This week in Huge Hype Prospects, we’ll verify in with a couple of latest and upcoming promotees together with a smattering of others.
5 big-hype prospects
Max Meyer, 23, SP, Marlins
AAA: 58 IP, 10.09 Ok/9, 2.95 BB/9, 3.72 ERA
Meyer is poised for his first style of the majors on Saturday, simply forward of the All-Star break. As MLBTR’s Anthony Franco explored on the time his promotion was introduced, the northpaw has made quick work of minor league opponents in any respect stops. His ascent has not been with out caveat. Some commentators fear about his potential to carry down a rotation position within the majors for 3 causes. The primary is best to dismiss as pointless fretting. At 6-feet-tall, Meyer is barely undersized, which might presage an incapacity to tolerate 180-inning workloads. That stated, there are many “quick” pitchers in baseball historical past, most notably Pedro Martinez.
The second and third points are a bit extra worrisome. They tie collectively, too. Meyer’s fastball command isn’t as sharp as his stroll charges recommend. He’s gotten away with utilizing it within the zone within the minors, however he may run into some bother within the majors. He depends nearly completely on his fastball and an elite slider, a mixture that always portends a future within the bullpen. That stated, lower-caliber pitchers like Brad Keller and Brady Singer have managed mid-rotation high quality outcomes with the identical repertoire. We’ve additionally seen a couple of others like Spencer Strider thrive this season whereas utilizing a special two-pitch repertoire.
Nick Pratto, 23, 1B, Royals
AAA: 337 PA, 17 HR, 8 SB, .240/.373/.484
Like lots of his power-hitting main league colleagues, Pratto acquired off to a gradual begin this season earlier than ultimately discovering his stride. The Royals have promoted him for a sequence in Toronto wherein they’ve infamously left 10 gamers south of the Canadian border. As such, his debut may be short-lived.
Pratto is a traditional affected person, left-handed slugger within the mould of Kyle Schwarber. Just like the upcoming Dwelling Run Derby participant, Pratto runs a mid-teens stroll fee whereas hanging out in round 30 % of plate appearances. He makes up for thus little contact by punishing these with which he does join. Practically half of his batted balls are flies, and greater than 20 % of these go away the yard. Per a house run calculator I’ve developed, Pratto tasks for 33 residence runs per 600 plate appearances. Whereas he’s proven a willingness to run, he has below-average velocity. Like Schwarber, Pratto will most likely be a unstable performer whose carrying trait is slugging.
Esteury Ruiz, 23, OF, Padres
AA: 232 PA, 9 HR, 37 SB, .344/.474/.611
AAA: 142 PA, 4 HR, 23 SB, .315/.457/.477
Ruiz attracts his hype from our buddies within the fantasy baseball realm the place his mixture of energy and velocity may make him one of the crucial celebrated gamers within the sport. From a real-world perspective, there are a whole lot of issues that might go unsuitable. Beginning on protection, he solely has a few yr of expertise as an outfielder. His routes will be inconsistent and even circuitous. Thankfully, he has sufficient velocity to get better whereas he learns the place. Pace doesn’t assure eventual mastery as an outfield defender. Roman Quinn is equally fleet and nonetheless takes baffling routes to the ball at occasions.
Scouts additionally fear about his hit instrument. Previous to this season, Ruiz had constantly below-average plate self-discipline. He struggled with swinging strikes, strikeouts and consistency of contact. Notably, he’s produced 13.9 % stroll and 17.4 % strikeout charges this season throughout two ranges. His swinging-strike fee has additionally improved. Maybe a extra selective method has yielded higher contact outcomes. (I’m nonetheless awaiting remark from my sources.) Regardless, velocity is his carrying trait. Nabbing 60 bases (69 makes an attempt) in 374 plate appearances is severely spectacular work.
I’m reminded of Michael A. Taylor, an outfielder who, at his peak, often hit for energy, usually stole bases, however by no means fairly made sufficient contact to stay as an everyday. He’s carved out a pleasant profession primarily based on Gold Glove-caliber heart discipline protection. As famous above, Ruiz might want to enhance significantly to match Taylor on protection. The uncooked instruments are there.
Riley Greene, 21, OF, Tigers
MLB: 109 PA, 1 HR, 1 SB, .255/.358/.340
Greene’s prospect eligibility will quickly expire. His first style of the Majors has yielded blended outcomes. On the one hand, he’s successfully working counts. His 21.1 % strikeout and seven.9 % swinging-strike charges exceed even the wildest hopes for his early-career efficiency. The swinging-strike fee, particularly, is a marked divergence from expectations.
