MLB Pipeline Top 10 SS: Swanson #2, Maitan #7
- Thread starter thewupk
- Start date
Yeah I don't either. Seems like Swanson is what you hope Torres turns out to be, except Swanson already has (limited) success in the majors.
Torres has more upside. He already has more power than Swanson does at two years younger
According to some. I don't think that's universal. He's also only in A ball. Long ways to go there.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
He is riding a ton of hype.. most of which was because he was a big piece of a trade. That helped with his helium.. He is good, but not sure top 5 in all MiLB quite yet.
It definitely feels like a little too much too quickly. Sano barely cracked the top 100 before he played stateside, and it looks like Maitan will be ranked higher than Sano was after a year of playing well in rookie ball. I do believe Maitan is a slightly better prospect right now than Sano was when he signed, but it's an aggressive ranking. That said, it is pretty likely Maitan will hit well in rookie ball, and once he does, he'll fly up rankings, so I guess you might as well go ahead and start moving him up.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
agreed!
Law had him 59 as well. I'm wondering if the reports from Instructs suggest that the more optimistic views of his ability to stick at Shortstop were more accurate. I know almost every prospect writer says you don't learn a whole lot from Instructs, but if a 16-year-old comes in and looks like he belongs, it might bump up his value.
We will find out soon enough. I can't imagine the Braves would waste development time at SS for a guy whose bat is supposed to be special, so the position switch should come quickly if it's needed. If it's obvious his longterm home is 3B, then move him there immediately and let him progress rapidly.
I think you leave him at SS until he forces you to do something else, whether it's poor fielding or his bat needs to get to Atlanta. As much as we all love Dansby, it's no sure thing that he is the long-term answer at SS, and if Maitan proves he can handle SS, we should keep that option on the table.
At the risk of riling the doubters up, I think the present ETA Pipeline references is a bit conservative as well - not that it shouldn't be.
I think the current brass is showing a return to not being as afraid to push kids - fast enough that they may be able to experience some adversity at lower levels, hoping to catch another fast-riser like Druw or Furcal. Given the amount of time in the limelight Maitan likely has the makeup to handle being "rushed" as well as Swanson has.
I think the current brass is showing a return to not being as afraid to push kids - fast enough that they may be able to experience some adversity at lower levels, hoping to catch another fast-riser like Druw or Furcal. Given the amount of time in the limelight Maitan likely has the makeup to handle being "rushed" as well as Swanson has.
I just think that's a poor way to handle assets and minimize risk. If Maitan can handle SS in the Minors, you leave him there until you cannot do so anymore. I am all for moving him to Third quickly if he's struggling at SS, but if that's not the case, I say let him stay there until a move is necessary. That way you keep the pipeline fulfilled at SS and keep his value as high as possible if the circumstances dictate moving him.