction? I think about accidents are one instance of poor/bust outcomes, and unlocking higher instruments via improvement might clarify higher ones. I’m simply on the lookout for non-obvious, however real-life (versus statistical/probabilistic) explanation why professional athletes foil expectations.

Eric A Longenhagen: You nailed the 2 huge ones. Participant make-up is necessary, scouting-to-dev cohesion is necessary, biomechanical evaluation and proactive intervention, good individuals on he dev aspect who talk with one another and have frequent goal for his or her gamers… a lot of niy gritty subjective stuff. The way in which our bodies develop in surprising methods…

Ray From Tampa: Have you ever phased out Braden Taylor, you have been pretty constructive on him prior to now?

Eric A Longenhagen: No, he’s okay. Protection, swing geared for loopy elevate. 70% contact man with out huge uncooked juice.

Eric A Longenhagen: simply not a prime 100 man

Kathy: Are Waldrep and Iriarte relievers now? You continue to appeared comparatively bullish on Waldrep as of final July. Good stroll charge at AA. What occurred?

Eric A Longenhagen: Iriarte I nonetheless assume ought to begin. His velo was down final yr.

Artwork Fuldoger: You point out a chance of Freeland breaking camp? Tremendous UT or and precise on a regular basis participant?

Eric A Longenhagen: Day-after-day man, may be the perfect SS defender in camp relying on how Hyeseong appears.

Jace, the Thoughts Sculptor: Simply need to say thanks for all of the work, and fwiw I respect the way in which the schedule of group checklist releases offers us recent up to date intel on early season movers for the later lists.

Eric A Longenhagen: Thanks a lot, doing it by myself this yr was fairly the elevate.

Erik Neander: How shut was Theo Gillen to creating the checklist? What can he do to enhance his prospect worth?

Eric A Longenhagen: Discover a defensive match on the center of the diamond.

Eric A Longenhagen: Love his bat, stuffed him pre-draft

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s simply exterior of it however was a assured exclusion. Lemme paste his report for yall

Eric A Longenhagen: Signed for $3 million as a second rounder in 2022, Ferris didn’t pitch at an affiliate after the draft and was dealt with fairly conservatively throughout his professional debut, as he made 18 begins however solely pitched 56 strikeout- and walk-heavy innings. He was traded to Los Angeles through the offseason as a part of the Michael Busch swap with the Cubs and had a extra steady 2024, as Ferris labored 126.2 innings, posted a 3.20 ERA, and reached Double-A towards the top of the yr (the place his strikeouts and walks regressed). 
Ferris has a strong decrease half, bending deep into his blocking leg. The Dodgers appear to have altered the route of Ferris’ stride somewhat bit, and he now seems extra closed off. Ferris will contact 96 however tends to take a seat 92-94. His fastball generated a mean charge of chase and miss in 2024, as did his most-used secondary pitch, a slider within the 83-86 mph vary. Ferris may lob in a gradual, mid-70s curveball, and at occasions his changeup has bat-missing motion, however that pitch has come alongside extra slowly than

Eric A Longenhagen: than hoped when he was drafted and continues to be under common, as is his command. He lacks a plus pitch proper now and, at a pot-bellied age 21, isn’t clearly projectable. He appears like a good no. 4/5 starter.

Eric A Longenhagen: In fact, Dodgers dev…

Eric A Longenhagen: however once more, the train is about scouting and never predicting. It’d be bizarre to slip a man simply because the Dodgers traded him to a group that has struggled with dev, proper?

Eric A Longenhagen: In that space, yeah. He’s nasty, I like his upside.

Maddoning: Have you ever ever ranked a prospect with a 70+ hit device, and little else?  Possibly I’m describing Willans Astudillo?

Jonathan: Was there a tiny a part of you that wished to rank Wilcott 1st?  If Sasaki have been the 2023 model it will be a no brainer, however after Roki’s 2024 I’m just a bit uncertain.

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m with you. 2023 Roki would have been a 70.

Eric A Longenhagen: And sure on sea bass

Eric A Longenhagen: I like him

Esix Snead: I’ve a bizarre fascination with Yordany de los Santos.  He has such tantalizing expertise however hasn’t been in a position to put it collectively previous R-ball.  Something happening beneath the hood that we should always pay attention to?  A man to look at for subsequent yr or only a flash within the worldwide pan like Shalin Polanco?

Eric A Longenhagen: Near common energy now with huge projection, actually, actually aggressive hitter with terrifying chase.

Lord Thunder: What are timelines for Do Yeong KIm and Shunpeita Yamashita probably coming stateside?

