Naitional League Prospect Storylines For Spring Training

Aram and Jack discuss the most interesting prospect storylines for each National League team in Spring Training.

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Intro: 0:00
ATL: 4:34
MIA: 7:53
NYM: 11:31
PHI: 15:45
WAS: 18:10
CHC: 19:35
CIN: 23:47
MIL: 26:41
PIT: 31:30
STL: 36:37
ARI: 38:22
COL: 41:12
LAD: 45:01
SD: 48:51
SF: 50:35

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Welcome back to the call up I’m RM waiton he’s Jack McMullan and we’re going to continue this little series here two-part Series where we’re talking about the biggest storylines for each team now in the National League as we go through and get into spring training get through camp and everything Prospect

Story lines of course because this is your prospect podcast and the American League was really fun we kept it under an hour which is impressive for us but also felt like we covered everything we needed to cover kind of get your primed up and and ready to go for not only your

Favorite team maybe the other teams in the division things to look out for uh if you’re praying on their downfall or you know I another thing that I’ve realized too is a lot of people play not a lot but at least a good amount of people play in Fantasy leagues that are

Like just National League just American League so this gives you some other things to watch there too but also if you’re just a baseball fan it’s always fun to know what’s going on across the 30 ball clubs 100% um I think I think it was 53 minutes we went on the American

League side so I’m not W I’m not going to push us and be like oh well we got to go faster because then we’re thinking about going fast and that may take away from the content but I do think that we can go two for two on these of uh

Keeping it under an hour this is like a fun little week because yeah we have concrete baseball to talk about we want to get these in before spring training games do start on Thursday and then at the end of the week you’re going to hear the mock draft episode you cooked up

Just baseball’s mock draft 1.0 how many 0’s do you think we’re going to get is there such thing as a 1.5 or is an next one I was wondering that cuz I put 1.0 in the title because it was just what I’ve always seen it’s what people do

You’re a follow and I was thinking about like yeah what’s a 1.5 like I Travis bazana bowled out week one so now I’m gonna move him up two spots and that’s it I don’t change anything else that’s like a a mock draft 1.2 or like a 1.3 I’ve always wondered

Yeah you can either go 1.0 1.1 1.2 or what I think you’re going to do is 2.0 3.0 and I bet we end with 4.0 I bet you do four I think probably do four I don’t want to update it too frequently I I think there’s like checkpoints and we’re

Gonna we’re going to decide those checkpoints and and A lot’s going to change in the first few weeks I will say one thing I I’m glad you mentioned college baseball real quick we’re going to talk a lot about college baseball we also talked about we’re going to talk

About college baseball in a lot of the bonus episodes which by the way if you’re listening to this should be ready to run now in terms of being able to subscribe to that thank you for all the feedback that people gave me on Instagram Twitter um and the fact that

You are willing to to support extra episodes really means a lot I I felt like an [ __ ] even asking for it like hey if we did bonus four bonus episodes a month you know would you be interested in in you know paying a small fee like I

Felt weird even asking that so the fact that you know people gave us the feedback and said hey um I’d definitely be interested in that one made me feel better and two it meant a lot so um let me know if you have any trouble uh

Subscribing to that it should be up and there there should be a button for that I can I’ll have a more specific walkthr on that on the Friday episode which would still be ahead of uh you know the first bonus episode that we’re putting out so look out for that mock draft

Episode and in that mock draft episode we’ll give a quick walkr on how to subscribe if it’s difficult I think there should be a button right there though because of how we set it up right so my one ask is you don’t do the gas station thing where it’s like

$7.99 if it’s eight bucks it’s eight bucks like that’s the thing that really pisses me off about all these subscription services oh Apple TV Plus for the small price of $8.99 a month I’m like no I’m paying $9 a month tell me I’m paying $9 so please make it a round

Number for me I will do that for you and I also always thought that was kind of ridiculous so uh but again thank you so much and and if that’s something you’re not interested in no worries thank you for listening to the show every other day during the week anyways and we

Really appreciate your support either way but I think another aspect of what we’re going to do is we’re going to do mailbags throughout the season but we will guarantee a mailbag every single month as a bonus episode and subscribers will have the opportunity to always have their their question answered um at at

Least every other mailbag we will be sure to do that so without any more delay we’ll jump right into the national league which I think we talked about it I think think the national league storylines are a little bit more interesting than the American League American League are fun National

League’s there’s a lot of arms I think I think it’s a lot of pitching storylines but I think that they’re more interesting well we’re starting with the Atlanta Braves so it’s all about the arms um the Atlanta Braves are on paper either the best team in baseball or the

Second best team in baseball depending on what you like I think they might be onea and the Dodgers might be one w b with Otani not in the rotation this year but I think there’s going to be a battle for the five spot that nobody wants to talk about I get that Bryce

Elder was an All-Star last year but his second half was really not good and AJ Smith Schauer could be ready to shoulder the load as the five starter in that rotation I think there is a spring battle that is being held like very close to the chest by Atlanta’s brass

The other one that jumps out to me what does Hurst and waldrip look like because I’d set the odds at 50% that he is on this team at some point this year as a reliever yeah you know that’s one that I think I think is a good storyline but I

Think is somewhat unchanged in Camp unless he just goes crazy um but with Smith schaver that was my storyline and to take it a step further I guess it’s the specific thing I’m monitoring is secondary command we know the fast ball plays we know he can fill up the Zone

With with the fast ball his secondary command was inconsistent especially as he got up to Triple A and then the big leagues if the secondary command’s there I think that Five Spot can be his it sounds like Elder unless as you mentioned they just kind of keeping it

