Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat: 4/17/26

Eric A Longenhagen: Howdy from Port Charlotte and sorry for the delay. I had deliberate on chatting from the Rays stadium throughout their Prolonged Spring recreation in opposition to the Orioles, however the Orioles (based on personnel on website) canceled. So I hustled over to a Halloween-themed espresso store down the highway.

Eric A Longenhagen: The Pink Sox and Twins canceled three of their 4 prolonged ST video games this week on account of lack of pitching availability on each side (Boston twice, Minnesota as soon as) so I’ve seen rather less baseball on this leg of the journey than I had deliberate. I’ll attempt to not be machiavellian about how I reply, however I’m fairly pissed off with these orgs in the intervening time.

Tom: Eric, Justin Campbell retains coming again sturdy briefly outings. Is he again on the radar as a possible 4? Rule V eligible, so surprise how he suits for Guards future. Thanks!

Eric A Longenhagen: Noticed him the day earlier than camp broke and was eventually night time’s recreation with a scout who covers Cleveland and we each assume Campbell is again from the useless. He was throwing more durable for my supply than he did for me on he final day of ST and has been sitting 93-96 to this point, averaging 94.4 mph. That’s up from faculty. He pitched properly within the spring outing I noticed, 4 pitches, really feel, constructed like a starter, strikes like a starter.

Eric A Longenhagen: Let’s see if he can maintain that velo all season as he goes from 0 to an entire slate.

Visitor: How excessive are you feeling on Jonah Tong nowadays?

Eric A Longenhagen: Identical as preseason: Two plus pitches, a 3rd with some quantity of utility, sketchy sufficient command that it’s going to impression his outcomes and preserve him extra squarely in no. 4 starter territory than mid- or top- of rotation.

Alex: It’s early however any Braves prospect soar out positively this season?

Eric A Longenhagen: Clearly Fuentes and Cam Cam, Ethan Bagwell hammering the zone, Gabriel Cesa has been fairly attention-grabbing right here this week. Michael Martinez too, he has large juice however I’m unsure the place that man’s gonna play.

Visitor: Is Dylan Crews cooked?

Eric A Longenhagen: Noticed him 3 times at Lehigh and thought he seemed good. I’m nonetheless in. He’s sooo tooled up.

D5on: Hello, Eric! Jesus Made is far larger now. KLAW says its, “not all good weight.” Brendan shared some issues, too. BA mentions he’s larger however they don’t appear to thoughts. The place do you assume?

Eric A Longenhagen: Shortstop is principally out of the query now. Energy-hitting 2B/3B look, nonetheless actually thrilling energy and bat velocity. Might be Ketel, that’d nonetheless be superior, however this caps his grade to the place it’s now. Like De Vries now has extra room on his physique for weight and a significantly better likelihood to remain at SS than Made. If that makes you favor him to Made, that’s justifiable.

Nic: What’s your tackle Josiah Hartshorn and Taitn Grey? They appear to be two of the largest breakouts to this point. Though its nonetheless very early.

Eric A Longenhagen: Points of Grey’s skillset had been a black field at draft time. How he’d catch professional stuff, how a lot contact he’d make… they had been each powerful to evaluate as a result of he had carried out so little showcase stuff. The truth that Tampa despatched him out to an affiliate in any respect moderately than preserve him in Prolonged is a good signal for a way they thought he’d deal with it. He’s not catching, so the bar goes to be tremendous excessive for him. It’s too early to care about hit knowledge (go take a look at Jake Bauers hit knowledge, do we actually assume he’s abruptly a 50% arduous hit man? No. So we shouldn’t belief or care about that stuff for anybody but) however the truth that he’s not hanging out a ton is a good signal.

Eric A Longenhagen: This man has big energy and projection, that piece was apparent on the Mix.

I’m the apple: What’s probably the most underrated baseball-producing area?

Eric A Longenhagen: Relies upon the way you need to break up “the south” into sub sections. I believe MS/LA/AR remains to be underrated someway. Iowa/Kansas/Oklahoma too.

Aidan Miller: How alarming is the again drawback?

Eric A Longenhagen: Don’t sweat it simply but. How frightened had been you about Painter all through final 12 months? Aidan’s gifted, let’s not freak out. It sucks that they could really want him sooner or later and he received’t be prepared, however I don’t wanna alter the long run outlook but.

