Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat: 4/18/25

Eric A Longenhagen: Hey everybody, welcome again to a different Friday prospect-y chat. It’s an ideal day right here in Tempe. Let’s roll by way of your questions as I prep for the Dodgers checklist.

ransofast: do you suppose chase burns can be pitching in cincinnati in august/september?

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel there’s a great likelihood, sure. I picked them to win the division partly as a result of they’ve obtained such an excellent mixture of pitching depth and affect ready round in Louisville and Chattanooga, I feel they’ll have the motivation to advertise him fairly aggressively and he has the innings basis to work deep into the season.

Buff: You’ve typically been low man on Robby Snelling. Something in his robust begin, elevated velo to bump him up a bit?

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s sitting 93 now, so it’s not prefer it’s an enormous bump by which he all of the sudden has plus velo or something. Changeup seems okay. Nonetheless extra 45 sort for me moderately than an affect man. Huge league rotation piece, although.

David: It’s solely been 4 innings throughout two outings, however Ryan Sloan’s stuff is appears very actual. Definitely three years away from the majors however the place is his largest space to enhance? Management/Command?

Eric A Longenhagen: The command piece, sure. And sure, two innings per outing isn’t gonna give us an excellent learn on what his stuff is like for six innings at a time, 30 begins a yr. He’s good, but it surely’ll take all yr for him to verify the “stamina” field.

MF Luder: Who comes up and has affect first, Brandon Sproat or Samuel Basallo?

Eric A Longenhagen: In all probability Sproat, proper? Orioles have a fairly good catcher and DH, Basallo’s elbow barking, no motive to hurry him except you’ve gotten a number of accidents at 1B/DH and simply want a bat up there. Sproat all it would take is the massive leaguer who goes on the identical day as him getting dinged up.

Refugee: Simply wished to say thanks for doing these chats, and that I admire latest stories have included some extent of reference for worldwide prospects (ex: this pitcher could be prime 30-50 within the draft).

Eric A Longenhagen: De nada, I feel context is tremendous helpful anyplace you’ll be able to put it.

Blerg: Now not a prospect however Ben Rice is raking. His bat pace is up it appears. Actual enchancment you suppose?

Eric A Longenhagen: I do, seems like I’ll find yourself being low on him.

Eric A Longenhagen: Who is aware of how lengthy his window of productiveness can be, he’s older, and many others and many others…however he’s constructed nice, appears coachable, they’ve restricted his function sufficient that he’s thriving in it moderately than overwhelmed by having to catch. Figuring out good, they need to roll with it even when Stanton is wholesome.

Jason: Ivan Brethowr has solely modified his swing this season. What do you make of those adjustments and do you suppose his enchancment in Okay% is sustainable?

Eric A Longenhagen: Good pull by you, like that they’re tweaking issues there as a result of he’s an enormous, bodily man with some upside. He’s nonetheless fairly lengthy in there, whiffing as a lot as he’s making contact to date and plenty of oppo contact.. I’d be in wait-and-see mode but, however his begin is unquestionably optimistic.

Maddoning: Ought to the Cubs be apprehensive about Matt Shaw, or is that this only a re-set?  What’s your take?

Eric A Longenhagen: Don’t sweat it but, it’s so robust to hit within the huge leagues, loads of guys get their ass handed to them at first.

Visitor: Luke Keaschall will get the decision at this time for the Twins. The Twins didnt appear to let him have a run within the OF due to his TJ surgical procedure, but. What does his defensive function appear to be proper now?

Eric A Longenhagen: Under avg 2B and DH for the time being. They want a spark, it’s fantastic to roll the cube a little bit bit. It’s not like Eddy Julien can choose it or something.

Decision: In case you have been Richard Lovelady, would you go by Dick?

Eric A Longenhagen: You recognize I might. My grandfather was Dick Longenhagen, dude.

Stick Figga: What’re your ideas on Ramon Ramirez in KC?

Eric A Longenhagen: Tremendous enjoyable pull energy catcher with hit device danger, wants defensive polish. Excessive danger excessive reward sort.

Visitor: Arjun Nimmala’s lower his Okay fee right down to 23%. Solely 10 video games to date however are you shopping for a step ahead in that regard?

