Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat: 12/12/25

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from Tempe, glad to be residence and again with you, let’s get to it…

RS: Not a Giants fan, however I’m shocked Josuar Gonzalez isn’t thought of a prime 10 prospect. His batted ball metrics are spectacular and the stories on his protection are much more spectacular. Is it a proximity factor?

Eric A Longenhagen: The proximity and time-to-maturation items of it matter, yeah, and with that comes an added diploma of uncertainty. Josuar is so younger that features of how he’s going to develop athletically and bodily are additionally harder to venture presently…

Eric A Longenhagen: As an illustration, there was a degree the place Starlyn Caba’s report was, “Elite defender, elite contact price (like 90%) DSL SS.”

Eric A Longenhagen: I like Caba, however he’s developed as an athlete in such a manner (he’s remained like 5-foot-9, he’s a smaller man) that limits his ceiling. SOmething like that *may* nonetheless occur to Josuar.

Eric A Longenhagen: However there’s additionally the result the place he develops, bodily, like Lindor. That Josuar even has that form of ceiling is a particular factor within the prospect area, even when it isn’t the likeliest end result.

Eric A Longenhagen: That form of proper tail calls for prioritization however idk if I believe it’s up at 10.

Eric A Longenhagen: like 30? Nonetheless fairly aggressive however affordable.

The Fifth Rule: If you happen to needed to take one rule-5 eligible place participant, who would it not have been?

Eric A Longenhagen: It will rely on what the roster wants, however in a vacuum, I like Cameron Cauley.

Eric A Longenhagen: Like two guys I’d have taken if I have been a workforce strictly shopping the untaken guys for ceiling: Cam Cauley, Allen Facundo

Eric A Longenhagen: I believe the identical dangers that apply to Spencer Miles (who I like loads) apply to Facundo.

ABS earlier than leg day: Any additional information on Miguel Caraballo past the quick blurb within the Rule 5 piece?

Eric A Longenhagen: No, movie work on the DSL guys at all times requires extra time than is value it after I’m simply engaged on a person goal. We’ll replace his report in full after we do the Twins record.

Max: Ideas on Kendry Chourio and David Shields on the Royals? Any likelihood they bounce onto a prime 100 prospect record within the subsequent 12 months?

Eric A Longenhagen: Chourio has a dwell arm and creates actual motion on each of his secondary pitches. It’s like 94-97 with plus curveball and changeup. His supply is fairly violent and he’s on the smaller aspect, an excellent six ft or so. I’m extra inclined to 45+ a man with this diploma of danger, he threw 51 innings.

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s actually thrilling, simply wanna see the stamina piece demonstrated earlier than I slide him forward of the Parker Messick varieties who’ve confirmed it and are proper there.

Eric A Longenhagen: Shields I’m not on as a lot, I’ve a more durable time seeing ceiling and suppose he’s extra like a low variance backend starter kind. I get it, he can pitch, the fastball has punched above its weight, I’m undecided he’ll have the secondary pitch high quality of a Jose Quintana or something like that.

Jonathan: What are the primary belongings you take a look at when observing/analyzing a prospect for the primary time?

Eric A Longenhagen: It simply relies on how it’s I first work together with them. Typically the very first thing I’ve checked out is the variety of innings they’ve pitched as a result of that’s what I sorted on the minor league leaderboard. Typically it’s a unique form of knowledge level like their extension, generally I’m launched to a participant when the PA announcer says the man’s title as he steps as much as take BP at a showcase.

Eli: Lot of angst in regards to the Yankees not buying and selling Spencer Jones throughout his sizzling streak however presume that each one the consensus considerations about his hit/Ok charges across the league haven’t abated in any respect?

Eric A Longenhagen: I believe groups have correctly evaluated and valued him, and that the web zeitgeist has in all probability not.

Chooch: Curet, haven’t seen a ton of speak on this little commerce with the phillies. Any perception on the place he’s at proper now?