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel Shun’s timeline to fulfill the CBA’s age/expertise requirement is post-2027, and Kim’s is post-2029. I don’t know if what Roki did this offseason will make others need to matriculate early.

pedro: Do you do a “latest graduates” column that covers guys that simply barely misplaced their rookie eligibility?

Phil: Any extra feedback on the ETAs of R Anthony and Ok Campbell? The fellows at my native bar in Somerville assume 2025, you’ve got 2026.

Eric A Longenhagen: Late 2025 with 2026 rookie eligibility exhaustion appears completely possible. the massive league outfield is fairly crowded proper now. inform ya mutha hai fuh me uhkay?

Eric A Longenhagen: nom nom nom nom nom nice query…

Eric A Longenhagen: Ugh, i’ve to select ONE?

Eric A Longenhagen: Cruz (simply completely appears the half mechanically, bodily, high quality strikes) after which Kenyer (supreme athlete, monster changeup)

Matt: How shut is Konnor Griffin to cracking the checklist?

Jv30: Can Tyson Lewis be a prime 100 man by mid season?

Eric A Longenhagen: Each these fellas are proper there, the leap from HS pitching to professional pitching is large and normally I wanna see them do it earlier than they rank this excessive. There are such a lot of confirmed gamers at double and triple a who will simply be within the huge leagues quickly, and that i really feel it’s prudent to prioritize these guys somewhat than just lately drafted gamers

Skip: Zebby Matthews, not a rookie-on the roster too lengthy, however solely 37.2 IP. Would he match wherever in your checklist?

Eric A Longenhagen: Sure, near the center, in there with Warren and Bloss

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, just like the high-variance excessive schoolers, a lot of hit device danger with each these guys. For instance, Morales had a sub-70% contact charge within the DSL.

Brady Home: Home is off of mainly all prime 100 lists now. An excessive amount of danger with the hit device? His protection offers me hope that his worth wouldn’t completely tank even when he’s a league common hitter

Eric A Longenhagen: You’re on it. The Ok’s are coming from a mix of each chase and plate protection points. I like the protection, too, he simply swings inside sooooo many slider. Bryan Ramos, too. He can choose it.

Telemachus: What stored Cooper Pratt off of your High 100 checklist? Is he a 50FV?

Eric A Longenhagen: Seemed fairly unhealthy on protection upon revisitation, doesn’t at the moment have the facility to help a 3B match. Nonetheless an excellent prospect.

Mark: Chayce McDermott being on the checklist when he’s age 26 and his chance is ~40% bust is attention-grabbing to me. His prime 100 capsule didn’t point out this and I’m questioning: Do you’ve got any ideas on whether or not he could possibly be destined for the bullpen, and in that case, might he be a late inning man?

Eric A Longenhagen: I upped his bust % final night time due to the shoulder factor. Should you have a look at previous lists, mainly any of those pitchers has a excessive likelihood of busting simply due to their job. There’s a Rodney Dangerfield joke in there someplace however I’m too gassed to make it.

Eric A Longenhagen: I actually like Chayce’s stuff, and assume he

Eric A Longenhagen: see, i hit the enter key somewhat than the apostrophe, i’m carrying out

Eric A Longenhagen: Def an influence reliever for me if he cant begin

Marlins Man: Is Andrew Salas or PJ Morlando on this checklist subsequent yr?

Eric A Longenhagen: Morlando is an effective choose to click on

Ray from Tampa: Aidan Smith, fantasy darling or potential on a regular basis participant?

Eric A Longenhagen: The analytics of us appear greater on him. I feel his swing is sketchy and that he’s a nook match. Positively a prospect, however I feel in his case there’s some overvaluing of his skill to drag the ball.

Charles Atwater: Simply popping in to say that greater than the work itself (which I do know is kind of an accomplishment), I’m most excited to listen to you on EW this week. The way in which you talk about baseball makes me like baseball extra, and I’m on no account a prospect man. It’s simply the effervescence in your dialogue. 80-grade podcast visitor.

Eric A Longenhagen: Thanks very a lot, and thanks to the couple hundred of you who’ve breezed by at this time. I’m somewhat shy of two hours of chatting and am going to name it. Please learn everybody’s prospect stuff, I’m so appreciative that I get to do Shark Week, however baseball, for work. Please take into account an ad-free sub to our website, it’s a couple of greenback per week, and we’re continually including new options (perhaps put a university participant’s identify within the search bar and see what occurs)

Eric A Longenhagen: I’ll be on Successfully Wild this week to speak extra about these items, and also you’ll get a Picks to Click on and Limbo article this week, in addition to an additional shock or two.

Eric A Longenhagen: bye bye