George: Hey Eric! Perhaps this query spoils your Nats listing, however I comply with their minor league system fairly carefully and was actually excited a couple of trio of their younger pitchers: Kent, Jose Feliz, and Tejada Jr. All felt like guys with management, innings ground, and a starters combine who would possibly profit from an additional tick of velo. I do know Kent and Tejada each confirmed up this spring throwing more durable, however Feliz has been MIA. Am I off base being enthusiastic about them?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m on that group, Yoel nonetheless has messy command however the arm energy, breaking ball high quality, projection, athleticism items are all there. The others I have to work on but, writing as I journey right here, Nats listing subsequent week.

Mark C: As a Brewers fan, I had plenty of trepidations on the Pratt extension. Early season AAA not making me really feel any extra comfy. Will he ever hit sufficient to be price what they gave him?

Eric A Longenhagen: Whilst a man who’s on the decrease finish of the Pratt eval spectrum, I believe he’ll. He want solely be a great utility participant and SS defender to justify the deal, and I believe that’s precisely what he’s going to be.

Lord Thunder: Moreover staying wholesome, what does Jonny Farmelo have to do to maneuver up into the following tier of prospects?

Eric A Longenhagen: Perhaps lean out a little bit bit so he can keep in CF?

Mr. Burrito: The passing of Davey Lopes made me consider scouting. Lopes had a terrific profession though he didn’t make MLB till he was 27. In these days, gamers had been thought of to “peak” between ages 28 and 32, give or take. Does scouting nonetheless use that age vary as a information, or do peak years occur earlier? Additionally, does age issue in a different way for various positions, or completely different talent units?

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s price exploring if guys’ peaks have shifted in the course of the present period of participant improvement. I believe staff habits round “marginal gamers” has additionally modified sufficient that a few of their determination making would possibly alter he outcomes of a such a research. I believe when a participant peaks relies upon a lot on particular person elements (likes physique composition and mobility) that we’d wanna break up the research into subsets of gamers.

Eric A Longenhagen: Additionally, do pitchers decline sooner as a result of they’re throwing more durable earlier? There are all types of variables shifting round.

NFP: Do you could have any perception on why Esteban Mejia (or any pitcher) could have raised his arm slot? Low cost IVB? Higher command/management? Completely different breaking ball shapes?

Eric A Longenhagen: Actually excited to placed on that recreation tonight to see two younger bucks sit 100. It’s doable it was modified for command-related functions moderately than something to do with the traits of his stuff. He had plenty of stuff ailing up and away from him final 12 months, possibly staying on prime of, or behind, the baseball extra typically will get him within the zone. He needs to be thought of a long-term dev venture moderately than a man who may ascend shortly, I believe it’s okay for them to tinker.

BG: Any dart throw lower-level RPs who may attain the majors by finish of this 12 months?

Eric A Longenhagen: Does Gage Wooden rely? Why is that man in A Ball?

Emperor of Dust: Can Kyle Damage present a template for the Dodgers’ improvement of Chayce McDermott or are similarities between the 2 right-handers principally superficial?

Eric A Longenhagen: A scout yesterday, “Traditional Dodgers reclamation venture who could possibly be nothing or could possibly be actually good”. No matter modifications they attempt to make will most likely be evident in a few weeks after he’s within the org.

George: I’ve a query about course of. How a lot of your grades or evaluation stems from an unique commentary, say one thing like Gavin Fien’s swing seem like it’ll battle in opposition to velocity vs listening to another person say “groups assume Fien will battle in opposition to velo” after which attempting to get a glance that to both affirm or dismiss that concern. I really feel like I can learn or hear one thing a couple of man after which kind an opinion on whether or not I believe that’s true or essential, however I hardly ever watch somebody and have a very uninfluenced analysis.

Eric A Longenhagen: I attempt to make what I write right here be as a lot of what I believe as doable. There have been instances when protecting everything of the minors, draft and worldwide make it powerful to have a completely novel opinion about each single participant, and that’s after I’m tapping contacts with groups for his or her ideas. I believe social media prospect-curious setting on-line shouldn’t be conducive to unique thought. I had Yankees bloggers dragging me final 12 months for pondering Roderick Arias was dangerous as a result of…why? They thought he was good. How? Somebody instructed them he was, or they noticed nothing however highlights of him doing good issues as they scrolled socials and weren’t watching him swing beneath each respectable fastball he noticed?

Murph: Josuar v. De Vries – if you happen to can solely choose one, who would you select? Sustain the nice work!

