[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the Toolshed, a podcast covering all levels of professional baseball to help give you the edge in your dynasty leagues.
[SPEAKER_00]: From the MLB draft, all the way to the show, the Toolshed podcast has you covered with rankings, player analysis, and in-depth discussion.
[SPEAKER_00]: And now, here's your host, Eric Cross.
[SPEAKER_01]: What's up everyone?
[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome into another episode of the tool shed podcast brought to you by Rotobauer.
[SPEAKER_01]: This is episode 450.
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for joining me.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm your host, Eric Cross.
[SPEAKER_01]: Happy Friday to everyone.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't usually record this podcast in the morning, but it's got a nice nice little Friday morning record here.
[SPEAKER_01]: Got my coffee right next to me.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't usually have coffee whenever recording a podcast because usually it's a nine o'clock at night, but it's kind of nice little
[SPEAKER_01]: morning baseball talk here.
[SPEAKER_01]: So apologies for this being out a few hours later than normal, but I got a lot to talk about.
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of prospect promotions happened over the last couple of weeks and plenty of more names on the cusp from making their debut.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what I'll be focusing on in this episode.
[SPEAKER_01]: But before I get into all of that, the usual housekeeping.
[SPEAKER_01]: You can follow me on Twitter at Eric Cross MLB and the show is at ToolshedPod.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review on whichever platform you listen on.
[SPEAKER_01]: You can find all of my content on my Patreon, ToolshedFantasy.com, all my rankings, Prospect, Dynasty, Dennis, CLBP, and Redraff are all updated over the last week or so.
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's check those out and also plenty of my content on Rotoballor as well.
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[SPEAKER_01]: All right, let's go over some of the recent promotions here, starting with the two biggest recent ones that happened today and yesterday, Spencer Jones of the New York Yankees and Robbie Snelling of the Miami Marlins.
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's start with Spencer Jones.
[SPEAKER_01]: As I said in my tweet when the news broke, I have no idea how this is going to go.
[SPEAKER_01]: And honestly, nobody does it even if anyway says, Oh, yeah, I know, you know, I have a good idea of how Jones is going to perform.
[SPEAKER_01]: No, they do not.
[SPEAKER_01]: This is by far the biggest boomer bust, you know, wide range of outcomes prospect that I think I've ever seen in my time doing this.
[SPEAKER_01]: And yeah, you can always say that you have no idea how any project will perform, and that's what 100% true.
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think that's especially the case with Jones, because the upside is massive.
[SPEAKER_01]: We've seen what he's capable of when things are going right for him.
[SPEAKER_01]: We look at last year, 35 home runs, 29 steals, in 160 games.
[SPEAKER_01]: This year, 11 home runs, and 7 steals,
[SPEAKER_01]: So you put those together, or that's basically a full major league season.
[SPEAKER_01]: 149 games, 46 home runs, 36 deals and keep it going here, 121 RBI, 127 run score.
[SPEAKER_01]: This guy is the limit for Jones, but the same can be said on the other side of things.
[SPEAKER_01]: Like the downside is so massive as well, which we've also seen.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, for the most part, his slash runs have been pretty good.
[SPEAKER_01]: And honestly, pretty consistent.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's been taking that to 60 to 70 range for the most part.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, OBP and like the 360 to the 380 range or so last couple of years.
[SPEAKER_01]: last year it was 274 362 571 slash line this year 258 366 592.
[SPEAKER_01]: But the downside is the context skills and the strikeout rate are so terrible.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean this year 32.4% strikeout rate
[SPEAKER_01]: That's just not going to get it done.
[SPEAKER_01]: And then when you look at this year in terms of contact skills, you know, he's been either right or just over or just under 60% contact with his own contact, and like the upper 63, or even low 70s there.
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's not going to get done in the major league level.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I've talked about below average contact skills still being okay in certain instances.
[SPEAKER_01]: If hitters don't chase and if they make a lot of good contact when they do make contact.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, like Raphael Devers was a great example of that for a long time.
[SPEAKER_01]: I know he's been terrible this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: But
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if that's going to be the case with Jones though yet he's going to have his streaks like he'll have a few he'll have weeks where he looks like a league winner like he'll have like a two weeks stretch or he pops six bombs, steals you three bags up like that.
[SPEAKER_01]: Then he's going to have those two for thirty eight with twenty one strike out stretches which basically has been the summary of his mind only career.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's had both
[SPEAKER_01]: throat is minorly career.
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, I don't know how this is going to work out.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, the left end of power and his power would transcend all fields, but then he gets to take aim with the short porch and the right field at Yankee Stadium.
[SPEAKER_01]: So he could legit hit 50 home runs, steal 20 plus bags, but the downside is Joey Gallo.
[SPEAKER_01]: hit in 160, you know, so I don't know this is going to work if you want to pick them up in your red draft leagues for the upside for what the shot, especially if it's more like a weaver wire thing is supposed to a fab thing, you know, you can pick them up by just dropping a player, then fine, I'm okay with doing that is because what it works out great, then you have an impact player if it doesn't work out.
