Ben Badler MLB Prospects Chat (7/6/21)

Image credit: (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ben Badler: Hello! Hope you all had a great July 4th weekend. Let’s get started with whatever questions you have—minor league prospects, draft, international, summer college, underclass… lots more to talk about than this time a year ago!

William (Delaware):

 Which teenage prospect has the most power between Marco Luciano and Jordan Walker?

Ben Badler: Slight edge to Jordan Walker.

SBNY (Philadelphia PA):

 Always liked CJ Abrams. Is there any draft eligible player that has his combination of speed, hit and field abilities and who is that player(s)?

Ben Badler: Closest is probably Boston College center fielder Sal Frelick. 70 runner, high-end pure bat-to-ball skill, defensive ability to handle a premium position in the middle of the field.

Ben Badler: But Abrams is also younger, doing it in Double-A, I think he has more power upside than Frelick, and is a better prospect overall.

Dale (Windsor va):

 Ben,assuming Alexis Hernandez does sign with the cubs would he join his brother on the cubs top 30 list, and, if so, where would he rank. Thanks

Ben Badler: After the draft, I’m going to make some trips to the Dominican Republic to circle back to see a lot of the big names for the 2021 class who are going to sign on Jan. 15. The reality is that the top players commit to a team and then stop going to events where everyone is seeing them, and that was happening with the 2021 class before the pandemic started, so I would like to get back to see these guys myself for updated looks to see how they’re progressing.

Steve (Philly):

 Which prospect do you believe is overdue for a promotion based on performance this season? Volpe and Tovar come to mind for me.

Ben Badler: Volpe would be a big one, but the Yankees do have Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran ahead of him at Hudson Valley, so I get it. We’ll probably see a group of promotions up the chain at some point soon, but I don’t see any rush with that group.

Noel (Portland):

 Adley to AAA after the Future’s Game?

Ben Badler: Yes, I think so. We should see a bunch of guys in that game fly out to new teams from Denver.

Ryan (Detroit):

 Joe Gray Jr. How far away from the Top 100 is he?

Ben Badler: He’s making believers out of some scouts. I’m still in the skeptical camp at this point… the track record prior to this year was pretty brutal, and he was 21 in Low-A with a high strikeout rate still. I hope it’s a real breakthrough for him because those tools are exciting, and his stock is definitely up, but he’s not a Top 100 guy for me right now.

Steve (Oakland):

 Any word on Pedro Pineda? I was surprised he didn’t debut in Rookie ball.

Ben Badler: Not specific to Pineda, but I think we will see more international signings than usual start in the DSL from the most recent 2020 signing class. One reason is the logjam of players; there’s no NY-Penn/NWL/Pio/Appy League to send players to, and you have a whole 2019 class of players that will make their pro debuts this year. The other is taxes. With the signing date pushed into the new calendar year, players will get paid this year instead of 2020 and, to my understanding, will have to pay a lot more money in taxes if they play in the US this year. So playing in the DSL instead of the FCL or ACL would actually be a significant financial advantage for many players.

Andrew (DC):

 He may not be a prospect anymore, but Washington’s Luis Garcia has been raking as the youngest (non-Wander) hitter in AAA, with newfound plate discipline and power. What’s his long-term outlook?

Ben Badler: I still like Garcia quite a bit, he’s just been a challenge to get a handle on because the Nationals have pushed him so aggressively. I like the swing, I like his contact skills and the power coming through now is an encouraging sign. And he’s the same as Frelick, Cowser and all these college bats we’re talking about for Sunday, but Garcia is doing it now in Triple-A.

Travis (Omak, wa):

 Do you believe that Noelvi Marte sticks at SS or will he eventually move to 3B?

Ben Badler: I see him most likely at third base long term, but with no need to move him off yet.

Keith (Syracuse NY):

 Will there be another update to the international rankings after the draft is over?

Ben Badler: We’re going to update our international board, our Top 100, our midseason team rankings, our 2022 list and our underclass lists.

Joe (Connecticut):

 Marco Luciano or Noelvi Marte and why?

Ben Badler: Luciano has a slight edge, but I’ve been saying for a while and I think it’s reflected in our last Top 100 update, it’s still close, or certainly closer than the perception was coming into the year. Luciano has a little more raw power, a little better pure swing/pure hit ability, although Marte gets the edge on athleticism. I’m obviously a HUGE fan of both.

Old Timer (Raleigh):

 Nick Allen. Starting first division SS or quality late inning replacement? thanks.

Ben Badler: Starting shortstop. Easy plus defender, maybe a 70, with legit contact skills that keep playing as he moves up and sees better pitching.

Brian (New York):

 Now that Wander Franco is in the milb, does Julio Rodriguez have the highest ceiling of any position prospect in the minors?

Ben Badler: I think so. The reports we’re getting on him from scouts this year are just phenomenal.

Joe U (Seattle WA):

 Any chance we see three prep SS go 1-3?

Ben Badler: Yes. I personally couldn’t pass on Jack Leiter with one of those top three picks, but I could absolutely see it playing out that way.

Mike (NY):

 Which rising Yankee infield prospect do you think has the higher ceiling/floor: Oswald Peraza or Anthony Volpe?

Ben Badler: Peraza. True shortstop, I like the barrel control, and he’s proving there’s more power in there than what we had seen shown up in games coming into the year.

Warren (New London):

 Evan Carter was a nice story until he got hurt. What do you think of Brandon Nimmo as a comp? A lot of people thought he was a reach too.

Ben Badler: I can see that. 6-3, 6-4 LH-hitters with smooth, compact swings, good eye for the strike zone, hit-over-power profiles, and with the hope more power comes for Carter because of his youth and strength projection left in his frame.

Ben Badler: Thanks for the questions today, I need to get back to calls and reports for those updated rankings we’re putting together. Talk to you all again soon.