However, Greene is meant to be an influence hitter. With only one residence run, three doubles and a triple to his title, he’s been one of the crucial punchless batters since his debut in mid-June. Solely 19 gamers have a decrease ISO over that span — largely names like Geraldo Perdomo, Myles Straw and Steven Kwan.
Higher occasions possible await forward. Greene is making constant arduous and barreled contact. It’s additionally encouraging to see him make changes. He’ll must proceed to take action to right for the most important flaw in his profile — an over-50 % ground-ball fee. Whereas he’s presently utilizing a shift-proof all-fields method, he’s the form of hitter who may benefit from a extra pull-centric profile.
Colton Cowser, 22, OF, Orioles
Excessive-A: 278 PA, 4 HR, 16 SB, .258/.385/.410
AA: 53 PA, 3 HR, 1 SB, .308/.491/.615
In a crowded Orioles system, a whole lot of consideration is paid to Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall. Nevertheless, Cowser can be a top-50-caliber prospect who’s shortly working his manner towards a giant league debut in early 2023. With a affected person method, good fee of contact and a swing geared for top BABIPs, Cowser profiles as a top-of-the-lineup drive. He produces premium line-drive charges whereas utilizing an all-fields method. A left-handed hitter, he gained’t be as penalized by the brand new dimensions at Camden Yards as his right-handed-hitting teammates. But, since he hits to all fields, he’ll nonetheless use the spacious left discipline pasture to splash doubles.
If Cowser has a shortcoming, it’s that he doesn’t constantly get to in-game energy. As talked about, his swing skews to low-angle contact. He produces loads of well-hit balls, however his sport is usually geared round reaching base. In right now’s MLB, you by no means know when a participant will make an adjustment that unlocks one other gear, nevertheless it’s not strictly crucial in Cowser’s case. The Orioles have loads of mid-lineup bats penciled into their future lineups. Nevertheless, they might use a leadoff hitter who works counts and jumps on errors within the zone.
5 extra
Michael Massey, Royals (24 years previous): One other momentary beneficiary of the Royals’ roster triage, Massey isn’t technically a hyped prospect. Nevertheless, my greatest scouting useful resource has been speaking him up for a full yr as a future common. Whereas it isn’t probably the most thrilling profile, he skews to line drive and “fliner” contact, which helps him to run excessive BABIPs whereas additionally usually hitting for additional bases. The elevated BABIP can be crucial if he’s to be an above-average hitter — his plate self-discipline and speak to abilities are barely under common. Defensively, he profiles as a utilityman who matches greatest at second base.
Eury Perez, Marlins (19): With Shane Baz returning to the injured record due to an ominous elbow sprain, Perez is the final actually elite pitching prospect (Baz, Daniel Espino and Grayson Rodriguez) left standing. The Marlins are rigorously managing his workload — each by holding him to round 20 batters confronted per look whereas utilizing him each seven or eight days. He’s carved by Double-A contest and will most likely greater than maintain his personal within the majors. He’s solely 19 years and three months previous, so Miami is taking the lengthy view together with his improvement.
Jordan Walker, Cardinals (20): Walker has but to seem on this column for 2 easy causes. His efficiency hasn’t merited effusive reward or phrases of warning. As one of many youngest gamers in Double-A, he’s batting .302/.392/.476 with seven residence runs and 15 steals whereas demonstrating good strike-zone judgment and a batted-ball method primarily based round liners and floor balls. His light-tower energy is handicapped by hitting too many grounders. It’s not a demise blow to his presumed future as a high slugger. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are among the many notable energy hitters who skew to low-angle contact.
Mick Abel, Phillies (20): With the same old caveats about damage, Abel can be one of the crucial hyped pitching prospects this time subsequent yr. He’s carried out nicely, although, not exceptionally at Excessive-A this season, producing a 4.23 ERA with 10.50 Ok/9 and three.95 BB/9. Lately, he’s struggled with each residence runs and walks. The Phillies have allowed him to pitch surprisingly deep into his begins. He usually faces 24 or extra batters, which is greater than the common massive leaguer. This workload has been mitigated with additional relaxation between begins.
Brayan Rocchio, Guardians (21): Since a four-hit, two-homer sport on the finish of June, Rocchio is batting .452/.500/.833 over his final 46 plate appearances. In his second stint at Double-A, he’s noticeably improved upon his stroll and strikeout charges. He’s starting to trace as a shortstop whose defensive and offensive prowess will remind Guardians followers of Francisco Lindor. Together with final season, he now has 506 plate appearances at Double-A. A promotion to Triple-A is sort of actually imminent.