Eric A Longenhagen: His supply regarded out of whack to me when he got here again. It’d take somebody who is best at articulating the biomechanics of it to clarify why, his arm motion and energy by launch simply appeared much less comfy and authoritative to me…

Eric A Longenhagen: I actually preferred this man, however right here’s a counter instance to my Chourio screed: Curet is somebody who, no less than over the past ten months or so, the monitor document of stamina and efficiency was there however the participant nonetheless wasn’t a lock to contribute shortly…

Eric A Longenhagen: Bear in mind there was a multi-year interval throughout which Curet led the complete minor leagues in Ok’s.

Visitor: Did Yoniel Curet actually go that a lot backwards final 12 months that he deserved to be DFA’d?

Eric A Longenhagen: A few of it’s extra in regards to the Rays feeling like they don’t have the time or roster area to dick round with. This man may get proper, a number of pitchers undergo this, however he didn’t appear to be a rosterable man on the finish of the season.

mmddyyyy: How do you’re taking your caffeine?

Eric A Longenhagen: Simply espresso

Eric A Longenhagen: My mother 60-year-old mother handed me a Celsius final week and both assumed I knew what it was (which I did, although I’ve by no means tried one) or didn’t really feel the necessity to inform me that it’s caffeinated, or doesn’t herself know that it’s.

Eric A Longenhagen: I believe it was the primary one.

Eric A Longenhagen: RIght?

Draft Man: How does the highest of this draft class evaluate to final 12 months’s?

Eric A Longenhagen: I really feel like the highest tier is 2 or three gamers deep. I wager a pair pitchers emerge within the spring and can be a part of them. Most likely a little bit shallower proper now than common.

Christina: With Alonso out of NY, does open the door for Ryan Clifford? Might he be in play for his or her opening day 1B?

Eric A Longenhagen: I believe he’s within the medium time period combine. I believe they’ve so many on-roster choices proper now (permutations with Vientos at 1B, or possibly a Ketel commerce or one thing at 2B and Semien strikes to 1B {simply spitballing}) that they’ll like set sail on 2026 with Clifford within the minors…

Eric A Longenhagen: But when he crushes throughout Spring Coaching and is crushing when the calendar turns Could whereas, i dunno, Vientos is slumping or one thing, that’s when he would possibly get a possibility.

Scott: I’m interested in how guys like Isaac Lyon get included in trades. Who brings him up within the dialog? Does the buying workforce really suppose he’s a fringe prospect? Was he on anybody’s radar as something greater than roster filler? Is he now? It’s laborious for me to grasp valuations so exact {that a} workforce would consider that Ferrer for Ford is nearly truthful, however want a man like this to even it out.

Eric A Longenhagen: I do know there are people with golf equipment who’ve coveted Ferrer. I used to be not on him to *that* diploma, and had him extra as a lefty center inning possibility.

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s doable Ford simply doesn’t hit.

Eric A Longenhagen: However to your query… I don’t know who the choice makers there got here to need Lyon. It’s doable somebody preferred him in the course of the course of their 2025 travels working for his or her previous workforce. He’s a pitchability man with good secondary stuff, we like him. Perhaps the technique was to take a participant who was not too long ago drafted to maximise their time within the org and the world scout or crosschecker may need preferred him.

Padilla: Yairo Padilla’s bodily projection seems nice. However I’m involved in regards to the GB%. Are there any profitable examples of men going from 50% GB within the low minors to worthwhile energy hitters launching fly balls?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yandy Díaz – Stats – Batting | FanGraphs Baseball

mmddyyyy: The place is the middle of the baseball world?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m undecided there’s reply to this. The density of baseball people feels biggest at winter conferences but it surely feels foolish to say WMs when listed here are so few gamers there.