Closer to their vest like it sounds like Elder will have the job and then if he continues to have those second half struggles that we saw then you know you you’ve got AJ Smith Scher just waiting in the wings but if Smith schaver spot the secondary stuff and looks like he

Looked at the lower levels and then in doublea even last year I mean it’s going to be hard to justify not giving him a role especially with already having some big leag time under his belt yeah there there’s nothing in the bat Department like Atlanta worst Farm systems in baseball

I’m just going to ask you this rapid fire the ones that come to your mind for me it’s the Angels the Astros I think the Braves are up there and the Diamondbacks are probably I think the Dbacks stink um theb backs yeah that’s a

Bad or I I think I think I love the oranization I love the or I love what Hazen’s doing I think the Farm’s getting a little better but you know I think even their stronger guys I’m just not I’m lower on like a Yin Lin and uh like Ivan Melendez

Like I just don’t love those guys so yeah I think the Dbacks are are down there the Braves are always not a great system because I feel like they just always draft high probability arms um that will either be traded or or give them something at some point uh and then

But they always end up converting one or two guys into just legitimate Big League pieces kind of like the Astros and it’s like it’s hard to hate on the farm when you turn out big league pieces still yeah I will say the angels are the worst

System in baseball for me oh yeah yeah yeah no doubt angels are the worst it’s not close it’s not close all right let’s jump over to Miami Marlins here I I’m curious what your take is because I’ve got one guy that I have ided but before

That kind of lay the landscape for me cuz there have to be a couple of situations you’re looking at yeah I mean primarily primarily it’s the pitching side of things just because I think I think you have a really unique situation here where you know if Max

Meyer never gets hurt you he he’s in that rotation for the rest of the the 20202 season and then would have probably had a spot in the 2023 season of course has Tommy John surgery comes is set to come back this this season and should be ready for the start of the

Year already throwing has been working on a sinker um but right now you look at the ation it’s Lizardo Yuri Perez braxon Garrett Edward Cabrera Trevor Rogers the word is that Trevor Rogers isn’t even guaranteed a spot in the rotation which is crazy uh and Edward Cabrera were

We’re hearing a lot of you know trade conversation there is he pirate yet what’s going on I’m I hope I mean you know I would love to see that trade go down but that’s why Max Meer is a big storyline for me because I think that they’re waiting to see what Max Meyer

Looks like you know does he look healthy first and foremost and he’s been working on that Sinker does that look like it’s an asset that will kind of take him to another level we know the slider is a 70 grade pitch uh we know that the fast

Ball is fine enough it’s flat but you know he’s just been able to get by with it the change up has been a decent enough third pitch that you feel like this guy can at least be a four starter or a really good reliever if if it comes

To it but if they feel like Max Meyer can start and and is ready to start from you know the beginning of the Season then maybe they’re even more eag and willing to trade in Edward Cabrera so I’m most fascinated by Max Meyer and how

They use him and what he does to spring because I do think that if he shows out he could end up carving out a role in the in the rotation maybe even for opening day okay so max Meyer was my guy too there were a couple other head-to

Heads that I was curious about one of which is Spider-Man meme Xavier Edwards and Vidal bruhan I’m very curious if Edwards can just beat out bruhan the other one is Troy Johnston and Trey Mancini yeah I wonder if Troy has a better like spring than Trey Troy and

Trey it’s gonna be a tough one but Avi Garcia is the DH right now like why is Josh Bell not get a DH and you have either Mancini or Troy Johnston play first base I I think that that can be a battle I you look Troy Johnston by the

Way just just launched a podcast with Scott cornberg um Tria broadcaster for Jacksonville um go check that out I I think they’re going to do a great job Troy’s one of the the good dudes in in in professional baseball um but but Troy like he’s got to have a firewood under

Him right he doesn’t get added to the 40 man he doesn’t get taken in the rule five and that was largely positional you know you just don’t take first baseman in the rule of five very often uh and and Troy I think feels like he has a

Direct path to to to potentially you know carve out a big league role and what more could he have done last year he had a phenomenal season so I’m very excited to see that and also that that’s another great storyline because I think Troy is going to get a lot more Outfield

Reps so you know I think Troy’s is is an just in himself is a big storyline because let’s be honest this team needs all the offense it can get and if Troy’s swinging it he’s gonna have a big league rooll one way or another even though

They didn’t add him to the 40 Man Nothing is Stopping power Nothing is Stopping a blend of hit and power for the Miami Marlins and they need more power uh let me be clear on one thing too Sixto Sanchez is not a storyline he’s he’s my favorite

Storyline but like that has nothing to do with the overall grand scheme with the Miami Marlins I unfortunately think he gets DFA by the uh end of spring training yeah that would make the most sense all right the New York Mets for me like okay you could go

Louisan hunia Brett batty Brett batty Brett B Brett batty like show me something Brett batty it was a really rough go of it last year year I could group Mark Vientos into that thing but this is the spring to come back and get a very critical fan base off your back

They love Francisco Alvarez Brett B has a chance to make them love him and I hope he does that so the reason why I didn’t go with Brett batty was because I think like he’s shown that he can do it in Triple A he’s shown that he can do it

In spring training he’s got to do it after opening day and he’s got to do it at City Field um that said you know if we see a tangible adjustment and and he looks more comfortable and he’s mashing now of course that’s going to be that’s gonna bode well but with Ronnie Mauricio

Going down like third base is his you know and and no one’s even really on his heels so you know I I am interested to see how batty looks but I also think that you know it might not be as much of a storyline until the season starts and

I will be concerned if he does struggle though I will say that so it’s almost more of like a we’re talking about guys that have things to gain I feel like batty only has something to lose this a lot to lose yeah yeah it’s unfortunate my story line I actually was looking at

