Josh Norris MLB Prospects Chat (7/16/19)

Image credit: Josh Green (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

Josh Norris: Let’s chat.

Miguel (Rome, GA): 

Kelenic, j-rod, fraley or Alek Thomas, Corbin Carroll, and K-Rod 5 years from now?

Josh Norris: I’ll assume you mean K-ROB, as in Kristian Robinson to make this a Diamondbacks vs. Mariners question. I will take the group that has Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, both of whom I hold in very high esteem. If he had not been injured for a good chunk of the year, Rodriguez would likely be very high on our Top 100. Fun fact here: Julio Rodriguez is roughly three months younger than Corbin Carroll

Josh Norris: Be right back

Tim (Cali): 

So Spencer Howard is back healthy n reports are awesome so far. Arsenal seems to be top flight. Could he be a #1 or #2 in rotation? Thanks.

Josh Norris: Before the injury, Spencer Howard was getting some of the most positive reviews of any pitcher in the minors. I saw him three times last year and was puzzled as to how he was getting hit as often as he did, considering the arsenal he has at his disposal. There’s a long way to go, but he definitely has the profile and stuff to fit toward the top of a rotation.

Jake (Schaumburg, IL): 

Hi Josh, thank you for chatting with us today. Who do scouts prefer between Luis Robert or Andrew Vaughn? Just curious as to whether Vaughn has passed Robert in the White Sox prospect rankings.

Josh Norris: Considering Vaughn has played in just 13 games, I don’t think there are many (if any) scouts who have seen them both this year. In any case, Robert is the better prospect. Vaughn could be an elite-level hitter, but Robert is showing an ability to be a true five-tool monster. You don’t get a nickname like “La Pantera” for nothing.

Linc (Canada): 

Any love for Blue Jays prospect Alejandro Kirk?

Josh Norris: I love Alejandro Kirk very much. No, he doesn’t have the best body in the world, but the man puts the bat on the ball. He doesn’t strike out a ton, takes his walks, has allowed just four passed balls all year and is throwing out 38 percent of runners. At 20 years old he’s gone .315/.424/.470 at two levels of Class A ball. I’m not sure what more you could ask for out of him. He can definitely borrow a feeling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaUSE0kCYJw

Nathan (Billings, MT): 

1. Julio Rodriguez 2. Marco Luciano 3. Kristian Robinson 4. Riley Greene 5. Ronnie Mauricio Is this 2023 top 5 likely, possible, or unlikely? Who’s most likely to be in and least likely to be out?

Josh Norris: I’d guess some of those dudes, especially Rodriguez, are no longer prospect-eligible at that point. That’s also discounting future drafts and international signings, so I’d say this is probably not the top five in four years. It wouldn’t be out of the question to see some of those guys in the mix for those spots, though.

Tim (SLC): 

When does the new top 100 including draft picks come out?

Josh Norris: We are shooting for Friday on this. There should be a marathon meeting on Thursday to discuss this and the updated Farm System Rankings. If you see white smoke coming from the BA offices on Thursday afternoon, you should probably alert the fire department just to be sure.

Blue (Michigan): 

Tarik Skubal has emerged as a legit prospect, but I’ve read conflicting opinions in the blogosphere/twittersphere lately. There are a group of Tiger bloggers who are still skeptical of his long term viability as a starter, citing health concerns and still developing off-speed offerings. However, I’ve also read quotes gathered from scouts by reputable journalists who consider Skubal the third best prospect in the system (perhaps fourth now that Riley Greene has been drafted). I’ve seen him throw a few times and have come away very impressed – he hit 97 on his last pitch of his most recent outing. What scuttlebutt have you heard?

Josh Norris: Maybe the biggest riser of the year in the minors? He’s among their top 10 prospects, and there are some scouts who believe he belongs in the conversation with Mize and Manning as one of their most talented arms.

Mark (Ottawa, On): 

Other than Mize, who are your favourite Tiger prospects?

Josh Norris: Matt Manning, Tarik Skubal, Alex Faedo, Jake Rogers and Riley Greene are some names that I very much enjoy in the Tigers’ system.

BennyFunk (Loxahatchee, Florida): 

Has Luis Robert put himself in position to be the top position player prospect not named Wander Franco headed into 2020?

Josh Norris: I wouldn’t say that with 100 percent conviction, because Jo Adell, MacKenzie Gore and Adley Rutschman exist and are good, but Robert as the No. 2 prospect certainly wouldn’t be out of line. #LaPantera

Matt (Va): 

Andrew Vaughn is raking. How many more weeks before we see him in Winston-Salem?

Josh Norris: The answer is probably measured in days rather than weeks.

Andrew (Toronto): 

Who’s the biggest out of nowhere breakout prospect this year ala Dan Straily was one year?

Josh Norris: Tarik Skubal comes to mind for this category, as does Rays righthander Joe Ryan.

Snowy (Bay Area): 

Bart-Nico Hoerner-Carlson…ready next year or the year after?

Josh Norris: Hoerner and Carlson could get there next year, Bart maybe the year after considering he hasn’t gotten to the upper levels (here’s hoping the Giants move Ramos/Bart to Richmond soon so I can make the drive to see them)

Dave (Oakdale): 

What’s the ceiling on joe ryan with the rays?

Josh Norris: I may get a chance to see him next week (Ice Bear in Florida, starting Friday), but I’ve heard he could have a ceiling in the back of a rotation.

Aaron (Kenosha): 

Any word on what’s going on with the Yankees’ Osiel Rodriguez? He had his first appearance in the DSL about a month ago and hasn’t pitched since. I can only assume some sort of injury – if so, is it anything serious?

Josh Norris: It was a shoulder ding, and he should be back in games next week-ish from what we’ve heard.

Texas Jim (NC): 

With the Braves so close to the top of the NL I can’t see them passing on a chance to improve the club. My feeling is Bryce Wilson or Kyle Wright will be moved in a package deal. Which one do you is the more attractive prospect?

Josh Norris: Kyle Wright has the louder stuff, but they’re roughly the same caliber of prospect.

Rufus (Alabama): 

Build your team around Tatis Jr. or Acuña Jr ?

Josh Norris: Yes please.

Kretin (Boston): 

What is the state of the Angel’s farm system now? Has it fallen with graduations of prospects or is it still hanging around the mid to upper tier?

Josh Norris: We weigh high-value prospects quite heavily, so it will be buoyed simply by having Jo Adell (whom we currently have ranked as the No. 2 prospect) at the top of the system.

Josh Norris: All right, I have to get back to helping make sure the magazine goes to press. Thanks for all the questions.