Tom: Emmanuel Rodriguez tore up the Dominican Winter League, and must be in early consideration for a debut subsequent season…if he can keep on the sphere. What caliber prospect do you contemplate him particularly, and extra broadly, how do you go about discounting a participant’s bodily abilities by his precise availability (likewise for different injury-prone guys like DeLauter, Jenkins, Espino, and many others)?

Eric A Longenhagen: Actually with the oft-injured guys I really feel prefer it’s greatest to take them off the board when you’re lining up everybody else after which simply gut-feel place the injured dudes once you’re on the finish of the method. Rodriguez appears like Trent Grisham to me, and that i’m speaking just like the entirety of the profession arc, not simply 2025 Grish.

JD: Rumors that groups asking for Brito in offers and Astros balking.  Would you embrace him in a deal for a pitcher like Baz?

Eric A Longenhagen: If you happen to suppose you can also make extra of Baz, then possibly. If you happen to suppose Baz is what he’s, then no.

Eric A Longenhagen: Baz’s greatest function, if the cement is dry on him, is within the bullpen, roughly in the identical form of function I count on Brito to occupy

Eric A Longenhagen: Give me extra years of Brito

urub: Not a prospect, however what’s your guess what occurs with Dalton Speeding? Isn’t he adequate for a beginning job someplace?

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s however that doesn’t imply they must commerce him.

Eric A Longenhagen: It’d in all probability take an actual blockbuster for me to maneuver him.

Inexperienced apple: So will Reds Hector Rodriguez be prepared for the present in 26? 50 FV ?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m engaged on the Reds record proper now and am going to make you wait.

ABS earlier than leg day: That is across the time MILB groups do all their hiring for 2026. How hectic was it for you attempting to interrupt in with Lehigh Valley?

Eric A Longenhagen: I interviewed in Allentown on the constructing on Union Blvd simply exterior the stadium with Lindsey Knupp, who grew up one city over from me and performed area hockey at Bloomsburg? Shippensburg? A kind of. She works for the Trash Pandas now. I didn’t see her on the Conferences.

Eric A Longenhagen: I lived close by and so they knew I’d present up. I used to be the youngest one.

Jonathan: Alec Blair left Oklahoma’s basketball program after one recreation and plans to focus solely on baseball.  Does this in any respect change the way you view him as a prospect with respect to danger?

Eric A Longenhagen: I suppose if specializing in baseball permits him to develop extra shortly as a hitter, then it should have completed that. However I’m not out of the blue juicing his grade simply because he gave up basketball.

Insert Witty Identify Right here: WTF is occurring with the Iggles? Is Hurts saving his working for the playoffs? Why can’t they discover a skilled offensive coordinator who is aware of how you can professionally design and name performs?

Eric A Longenhagen: The remainder of the equipment must be working in rarified air if the QB has these throwing limitations. Final 12 months’s O line and Saquon gave them the shot to bust 40+ yarders at any time. That’s not been current this 12 months. With out that they’ll’t be the very best workforce.

Jonathan: If IBM got here to you and stated, “Eric, let’s construct a customized Massive Language Mannequin and for its corpus let’s use each single scouting report you’ve written together with gamers’ statistics”, do you suppose you’d uncover something new about both scouting or your personal proclivities and the way they’ve modified over time?

Eric A Longenhagen: Virtually actually

JT: Something on the Angels’ Yilver de Paula or the Royals’ Freddy Contreras?

Eric A Longenhagen: De Paula performed 10 DSL video games and wasn’t in any respect on my radar till you requested this query, I’ve nothing. Contreras 94-97 contact an 8, beneath avg breaking ball spin on an 80-ish mph slurve factor.

Inexperienced apple: Does Cam Collier nonetheless venture as huge league common ?

Eric A Longenhagen: I fell in love along with his really feel to hit within the AFL.

Redbeard: Unsure how shut of consideration you pay to guys like Murakami, however is there any hope he get above a 30 grade down the highway

Eric A Longenhagen: That is bait, proper?