The arms because I look at this rotation dude kodai Sena Jose kintan Luis srino Shawn manah Adrien Hower I think it’s very realistic that kintana srino and Mania could be unusable I think they all could be very solid too but it’s also possible that a couple of those guys

Could be unusable and look they they’re going to need to plug in other arms uh d AV Peterson had hip surgery so I don’t know when he comes back and and how that looks and then and outside of that like you don’t have much more pitching depth

In terms of guys that have proven anything or you know you could say are are for sure Big League ready but there’s a new there’s a new I think idea of what big league ready looks like and it doesn’t have to be a 100 innings in Triple A and we’ve talked about that

Like yes you’ve got Tyler Mcgill and ly and whatever but I want to see what some of these youngans do and I want to see who can separate themselves from theast pack because I think the Mets have an underrated you know little clump of of pitching prospects but also none of them

Have really separated themselves from the pack so I want to see what I have literally written is which young arm separates themselves of Mike vassel Dominic Hamill Christian Scott and blade Tidwell like which of that group can separate themselves and and I think spring training is a big opportunity to

Get a head start on on being able to separate yourself yeah I I like that a lot if you had to pick two are they vassel and Christian Scott those are kind of the two leaders in my Clubhouse yeah Hamill screams reliever risk to me Tidwell is a little further off though I

Like the stuff I first caught him last year and at the on the backfield where I’ll actually be today as people are listening to this I’ll be in Washington not in Washington at Washington’s backfields in Palm Beach um so I’m excited to get some live looks there

I’ll be tweeting out some videos and stuff like that but watching Tidwell throw I was like whoa that’s good stuff like it’s loud but Scott’s fastball is is just extremely unique exploded to the top of the zone and vassel I think has had the the most well-rounded Arsenal at

Least to this point and has been able to to kind of go more consistently deep into games so yeah I I would go vassel and Scott kind of ahead of of those other two even though I think all four are bigly arms yeah all right Philly

What you got where is Mick AEL at in terms of you know how close is this guy and and I think he’s in the boat of the stuff is so good that how he does in spring training can really I think alter his timeline because they’re not going to waste them

Any bullets in the miners and it’s been command for him right it’s it’s the fast ball is Lively the breaking ball is gross it’s really about the command and if he looks like he’s he’s around the Zone look they’re not going to waste much time in in the mon so I think he

Can I don’t know if he can make the team but I think he can expedite his process with a strong spring and be that like first man up whenever they need somebody I thought it was interesting that Abel got the invite I’m I’m with you like he

Was kind of an on story to me because I don’t think he can break that rotation out of Camp um real quick and like he’s a non-story were you a little surprised that Simone motti cleared waivers he was outrighted I was a little surprised of that I was surprised and like I

Understand that he’s not an everyday big leager by any stretch but the fact that that guy isn’t even considered a fourth outfielder for by any of the 29 other teams when we’ve seen some some random dudes get claimed and and and DFA and claimed and DFA like six times um I’m

Surprised motti is not one of those types yeah for me it’s it’s Ayan Kirk ring like was last year a fever dream or not and I don’t think it is that slider will play Forever and Ever as long as he’s got his health with him he’s got

His health with him like Alvarado is the closer but they relied on Kimbrell for a lot of ninth Innings and seranthony Dominguez has had some blips on the radar M I wonder if Kirk ring can leave spring training as the eighth inning guy and I think there’s a nonzero chance that that

He proves that over the course of the next month I don’t disagree I think that’s a good one I honestly just I I didn’t even put him in there because I think he’s a dude already but are you an eighth inning slash you know secondary closer dude I think you know that’s

Something that he can maybe prove in in spring training yeah because he’s for sure a seventh inning guy by now it’s just hey are you going to become Top Flight it was I think Brash took that step last year too 2022 it was clear that he was a good reliever a good

Seventh inning guy but he turned into an eighth inning hey he could probably get a save guy last year and I think that’s the progression kirking could make Washington has a billion storylines that I’m taking a gander at to be honest their list of non-roster invitees was amazing like amazing amazing amazing um

Dylan Cruz James Wood Robert Hassel all got the invite I will say I’m fascinated by the pitching there are rotation spots to be won here I don’t think either gets it out of camp but keep an eye on DJ hers and Mitchell I think those guys can

Make big league starts if the Nats are bad but couple other funny ones I’m curious if Nasim Nunes can hit big league pitching yeah very yeah and this is Juan yz’s Last Breath if he can’t make the Nats right now I gota sell all my wanz stock yeah I think those are two

Very key storylines because those are guys especially yep as like good spring like he’s truly auditioning right like he’s truly auditioning for a role um what I’m looking at too is is Kade cavali he’s healthy he’s throwing again um I think he’s throwing like 20 pitch bullpens twice a week now and and

Ramping up how does cavali look this spring how much do they have him throw in a game setting and how quickly can is another guy that I think once he looks like he’s ready to go um you know and get some rehab starts under his belt I’d

Imagine they probably bring him up to the big leagues relatively quickly so I’m just eager to see what cavali looks like off of the TJ because we know how insane this stuff is yeah absolutely nuts all right jumping to the National League central let’s start with the

Chicago Cubs here where do your eyes go with the Cubs they could go to Michael Bush but he’s got a job he’s got a job um you know you know I’m biased but you know I am interested in Matt mvis the underdog again he’s DED in that role he

He loves being doubted um and he loves proving people wrong and I think he he was so good you know by the time he got to the big leagu that I think the adversity was was unique and and it was uh you know challenging and when you’re