Eric A Longenhagen: Leo. Josuar might need re-injured himself yesterday btw. Might need simply been eliminated as a precaution, have to see SF lineups for at the moment to know for certain.

dooz: Blaze Jordan and LuJames Groover. Something to be enthusiastic about right here? and is there a possibility with the massive league membership?

Eric A Longenhagen: Like them each as function gamers, not studs. Arizona is so injured that I’d need to assume they’re thinnest in entrance of Gino.

What’s in a reputation: Speak me off the “Anthony Nunez is the brand new Cade Smith” ledge earlier than I harm myself from overexcitement. He has the nice sweeper, changeup / splitter with glorious depth, and now the four-seam is 96-97 with 18-19 vert…

Eric A Longenhagen: I cannot

Guards! Guards!: I requested Brendan about quick levers being a measurable or vibes, and he acknowledged it was a measurable. Does any staff truly care and/or measure arm-length within the sense of swing biomechanics, or is it simply type baked into the entire bundle by the point a participant is drafted?

Eric A Longenhagen: Groups are monitoring it. I needed to snap a pic of the pill the scout was utilizing in entrance of me final night time for instance of what number of completely different traits like that had been being tracked, subjectively or in any other case. Swing size and lever size are various things nevertheless it’s extra possible for me to have a look at a man and make an evaluation of the bodily trait than it’s to evaluate swing size in the identical manner Savant does it.

Eric A Longenhagen: You

Eric A Longenhagen: You’d be shocked what number of issues the Hawkeye tech can observe a couple of participant’s physique and motion.

Ozzie: If Dax Whitney had been eligible, would he be the highest pitcher taken within the upcoming draft?

Eric A Longenhagen: Him or Flora

Ozzie: Sal Stewart appears to be like like the actual deal. Given the tip of final season and the recent begin this season, do you assume you had been a bit low on the facility grade?

Eric A Longenhagen: Trying that manner. Completely reshaped his physique. Love the child’s vitality and depth. I’ll have to hold my hat on being excessive man on him pre-draft as a result of since then I’ve been too low.

FannyGraphy: Are sure sort pitching prospects extra prone to be taught new pitches? Does that get projected of their future worth? Like sure physique or arm slot varieties?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’ve tended to venture changeups extra aggressively for pitchers with unfastened arms. Guys with vertical arm slots typically struggled to create tailing motion on their changeups however now there are such a lot of completely different grips (from splits, to airbender fashion, to kick modifications) that I believe extra guys can be taught a great one. I do assume breaking ball spin is an inherent trait and it’s rather less possible to imagine somebody can develop a high quality breaker once they aren’t already exhibiting you one no less than a number of the time. Guys who can spin it however throw slower curveballs can often add a slider or cutter and have it’s efficient. Normally I believe pitch design has allowed plenty of guys to throw no less than one or two pitches that they in any other case wouldn’t have, as a result of they’re being put in nearly like software program.

Dope: Reminder to report no less than one piece of information earlier than the tip of the chat

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m counting “Orioles banged their first Prolonged recreation, Pink Sox and Twins three of their first 4, wtf I’m mad” as my reporting nugget at the moment.

Eric A Longenhagen: What’s gonna occur if/after we find yourself with even fewer minor league roster spots after the following CBA?

Warren: So Zac Veen acquired sober and placed on 40 kilos, and now he’s worse?

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s nearly prefer it had nothing to do with any of that and had all the pieces to do with the best way his palms work (or dont)

doughboy: Bryce Rainer is hanging out 44% of the time – which albeit SSS is troubling. His scouting report speaks to his contact issues. Curiously sufficient his swinging strike price stays across the similar. His swing % is right down to 32% and his known as strike has ballooned to 26%. How can we interpret this?

Eric A Longenhagen: Too early to freak out however I’ll say his contact spray was overwhelmingly oppo oriented earlier than he acquired harm. Nonetheless so tooled up that we cranked his FV, he isn’t with out threat.

Visitor: there’ll clearly be an adjustment interval for KMcG sooner or later, however how is he so good already

Eric A Longenhagen: Has at all times appeared locked in on each pitch, ultra-competitive child, by no means overwhelmed by recreation velocity altering as he’s risen. Stud.

J: I’d be blissful to get shelled by some prospects in the event that they want pitching

Eric A Longenhagen: Me too however I don’t assume sitting 65 would do the children any favors.

Go Mudcats: What’s the greatest drink title, in your opinion, at that espresso store? Or did they not lean into the Halloween theme within the drink names?