[SPEAKER_01]: Then you just drop them and move on to the next guy in a couple of weeks, but for those and fab leagues, you're probably going to have to show out a big chunk of change, just given the hype, the stats and the minor leagues, the fact that he's a New York Yankee, that adds a little bit to it always.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't know if I would be willing to show out a ton of fab budgets on Jones, but I guess it comes down to how risk and virtue are.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, where you are in a standing can you afford to take a risk here and have it not work out, but I don't it's such a wide range of outcome of Jones.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's probably the guy I talked about most on this podcast over the last couple of years just because of everything good and bad that goes on with with him.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't know if it's going to go, but it'll be fun one way or the other we'll see.
[SPEAKER_01]: But the other big promotion here over the last 24 hours or so Robby snelling finally getting the call to the Miami Marlins.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm making his debut today on Friday, you know, he was dominant in the minor leagues this year and AAA 29 innings a 186 ERA 0 9 0 whip 11 16 padding average against nobody really making contact or making good contact offer.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll be stunning this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: 40% straight-up rate, also out of 13.6% walk rate as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: So what we're concerning there, not red flag territory yet last year, he had a walk rate around 7%, year before that, it was 9%.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm not super concerned about the walk rate ticking up this year for snowing and the lamb really excited that he's finally getting the call.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, probably should have been earlier than this, but you know, better late than ever, I guess.
[SPEAKER_01]: In 2023, snowing rose to, you know, top pitching prospect status with how he performed as a 19 year old get double A.
[SPEAKER_01]: He had a 182 ERA in
[SPEAKER_01]: By most myself included, I believe he got up to as high as I think like my number 4 or 5 pitching prospect if I recall correctly.
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, there was a lot of hype, a lot of buzz.
[SPEAKER_01]: Everything was trending in the right way.
[SPEAKER_01]: And then AA again in 2024, you know, he just traded from San Diego to Miami that year as well and took a step back.
[SPEAKER_01]: went up that year and the 2025 was a nice little bounce back from spelling 251 ERA.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's really he rebuilt all that lost value from 2024.
[SPEAKER_01]: Back to being a top 10 pitching prospect and now I think is back to being in that top 5 pitching prospect.
[SPEAKER_01]: The discussion right now along with his Miami Marlins prospect teammates so to speak in Thomas White who should be up maybe later in the year I'll get to him.
[SPEAKER_01]: and a little bit here later in the episode, but the hype is back with Robbie Snelling.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, he's a guy that can strike out batters at a high clip.
[SPEAKER_01]: And he's always kind of been that type of guy.
[SPEAKER_01]: Especially last couple of years, like he's really developed the arsenal over the last few years to a point where I believe he's going to be a guy that is an above average strikeout ray guy.
[SPEAKER_01]: And maybe not in a neat strikeout.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think he'll be 30 plus percent strikeout ray guy.
[SPEAKER_01]: But I do think he's going to be an above average strikeout ray guy.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, of good offering, a fastball, two different breaky, most cripple slider, change up as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, he can miss bats, you know, with all of those pitches, and he commands them all pretty well too.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I did mention the walk rate ticking up a little bit this year, not a concern for me.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's always shown, you know, at least average command and control, and that times above average as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I think he's going to be, you know, I don't know if he's a big, you know, number two starter in the majors could be.
[SPEAKER_01]: Or I don't think he's an ace.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't use that term too often So I don't I won't say ace for snowing, but he could be a good S.P.
[SPEAKER_01]: 3 back in S.P.
[SPEAKER_01]: 2 type guy for the marlins And I got that gives you, you know, maybe even like a K-minus walkerator on like 20% Think he could be like a 25 to 28% K rate guy.
[SPEAKER_01]: I keep that walkerate under 10% and give you solid ratios
[SPEAKER_01]: So not only is he a good redraft target the guy that could be, you know, conceivably at the top 50 caliber of fantasy starting pitcher over the remainder of season, but a guy that's just a good dynasty target as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: Do you think he should be older than 22?
[SPEAKER_01]: Do you think he's been around for a while?
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's been the miners for a few years and debuted at 19 in the miners, but you know, if he was more like 24, 25 with this point, but a guy that maybe I think that
[SPEAKER_01]: He's a veteran-esque pitcher for his age that's really impressive to see what he can do.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think he's going to be a good redraft target, a good dinosaur target.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, obviously it's going to cost a bit to get him in any format.
[SPEAKER_01]: You try to target him in.
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think he's a big good pitcher moving forward.
[SPEAKER_01]: Not a, not like a stud pitcher, but a very good pitcher.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's Robbie Stelling.
[SPEAKER_01]: Great target in all formats.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think long term you could be looking at, like a top 30 to 40 type of fantasy starting pitcher.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, maybe a little bit higher than that.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the upside maybe top 25 that that definitely could be in the case.
[SPEAKER_01]: Next up, back over to the hitting side with Bryce Eldridge, who has just as much power upside as Spencer Jones doesn't have the wheels that Jones has, so you won't provide nearly as many steals, but I think Eldridge overall is a better bat.
[SPEAKER_01]: Again, similar power, but I feel like there's better context skills there.