Not a first round pick and a$ four million do guy or whatever it may be you know and you struggle you know it’s it’s a little bit of confirmation bias ah you know I knew that that performance was a fever dream send him back to trips they

Send him back to trips he plays great um he’s obviously gonna get plenty of reps in Camp because you know God forbid Michael Bush goes down or or somebody else goes down I mean muris probably the first man up to to come up and and plug

In you know he’s he still has an important role on the team even if he’s in Iowa you know he’s he’s man 27 or 28 on on this Cub’s roster but that’s what I’m looking at because you know I don’t think he can make the team out of out

Out of spring training I think it’s going to be hard after the acquisition of bush but he can make an impression of hey some of the things that we were concerned about with mvis in his big league debut he worked on that he looks better and you know when when it’s time

For him to come back up we feel a lot more confident we’re going to keep him here a little bit longer because things look different than they looked in in his big league struggles um the other aspect I’m looking at is I don’t think Pete Crow Armstrong is necessarily gonna

Gonna make the team out of Camp I think he can because you have Canario with a roster spot presumably you have Master bony with a roster spot like if PCA shows that he’s not whiffing and and the hit tools come along the approach has

Come along you know I think PCA is a guy that could end up you know carving out a rle hey so I actually went a similar way to mvis not PCA because I think MV or I think PCA pardon is actually like already booked to De Mo I think that guy

Has some offensive things that he’s got to work on and very limited sample at the major league level but I I don’t think anybody in Chicago is going to tell me yeah we think this guy’s bigly ready with the bat MH if Christopher Morell plays Third Base the DH spot is

Open and I see mvis as somebody that could be that DH Owen Casey man he got the non-roster invite he performed really well in the World Baseball Classic I get that he spent the entirety of 22 at highy the entirety of 23 at Double but man young for both Levels by

The way young for both levels but man like if he hits some of those Mammoth homers and looks like he’s holding his own in spring training how much can he shorten that stint in Iowa I think he can shorten it by a lot and I think if they’re starved offensively for

A couple weeks pre All-Star break they could say you know what screw it we’re gonna add a guy that can hit 40 homers over a full season I don’t disagree and then I’d say one other name um is you I think the ship’s kind of sailed on Caleb Killian but Hayden was

Can he kind of get back to to the wisneski with the heavy sink and the slider working off for that like the fast ball flattened out the release was kind of off U and then I felt like he was fighting himself um can wisneski get back to that you know Yankees and then

Recent traded you know weski that we saw I mean that would be huge for them as a Swingman well 100% maybe even as a f starter too because he offers a different type of flavor to that rotation Kyle Hendricks and Jordan Wicks are in the same rotation right now

Kyle Hendrick is is better and he’s got way more of a track record gu has an RA title about a decade ago under his belt but I mean you’re talking about two guys that are pitch to contact folks like it would be nice to have some swing and

Miss there weski at his best can provide some swing and Miss also curious about Assad but Assad is far beyond any Prospect or rookie status um Cincinnati now I I I’m interested in Ellie for sure interested in Ellie The Cruise for me I want to see Chase Petty and Julian

Agar see hitters because I don’t we we’ve talked about this rotation being you know six deep seven deep and we’re not even accounting for petty and aiar but you know who’s to say that ldo is fully healthy who’s to say that ldo hits the ground running who’s to say that

Ashcraft can keep it up who’s to say that hell Abbot can keep it up I think the sure things in that Ro I mean dude who’s to say Frankie Montas is healthy I think the short thing in that rotation yeah the short thing is hunter green after that you got a lot of

Question marks Conor Phillips is he a reliever is he a starter Petty and yeah if if Petty and agie are like hold their own I think they can they can make their case I think Nick Martinez is like weirdly a sure thing because at least like you just you just know what you’re

Getting like he’s not going to be so bad that you got to punt him out of the rotation like this was they were rolling out whoever the hell uh you know when they could at points last year like Martinez is going to be solid um but I’m

With you like Abbot it was I like him we like him but you know it was a roller coaster at points last year um Ashcraft same story uh so and then yeah like we don’t even know if Mones can throw so that’s what for that exact reason is why

I was looking at Connor Phillips because phillips’ stuff we talked about it when we went into the red system and he’s a top 100 Prospect just because the fast ball is is so good it’s borderline double plus then he’s got the disgusting SL that he manipulates off of it like in

Terms of it can be harder or with more break and those two pitches alone like he could be a two- pitch guy as a starter and and and Thrive with those two but he’s he’s got to have better command and he he does have other

Pitches he can mix in like he’s got to curveball that is enough of a different look I I I think that’s the storyline for me because yes we already know what Phillips can do but if I see like we we we talked about the mechanics and there’s some tangible things like if he

C it up some of the effort in the delivery kind of pulled off there was a little bit of of jerkiness to it yeah if he comes out and looks smoothed over a little bit and he’s filling up the Zone like that’s one of those guys that

That’s a big F but if that happens you and I are stamping and breakout pitcher right like immediately it’s gonna be like oh he’s filling up the zone now yeah it’s over he’s he’s breakout one of our breakout guys so that’s what I’m watching I think no LV Marte is is

Hardly a storyline at this point because it’s his job at third he played really well in his big league debut he’s graduated from Prospect status for us but I do want to see how Marte performs um because he hasn’t solidly won it compared to some of the other guys but I

Think you know he’s pretty comfortable with that third base roll already yeah 100% all right uh Milwaukee you gonna say it with me sou the infielder yeah sou freck third baseman I know it might have been his fresh year at Boston College I I’ll look it up right now no I

I if I I I’m pretty sure that he’s played five games at second base in the Futures league for um Northshore Northshore yeah five games was it five games five games in 2020 um but in 2018 I think this is before his freshman year at BC before

