Dana Brown was better than both.
Minor League Thread Part Deux
- Thread starter 50PoundHead
- Start date
msstate7
Well-known member
He was 0-2 when I stopped following. What happened in last PA?
ETa... I'm dumb. He hit a hr, I get it now
Deester11
Well-known member
Better late than never..lol
zbhargrove
Well-known member
Like what I’m seeing out of McCabe and Workinger… hitting wise I feel like McCabe and Baldwin could end up being very similar… good eye, consistent solid hard contact… but McCabe probably a DH for the most part
Unfortunate that he is only able to DH. He has to be a lot better in order to be a factor just because you can only use one DH at a time.
He could fake it at 3b or 1b for a few games. But he's going to end up costing you more runs then he'll generate in the long run.
But he needs to be promoted either way.
Not sure if this was posted earlier, but Didier Fuentes is now ranked as the #80 prospect by Fangraphs. https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board
"Fuentes is a loose, undersized righty who allowed just 80 baserunners and struck out 98 in 75.2 innings in 2024, mostly living off his ability to locate his fastball to the top of the zone. There were times last year when Fuentes was paving over A-ball lineups even though he was using his fastball at a 70-80% clip. On the season, he used it 70% of the time and still struck out 32% of opponents. For further context, the average big league fastball generated a 23% miss rate in 2024, while Fuentes' was well above 30%. Fuentes was originally written up on this cycle’s Braves list as a 40+ FV prospect with a traits-heavy fastball who could break out if improvements to his conditioning facilitated a boost in arm strength. Well, that has happened. To start 2025, Fuentes carved in three High-A starts and was given a quick hook up to Double-A. His fastball was routinely 94-96 and touched 97-98 several times in his first Double-A start, while last year he averaged 93 mph. He explodes way down the mound and generates nearly seven feet of extension, even though the 19-year-old righty is only listed at six feet tall. His drive off the rubber is so explosive that umpires have had to stop the game to talk to him about how far off of it he comes off before release.
Fuentes is still a two-pitch guy and his slider isn’t consistently good yet, but his fastball is going to carry him to a meaningful big league role as a starter, much like Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller or Joe Ryan at the start of their big league tenures. Given the Braves’ penchant for pushing their good prospects, there’s a chance Fuentes keeps climbing and gets moved to Triple-A if he pitches well at Columbus in May. He’s a potential mid-rotation weapon."
"Fuentes is a loose, undersized righty who allowed just 80 baserunners and struck out 98 in 75.2 innings in 2024, mostly living off his ability to locate his fastball to the top of the zone. There were times last year when Fuentes was paving over A-ball lineups even though he was using his fastball at a 70-80% clip. On the season, he used it 70% of the time and still struck out 32% of opponents. For further context, the average big league fastball generated a 23% miss rate in 2024, while Fuentes' was well above 30%. Fuentes was originally written up on this cycle’s Braves list as a 40+ FV prospect with a traits-heavy fastball who could break out if improvements to his conditioning facilitated a boost in arm strength. Well, that has happened. To start 2025, Fuentes carved in three High-A starts and was given a quick hook up to Double-A. His fastball was routinely 94-96 and touched 97-98 several times in his first Double-A start, while last year he averaged 93 mph. He explodes way down the mound and generates nearly seven feet of extension, even though the 19-year-old righty is only listed at six feet tall. His drive off the rubber is so explosive that umpires have had to stop the game to talk to him about how far off of it he comes off before release.
Fuentes is still a two-pitch guy and his slider isn’t consistently good yet, but his fastball is going to carry him to a meaningful big league role as a starter, much like Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller or Joe Ryan at the start of their big league tenures. Given the Braves’ penchant for pushing their good prospects, there’s a chance Fuentes keeps climbing and gets moved to Triple-A if he pitches well at Columbus in May. He’s a potential mid-rotation weapon."
Deester11
Well-known member
It's almost like I wrote that scouting report. LOL. It's on point, but that slider is enough to make him an effective two pitch pitcher. Anywho....
My thoughts on a couple of players I've watched recently. (Maier today)
EJ Exposito - You could mix him up with Espinoza and Tavarez in the way that they set up in the box. Exposito probably has the stronger bat make up to this point of the three I'm mentioning. He takes pretty good swings but I feel like all of their swings have various levels of plane angles that don't seem to profile as much power although Exposito seems like he can get to more. As with most Braves position players though, he'll strike about about every 3 AB's although I saw him clear the Modelo sign out in left center. I don't know that he'll ever consistently be enough of a power threat, but if he can continue to gain strength and some consistency, he may be a find. His OBP's so far in his career before this year have left much to be desired.
