Generic minor league thread - Until the Great Rico returns
- Thread starter Tapate50
- Start date
striker42
Well-known member
Shewmake is 6-4, 190. I honestly hope he does bulk up. I want him to outgrow SS. If he adds a bunch of muscle, adds more loft to his swing, and develops 20-25 HR power, we're starting to see why Zobrist was thrown around as a comp. I'd gladly trade his ability to stick at SS for an increase in power.
Per MLB Pipeline: "His arm is more accurate than strong, leading some scouts to project him as a second baseman"
If arm strength is a question for him at SS, it's an even bigger question at third. Maybe he'll add more arm strength or maybe the reports are wrong. Just saying that's why some doubt him on the left side of the infield.
striker42
Well-known member
There are examples of big SSs, but they're the exception. I'd like to see Shewmake put on about 20-30 pounds. Get to 6-4, 210-220. That would be roughly Chipper Jones size. It's hard to be a SS at that size. Not impossible, but difficult.
I honestly think whether he sticks at short or not to be fairly insignificant at this point. If he adds muscle resulting in a power jump and keeps his hit tool, he'll see the field. Keep an eye on his bat. That's what will carry him to the majors.
I was at the Rome game yesterday. The Shewmake homer was an opposite field shot down the LF line. Mejia threw 7 shutout innings, allowing (I think) three hits and no walks.
UPDATE: Mejia allowed 4 hits with 6Ks, and 0 BBs. Also, Shewmake doesn't look he's 190. He's pretty thin.
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Why is this a silly notion? He's 21 and he's had more success than pretty much any of our current minor league SP prospects so far, save Anderson.
I have no issue in letting him help the pen for remainder of the year. But to act like he has no future as a SP is.... well a silly notion.
Disagree...guy is barely a 2 pitch pitcher. Hes got a great fastball and thats why he needs to be bullpen.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
It isn't unknown that a 21 year old pitcher improves his secondary pitches.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
He's a 4 pitch pitcher. And if he can improve just one of those secondary offerings... as a 21 year old... he can be a very successful starter.
Wilson certainly could still end up a SP. it is way to early to say he can’t. But he can help this bullpen down the stretch. He could be a weapon the rest of the year for the MLB club. Then go back in the spring to trying to be a successful SP in MLB.
Difference makers out of the Pen could make this team a legit threat in October be it Wilson, Weigel, Anderson or whoever or none of the above.
The starters are all 4-6 inning guys in the playoffs sans maybe Soroka.
Difference makers out of the Pen could make this team a legit threat in October be it Wilson, Weigel, Anderson or whoever or none of the above.
The starters are all 4-6 inning guys in the playoffs sans maybe Soroka.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Agreed. This year he could be a weapon in the pen. Next year he should be given more opportunities to develp as a starter.
The situation in the pen is pretty fluid. Sobotka, Webb, and Minter could displace some of the guys currently in the pen. Maybe Dayton too if he is able to come back from the injury.
And some of the guys starting in AAA, including Wilson, might be in the pen come September.
Odds are highly against someone. Usually, someone flahses plus but is inconsistent. Hard to develop plus over time.
Tapate50
Well-known member
Minter has burned us too much this season. Can be nasty, but just hasn't been effective.
Webb, Walker, Sobo, Wilson, Weigel, Touki, etc... should all be considerations when trying to cobble together a playoff pen.
Tapate50
Well-known member
We could always, ya know just wait and see?
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Odds are against any pitching prospect. But the return to developing a starting pitcher is much higher than from developing a reliever. That's why Touki is back to starting in AAA and why guys like Wilson, Wright and Muller are being developed as starters.
At some point next season, however, some decisions will have to be made as to which ones are more suited for the pen.
It could come in spring training. They way I see it there will be one spot opened up in the major league rotation and 5 in the AAA rotation. And those six spots will have to be divided up between Anderson, Wilson, Wright, Touki, Muller, Ynoa, Weigel and Davidson. That's 8 for 6 spots as starters. So barring injury or trades two will get moved to the pen.
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He has 3 pitches that project as average or better. And again, he's 21.
striker42
Well-known member
Absolutely. There's zero reason to make any kind of final determinations at this point. The kid was just drafted a few months ago. It's fun to speculate and discuss but waiting and seeing is the only way to go.
striker42
Well-known member
There's also nothing that says he can't be moved back to the rotation if he shows 3 or more effective pitches.
He played late in the game yesterday. Made a good catch in RF. His family was seated behind us. I think he grounded out in his only AB.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Not much difference in level between Rome and Danville. He'll probably be in Rome most of next season. Close to home for him and his family.
It will be interesting what they do with Ball and Backstrom next year. I'm surprised Ball hasn't been promoted yet. It's possible he'll spend most of next year in the Florida State League along with the other more advanced college players we drafted this year (Langeliers, Shewmake, Kalish). This would allow Backstrom to play first for Rome next year. I'm guessing also that at some point Backstrom will be given some time in the outfield.
Edit: Ball promoted to Rome.
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