That's gonna be it for me from a Woj'ing standpoint. Please consider supporting FanGraphs with an ad-free subscription and check out our draft analysis on the site tomorrow.
Yusei Kikuchi was 92-93 in the first inning of his debut, 89-92 in the second. Today has held 93-94 thru 2ip. Secondaries (cutter, curveball, few splits) look great.
Some personal news: Yesterday morning I learned that my position was included in MLB’s latest round of layoffs. I’m shocked, sad -- but also incredibly thankful for what the company has done for my family and me in the past 5 1/2 years. (1/3)
Here's Hunt hitting a huge tank off of Mason Thompson on the last day of instructs. Thompson sat 96-99 both times I saw him, plus slider, and got put on the 40-man this off-season. Hunt hit a ball like 430ft to left at Chase Field a few days before I shot this.
Sources: Atlanta will select Wake Forest RHP Ryan Cusick. Second year in a row the Braves have taken a Demon Deacon with huge stuff. After that I have several teams telling me Oakland is on Cali prep SS Max Muncy.
It lacks stars, but TEX has the deepest system in the sport. This deal has a top 100 guy (Duran), a second division MIF piece not far off the 100 (Smith), an upside lotto ticket (Pereira), two high-probability role-player types (Hauver, Otto), and a spin rate freak (Vasquez). 👍
.
@TempePolice
Hey guys, please don't do this. I'd rather get to where I'm trying to go on time, and no beverage is worth that feeling we get when your lights come on behind our car.
BREAKING: The Padres have an agreement in place to acquire Blake Snell from the Rays, sources tell
@JCTSports
,
@Ken_Rosenthal
and me. Luis Patiño, Francisco Mejía, Blake Hunt and Cole Wilcox would head to Tampa. Deal pending review of medical records.
Padres agreed to terms ($800k) with 16-year-old Mexican LHP/OF Zayed Salinas. 6'2, 185, sits 87-90, curve 74-79 projects to plus, has changeup feel. We had as
#1
player in Mexico for 2019, 27th overall, 35+ FV.
Kingery ascent, Albies doing his thing, Altuve, Gennett, Pedroia's career, Cesar Hernandez, Luis Urias killing Triple-A at age 20...how many is it gonna take before we stop caring that a guy is short if it's otherwise clear he's just good?
Had Pfizer shot
#2
over the weekend. Side-effects: I've become more well-endowed and my vocal range improved by half an octave at the top and bottom of my register. I'm auditioning for a Jackie Wilson tribute band this afternoon. wooo! Be stoked to get it, folks, it's awesome.
Nobody stops and asks Trout if he wants to be marketed. If I were him I'd be thrilled I were the best player on Earth and could still go to the grocery store without it turning into the beginning of A Hard Day's Night.
Scout at Angels game had Shohei Ohtani up to 97 in his first inning of work, slider 79-80, splitty 84-88 (flashed plus-plus), one nasty, change-of-pace curveball at 70 mph.
Sources: OF Victor Labrada agreed a deal with Seattle Mariners (350.000 in bonus). Labrada left Cuba in last april, two days before the cancellation Cuba-MLB agreement.
I've begun work on the Rangers list in earnest and I'm pretty sure it's going to be the longest one. It's not the best system in baseball because it doesn't have a Wander Franco, but it is the deepest.
No. Boras is a positive, important part of the labor ecosystem because he drives money to employees instead of the pockets of billionaire owners. And he can use his platform to hold owners accountable for being cheap. He's just can't turn a phrase the way he thinks he can.
We just lost Esther, 11, five months after her brother. Pneumonia and complications thereafter. Adopting pets is great, these moments are the price you pay for all the wonderful stuff. If you're thinking about adopting, do it.
Here is MacKenzie Gore's entire Complex League outing from last night. Delivery has been reworked. Leg kick and hand/glove raise both toned down (especially from stretch), arm swing shortened, but old versions of both bleed in here and there.
Standing ovation for
@megrowler
who did a superhuman amount of work the last two weeks to coordinate, edit, and publish an entire book's worth of words at the site. Sidekick shoutout to whatever college kid sold her all their Adderall to help facilitate it.
Padres second rounder Josh Mears is the first Holy Shit pick of the evening. Was uncommitted when Area Codes began, then had huge week. Big frame, power, mobile for his size. We have a 35+ FV on him, he's indeed a solid prospect. I'm asking scouts if we were light.
Daniel Johnson: 80 arm, 70 run, 60 raw power, doesn't square balls up consistently, but the bat is better now than it was a year ago. Instincts in CF cause the speed to play down a bit. Generally considered a 4th OF, but has everyday physical tools.
Multiple sources: Yolbert Sanchez's trainer/rep has told teams that Sanchez has $2mil on the table from a team with 2019 pool space. This likely prices out all but Baltimore during the current signing period. Sanchez is eligible to sign starting today.
Have a day, Justice Thompson! 2 absolute web gems in CF, along with this 415 foot 💣 that left his bat at 109 mph 🔥(This was after an RBI double and a perfectly-placed bunt for a hit in his previous 2 ABs)
Stuff: Mostly 93-95, fastball utility exclusively @ the letters, though 1 pitch to C. Jensen had nasty arm-side action. Changeup location consistency & slider quality were best I've seen in my three '21 Gore looks. Gonna be inefficient, but imo could get 12-15 MLB outs right now.
Early indications are that Kahlil Watson's fall will stop with Miami. But early when SF was on the clock that was also the case. I'll stop short of totally confirming it but it is what teams picking behind Miami thinks will happen.
New Mets prospects:
Will Toffey a probable bench bat. 5 bat with good feel the strike zone, fine at 3B, lack of power caps ceiling.
Bobby Wahl: Surgeries in '15, '17, velo anywhere from 93-98 in looks betwixt injuries, slidey is plus