Eric A Longenhagen: Too quickly to place inventory in fee stats like that, but it surely’s good he’s not Okay’ing a ton.

Nervous Flyball Pitcher: How do you and your workforce account for the truth that the ball used earlier than AAA isn’t the identical because the MLB ball? Do you simply have bigger error bars? How does that work for groups which have AAA associates within the PCL the place numbers are typically suspect anyway?

Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t have, say, some type of across-the-board adjustment I’m making to their xwOBA or something like that, I simply suppose a wholesome dose of skepticism is all the time good and there are simply sooo many variables that it’s not possible to isolate anybody factor.

Paulie_Eff: reasonable projections for Andrew Painter for 2025?  I’ve him stashed in a Minor League slot, however there are many different prospects I might swap hm out for.

Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t suppose they’ll promote him except they know he’s gonna be superior. Preserve him stashed, you wanna win the league and that’s the high-ceiling play.

Visitor: Jesus Made has struck out much more than he has previously (DSL vs A ball, small pattern I do know). Do you suppose this yr is extra consultant of his hit device/strategy or do you count on him to get higher?

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s a stud

Sam: What are you seeing out of Brandon Clarke

Eric A Longenhagen: Monster velo, wants polish, he was a great choose and so they’ll make him good.

MF Luder: Are you able to fill within the clean? “Braden Montgomery jogs my memory of…”

Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t suppose I’ve an apparent comp there, fairly singular sort of man each by way of his profession arc thus far and his toolset for a swap hitter.

Jay: Please give me hope that I’d be capable of watch both of my groups (Pirates fan dwelling in Denver) ever develop an offense… Is it so simple as unhealthy teaching for each of those org’s lack of ability to develop any affect bats within the final 5 years regardless of years of plus draft grades?

Eric A Longenhagen: The Pirates want an proprietor keen to spend greater than Nutting has. I’m not saying it’s a must to be the Dodgers, and even the Diamondbacks, however that is embarrassing. The Rockies idk what to let you know.

Blerg: Seen a lot of Kellon Lindsey? Stronger?

Eric A Longenhagen: Stronger sure. Protection no bueno.

Emilio Bonifacio: Really feel like Dean Curley is being underrated on this class a little bit as somebody who looks as if a excessive chance bat professionally – is the defensive projection on him THAT unhealthy the place he could also be 1B solely?

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s a drawback, yeah. I don’t suppose it’ll get *that* far the place he’s a 1B, however I do suppose he’s extra possible a 1B than a SS.

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s extra like a late 1st man

Dan in TX: Otto Kemp up for Bohm this yr?

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel Kemp might have some huge league utility however he’s not remotely as gifted as Bohm.

Hopeful Particular person: Do you suppose Noah Schultz will get a cup of espresso this yr?

Eric A Longenhagen: No, they’ve zero incentive to do this

Some kinda Mook: If Meidroth’s hit device is a 60/65, then what’s Baumann’s article-titling device?

Eric A Longenhagen: 80, so glad that man’s on our workforce

Kevin: Dakota Jordan has began off robust in A ball. For somebody so toolsy, what indicators do you wish to see in his improvement this yr?

Eric A Longenhagen: I wanna see him not strike out a ton all through a second half at Eugene, and through a cup of espresso in Richmond on the finish of the yr

Eric A Longenhagen: A ball is beneath all SEC guys, get him out of there except you’re scared he’ll flop

Visitor: Zebby Matthews upside value stashing now?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, he’s good

Eric A Longenhagen: idk the construction of your league, i’m streaming guys Luis Ortiz and Edward Cabrera in mine, I don’t have to stash hm

Rick: Is the begin to the A+ season for Laz Montes one thing to be enthusiastic about – or simply SSS? Has improved all his numbers on the plate up to now and is basically younger…

Eric A Longenhagen: Whiffing as a lot as he’s put balls in play, contact fee a little bit south of 70%… of us must cease placing inventory into floor degree stats at Everett, please please please for everybody’s (my) sanity

Eric A Longenhagen: and he *would possibly* be good, it’s simply that the one factor in Everett smaller than their ballpark is their airport

Ryan: if Lawlar will get the decision whereas Marte is out do you suppose he sticks and value rostering?