[SPEAKER_01]: The approach isn't quite as bad as with Spencer Jones.
[SPEAKER_01]: But with that said, I'm, that's not me saying that elders are going to hit 280 because I, there are some concerns here with the context skills and the K rate as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: Just not quite as prevalent as with Jones, but in triple A this season, 30 games, 137 played appearances for Eldridge.
[SPEAKER_01]: He slash 33, 445, 518, 5 home runs and a 14.6% walk rate and a 29.9% strikeout rate.
[SPEAKER_01]: So with him, context skills are below average.
[SPEAKER_01]: They're not detrimental.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's not sub 60% contact and sub 70% zone contact, like Jones is.
[SPEAKER_01]: But he's always been in the upper 60% range with the contact rate, around 68, 69, 67% and then zone, he's generally been closer to average in zone.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, that's kind of been his saving grace is that, you know, he can win in the zone when he's not expanding the zone and he can make contact and usually it's very, very loud contact as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: Like this year, you know, even last year and year before that as well, his own contact rate was in the vicinity of league average on 81, 82, 83% that's nice to see there that's not, you know, a terrible zone contact rate gets me really concerned.
[SPEAKER_01]: So,
[SPEAKER_01]: That's definitely positive that he's at least passable in that regard and just everywhere he's gone.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's hit the ball extremely hard.
[SPEAKER_01]: He hasn't really shown up in the home run totals this year, but he's always been elite quality of contact.
[SPEAKER_01]: Same thing this year, 56.2% hard hit rate in AAA before the call up.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think he's going to be a 30 homer bat, you know, maybe not this year, but you know, I said, I think it was a tweet.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe an article.
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't remember this off season that you know, I thought he's going to be the one that ends the streak of left handed hitters not hitting 30 homeruns for the giants.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, will you Domace did it last year to end the 20 year streak of not having a 30 homerese and dating back to Barry bonds in the mid 2000s, but obviously a Domace is already.
[SPEAKER_01]: So has it been done still since bonds as a lefty?
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think Alder should be the next big left handed power hitter for the giants and they need him to be there offense is if not the worst.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's one of the bottom few offenses in baseball right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, divers is finally hitting a little bit better lately, but he's been struggling.
[SPEAKER_01]: They really haven't been getting a whole lot from anybody outside of like.
[SPEAKER_01]: Casey Schmidt, you know, you know, so they need a little ridge to kind of be a good power bat for them.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it's a lot to put on him right away.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm not expecting him to be, you know, that guy right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: But long-term, I do think this is a guy that ends that streak and is a consistent middle of the order power bat for the giants.
[SPEAKER_01]: And the guy that even though there are context skills that aren't the greatest here, you know, below average, I say it at 40, 45 grade context skills, you know, but he walks a good clip, you know, he's always been well over 10% walk rates, you know, which is good to see.
[SPEAKER_01]: And this year, again, it was 14.6% and even in his brief time in the majors last year was 19% in his 10 games there, you know, what the K rate has been a
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, Elderge being around like a 250 guy, but I think it'll give you a decent OBP that's maybe he gets a little bit of a bump in OBP leagues or leagues to add walks in like my home.
[SPEAKER_01]: you know, keep a league has batting average, but also has walks as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's kind of a way to, you know, kind of incentivize both types of hitters, like the Luis Erius types that hit for high average, but also like if you're hurting for high average and you're drawing walks, kind of a double positive there.
[SPEAKER_01]: So, but any really, any league that has OPP or walks or anything that like that, I think he gets a little bit of a bump there.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like a 250 35 type guy, I think is what he settles in as might be some growing pains this year just giving this ring in the miss is a bigger guy, longer lever similar to to Jones, but I do think the power is going to be there.
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's Bryce Eldridge, Spencer Jones, a couple of big power bats to add to your lives potentially this year and long term next up we go to a much different type of hitter.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, when that was called up last week, and that's Travis Bazana with the Cleveland Guardians former first overall pick out of Oregon State, you know, played for team Australia in the WBC this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, pretty good season in Triple A before he got the call, you're selecting 287, 422, 511, two home runs, eight steals and 24 games with a 149, WRC Plus, 8 games so far, as it doesn't much of anything outside of a walk at a high clip, 20 and a half percent walk rate so far.
[SPEAKER_01]: just a 14.7% strikeout rate, but he's hitting 192 with zero extra base hits, though all those walks have added up to a 382 OBP so far, and he's stolen four bags, so hasn't
[SPEAKER_01]: been completely, you know, terrible with bizana.
[SPEAKER_01]: And he's a guy that's always made, you know, good contact, you know, in the upper 70s, low 80s, percent contact rate range, swing strike rates, always been seven, eight, nine percent in that range.
[SPEAKER_01]: So add in the walks, you know, in the lower K rate, this is a plus hit tool guy when you kind of,
[SPEAKER_01]: look at everything that goes into a hit tool, the contact the approach, no issues there.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you said, be guy that hits for a good average and even better OBP.
[SPEAKER_01]: He this guy could be one of the top 10 OBP guys in baseball down the road.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that definitely
[SPEAKER_01]: is the upside, you look at with Bazana.
