Eric Longenhagen Prospect Chat: 5/16/25

Eric A Longenhagen: Howdy, everybody. Hope you’ve all had a nice week. I’m having fun with the final little little bit of delicate climate right here in Tempe and searching ahead to convention match play.

Eric A Longenhagen: Brewers listing went up yesterday:

Eric A Longenhagen: I’ll in all probability hold issues tight to an hour right now. I’m flying to Florida subsequent Friday and I’m going to talk earlier within the day, so be looking out for that subsequent week.

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, let’s handle your many queries.

Eric A Longenhagen: I do suppose it’s time for some change in Colorado. I, too, have suits and begins of Rockies optimism as a result of I feel they scout effectively within the newbie house, particularly internationally…

Eric A Longenhagen: However a lot of their gamers plateau or worsen. As an example, Sandy Ozuna‘s velo is down and his supply is out of the blue extra violent and seemingly ill-timed. That is one instance of a form of pervasive factor…

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s younger, he has barrel really feel, the switch-hitting utility is sweet…he’ll be okay.

Eric A Longenhagen: I agree with you o the prospects and their respective variances.

AthleticsFan2195: Might the A’s name up Denzel Clarke anytime quickly, or someday this yr in any respect? The lineup is clearly in an honest spot, however the protection has been horrible, and JJ Bleday is just not hitting sufficient to offset the worst CF protection within the sport.

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel your logic is sound. You may perhaps argue CF protection issues barely much less in that ballpark, however Clarke is the form of man who robs a double a sport, you’d at the least be working somebody on the market who has a real, elite talent.

Mike: Any draft buzz you’re listening to for the Crimson Sox?

Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t have any team-specific dope that deep within the spherical.

Visitor: since graduating has Barger developed in any shocking methods?

Eric A Longenhagen: His swing is completely different. He nonetheless has a fairly elaborate leg kick nevertheless it’s it’s now extra “in-and-out” quite than “up-and-down”, if that is sensible. Right here’s the previous one:

Eric A Longenhagen: You’ll be able to see how explosive he’s, it simply took him till he was 25 to discover a swing that labored for him and precise, MLB-viable versatility on protection.

drplantwrench: do you’ve any takes on who the angels ought to draft at 2? my fellow followers are conflicted with “losing” the choose on a school pitcher, is that the correct transfer anyway?

Eric A Longenhagen: If I had been LAA I’d be making an attempt to chop, I feel. If you happen to like one of many HS shortstops (I like Carlson, I’d be making an attempt to levy hometown this and that) however they don’t have a house till choose 10-ish, that’s the group I’d be drilling right down to see if it’s a match for an underslot deal…

Eric A Longenhagen: However their tendencies have been, ya know, the faculty guys.

Eric A Longenhagen: I like the faculty arms, fwiw, and it’d be wonderful if that’s what they do. That’s simply not what *I’d* be seeking to do by default if I had been choosing 2.

Cat Latos: Small pattern, however are you seeing something that means LAD 2B Kim has made enhancements since arriving to the states?

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel he’s a terrific little athlete who’ll be defender at a bunch of key positions over time, he looks as if a sunny, comfortable man who’ll be cool with enjoying that position and good to have round. I don’t suppose he’s an influence common or something like that. Luxurious utility sort.

Meidroth Muscle: What are your ideas on what the white Sox did with colson Montgomery.  Appears slightly unorthodox.  Is that this a final ditch effort on a as soon as promising, however fading prospect?  I say fading, however he’s nonetheless younger and time to show it again round

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m undecided what the correct reply is, however I additionally suppose it will have been merciless and counterproductive to maintain working him on the market to Okay half the time.

Oaktown Blues: Gage Soar has been nice up to now this yr; does he look any completely different than he did pre-draft?

Eric A Longenhagen: Breaking stuff is enjoying a lot, significantly better. Particular arrow up man.

Scotty: Carson Whisenhunt is displaying a lot improved command in AAA… you shopping for it in any respect?

Eric A Longenhagen: Not *completely*, I feel he’s kinda simply aiming down the center along with his fastball which helps him keep away from walks, however his fastball is getting blasted…

Eric A Longenhagen: Opponents are slugging .700 towards his fastball this yr.

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel he’s good, clearly, he’s on the hondo. However I don’t suppose he’s out of the blue a 3% stroll charge man.

Mario: CJ Kayfus.. will probably be be on this yr’s CLe staff listing? are you able to share your ideas on him?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yep, Guardians listing is subsequent, he’ll be on there…

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s fascinating, actually, his profile has completely flipped…

Eric A Longenhagen: His contact charge is manner, manner down (like 66%), low sufficient that it’s a priority for those who’re somebody context-free and see they’re whiffing that a lot…

Eric A Longenhagen: However he’s hitting the ball a lot more durable. Is he destroying it? No. However he’s noticeably stronger than earlier than and seemingly swinging more durable, with quite a lot of seen effort (a standard factor in CLE’s system, even on the Complicated. And for those who advised me ultimately his contact charge would normalize however he’d get to maintain this energy, I’d be enthusiastic about that.

Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t suppose he’s an influence participant however I feel he’s acquired a shot to be a pleasant lefty piece, 350-400 PA sort man who may take a Pavin Smith sort flip later in his 20s.

Phil: I’m beginning to have severe doubts about whether or not Casas is ever going to be the man at 1st, between accidents, dangerous protection, and excessive passivity as a hitter. If that’s proper, is the subsequent everday 1st baseman even within the group? Assuming in fact it’s not the man who retains saying he doesn’t need the job.

Eric A Longenhagen: I feel your doubts are truthful. I like Triston Casas however I wouldn’t be charting the course for our staff with him penciled in ink at first. The accidents and efficiency combo make him sketchy sufficient that they need to wish to create choices for themselves…

Eric A Longenhagen: On Devers…

Eric A Longenhagen: The best way wherein I’m most catholic is that this: Have been I in Devers’ footwear, I’d have sheepishly moved to first base, ashamed I hadn’t achieved sufficient to remain at third.

Eric A Longenhagen: That’s clearly not how this has gone.

Eric A Longenhagen: And I get why he is likely to be miffed, and I don’t particularly look after Bregman so this entire scenario is flavored barely by that, however now he’s actively creating detrimental consideration and discontent.

Eric A Longenhagen: However hey, he’s raking, too.

Justin: Sam Basallo is excelling up to now in AAA, regardless of what was a slowish begin.   At what level ought to BAL be making an attempt to shoehorn him into the MLB lineup, even when it’s solely like 4x every week?  “No motive to hurry it earlier than 2026” is a superbly affordable reply too.

Eric A Longenhagen: That’s a troublesome one as a result of they want a spark, however he’s not essentially able to do something however run into his energy.

Eric A Longenhagen: Possibly commerce Mountcastle as a part of a deal for pitching and deploy him principally at 1B/DH? Mounty is a FA after the season, you continue to add to your massive league roster in an space of want…

Terry Loves Tech: I noticed somebody point out that the Board is continually being up to date in season to tweak prime 100ish prospects, is that appropriate?

Eric A Longenhagen: Sure, like Made moved yesterday once I up to date Brewers. I make a pair sweeping changes all year long and draw up an entire piece about these massive updates, however typically little factor like harm would possibly trigger a slide to the again of an FV tier or one thing like that.

Eric A Longenhagen: Simply form of every time I’m within the guts of the positioning engaged on it and suppose it is sensible to shine it.

Justin: So, Joe Boyle appears to have management now.   Is that this actual, or only a small pattern / “AAA is just too simple” factor?  What does this appear like if he out of the blue can stroll < 4 per 9?

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s throwing many strikes along with his fastball now, from 55% to 66%, he appears to be like fairly balanced and managed on the mound, there are nonetheless a good bit of up/arm aspect misses nevertheless it’s undoubtedly higher now.

Eric A Longenhagen: Lemme pull up his minor league statcast search, one sec, I’m curious and haven’t achieved this but.

Eric A Longenhagen: Couple extra whereas that’s baking (idk why it’s lagging for me)

Lucas: I do know you simply did the Brewers prospect listing, however are you shopping for Brock Wilken’s early season rebound?

Eric A Longenhagen: Him we gave a nook position participant grade. Maintain Biloxi’s park in thoughts there. Homer-friendly place. Luke Voit sort of energy hitter for me.

Jonathan: I do know scouts have lengthy fearful that budgets can be siphoned to R&D and jobs can be misplaced.  Do you suppose PD is one other potential threat for that now, i.e. extra PD people, fewer scouts (or extra junior/video scouts)?

Eric A Longenhagen: It relies upon how any given staff is considering dev, I suppose. Are the roles in your employees outlined, you know the way massive you need your employees to be yr after yr? Have you learnt you need a sure variety of individuals per participant within the org? Does contraction publish CBA change that? ROI on dev is excessive, and when you’ve put in the tech wanted to do it proper (a transferring goal, of kinds, however there’s an enormous preliminary expense to catch up) you might need extra funds for personnel.

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s extra steady than scouting, I’d say. Not less than among the many subset or orgs the place the funds administration is a part of the proprietor’s priorities.

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s good, not loopy or something. Hopefully he repeats it throughout a second half in Lakewood.

Eric A Longenhagen: Hamstring

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay y’all, I’ve gotta break up. Loved it this week. Keep in mind to search for me an hour or two earlier subsequent week on account of convention tourney/journey stuff.