His freshman year at BC in the Futures League by the way where he had an Ops over a th000 um he played five games at second and four games at third so he he does have experience oh yeah over it second third base if South freeli is the

Brewers third baseman you are missing such a pristine opportunity to have one of the better defensive right fielders in baseball and you are zapping power from a position that should ooze power what are we doing if you have aamas and Joe Ortiz and Bryce terang put one of

Them at third base let’s not do this so did they say third or third and second I think it was third and second but the video that we got was predominantly Third Base okay third base makes no sense because okay yes in right field that’s a premium offensive

Position but how do you minimize the the I guess the I guess hedge some of the limitations offensively because of course you’re not going to get the Ops most likely that you want to get from a right fielder but you’re gonna get a higher batting average you’re GNA get

Stolen bases you hedge up with Elite defense why is Stephen Quan a palatable left fielder because he plays Elite defense you’re gonna now take him from a offensive like driven position put him in another offensive driven position where his defense isn’t going to be as good that makes zero sense to me second

Base makes a lot of sense because like if they’re starting to be worried about terang BR does basically everything terang does offensively but better at this stage um and and I’m more confident in him and and second base I think just just it’s it fits the profile offensively more than third and right

Field that would make sense maybe they figure if you learn third you can play second for the most part but it’s totally different footwork and situation there I’m fascinated by it I love the idea of him being able to play second you know we talked about saman Taylor

The second base outfielder wh marfield the second base outfielder like that makes sense that makes sense I I don’t know about the third base outfielder of that is sou the third base slri Fielder like that’s what that’s what you’re doing with Addison Barger a guy that

Swings out of his yeah out of his it’s making me cough swings out of his shoes like to to just do damage I don’t want a third base right fielder that is a contact hitter like it blows my mind but that said I am so fasc this probably of

My favorite story lines I am so fascinated to see what this looks like and also what does this mean for Tyler black like if I’m Tyler black I’m punching air what are we doing here they’re literally saying Tyler black like we don’t know if you can contribute which

Is why I’m also really fascinated by Tyler black if Tyler black balls out this spring maybe they put that little experiment on Ice I hope they put that experiment on ice and I hope it doesn’t even have to do with Tyler black balling out I hope

They view s fre like as is an elite defensive right fielder and they don’t waste that Elite value defensively with with a guy trying to learn Third Base at the major league level do you know how hard it would be for him to even replicate what he produced offensively last year if he’s

Trying to learn third base in the major leagues now it’s ridiculous it’s impossible it’s crazy he’s a great athlete and he’s can do a lot of things but man it’s a tall task other thing real quick DL Hall the starter again MH you know I’m I’m a I’m a subscriber to

The changes that he’s made what does it look like now in the rotation again yeah um I’m also I don’t know like it’s it’s a glimpse at chorio they just paid we talked about Colt Keith not not being a big story on Monday but man like there’s

A big difference between 28 million and 80 million and there’s a big difference between second base and and center field too I think um we’re talking about two teams hoping to to grab a wild card spot you need your center fielder a little bit more than your second baseman yes

You do all right uh Pittsburgh there is a log Jam of pitchers yet it’s a log Jam in Triple A it’s like okay who’s going to be good enough to go pitch at the major league level you have Mitch Keller set as the opening day guy they’re paying Martin

Perez and Marco Gonzalez a lot of money so they’re going to pitch the question now becomes choose two of bayy falter who’s out of options rowany Contreras who’s out of options and then these guys with options that are all in Big League Camp Luis Ortiz Quinn prer Paul skines

Jared Jones if I’m picking two of those guys if Luis Ortiz has the vo back and his Sinker is a bowling ball again I want Luis Ortiz in that rotation I think that guy’s a a beast yeah I mean we saw we saw him through stint just look

Fantastic ridiculous top 100 guy for us uh I’m yeah it’s kind of a wider net here right like I I’m interested to see what Luis Ortiz looks like I’m very interested to see um how Jared Jones responds do you think Jared Jones can win a job out of Camp here yeah that was

My second guy I think Jared Jones should be the five stotter for the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening day yeah this guy didn’t dominate yeah I was saying know he didn’t dominate but like you were there like do you really need him to waste any more bullets in in Triple A

Like I think a lot of the things like the last little step he needs to take I feel like could be had at the big league level I I’ll do my best you’re Jones impression here like he [ __ ] competes dude like he he buckles up and tries to

Kill you and I think that is something that won’t sink him at the major league level he’s going to figure out a way to get outs and and the last month of the Season he figured out a way to get outs in a different way and he did it by

Pounding the strike zone he was getting frustrated with the ABS clearly and dude he was like you know what I’m just going to beat you in the zone and like you’re going to hit balls on the ground and you’re going to hit soft fly balls yep and I’ve mentioned

That two start stretch that he had I think it was the second to last and third to last starts of the year but 13 Innings five hits no runs one walk in that stretch yeah it was under a k per n but I don’t care like he was pounding

The Zone he was doing it with two pitches three pitches if he’s a if he shows an above average change up or curveball that guy’s a big league starter out of Camp final five starts of the Season 251 ra 28 and two thirds Innings 31 punch outs like how many

Walks not many he had 10 walks in that in that in those five starts but you know I’m just looking at what he’s doing you know how he finished the year you mentioned how he competes like yeah there might be some ups and downs but that’s there’s another guy I

Just don’t see the point of wasting any more bullets and triple and I I think that he gives you a better chance to win honestly than than Bailey falter or Luis Ortiz if he’s struggling if if if the vo isn’t back and he just doesn’t look