[SPEAKER_01]: And while the power speed isn't massive in either place, he does enough of each where I think he could be a guy that is in that 2020 range.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he could be 20, 25 steals, you know, 15 the 20 home runs, maybe even over 20 home runs.
[SPEAKER_01]: as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: The power is kind of like a sneaky part of his game where it doesn't get talked about a lot, but he's a decent power guy.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think he could be, you know, a guy that gives you, you know, 40% hard hit rate, you know, to eight, nine, ten percent better rate EV around 90 miles an hour.
[SPEAKER_01]: So nothing like pops out at you.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's kind of what he was this year
[SPEAKER_01]: So again 15 the 20 home or guy, maybe some low 20s years at peak, but I got that's either You know pushing for 2020 gets 2020 in that range.
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll give you a decent average and an even better OBP just a nice well rounded guy and pride got the hits in the upper third of the Cleveland line up once you get settled in
[SPEAKER_01]: So I like it was on a lot, you know, I don't think he said be a stud, but given his skill set and given the state of the second base position, which as we know is just not good, though, the head, it's been a little bit better than I think we thought this year, it's been some guys that have stepped up, but overall it's still a pretty poor position.
[SPEAKER_01]: So Pazana is absolutely a guy that I think could be a top 10 second baseman.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, guy that maybe settles into the back
[SPEAKER_01]: But just a nice well run to guy give you a good five category of production without really standing out in any of those areas outside of OPP, but not any category worries that be I think well below average in so well run to profile for Travis Pazana Lake in a good bit.
[SPEAKER_01]: and I think he's a pretty fun second base option long term and the other two promotions over the last week or so, or last couple of weeks, I should say, Omar Rodriguez with the Yankees, though, let's say he's a bit bumped out of the rotation, you know, with all their other guys, like I think Rodon's being activated this week, Garrett Cole, not too far behind,
[SPEAKER_01]: him.
[SPEAKER_01]: Rodriguez kind of a mixed bag with the Yankees in his four starts, actually we two starts so far, you know, five, 19 year reign.
[SPEAKER_01]: He showed some good, he showed some bad, but more walks and strikeouts so far.
[SPEAKER_01]: So you'll probably back down in AAA, but he had a 127 ERA in four AAA starts before getting called up.
[SPEAKER_01]: And last year he had a 256 ERA across
[SPEAKER_01]: So don't look at what he did in this time with the Yankees as kind of what he's going to be.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think there's some salt upside here.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've seen him live before, you know, he's withable stuff.
[SPEAKER_01]: The breaking balls just moved.
[SPEAKER_01]: The fast was got a lot of writing action.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's a fun pitcher.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if you can harness everything and kind of, you know, become more of a pitcher and
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he could be a decent arm for fantasy down the road, you know, how many more innings is he get with the Yankees this year?
[SPEAKER_01]: Not quite sure, because everyone's healthy, like that rotation was already, I think the best in baseball in terms of TMIRA, and now they got Rodon coming back, they got Cole coming back, Will Warren's been throwing well this year, Ryan Weather's been throwing well, obviously
[SPEAKER_01]: So there are plenty of options there, so as long as they don't have another few injuries, I'm not really sure how many more endings you see from Elmer Rodriguez this year at the major league level, but I still think there's a good future for Rodriguez, so he's got back in top 100 prospect for me right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, I think he's still a surprisingly, because he's a Yankee,
[SPEAKER_01]: guy to go after.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if, you know, anybody wants to sell him that has him, just due to the, you know, the poor couple of starts and the surface stats he has with the Yankees, I won't be opposed to going out there and getting my regas.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's again, a pretty fun arm moving forward.
[SPEAKER_01]: Last one here, Joe Mack of the Miami Marlins, who got called up and then the surprising move, they sent down Augustine Ramirez real quick.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not really talking about,
[SPEAKER_01]: Or recently debuted guys in this episode, but Ramirez is still a good buy low for me.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, yeah, it hasn't gone well right now at the major level, but he's still an above average power guy that can add some steals.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, last year the contact rates were above average as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: He just aggressive doesn't walk a whole lot and Chase is outside the zone too much, but I still think Ramirez is a good hitter and could be a good fantasy catcher long term.
[SPEAKER_01]: So minor speed bump right here, but
[SPEAKER_01]: I'd go out and possibly look to by low on Augustine Ramirez, but back to Joe Mack.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's a catcher that I think gets ranked a lot more higher in rankings than I have him.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've always been kind of low on Mack, but if you look at real life prospect rankings,
[SPEAKER_01]: He'll get bumped up at times because he's a phenomenal defender.
[SPEAKER_01]: Like he could be a gold love winning catcher long term, but for fantasy, I think that's where he doesn't project as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, for me, Mac,
[SPEAKER_01]: maybe is like a mid level C2 option in two catcher formats.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't see him rising to being like a top 12 or even a top 15 fantasy catcher.
[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't think the bat is good enough.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, the power is
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you could say above average power, but it's not stand out power.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's been right around like 42, 43% heart hit rate, right around like 89, 90, Malin hour average EV, the last two years in AAA.
