Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat: 5/15/2026

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from sunny Tempe, the place the temps have begun to crank a bit. Try the Orioles listing if you happen to haven’t but. I’m engaged on Pirates subsequent, Brendan on BoSox. Good techniques, all.

Jeb: How lengthy till Seth Hernandez is the #1 pitching prospect in baseball?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’d guess finish of 12 months he’s within the combine as soon as he’s held these items for an entire season and hopefully thrown strikes in opposition to hitters who even have a shot in opposition to him.

lukesingy: How are you feeling about Dylan Crews? Nonetheless a prime prospect who simply wants time within the minors?

Eric A Longenhagen: I nonetheless suppose he’s so proficient that he’s going to be good. Will he be franchise-altering? That consequence is leaving the constructing.

giantsprospects: Have you ever seen something like what Luis Hernandez and Josuar Gonzalez having been doing to start out the ACL season?

Eric A Longenhagen: Despite the fact that they play in a windy bandbox and have had many, many defective prospects who’ve put up loopy numbers at any variety of inheritor associates…. no. To not this diploma the place they’ve bought like numbers this nutty.

Eric: How are we feeling about Kahlil Watson at this level?  Looks as if he is perhaps residing as much as the expectations he had when he was drafted.  Nonetheless solely 23 years previous

Eric A Longenhagen: Really feel fairly good about the place we had him after we did Cleveland listing in January. Looks like a forty five, contact fee continues to be towards the underside of the dimensions (it’s been extra 70%) however he’s attending to energy reliably. Assume he’s undoubtedly a helpful piece and I anticipate we’ll see him this 12 months.

Bob: What’s the recalibrated projection for Eric Hartman?

Ryan: Thanks for the chat! Any ideas on Eric Hartman and John Gil for the Braves? Are these guys attending to the purpose of being within the prime 100 dialog or are there issues that offer you pause?

Greg: Any reviews you’ve heard about Eric Hartman, Tate Southisene or John Gil? Excited concerning the development of the Braves system to this point this 12 months.

rc1013: Ought to we be respecting Eric Hartman’s authority?

Eric A Longenhagen: The information seems to be actually nice. 50% laborious hit fee, 108 EV 90, 75% contact, 84% zone contact. Stiffer athlete, bat path is kinda funky and I nonetheless suppose there’s variability in how he handles secondary stuff as he’s promoted. CF protection really feel isn’t nice, however he simply has the pace to develop on the market. Bat pace seems to be actual to me to the attention although it requires a ton of effort…

Eric A Longenhagen: Was 33% laborious hit fee man final 12 months, 108 max. So this man has actually, actually modified and is unquestionably an arrow up dude. Jogs my memory a number of when Jarren Duran began breaking out.

Visitor: Questioning what’s your ideas on Nolan Perry

Eric A Longenhagen: Seems to be actually good. Slipped via the crack on the Jays listing as a result of he didn’t pitch final 12 months. Prototypical body, beautiful arm motion, superior really feel (for a man coming off long run layoff, particularly), love he breaking ball really feel. Assume the curveball is deep sufficient for it to play in opposition to lefties even when his change is barely ever wonderful. Potential finish of 12 months prime 100 man if the innings rely finally ends up round 100 frames.

Mickey M.: I by no means thought Brice Turang would develop into this kind of offensive participant. Did you?

Eric A Longenhagen: No, fairly positive he’s swinging Julio Franco’s bat now (in that it’s loopy heavy) and that he manner he’s lifted has price him some on protection. Darkish horse MVP candidate for me earlier than the season however that assumed the protection piece would stay stellar.

dan norman lear: Wouldn’t it be offensive if Ike Irish‘s nickname was Irish, so he was referred to as Irish Ike Irish?

Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t suppose it’s offensive, however I additionally suppose we are able to do higher. Whiskey Stick or one thing like that. Simply riffing right here at 9:30.

CHRISTOPHER BRABLC: Any perception into the Luis Pena scenario? The shortage of information and circumstances don’t appear encouraging.

Eric A Longenhagen: After final week’s chat I ended up getting a imprecise textual content from a Brewers supply. Lemme dig it up for y’all…

Eric A Longenhagen:

ED44: Love all the nice prospects work. A giant a part of why I renew yearly. In an upcoming minor league draft, the best ranked prospects nonetheless out there are most likely Seth Hernandez, Eli Willits, Liam Doyle, and Luis Hernandez (SFG). This league is basically WAR-driven, and SS is often a premium place. Based mostly purely on long-term WAR, who would you are taking? Thanks!