Right like it’s just another guy that I think could be you know worth worth a look the other thing I wanted to to see is you know everyday catching Reps for Henry Davis you know how how’s the the defensive ability coming along they’re not there shington said yes Mighty

Grandall is the primary catcher which is crazy to me so like are they going to be working him still a ton in spring training behind the dish or is is that ship kind of sailed like I’m I’m interested to see the usage and and maybe that tips their hand a little bit

Of what their plans are long term right so my personal thought on that is you know and apparently there’s a chance that he starts the year in Triple A and gets catching reps I don’t think that’s fair to Henry Davis I I think the way you have to look at it is this

Is the one year for Henry Davis to prove that he can catch at the major league level with Andy Rodriguez out for the year yeah if he’s not cing this year and you signed a guy who has legitimately been terrible for the last two years and yasman grandal to be the primary catcher

You got to give up on the catching thing make him your everyday right fielder it’s it’s wild too because he’s pretty bad and right you know like and that’s where like you saw it right like but he can get better he’s a freak athlete yeah and I think that so

Then play him and right every day play him right every day don’t split the time and and it’s not it was I think it was affecting the bat too like let’s be honest that the big league debut was not good and I think it was because he was

Being asked to do way too much too many different things um let this guy just learned at the end of the day the bad is going to carry whether he’s catching or playing right and obviously playing right puts more pressure on the bat but it’s always going to be about the bat

For Henry Davis so let the bat develop stop throwing him around like a ragd doll and that’s something I kind of want to see it’s like you just commit to to one position for him yeah and I hope they commit and I hope that happens in

The spring let’s jump to St Louis um Mason wi did not perform All Too Well in his first big league opportunity and Mason wi graduated by our standards I am curious about Mason wi he is the everyday shortstop the other guy is Ali marul curious about the creativity he

Uses to get Ivon Herrera in the lineup please did you see what he did he went nuts in the Caribbean series too yeah C like that that’s my storyline is is Ivon Herrera can you just make it as uncomfortable for oi maral and and and the the Cardinals brass as possible I

Mean he he did what he did in the Caribbean series he did what he did in Triple A last year he did what he did in his big league sent go off the spring and make it it difficult make them have to figure something out that’s what I’m

Looking forward to I think when look like the jobs his the backup plan will be you know probably sliding Edmund to short if wi continues to struggle but I think wi would have to have an atrocious spring and then a bad start to the season to really lose that opportunity

And I don’t think he will no I don’t think he will either Herrero was the overwhelming takeaway all right oh I got one more real quick though okay Gordon grao we’ve seen the velocity kind of go jump also friend of the program great conversation I enjoyed talking to him

About gaining that velocity seen the velocity jump and we’ve seen it kind of taper off after a shoulder issue just a little flare up and then go back up again I know he’s been working his butt off this off season um and and working

On a change up as well too if grao is back to to where he was that you know in 2022 that’s a guy that could end up plugging into the rotation and and and be a good piece for them yeah all right um what time do you think

We’re at right now how deep into this we’re about to hit the NL West I about 35 minutes 38 minutes we’re making time right now all right great Arizona to start the NL West Ryan Nelson Tommy Henry are either of you a major league starting pitcher

Tell me I wish Dre Jameson was healthy Dre is likely to miss the entirety of this year I think Dre Jameson would have been a legit five starter for Arizona I do think they have starting pitcher in Dre Jameson moving forward having said

That you got to buy time to get to him I think Ryan Nelson is a lot better than what he showed last year I think Ryan Nelson can be a five I think that’s a good one I I do think Nelson is better than what he showed um I I look at

Lawler because now you know they’ve come out and said hey you know Heraldo Pomo is gonna start the year at shortstop okay understandable makes sense Pomo played you know kicked it back into gear in the postseason um you know great defender switch hitter I know had the

Best month ever in the first half of the or in the first portion of the season and and and Lawler struggled he looked over match through stretches but can Lawler kind of regain some ground again is kind of what I’m looking at can he put the pressure

Back on to Pomo in the Dbacks and I think playing in the spring with kind of Nothing to Lose like he knows he’s probably getting a signed to Reno right like so like go out there play with nothing to lose and and see if he can maybe expedite his his promotion back up

To the big leagues if if it is you know indeed going to be promo’s everyday job I know that’s not the most exciting or riveting storyline but that’s kind of what I’m looking at you know I want to see Lawler prove that that he learned something from the big leag struggles

And that you know he’s he’s ready to go uh and doesn’t want to spend much time in Areno and I think the way he performs in Camp will be you know very very indicative of of of what direction he’s heading into and but but I do think that

Ryan Nelson’s a huge X Factor for this ball Club because you got the top four locked in right gallon Kelly Rodriguez F that that’s locked in with Jameson out as you mentioned you know you mentioned like Tommy Henry I don’t have much confidence Maya is just not ready yet

Even though he was at Triple A at the end of the year Jarvis is like an emergency starter the only guy that really has a I think a legitimate chance at being a five starter is Nelson and they need him to be a f starter badly badly badly

Colorado a lot of the story lines are sets they did have interesting non-roster invitees like Yano Hernandez is on the 40 Man he’ll be there adio Amador is on the 40 Man he’ll be there Drew Romo was a non-roster invite I’m curious to see Drew Romo I’m GNA go

Really boring right now and a guy that has had cups of coffee the last two years this is my last year to decide if Michael toia is good or not yeah this is my last year yeah big he passes the ey test better than pretty much anybody in

Major League Baseball and it just has not clicked for him at the big league level having said that he killed in Albuquerque last year and he killed in the Mexican winter league this year yes but the Rockies made all their players go to the winter leagues I love it