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think maybe you could be, you know, for a catcher, you know, like a 15 home or guy, you know, the hits for, you know, it's hit 230 to 40 or so.
[SPEAKER_01]: Like the context skills are below average, you know, he's been below average less couple of years.
[SPEAKER_01]: Not terrible.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it's not like, you know, it's been through Jones or even, you know, price elders levels.
[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, he's been in the low 70s for contact, upper 70s or so with zone.
[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't see like the bat and it doesn't stand out to me.
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it's not a terrible bat.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not great back at the second middle of the road bat.
[SPEAKER_01]: I get a guy that'll hit you 2.30, 2.40, 15 home runs.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe offensively he's.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know, Carlos Narvaya's range or something like that, you know, below.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'd say more hosted in Narvaya's and below, like below, Dylan Dingler, I think Ding was more like top 15 ish catcher, you know, maybe he could be a Kyle Teele level, but I still think Teele, I'd still rather have Teele.
[SPEAKER_01]: long-term, but that's kind of like the upside, best case scenario is maybe like Kyle Teele range for me.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I just don't, I don't like Joe Mac that much.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's going to be a good catcher for Marlins, you know, moving forward, just given what he can add defensively with the arm, controlling the run, game, and all that, but fantasy.
[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't see a lot of intrigue here in Redraff or Dynastee outside of maybe two catcher formats.
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, let's go over to, you know, who could be next?
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, a lot of guys have been called up, but we still got a lot of fun ones in the minor leagues here, you know, looking at three, you know, well, I'll talk about several names here, but, you know, the hitters that I look at first, you know, the two bigger names that are both, you know, top 20 guys, Ryan Walshman with the Diamondbacks and Cole Emerson,
[SPEAKER_01]: with Seattle.
[SPEAKER_01]: There were some, you know, rumblings that Wallachment might have made the opening day roster.
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, that that did not happen, but he's off to a pretty good start in Trebley this year, and his slash line is nearly identical to his slash line last year.
[SPEAKER_01]: Last year he was 289, 419, 473, 18 bombs, 29
[SPEAKER_01]: with three bombs and six deals in 34 games so far.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's got a 12.2% walkerate and a 24.4% strikeout rate.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now the power upside with washman isn't massive.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's I'd say a 50 grade power guy long term.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe maybe above average.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think there's a little bit above average raw power.
[SPEAKER_01]: And the profile, but I don't think he's going to be 30 on runs or anything that, but maybe you got to get up to around 20 or so and he's also in above average runner the 29 steals last year and he was caught 10 times he's six for eight so far this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think he'll have more steals than home runs, but I think the average OBP are going to be pretty good for him moving forward.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's in the above average contact rate guy, you know, really good approach.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's always walked at a high clip.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, everybody's gone.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's been 12% or higher last year.
[SPEAKER_01]: It was above 50.
[SPEAKER_01]: at both levels, he was at 16.9% in high aid, 15% in AA.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's never had an OB-P at any level below 400, so far is my lead career, including back in low-A, 2024-only debut after the draft,
[SPEAKER_01]: So I got to give you a good bit of everything, no big weaknesses in the profile, and he keeps the swing and strike rate in checks, it's not a lot of swing and miss there, you know, he can do a bit of everything, you know, K rate last year is only 17.6% is, you know, it's ticked up a little bit this year, but 24% isn't bad by any means, and so I do think you see
[SPEAKER_01]: kind of surprised that she hasn't already happened, you know, but current outfield for the Diamondbacks obviously Corbin Carroll is in right, Laura Scurreal in left, Alec Thomas in center and Adrian Delkastillo has been de-aging for the most part and along with the little, you know, Jose Fernandez mixed in there as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, bro says, but kind of like they're fourth outfielder playing, you know, about half the time.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think he kind of slides in maybe over Thomas, you know, maybe it's a combination of outfield and DH for wallagement.
[SPEAKER_01]: But I do think he gets up with the next month, you know, by the end of May.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think he could be a top 50 caliber outfielder moving forward this year with more upside the net long term.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think he's a pretty good option for fantasy.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I got a guy that I currently have as a top 20 prospect, Cole Emerson, kind of a similar thought process with Emerson.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I know people have love people have them top 10.
[SPEAKER_01]: I have not put them top 10.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's in the 14, 13, 14, 15 range for me right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, he's a guy that like Waltzman doesn't really stand out in any one area.
[SPEAKER_01]: There's not massive power here.
[SPEAKER_01]: There's
[SPEAKER_01]: But just a really good hitter that does a little bit of everything across the board last year.
[SPEAKER_01]: He had 16 home runs and 14 steals and 130 games so I was 285 383 458 and that was as a 19 year old who got up to AAA this year, 5 home runs and 7 steals and 30 games so far, but
[SPEAKER_01]: But the average NLPP had both gone down.
[SPEAKER_01]: So kind of a little bit of a trade off there.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's much more aggressive this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: Canary did actually jump nearly 12% from 17 and a half per cent up to 29.2%, he's swinging at a 52% clip this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's up from last year.
[SPEAKER_01]: Swinging the strike rate has also gone up, you know.