Scotty: Glad Friday, Eric. After doing the Dodgers record… in a vacuum because it stands at this time, would you commerce Hope/Ferris for Michael Busch?

Eric A Longenhagen: At his second you’d fairly have the busch finish of the deal in a vacuum

Will: If you happen to have been GM for one of many groups with beginning pitchers on the block, who would you goal from the O’s org?

Eric A Longenhagen: De Leon

Inexperienced apple: Have you ever learn the Bloomberg piece from Oct 31 re: mother and father spending huge on youth baseball ? Makes me surprise what number of children from the sports activities lacking

Eric A Longenhagen: I really didn’t learn that so thanks for alerting me of it. Let’s make studying {that a} group homework task for subsequent week.

sliderguy35: we all know loads on the publiv aspect about how pitchers with decrease spin efficiencies and better spin capability normally have extra avenues to increase their pitch combine in a while. Is that this one thing you suppose goes to turn out to be extra prevalent in scouting dialogue round pitchers transferring ahead?

Eric A Longenhagen: I believe what I’m extra apt to argue for is that difference-making traits of any variety must be extra current in discussions fairly than anyone trait. Let’s flip over rocks on the lookout for guys who do stuff at a 7 or 8 stage, it doesn’t matter what measurable trait we’re on the lookout for.

GB: Why is latavius murray enjoying sandlot soccer?

Eric A Longenhagen: I by chance gave him a flat tire within the Signia bar/foyer space. I didn’t notice till later that it was him. He’s half proprietor of this firm, which was one of many distributors there. Enduraphin® | Prepared To Combine Efficiency Vitamin

Eric A Longenhagen: Latavius Murray Stats, Top, Weight, Place, Draft, School | Professional-Soccer-Reference.com

Eric A Longenhagen: Who’s the baseball participant comp for Latavius?

Eric A Longenhagen: Tremendous lengthy profession, extra of a productive platoon again who’d pop off in particular person video games from time to time, tremendous tall man for his place, mercenary on the finish.

Kate: Not a prospect anymore, however what’s your learn on Jordan Beck at this level?  Can the hit device maintain and let the opposite instruments shine by or was his second half a greater illustration of what’s to come back (i.e. pitchers figuring him out)?

Eric A Longenhagen: I used to be fairly skeptical of Beck as a prospect and although his floor stats in 2025 have been fairly good for a man getting his first wholesome, prolonged run, I’m nonetheless in that camp

Rob: How quickly do you suppose we may see Liam Doyle in MLB? Disregarding secondary issues like years of management, how shut is he to being a mean or back-end MLB SP?

Eric A Longenhagen: I really feel like in a unique org he’d be a risk to Yesavage in 2026. But when the Cardinals are on a extra of two-year rivalry plan there’s no motive to hurry him like that.

Sir Nerdlington: With the Pavia case more likely to turn out to be a category motion swimsuit and the NCAA not successful a courtroom case since 1847, what likelihood do excessive schoolers have of enjoying faculty ball they’re going to in opposition to 27 12 months previous faculty children of their 7 season?

Eric A Longenhagen: Two questions that come up for me instantly: Does MLB attempt to facilitate the same pattern in faculty baseball in order that it may perform as a de facto minor league system for gratis to the homeowners? What knock-on results would possibly the NFL really feel if gamers incentives turn out to be to stay in faculty for longer?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m manner over time however there are quite a lot of you in right here at this time so I’m gonna stick round for just a few extra minutes and attempt to fast hearth some solutions.

Chase: In search of issues to be enthusiastic about as a Halos fan, is the breakout from Raudi Rodriguez legit or simply somebody to control subsequent summer season? Tore up the AFL, too.

Eric A Longenhagen: Sure. Plus bat velocity, plus footspeed. Actually toolsy man, dangerous however enjoyable.

Tacoby Bellsbury: Had been you shocked when just one place participant was taken within the Rule V draft, or is that simply the logical development now?