Everybody um yeah he was horrible last year and horri I want to see toia be be be good like but yeah he had a 21 WRC Plus in 152 plate appearances at the big league level last year he’s going to need to hit um and that’s definitely something that I’m I’m interested in

Monitoring the other thing I’m interested in monitoring is how are we using Hunter Goodman how where does he fit in here is he gonna get an opportunity to I mean we know he’s not gonna catch much at all but is he gonna catch maybe once or twice a week

Probably not and went out and got Jacob Stallings okay do he play some Outfield like I’m just really interested to see how they use Hunter Goodman and another guy that’s struggled can he show that he he can minimize the whiff a bit more at the Big League level uh even if it’s

Just spring training another one for you is the Nolan Jones thing real yeah I guess Camp it’d be hard to to tell I don’t think you can I think that’s a 50 it’s a 50 game thing yeah but like yeah that’s not a camp question you’re right I’m just I interested I’m

Like is Nolan Jones that in Colorado is I think he is did you think he could be before he did it that’s my thing it’s like it happened and I was sitting here and January and I was like oh [ __ ] Nolan Jones was actually that I didn’t think

It would be like that I I figured oh perfect candidate for that’s just gonna see his numbers jump uh you know at altitude but I didn’t think he’d be like a passable defender in the Outfield and like and and also hit 297 like no chance so that part is

Really exciting and and I do think it’s for real but you know I think with a strong spring he can really solidify himself as you know one of the core guys here that ain’t going anywhere anytime soon because they don’t really have any you look you look at in the lineup like

Chris Bryant technically can’t go anywhere Ryan McMahon you know is locked up but then you know Blackman’s kind of on his way out you know it’s just GNA be until he wants to retire Tovar is is a core piece as well but then Rogers buard Diaz Doyle like none of those guys are

Are key pieces yeah let’s see if anybody can fight to try and win a job Midway through I agree I wish we had a pitching story line out here because we we need one but there ain’t Carson Palmquist got the non-roster invite that might be cool um I don’t know what Jeff criswell’s

Stuff looked like last year but his numbers were really bad in Albuquerque it is Albuquerque and I thought chriswell was solid when he was in A’s Prospect so I I don’t know I guess that’s you know anything that you can find Hill got a non-roster in invitation

So kind of interesting I read something on Twitter that they’re willing to Fast Track him as a reliever they’re ditching the starting pitching thing was it the 948 ra I think it was was it like the 15 innings in his first three years yeah he’s so talented though fastball change

Up like he could just overpower guys that’s a fun storyline to be honest if there’s anything they’re willing to Fast Track him like I want to see him as a reliever see see what that looks like yeah um also last he was 9799 at the fall league yeah that’s amazing yeah

Okay you get them in short spurts like yeah they might they might have something there about it all right uh three more teams the LA Dodgers I don’t think yoshinobu Yamamoto fits the criteria he can because if you’re you know if you’re drafting like a fypd he he does fit the

Criteria I’m really curious to see Andy PES as a full go off injury I think that is the guy that I’m I’m highlighting and he’s in there he’s at Big League Camp there’s not a job for him but triaa debut it was a shoulder issue that he

Greed in his first game in Triple A Y I think he’s really a great year too yeah he was he looked like he was finally taking that like next step um he he had really solid really solid then it was like oh I think he’s taking another step

Forward so I I’m definitely interested in him I’m also interested in seeing um you know what they’re going to get from Miguel Vargas yes and know he’s no longer a proc but like I I’ve always loved his Bat and I still believe in the bat he’s 24 like that’s another guy I’m

Very interested in uh but my story I think here is it’s still these pitching prospects are going to be asked to do stuff like they’re going to be asked to pitch and I’m looking at it as a Gavin stone versus a Kyle hurt for opportunity um hurt has the advantage because he can

Come in and relieve and stone it’s you know mostly going to be as a starter but I think how the these guys do in Camp is going to be huge in deciding who they go to if somebody gets hurt and it’s not even like I hate saying the if or like I

I I want to say if instead of when but you look at this rotation and you know we know that Walker’s not going to be ready to go um at the beginning of the season they want to you know temper it out so that he can potentially be

Available for the postseason um you know James Paxton has often been injured EMT xan’s going to be on an Innings restriction um you know Bobby Miller has battled some stuff in the past Tyler glass now is often injured um Kershaw is going to be injured for the start of the

Season froso is already out uh with the torn labram which is awful um gin’s out May out so I’m looking at it as like stone versus fro to potentially I think either one I I still think Stone could win a long relief role but realistically

I think they’re kind of vying for who is going to be the first man up when there’s an opening in the rotation and I I think there will be so I really think it’s going to turn into a battle between Kyle hurt and Gavin stone for you know

Who’s the first man up when a spot in that rotation opens up or you know if they need a spot start somewhere or or a long relief spot yeah hurt kind of Screams long reliever right and I think he almost got pigeon hold into that long relief identity do you think Kyle hert

Has starter in his future or do you think he is that multi- ining reliever I think if he was in another situ sitation he’d absolutely be given every chance to start I I see him as kind of like a five and dive type like I I think he’s

Someone that should be stretched out more than one one two inning uh but he could really thrive in a short relief role whereas Gavin Stone it’s like you want to see that guy more stretched out like you feel like he’s at his best when he’s stretched out so it’s

It’s two different time types of pitchers but I think based on how they’re performing whoever’s performing better is going to be the first man up yeah all right two more San Diego you go first I’m sure we have the same one I just have Marill Marcy Paulie

Okay I’m just looking at those three guys who can prove that they can either grab a spot in the Outfield I know that they just signed jerx and profar whatever I’m predominantly looking at Jackson now but I am very interested to see like Marc’s the guy that can play