[SPEAKER_01]: in the context skills have gotten the other way, unfortunately.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's still fine in him.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's still, you know, above average in zone and around average overall.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's run like 85% in zone, 75% overall, contact this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's still fine.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's down from last year, but it's not bad.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not even below average.
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm not really concerned about the
[SPEAKER_01]: the average going the wrong way and the key rate taking up.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think those are both stabilized moving forward and another guy that I think is up within the next month or so, you know, Seattle, you know, has been, you know, kind of running, you know, obviously JP Crawford out there at shortstop, you know,
[SPEAKER_01]: But she had her, I think, could use a spark as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: And Emerson has also played a little bit a second, a little bit a third, primarily a short stop, but he has played and they're in the field positions.
[SPEAKER_01]: So you got to wonder if Cole Young starts struggling.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's been fine, but if Cole Young,
[SPEAKER_01]: start struggling offensively.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe Emerson takes over there.
[SPEAKER_01]: Crawford has been struggling a lot this season, but he gets on base at a high clip.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's a veteran, get that leader, leadership that they value.
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's kind of why he's been sticking in there, I think.
[SPEAKER_01]: But even this year, he's got
[SPEAKER_01]: like what is Crawford give them, you know, offensively outside of, you know, drawing a lot of walking on base, which has a lead up hitter is pretty valuable, obviously, but I do wonder, you know, how long how much longer do they, you know, stand him to hitting 206.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, last year he was getting 265, but this year 206 and he was 202 in 2024.
[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe they pulled the plug on Crawford as he's starting the short stop or you know third base is also, I mean, maybe the most likely scenario because Leo Realass has been playing third base regularly I mean, he started every game this past week.
[SPEAKER_01]: at third base, so maybe you see Emerson's side over there, maybe he plays between all three positions, gets some nice eligibility, that'd be awesome.
[SPEAKER_01]: But regardless, I think we'd love to see him a second base or even third base because third base has become sneaky bad again with all the top options, not really doing great outside of a few of them.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I would love to see him maybe get second or third base eligibility, but even if it sure stopped, I mean Emerson obviously
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I got that could be, you know, pushing 2020, you know, with a good average and a great OBP.
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, and then the guy that could be, you know, at second base or third base is a top 10 guy at short stop.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe more like a top 15-ish guy for fantasy purposes.
[SPEAKER_01]: But he's one that I think is up in the near future.
[SPEAKER_01]: And a few Minnesota hitters here.
[SPEAKER_01]: We got Kaelan Colpepper,
[SPEAKER_01]: Eduardo, I mean, manual Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins, but both Jenkins and Rodriguez are heard again.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, surprise surprise.
[SPEAKER_01]: Coppipers not.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you can see Coppipers up in the near future as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: We've got to had a nice breakout season last year.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I got to have as a top 40 prospect right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: This year eight hones runs seven steals and thirty one games getting two fifty three forty five four eighty four eleven and a half percent walker eight eighteen point two percent strikeout rate Copper is always been an above average contact guy you know this year
[SPEAKER_01]: just below 80% overall and just below 90% in zone.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I already mentioned the walking key rate.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's always been the guy that keeps the walk rate high and the key rate below 20%.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's walking more this year than last year, which is nice to see.
[SPEAKER_01]: So even if the average and OPP have ticked down, you know, a little bit.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think that's anything to do with his skills because his hobby, his babbip is also around 70 points lower than it was last year, 323 down the 255, so I think that definitely plays in to the average shopping and then subsequently the OPP.
[SPEAKER_01]: as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: But he's a guy that, you know, he's not a huge power guy, but there is some power there with Colbert Brown this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's actually ticked up, you know, from last year.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's this year 46% heart hit Ray in an average EV just over 91 miles an hour.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's up from last year.
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's encouraging to see that he's hitting the ball harder.
[SPEAKER_01]: he's a solid runner as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think Copaper's a potential 2020 guy with, you know, a good average at a good OPP.
[SPEAKER_01]: So long term, I don't think there's a lot of difference in the potential offensive output from Colpepper to Emerson.
[SPEAKER_01]: But you look at rankings and Copaper is he's ranked, you know, fairly high.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not saying he's like slept on or anything but
[SPEAKER_01]: in the regard that why, and I'm even questioning it, my own rankings, why is there a, you know, probably on average 20 to 30, maybe even more than that, you know, maybe even 30 to 40, you know, kind of spot difference in rankings, because Emerson by and large is top 10, top 50 from most, and Coppiper probably is more like 30 to 40, 50 range.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I don't think there's a big gap.
[SPEAKER_01]: So actually now that I'm saying it out loud, I've got to revisit where I kind of have clippered ranked.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe I have him ranked too lowly right now because he's he's a good player.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think he's going to shot room in a soda, you know, before the all start right me.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe he's not quite as early as Emerson or Walshman, but I don't think he's that far behind them either.
[SPEAKER_01]: And right now, Minnesota is running out, you know, Brooks Lee at short stop.
[SPEAKER_01]: Bryce Lewis at third, you know, he always gets hurt.