Eric A Longenhagen: Wouldn’t be a precedence for me

Bob: Yophery Rodriguez is constant his good begin as a 19 yr outdated in Hello-A with Boston. Do you suppose he generally is a man whose sum of all components is larger than you’d suppose man with a bit extra ceiling than you would possibly suppose from the person instruments?

Eric A Longenhagen: Extra of a component time search for me

Jay: Will Bleis ever be capable of harness that bat pace and be a huge impact participant or is he extra of a protection first 4th OF sort at this level in his analysis?

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s irritating in most sides and it bums me out

Austin: You had Gilberto Batista in your prospects of be aware part with mediocre stuff. Final night time he touched 96 and has but to permit a run this season. Any enhancements?

Eric A Longenhagen: He touched 96 however he’s sitting 92-93 and his fastball has generated one swing and miss in three begins. MLB common fastball velocity is 94.4. His cutter/slider is taking part in fairly nicely, although. He’s a prospect, however let’s attempt to correctly perceive MLB common.

Steve: How quickly would you name up Horton at this level? Was 96/97 once more. Walks look unhealthy on paper however he was across the zone. Perhaps 1 or 2 extra begins and see how he holds up at 80+ pitches?

Eric A Longenhagen: Nonetheless early sufficient that it’s a must to prioritize tour pitching depth. Including Horton to the 40 means you lose another person. Feels okay to provide the blokes already on the roster a while to get their footing. If a man finally ends up on the 60-day and it frees up a spot, go for it whereas Horton is wholesome.

Chris: Do you suppose Jurrangelo Cijntje will find yourself beginning right-handed each 5 days and likewise throw one other 40-50 innings per yr left-handed out of the bullpen? Will he even be ok from either side to do it on the MLB degree?

Colt Keith: You seeing something in Keith’s work on the plate that’s stopping him from tapping into the plus-plus uncooked energy grade you gave him? Something mechanically and/or approach-wise that’s contributing to his detrimental launch angles on breaking & offspeed stuff this yr?

Eric A Longenhagen: Swing cuts downward, has been this fashion for some time.

BJ: With the advanced league beginning in half a month, who’re a few of your favorite sleeper prospects to watch on the degree

Eric A Longenhagen: Gabriel Rodriguez

GA Blood: I’ve been giving some thought to the time period “Ace”. I might by no means count on a prospect to be precisely described as a future ace (even Skenes had some query marks to cross that barrier, I feel), however that doesn’t imply it couldn’t occur. However given how unlikely I feel it’s I ponder if I might acknowledge it in a prospect after I see it. Are there sure standards the place for those who’d verify all of them off you find yourself considering a man has a medium final result of acehood? Stamina clearly. Command must be a plus plus? A number of plus plus pitches? Extra common plus pitches?

Eric A Longenhagen: Let’s take a look at the blokes I’d contemplate present-day Aces:

Eric A Longenhagen: Stuff sensible, he has I’d say three 60s and a 70, elite sturdiness with 200 ish innings three of final 4 years, stroll fee within the 5-6% space

Eric A Longenhagen: Wholesome Gerrit Cole is like 80 slider, every little thing else plus…walks charges round 6%

Eric A Longenhagen: In case you wished to argue for Stop up right here I’d be okay with that. Skenes and Hunter Greene are encroaching

Eric A Longenhagen: I thnk that’s type of it

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m undecided anybody may have a “median” final result like that, even Skenes added a brand new pitch after the draft that has grow to be his most-used weapon, it wasn’t like he was absolutely shaped

Bing Bong: Do you watch anime? You appear to be the type of man who would possibly. In that case, do you’ve gotten any recs outdoors of like the most important ones (e.g. Cowboy Bebop, Eva, and many others.)? I discover your style in media fascinating

Eric A Longenhagen: No actually

Eric A Longenhagen: it was extra my brother’s jam. I’ve principally obtained sports activities on.

Eric A Longenhagen: my ex spouse, too. we had crunchyroll for some time

Eric A Longenhagen: I used to be a Godzilla child

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay everybody, time for me to run. Thanks for coming this week and luxuriate in your weekend.