Center um and Paulie’s just a bat that they could easily need at some point um all three guys need to to show out in spring training but I think Marill and Marc have a chance to even make the team if they perform well enough yeah yeah so

For Milwaukee I wrote South Relic third baseman for San Diego I wrote Jackson Merill outfielder yep and if he can play left he’s in the opening day lineup and he’ll play 162 if he’s healthy he’ll do the Abrams thing and he is better positioned to hit the ground running

Than CJ Abrams ever was yeah yep and and it’s funny man like I think we talked about it like a few days before about how we’re ready for to to probably get reps in the Outfield and I think he can win a job in left and then sure enough

Comes out I’m getting my work in the Outfield I feel good he’s an athlete dude he’s a hard ass worker like he’s gotten his defensive ability at Short he’s gotten better and better and better by just putting the work in I I think even just a spring to put the work in

The Outfield I think Merill is going to force their hand and and and carve out a big league opportunity and if that guy sitting at the bottom of your order like that’s that’s fine because he could end up being a really good piece for you by

The second half as he settles in seven hitting left fielder Jackson Merill easy peasy last one is San Francisco is there a big league job for Luis Matos that’s my one question I don’t think there is Jung Huli is the center fielder um Mike YZ is in right who am I

Missing in left conforto is FL yeah there’s not a job here for Luis mozos can he make a job for himself and they’ve also got Slater who just you know has historically murdered left-handed pitching which is you know I think what the role would kind of be for

MOS if he didn’t have an everyday spot that was one of my questions and and I think he’s gonna have to really hit um to make it a conversation and I don’t think that there’s a spot for him at this point and then the other was of

Course I’m excited to see Kyle Harrison but you know I don’t think there’s much of like a question there there’s a spotting for him in the rotation it’s going to be he’s ready to go um and it’s just gonna be about the command but I want to see a tangible adjustment from

Marco luano I’m tired of seeing the same thing like that that’s my storyline too is like this is your opportunity to work on stuff he struggled in the winter league again um struggled last year he hasn’t really put together a good season in a long time I you you can really

Argue he hasn’t really put together a complete good season which is what makes the the the the prospect type that he’s had an interesting conversation in itself I want to see a tangible adjustment whether it’s with his setup his pre-swing moves his path like approach something give me something

Because like I think we’re bordering on Insanity now at this point especially after it didn’t work in the winter league like what you’re doing right now you’re not GNA hit enough this way so I want to see something different like I just want to see him try something I could appreciate that shout

All right we did that in 52 minutes and 18 seconds that’s really quick shout out forgot to mention him on the AL episode Jordan Leisure hit 99 in his first bull penic Camp Jordan Leisure should be the White Sox setup guy or closer this year he came over from the

Dodgers with Nick Nini and the Lance ly Joe Kelly deal uh two guys in Chicago that I think should be in the bullpen on opening day that are still prospects Jordan Leisure the White Soxs Luke little of the Cubs I think those guys need to be on those rosters you know

Leisure didn’t give up a run in his final seven appearances in the Arizona fall league seven in the third Innings two hits no runs one walk 12ks do you have the fastball characteristics in front of you uh I can pull that up in just a second he was sitting upper 90s

In all of those outings though um so I Leer’s got closer stuff man like he’s got high leverage closer stuff um that was that was a great great get as the secondary piece in that Lind deal yeah look at look at the look at the white sock starting to make some some

Decent moves here and there um are you are you buying into Chris gats at this point are you are you picking up what he’s putting down so like the the bummer deal fascinated me how how he got that many Fringe big Leaguers for Aaron bummer was

Insane I don’t know I need to see two drafts from Chris gats before I really latch on to what he’s doing but I’m not out by any stretch and I don’t think anybody should be out after two months of him operating and we haven’t even

Seen a deadline go by I think he made an interesting decision holding on to cease yeah I think that’s where you really judge him is where do what do you end up with when you trade cease I think that’s that’s the big question also I have the fastball characteristics holy [ __ ] crazy

Right this is a 70 fast ball it’s not only does he get 19 Ines of vert from a 5’8 release which is you know like just below you know average slightly lower release low vaa and he gets above average extension he kind of checks every fastball box and

And it’s 97 to 99 yeah that he could be a closer that’s a guy that needs to be on the team right away um gota be on the team I love it all right that’ll do it for this episode uh again there should be something there for for you to be

Able to subscribe for the bonus episodes if you have any issues uh we will walk you through it on Friday um but I’m definitely excited to to get those bonus episodes going keep you briefed on college baseball uh another aspect of it and we’ll give you more of a rundown on

Friday too uh it’s going to kind of be these heat sheets who’s performing um I’m going to talk a lot about some you know breaking down some of the best starts the data of it we’re going to do a lot of those things during the season basically anything that we don’t get to

Or things on the weekend um that I just really excited to to recap we’ll be able to do that what I’m excited about is like when of the top draft prospects pitch you know Friday night we’ll be able to talk about that on Saturday or Saturday talking about that on Sunday so

That part I’m really excited about and then um just being able to catch up on anything we miss during the week and being able to tell you some of the Big Data stand out standouts you bat at balls like I’m G to give you some of the

Most impressive things that stood out to me that week and kind of peel back the curtain on what’s going on uh with with the callup with Prospect rankings and kind of give you a little bit more insight um on those bonus episodes Chase hit 99 at

Camp I wonder if it’s Sinker or with a little bit of Ride Now mix in in a for seamer I’m excited to see that uh so looking forward to talking more about the mock draft later this week and we’ll give you the whole rundown on what to expect with these bonus episodes as

Always thank you for listening look forward to talking prospects with you on Friday