[SPEAKER_01]: We know that, Brooks Lee, he's been okay this year, but I mean, he's a guy that if he went to a funk, you know, they could, you know, put him on the bench or send him back to AAA.
[SPEAKER_01]: Pretty easily, and bring up Cole Pepper.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Cole Pepper is the long term guy for this Minnesota franchise at short stop.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think you see that happen before the all start break as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: So he's another one of the top hitters to stash as for Jenkins and my regas.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they're both hurt again.
[SPEAKER_01]: They always get hurt.
[SPEAKER_01]: These guys have notable durability questions.
[SPEAKER_01]: They're both, you know, high upside offensive guys, but just don't know.
[SPEAKER_01]: When you're going to see them, I mean, if they get healthy, you've got to assume both they view this year at some point.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's just hard to say when that's going to be until they get back healthy, but still love those guys love the upside, you know, obviously I like chickens a lot more.
[SPEAKER_01]: I have some concerns with Rodrigues.
[SPEAKER_01]: No, he has been hitting well this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: But right now, those guys are not as high of a priority for this year as Koma Perez.
[SPEAKER_01]: Over to the NL Central Milwaukee, a couple of guys I'm looking at, that probably could be up in the next couple of months, Luis Lara in the outfield and then Jet Williams as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: Both guys have fantasy-friendly profiles.
[SPEAKER_01]: They can steal bags, hit for a little bit of pop.
[SPEAKER_01]: Lara's been really impressive this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's got as moved up a lot.
[SPEAKER_01]: in my project rankings.
[SPEAKER_01]: I talked about him a couple episodes ago, so I won't go like super end up on him, but I do think you see both Lara and Jet Williams up, you know, probably before the Oscar break as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe even earlier, we'll see maybe it might need an injury.
[SPEAKER_01]: the open up a spot in that outfield, but both went up could be fun fantasy guys that could give you a nice little speed boost, we're giving you a home run here and there and hitting for you know maybe you do good average as well because they're both pretty good contact rate guys.
[SPEAKER_01]: as well, guys I can get on base.
[SPEAKER_01]: So, both guys that are turning up in prospect rankings right now in a pretty notable way.
[SPEAKER_01]: So, those are definitely two names to keep an eye on.
[SPEAKER_01]: We slide down to the cubs though.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not sure when you see any of their kind of three good hitting prospects in AAA.
[SPEAKER_01]: Jonathan Long, Kevin Alcantra, and Pedro Ramirez.
[SPEAKER_01]: because the cubs have a full lineup right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: I actually think that you see some combination of these guys get traded.
[SPEAKER_01]: The cubs are playing very well right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: but they've also lost Matthew Boyd to knee surgery.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm miss, that's a word.
[SPEAKER_01]: With this with the meniscus, meniscus connect to me.
[SPEAKER_01]: I probably butchered that.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's a mouthful, but he's out right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: Kate Horton's done for the year and part of the next year with Tommy John.
[SPEAKER_01]: Justin's deal has been working his way back from elbow surgery, but he's had some setbacks and they also have Jordan Wix on the I.L.
[SPEAKER_01]: decimated in the rotation, especially with, you know, a few, you know, impact guys.
[SPEAKER_01]: So it would make
[SPEAKER_01]: a ton of sense for the cubs to trade from their prospect core to get an impact arm before the deadline this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: Right now, you know, showed it in monogas and pitching very well.
[SPEAKER_01]: Edward Cabrera has been, you know, he's been decent.
[SPEAKER_01]: Then the other three guys currently in the rotation are Ben Brown, James and Tyon and Colin Ray.
[SPEAKER_01]: So they could really use another
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think they have the pieces to do that, you know, because they could definitely trade from, you know, cut, either two of these three guys, because they're all kind of blocked right now, you know, the infield for the Cubs is Michael Bush, Nico Horner, Alex Breigwin, Nancy Swanson,
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, tell me where the opening is there.
[SPEAKER_01]: There isn't one, and Matt Shaw's already up, and when he's been fine when he gets in there, but he's only started twice in the last six games.
[SPEAKER_01]: So he's not even a full time guy for them right now, you know, a former top prospect.
[SPEAKER_01]: So outside of an injury,
[SPEAKER_01]: I really struggle to see when any of the three guys I mentioned in long Ramirez or Alcantra get a shot because if it's an injury to an in-fielder, you probably see Matt Shaw slot in there who could play second base, third base, you know, even outfield too.
[SPEAKER_01]: So you got to wonder even if there is one injury, is Shaw that guy that steps into an everyday role as opposed to the three prospects.
[SPEAKER_01]: But all three are fun, you know, Alcantra brings the power.
[SPEAKER_01]: The average hasn't played Ben there this year, you know, but he brings, you know, good power up so I can run a little bit, you know, long is a pretty good hitter, you know, got a hit for average and power.
[SPEAKER_01]: And Ramirez has been one of the biggest prospect rises this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: He plays multiple income positions, hit for power.
[SPEAKER_01]: I can still get a few bags, hit for a good average.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's all three have would have intrigue if they got the shot.
[SPEAKER_01]: But,
[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't know when that's going to be, so those are your guys just keep an eye on them.