Eric A Longenhagen: Probably not. The Rule 5 is a lot about roster match, the worth of a spot, danger tolerance, and asymmetry of thought, not a lot about expertise.

Key Jangler: Greatest a part of dwelling in Arizona moreover the baseball?

Eric A Longenhagen: Consuming right here

Salty: Hey Eric – has Morabito’s inventory risen in your thoughts, or are you continue to involved sufficient along with his in-zone contact that 4th OF/bench velocity risk is his greatest end result?

Eric A Longenhagen: Fill up. 70 runner, plus defender in CF. Has actual roster utility. Began pulling the ball late in AFL. Actual change? Or simply bias on look in opposition to dangerous pitching? Keep tuned.

OwenB: Thanks for all of your nice work!  Extremely useful in my dynasty league!  Query: why aren’t scouts larger on Mikey Romero?  Good EV and LA, performs IF.  Ok price spiked in higher ranges however at his age appears regular.  Do you see a 50FV/MLB common in his future?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m skeptical, tremendous chase susceptible, beneath avg athlete. Swings laborious however I’ve a tough time seeing him as a 50

Cromulent: Is there going to be a second after we can say the elimination of short-season killed participant X’s growth or will it at all times be too multifactorial to pin it on that?

Eric A Longenhagen: A scout informed me to have a look at the demographic of gamers who’ve really made it to the higher minors the final 5 years and that we’d see what’s misplaced on account of their elimination.

What even IS APBA: Rebuilding in a APBA dynasty replay keeper league the place you narrow to 25 gamers earlier than the draft, ought to I commerce JJ Wetherholt for Eury Perez? My infield post-cut might be G.Perdomo, S.Stewart, J.Westburg, C.Keith, Ok.Campbell, M.Mayer, J.Made. My post-cut rotation is H.Brown, R.Olson, B.Chandler, C.Burns. I’m leaning in direction of making the deal since I’m hurting for SPs, however I hesitate as Perez’s arm may fall off (once more!!) any time and Wetherholt could possibly be enjoying for ten to fifteen years… Taking a look at different dynasty rankings it looks like the consensus is Perez, however would love your perception based mostly on my workforce comp. THANK YOU!!!

Eric A Longenhagen: I’d need Eury

Visitor: Please rank the next by way of long run potential: McLean, Sasaki, Burns, Horton, Schlitter.  Thanks!

Eric A Longenhagen: Flip Cam and Cade and so they’re principally in the suitable order for me proper now. You might flip Burns and Roki if you’d like, they’re principally the identical for me.

Will: What pattern dimension makes you’re feeling assured when evaluating a prospect?

Eric A Longenhagen: Is dependent upon the stat you’re speaking about. Modifications in mechanics or physique composition could be significant straight away.

Aroon Werewolves of London: Is there any likelihood Escobar turns right into a Bryson Stott alternative?

Eric A Longenhagen: Sure

Bret: Did Tyler Bremner pitch in any respect after being drafted? Any phrase on how he regarded? I do know there was some pondering that the off-field issues he was coping with final 12 months might have been impacted him negatively and he’d be due to enhance.

Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t suppose Bremner threw however I’d wanna double verify with Invoice Mitchell on that. The off-field scenario you’re referring to was his mom’s demise, in case people don’t know. He’s actually good.

Visitor: when is the worldwide record for IFAs going to get a tweak

Eric A Longenhagen: Jan fifth ish

Mariner Fan: Do you’ve an in-person or video-derived impression on Ryan Sloan but? Wanting ahead to watching him at Everett (A+) this 12 months, and questioning how briskly he would possibly transfer.

Eric A Longenhagen: Noticed him in the course of the spring, after which once more on tape throughout work on SEA record. Was overwhelmed by the highlight of the breakout recreation however clearly has actual sh*t. Three potential plus pitches, go see him when you may.

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay now I do have to separate. Thanks for hanging out, be again right here subsequent Friday for the final pre-Christmas break chat.