Eric A Longenhagen: Willits, then most likely Sethy given how briskly he’s shifting.

Eric A Longenhagen: That’s a pleasant group to get somebody from, although.

dan norman lear: Franklin Arias, Ethan Holliday, and Seth Hernandez finish 2026 at ____ ranges?

Eric A Longenhagen: Triple, Excessive-A, Double-A

Charles Bengal Tiger: Would you contemplate Wehiwa Aloy to presently be “arrow up?”

Eric A Longenhagen: Nah, identical grade I had at draft time. Chase piece of his profile goes to be extra of a difficulty in opposition to higher degree guys.

rainingmozzarella: Hello Eric. Have you learnt when your subsequent draft rankings replace can be?

Eric A Longenhagen: Shortly after convention tourneys

InsertWittyNameHere: After I hear about children throwing 100 in highschool, I fear concerning the hitters who must face them.  Have you ever heard of anybody getting critically damage being hit by one in every of this pitches?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m far more fearful about school pitchers getting hit with comebackers than the one or two HS children throughout the nation who sit 100 beaning somebody within the actual flawed place. School exit velos are absurd.

CHRISTOPHER BRABLC: Curious your tackle the Cardinals catchers. I assume they package deal somebody however do you see regulars in Crooks, Raniel and/or Bernal?

Eric A Longenhagen: We do, Bernal extra of a second division man however the others are influence sorts. Crooks the protection piece I feel can be a very massive deal.

Eric A Longenhagen: Really feel just like the Rays are the commerce accomplice there

matty25: What do you make of the A’s DFA’ing Junior Perez? A variety of groups must contemplate selecting him up proper?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah if you happen to’re the Royals or the Cardinals I’d take a shot.

Sadsox: Are the Craig Breslow Purple Sox good at creating pitchers or have they devoted all their draft sources into pitching

Eric A Longenhagen: Sure to each, however kinda cookie cutter. A number of guys who had been already there bought higher after Breslow arrived however then you’ve gotten your Kyle Harrison or two who’ve develop into meaningfully good after leaving… Blended constructive total.

jonathanpiech: Has the Angels pitching improvement improved in any respect? Victor and Cortez have proven some promise and Ureña has been servicable.

Eric A Longenhagen: Sure, Soriano, TGA, Slawinski, Jordan… A number of examples as proof it’s going higher.

willl: Eric, you had been one of many highest on Yohandy Morales on the time of his drafting in 2023, however you’ve soured on him considerably since then, to the purpose he didn’t even make the Nationals’ prime 41 prospects. He’s now sporting a 170 wRC+ in AAA (in addition to a profession 130wRC+). Something about his season to this point offer you pause to rethink his non-prospect standing?

Eric A Longenhagen: proper proper 1B solely defender with no launch, 30-grade contact fee in opposition to fastballs. Late a number of the time. Fringe man.

oaktownblues: You indicated final week that your opinion on Bolte hadn’t modified based mostly on his efficiency this 12 months. That’s honest, however I assume my query is, when can I purchase into contact fee enhancements for guys with hit instrument questions? Bolte was as much as 75.6% contact in 177 PAs when he bought referred to as up. Would you be shopping for in if he had put up that very same fee for longer, or possibly if the magnitude of the change was higher?

Eric A Longenhagen: You should purchase it if you happen to see tangible mechanical change or if you happen to suppose harm is why he was much less good earlier than.

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s gonna hit a number of laborious grounders and liners to the best aspect of the infield. If that excites you, okay.

Hecubot: While you boldly picked the A’s to win the AL West this 12 months did you work it might occur with Zack Gelof re-emerging and each Soderstrom and Butler in the bathroom?

Eric A Longenhagen: Lol no not a all, I did it as a result of I appreciated their pitching depth higher than Seattle’s.

philly: Devin Fitz-Gerald has finished nothing however hit HRs because you tagged him with 40 recreation energy and a modest 45. In the event you’re flawed do you suppose there’s one thing in his method or contact capability that you’re simply not seeing for no matter cause?

Halve12: Devin Fitz-Gerald must be shifting to AA quickly, hopefully an up arrow the remainder of the season.

Eric A Longenhagen: Actually trying like i underrated the pop, only a product of seeing him when it was 35 levels (he mentioned sheepsihly)?