[SPEAKER_01]: Let me put them on your watch list, you know, see if they do get a shot and if they get traded, you know, maybe that is their opening to get into regular playing time.
[SPEAKER_01]: So just through to keep an eye on them, but again, don't know when you're going to see them.
[SPEAKER_01]: with the cubs, you know, the other hitter I wanted to mention Max Clark, obviously a big name, but don't think he's up soon.
[SPEAKER_01]: I do have him high in my stash rankings that I do on Rotalball or just because he's a, you know, top 10 prospect, top 5 prospect now for me, you know, huge, some base upside, you know, sneaky power can hit forever, you can get on base.
[SPEAKER_01]: He'd be potentially
[SPEAKER_01]: or you know, having that upside put some high up in my or stash rankings, but I think he's more like all start break, you know, July August, ETA as opposed to like a May June, ETA, but if you have deep benches and can afford to play the long game and maybe you know, hold a guy for, you know, six weeks, two months, whatever, you know, into the second half of the season, he'd be a guy that you could absolutely do that with.
[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, it's a very fantasy-friendly profile.
[SPEAKER_01]: The upside is very, very high.
[SPEAKER_01]: for Max Clark.
[SPEAKER_01]: Got that could tag team, the top of that Detroit lineup with McGonagall and form a really really good one-two punch up there in the long-term.
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, Clark is a guy that you absolutely stash.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you have the space, you know, shallow benches, probably doesn't make any sense to do so.
[SPEAKER_01]: But deeper benches, I think you absolutely can take a shot on Max Clark because when he gets to call, you know, he could be one of the higher impact rookies for the remainder of the
[SPEAKER_01]: Last but not least, you know, a few pictures here.
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot of the top pitching projects that I had high in my stash rankings are already up, you know, including, you know, recently Robby Stelling.
[SPEAKER_01]: So the three I look at right now are Thomas White, Jonah Tong, Kate Anderson.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, there's a few others as well.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, like Hagan Smith, for example,
[SPEAKER_01]: But these are the three guys that I kind of look at that have that blend of proximity and upside.
[SPEAKER_01]: Thomas White has frontline upside.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I mentioned earlier, I don't throw around the ace term too much, but Thomas White could be an ace.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's one of the few that has ace upside.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, with the walk rate has always been a bit higher with him.
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's kind of the one
[SPEAKER_01]: drawback I have with just going like all in on hummus white but the stuff is so damn good you know fastball and mid up or nine these he's got two good breaking balls he's got a good change up it's Thomas White could be a guy that is high up there in terms of strikeout rates but maybe the whip is a little higher because the walk rate
[SPEAKER_01]: I kind of feel similarly right now with him, how I felt 12 months ago with Dika Mizirowski.
[SPEAKER_01]: So take that for what it's worth, meaning
[SPEAKER_01]: I love both of them.
[SPEAKER_01]: Upside, obviously, is off the charts, but the walk rate is a little bit of a concern right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I love to see him get that in check.
[SPEAKER_01]: So with him, probably more like a, you know, July, August, ETA.
[SPEAKER_01]: He, he'd Anderson is a guy that I think could have a trade you savage type of rise.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's already in AA for Seattle.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think he, I would bet a high amount of money that he debuts by the end of the season.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's it's a matter of when not if he debuts this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think he could be actually is up with it next two months.
[SPEAKER_01]: He's been dominating already down in double a
[SPEAKER_01]: And I got that everyone thought was going to move quickly.
[SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, so maybe he's up even earlier than expected.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if you told me that Anderson was going to make 15 starts with Seattle this year, that one surprised me.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's probably even more likely than not likely at this point, given some of the injuries they've had, Bryce Miller, Luis Castillo, has a man super great.
[SPEAKER_01]: So obviously, you know, Hancock's emerged for them, but, you know, Anderson's going to find his way into that rotation at some point this year, it's the matter of how many starts that's for, because he's a guy kind of like the, you know, the picture version of what I was just saying with, with Clark, you have deeper benches and going to forward hold a guy for a couple of months.
[SPEAKER_01]: the picture, Patrick, you do that with, is either white or Anderson, you know, this year.
[SPEAKER_01]: Jonah Tong, I don't know when he gets back into it, you know, obviously the upside, pretty high for Tong, you know, a lot of good swing and miss stuff with him, but he's been pretty inconsistent this year down in the minor leagues and didn't really fare super well.
[SPEAKER_01]: in his time with the Matt's last season.
[SPEAKER_01]: But he's a guy, I'm just, I'm still keeping an eye on tongs because of the upside, the stuff is pretty good.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if he starts, you know, real and off a few good starts on the row, I think you could see Jonathan back up with the Matt's weather the season, especially if things keep going wrong for them, Matt's, I mean, it's been a pretty bad year for them right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if things keep going poorly and they don't get back into it and back in the
[SPEAKER_01]: later in the season.
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, let's get a wrap it up here.
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks everyone for tuning in.
[SPEAKER_01]: Hope you all have a good Friday and a good weekend and I'll be back with you again next week.
[SPEAKER_01]: But until then, everyone take care.