Eric A Longenhagen: I ordered a cortado as quickly as i walked in so i may sit down with you guys asap. Lemme peek on the board and see if they’ve themed drinks

Phil: So, the espresso store has pumpkins and ghosts and whatnot, however year-round? That looks like an odd selection. Have they got pumpkin-spice drinks additionally?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yr spherical. Goth women want a spot to learn and do artwork.

Eric A Longenhagen: No spooky drink names. Let’s consider some

Adam: Is it a standard scenario for Prolonged Spring video games to be cancelled on account of roster points?

Eric A Longenhagen: It occurs now and again, however three of your first 4 video games? Your very first recreation? C’mon Florida orgs.

Eric A Longenhagen: The Florida orgs have at all times appeared rather less organized to me.

Eric A Longenhagen: And fewer inventive

Wooden: For those who had been to relocate Boston and Minnesota, which cities would you progress them to?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’d moderately have a brand new complicated in Chandler than an information middle or chip manufacturing facility

Eric A Longenhagen: East of the 101 can be cool, too.

Bucs: Seth Hernandez is fairly good huh? How far can he realistically get this 12 months. Is his MLB ETA nonetheless years off, or can he be a quick riser?

Eric A Longenhagen: That’s the place I used to be gonna hustle after studying of the Orioles cancellation however I might have needed to miss chat totally and juuuust gotten as much as Tampa for first pitch. He’s superior, he must be promoted no less than one time earlier than hitters will be capable to confidently wait him out. These A ball youngsters don’t have any shot.

Adam: Has one efficiency ever utterly modified your thoughts a couple of prospect?

Eric A Longenhagen: Hmmmm. I can consider conditions the place I want it had (Michael Harris) and a few the place I left unenthused (Kevin Gowdy) however I’m struggling to consider a man who I didn’t like who flipped the script on one look.

DJ: Any new intel to share on Phillies SS prospect Romeli Espinosa?

Eric A Longenhagen: No, however the Phils have began steaming their complicated video games so we will all watch collectively.

Eric A Longenhagen: 4/17/26 Staff Canada @ FCL Phillies

Eric A Longenhagen: that’s reside proper now

Anon: Messick has seemed nice to this point. Regression is clearly due however is it price a re-eval on his #3 projection?

Eric A Longenhagen: Feeling fairly good about the place I’ve had him.

OW: Hi there Mr. Longenhagen! Thanks for these as at all times. How lengthy do you assume Hinds has to show himself on the large league stage earlier than Héctor Rodríguez is introduced up as a substitute?

Eric A Longenhagen: Six weeks looks like sufficient runway to see if Rece has made changes

Nuxie: How have Steele corridor and Ty Lewis seemed?

Eric A Longenhagen: Lewis nonetheless hanging out a ton, Corridor left again in Prolonged frightened a supply I talked to yesterday, however I’ve been on the highway all month and haven’t seen any AZ prolonged but.

Goule: Do scouts have stories or discuss different scouts? Like this guys an 80 in terms of pitching however couldn’t establish a hitting prospect to avoid wasting his life.

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, similar as with all work cohort folks have opinions concerning the others and they are often good or dangerous. I’m not above gossip, I’m from a little bit city. Most of them are a pleasure to be round.

Darryl Vanilla: What would a Machiavellian response to cancellations seem like?

Eric A Longenhagen: Constructing a terrifying bipedal robotic with cameras for eyes that may sit within the scout part the remainder of the summer time and supply me all the pieces I would like whereas additionally changing each Orioles gamers’ cap with final 12 months’s controversial double-a cap.

EccentricATLFan: Requested BG a number of weeks in the past however needed to see your response as properly.  With ABS challenges, are there any prospects who you are feeling that their problem patterns are made particularly to masks and/or mitigate any points on the plate?  (To make use of 2025 for instance, whereas Deyvison De Los Santos had his challenges throughout the zone, Zac Veen’s challenges had been all down and/or away however none inside in any respect.)

Eric A Longenhagen: Hmm that’s actually attention-grabbing. I’m wondering how a lot the hitters find out about themselves and the way a lot that influences the best way they’re difficult. Like, “I are inclined to take low strikes that I shouldn’t and so I shouldn’t problem what I believe are low balls as a result of they could be strikes”

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay guys, I’m gonna break up and determine what to do with my final day right here. Speak to y’all subsequent Friday after I’ll lastly be again residence in AZ.