Ceej: With DeVries enjoying some 3B do you suppose the A’s wish to present choices, contemplating switching him, or simply SSS noise?

Eric A Longenhagen: Is smart to have it as an choice, their finest lineup most likely contains him and Jacob.

Keith: Anybody protruding to you on the advanced to this point

Eric A Longenhagen: Ethical and De Los Santos in Pittsburgh. De Los Santos’ fingers are so fast, Morel retains rising and may find yourself constructed like Elly.

Dombo: Mid season prospect draft, I bought Kash Mayfield, John Gil & Eric Hartman. How did I do?

Eric A Longenhagen: Stable. I would like to affix a league, mid-season supplemental popup man draft sounds enjoyable.

Anthony Eyerson’s Mother: Hello Eric, very long time listener, first time caller. I do know are most likely getting bombarded with questions on my son – however am VERY curious to see what you consider his begin… I do know, hes 21 and at Low A, however the velo spike appears legit? Brendan teased the Purple Sox listing however I cant wait till then. Ideas?

Eric A Longenhagen: You ought to be conscious your son is now at Double-A Portland and began there on Sunday. He seems to be superior. I don’t love his supply however he’s principally answered the most important stuff-related query I had earlier than the draft: is there one other offspeed pitch? Sure, we now have a number of plus breakers and a break up. Supply isn’t all that totally different from Yeasavage’s… nasty man, actually thrilling, wanna see how the strike throwing progresses however I anticipate he’ll be 50’d and ranked with the opposite aid threat bois.

branflakes: Has Christian Oppor’s tough begin modified your outlook on him in any respect?

Eric A Longenhagen: Supply has regressed sufficient that I wager he slides subsequent sweeping replace

matty25: The A’s simply launched Junior Perez. Absolutely he’s price a flier for lots of groups on the market?

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay needed to test. He was DFA’d, not launched. See above. I used to be fearful he had actually been launched and I used to be gonna have to determine what the hell occurred.

Benjamin: Do you discover protection to be very malleable? Anecdotally, it looks as if a number of the actually good athlete, dangerous protection guys don’t are likely to determine it out on the defensive aspect of the ball, however possibly they get the popularity of a + defender as a result of they’re quick and so forth.

Eric A Longenhagen: Is dependent upon newness to place however principally I agree. It takes a very long time to correctly consider everybody’s protection and may be very troublesome to do nicely with out the best instruments or a protracted sufficient look, so it’s most likely the factor public evaluation is worst at

onemanwolfpack: Does Kade Anderson have a real ace ceiling or is he simply a lot extra superior than minor leaguers at this level? Its early however he has online game numbers to this point…

Eric A Longenhagen: Seems to be nastier to me now than at LSU. Ace? That’s wealthy for me however I’m the man who’d solely apply it to love 5 guys at any given time (possibly simply 3 proper now). Actually nasty man who’s able to rock this 12 months.

Danny: Do you’ve gotten a way of how the brand new Yankees worldwide division is totally different? Are they various kinds of amateurs or taking a extra unfold the cash method? Do you’ve gotten a way of what they’ll do with their IFA cash for 2026 and are they lining up prospects to switch the massive cash commitments they misplaced in future years?

Eric A Longenhagen: A fantastic, worthy query I truthfully don’t have a solution to proper now.

zurzles: One thing I’ve been interested in, are there any notable examples of established ‘org guys’ unlocking a brand new degree and turning themselves again into prospects? Looks as if one thing that would occur a bit within the period of Driveline and so forth

Eric A Longenhagen: Nellie Cruz is the all time instance of his

YardGoat: Hey Eric, hope you might be nicely. This can be too area of interest for a chat matter and I do know you aren’t fairly at draft updates but, however was interested in how groups are and evaluating draft prospects otherwise now than pre-COVID years. It appears a lot has modified in a short while and can be fascinating to grasp how groups have modified their method in what nonetheless appears to be a thriller field space of prospect analysis. Thanks!

Eric A Longenhagen: Extra groups concentrating on probably undervalued six determine HS gamers and both selling them quick or flipping them for giant leaguers shortly. Ronny Cruz, Fitz-Gerald, Zyhir Hope, and so forth. The actual breakout guys have been these much less well-known children. Proximity > for school gamers, groups wanna transfer you quick now.

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay people, I’ve bought an appointment in 45 minutes and have to prepare. Subsequent week’s chat could also be impacted by school tournaments however I anticipate I’ll discover a strategy to do typical time/place. Bye bye