Lizandro Espinoza - I think it's a requirement to have at least one 5"7 guy on the team. Espinoza is that. He also has a compact set up, will strike out once in three ab's and to me....MEH. He homered too and honestly in other games I've seen him, he hits the ball pretty hard. Line drive specific swing, but I liked his hands today and a few weeks ago when I saw him. I see no discernible skillset though that says he will make it. He was playing SS and Tavarez second base (A waste I'll tell ya)! He is good in the field, but he's no Tavarez at SS...LOL. Critique aside, he's just ok for me.
Ambioris Tavarez - SO.....I've talked about my affinity for Tavarez since I saw him at the complex. He's schooled at SS and he plays a great 2B as well. I guess it would add to his utility profile. But that is the rub. There are spots in the majors for field-first players, but there is enough in Tavarez's profile that says he may not be one of them. Between injuries, lost time and underwhelming play, his light has dimmed considerably as I think I'm the only one still wishing on him. (First rule of thumb....don't fall in love with players who have massive issues). All that said, his stance has closed considerably and I think he's been encouraged to swing early... in which case, I saw him do exactly that in the last 3 games I've seen him. In theory, this is so that he doesn't get himself into too many pitcher's counts because if that happens....he's pretty much going to strike out. I just think he doesn't recognize pitches well at all. When he makes contact, and When he recognizes that pitch....it SOUNDS great. His swing has gone to a line drive approach at the expense of power. I'd rather he swing for power if you're going to miss that much.... While the other guys strike out every 3 times, he'll strike out every 2.5. UGH
Adam Maier - So....I remember when he was drafted, there was some hand wringing over whether he would sign. The Braves took a chance on him after a UCL injury and he missed an entire year of pitching I think. Something like that. Ok...my memory said that Maier was known for his slider pre-draft. I must say that it is the only pitch I was impressed with but all of his stuff was ok I guess. He was topping out at 93ish-94 maybe. He has a kinda whip thing going on when strides to the plate and I think for whatever reason it helps with the movement of his pitches. His FB was missing inside to lefties and running away a little from righties. He's a 6'0 guy that I think could move if he goes to the pen. The kind of pitcher that lasts a long time out of the Pen. As a starter, I think he's a once through the lineup type of guy. That has value in the Pen.
Sooo.... This Workinger kid is looking pretty legit. Seems like the type of prospect that takes a little while to figure out a level, but when he does, he mashes (Riley was that way). I know he's a tad old for his level, but he's leading the Southern League in HRs and RBIs and he's 4th in OPS. Given our depth at OF when Acuna and Profar are back, I would say it's very doubtful we see him in Atlanta this year. But it would be nice to see what he can do at AAA.
Deester11
Well-known member
Man, I really appreciate that. I don't try to be a know it all, just try to have fun with the EYE TEST. LOL. Knowing you get something out of it is the best. Thanks Hula!!
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
I appreciate it as well. I will take any and all info I can get on the prospects. Even an untrained person in scouting can give good tidbits. I know for a long time we would hear about a great prospect throwing 98 mph FB then they get to Atlanta and are throwing 92 mph.
Deester11
Well-known member
The only thing I can say is that a lot of what I give is echoed in other circles, but I don't try to follow what "scouts" say. They miss just like everyone else. But I have fun talking to a few. A few of our prospects don't move me, but people are high on them. Sometimes I see it and other times, I'm the "meh" guy. But I will continue to give nuggets of information where I can.
Deester11
Well-known member
How could you not love those numbers? LOL...Bourassa is yet another undrafted signee with the Braves having more success with those lately than more highly regarded drafted players. I've seen 2 games and to me he looks like he's always been the big kid on the team. Babyface and all (Bartolo on a diet)?. I digress however. He is a big kid, throwing from over the top with effort (in my humble opinion). I never like that, but it works for him. It does create downward plane and he throws a "heavy" FB, I never caught speed, but guessing 93ish or higher for short spurts. But his main swing and miss pitch is some type of splitter/forkball that he throws. It is a true knockout pitch. When he was in the Cape Cod league...these were his numbers on that splitter ( .091 BAA, 50% whiff rate- 800 avg RPM, minimum 640- 3rd lowest spin score of any pitch in the league (high velo, low spin). In other words, that things dives!
He's always had high strikeout numbers from HS to SDSU...and the trend has continued in pro ball. The swing and misses on his secondary pitches are ridiculous. Because I'm an eye test observer, I couldn't tell you the numbers beyond the basics, but he has definitely looked better than some of the higher profile pitchers in the system. Perhaps the Braves have found a gem?
Hudson2
Well-known member
Perdomo was a big sign and plays a position we desperately need more of