Pacific Coast League Top 20 Prospects Chat

Brent Ingram: Hello everyone! Thanks for joining us for the PCL top-20 chat. Excited to answer some questions about a talent-laden league in 2016.

Chris (San Diego): Should Renfroe and Margot start in El Pado next season or should I expected them in San Diego Opening Day?
Brent Ingram: Good questions. I think Renfroe is ready to play everyday in RF in San Diego. Some observers questioned if his drop off late in the year was due to simply losing interest in the competition level. Think he’s ready for a big league challenge for Andy Green’s club. Margot is a different story. He’s a younger and could probably use 500 at-bats in triple-A next year. He does has present elite defensive ability in CF and could take over for Jay or Jankowski next year if he has a strong spring. I could see him getting some polish in El Paso to start, though.

Grant (NYC): How far off this list were Rivera and Cecchini?
Brent Ingram: Las Vegas had a bevy of hitting talent this year in the PCL. Cecchini’s offensive season was strong an he has the ability to become a solid No. 2 hitter at some point in his career. The question on him remains defensively. He has quick hands a a strong arm but his accuracy remains a mystery after 61 errors over the last two years. I think he just missed the list and was probably in the 20-30 range in the circuit. Rivera is a different case as he has never had the prospect “shine” as a undrafted guy out of Troy and a 27 year old in the PCL. His season in 2016 was impressive (.909 OPS), so much so that they had him hitting No. 5 in the playoffs. I see him as having a role in the big-league club in future, if nothing other than as a utility guy who can play 3B/2B/OF.

Kelly (Seattle, WA): What were your thoughts on Dan Vogelbach this season? Is he strictly a DH going forward?
Brent Ingram: Vogelbach is a really interesting case. I believe he is an everyday DH, for the right club, but could play 1B regularly depending on team depth. He undoubtedly has the best strike-zone discipline and awareness in the league and regardless of his big-bodied frame, earn consistent praise from league observers. I see him as a future 100 walk 1B/DH who can go for 20 homers a year. He’ll never win a gold glove at 1B but can be serviceable for the right club.

Ben (Iowa): Jorge Lopez went back to Biloxi and had a superior K:BB ratio than last season's "breakout". Is there still hope for him as a starter?
Brent Ingram: Jorge Lopez had a rough season in the PCL but there is no denying his talent. Some observers see him as having a season that will be forgotten in the future. He has a fastball from 93-97 and that power hammer curveball, in addition to a hard changeup that is almost like a splitter. He is someone who just missed on the list, mainly because of his rocky season, not the ability of his arm or the ceiling. I still have hope that he has top-of-the-rotation ability but with those 2 big-time pitches, could be a weapon out of the bullpen at least.

Jason L. (Pleasant Hill, CA): Where would Nashville 3B Ryon Healy rank on the list, if he had stayed long to accumulate enough at bats to qualify?
Brent Ingram: Big fan of Ryon Healy. His big-league debut solidified his role as a future corner guy. I think he is just learning to tap into his power naturally. 2016 in the PCL was big for him because he got away from trying to generate that power and focused on progressing as a hitter. His body transformed from the offseason, which helped contribute to the power emerging. Balls that were going into the gap in 2015 started to leave the yard, which gave him confidence to stick with that approach. At 6-4, 235 pounds, he moves surprisingly well and can make the plays. He could probably play a little LF and as he matures could transition to 1B. His split season between AA/AAA/MLB kept him off some prospect listings but hard to ignore 33 extra-base hits in just 269 MLB at-bats.

Norman (AL): Candelario is one of the better blocked prospects in the game. Is he simply a trade chip at this point?
Brent Ingram: No doubt that Candelario is in a unique position with the Cubs depth. It’s important to keep in mind how young he is. He plays with great energy and has a future as a great defender. His stroke from both sides is impressive as is his ability to adjust in game despite his youth. I could see him thriving in a Joe Maddon managerial approach and could possibly move across the diamond or even to a corner OF post. His arm strength is an asset. But the Cubs could get a nice return from him because he’s 22 and has the potential to be a corner-infield mainstay and middle-of-the-order bat for the right lineup.

Eric (San Francisco, CA): What is Chad Pinder's role likely to be, going forward?
Brent Ingram: Chad Pinder earned praise from observers and the popular phrase “just a baseball player”. He’s a good athlete and a student of the game, with a grinder mentality. He has strong, explosive wrists and can run the ball out of the park nearly to any field. He has some swing and miss but is working at getting more selective. I see him becoming a utility infielder at the least, with an ability to hit .250 with 10-15 homers and play 2B/3B/SS/OF on any given day. He’s regarded as a great teammate and would have the right approach mentally to be a Zobrist type.

Stan (St. Louis): What feedback did you get on Memphis lefty relievers Corey Littrell and Ryan Sherriff?
Brent Ingram: Great question. Love some of the underlooked guys on that Memphis roster. I had the joy of watching Littrell compete every 7 days for 3 years at Kentucky and adore the guy. He has the potential to become a back-of-the-rotation workhorse who can eat up 180 innings a year in my mind, but immediately, could be a weapon in the bullpen in getting lefties out. He is an ultra competitor and a suprisingly good athlete who can shut down the running game with a very deceptive move. I was hoping, just because of my relationship with Corey, that he would get a chance with the big club this year, but I see him as someone who will impact the Cards in 2017. Sherrif I don’t know as much about but he seems like a strike-throwing lefty who could also have an impact in retiring lefties in a big-league bullpen.

Eddy (Manhattan): Did any Mets/51s (other than the ones mentioned, Nimmo #19, Cecchini & Rivera above, get consideration? And what are your thoughts on Nimmo's future and upside? Thanks.
Brent Ingram: Nimmo is an interesting case. People know his backstory as the first player to go in the first round out of Wyoming, a state without HS baseball. He excelled in the PCL in 2016 (.352 average) after a short 32 game stint in the PCL in 2015. Observers are split on what his ceiling is, however. One thing has been a constant in his performance, an on-base approach. He excels at working the count and lining balls to LF. But defensively, he lacks the above-average speed to be an everyday weapon in CF and doesnt boast the arm to profile in RF everyday. Some folks compare him to a David DeJesus type performer. There is room for a No. 1 or No. 1 hitter in LF with an on-base skill set and that is what I think he becomes. But the lack of HS baseball and his age (23), indicates that he could still be a late bloomer who hasn’t tapped into power potential as of yet.

Johnny (Tri-Town): Is Urias #1 if eligible?
Brent Ingram: Excited to answer this question. Urias just missed out on the list by two innings. It’s hard to not to love Julio Urias. He was No. 1 in my mind, and the mind of most observers, as a lefty with above-average command and pitchability. Reyes has that power arsenal and can hit 100 but Urias coming from the left side, with that pinpoint command, athletic ability to shut down a running game, and ability to throw 4 pitches has him a notch above. Urias could become a No. 1 starter and eat up 200 innings annually with that sturdy frame. Would expect an innings limit on him in 2017 as his previous career high in innings before 2016 came in 2014 with 87.2 IP.

Buck (Huntsville AL): I was surprised to see Margot outside the top ten, given his lofty ranking on all the midseason prospect lists. How did he get leap-frogged by so many PCL players?
Brent Ingram: Good question. I touched on Margot earlier but right now he has the looks of a gold-glove caliber defender in CF and a top of the order table setter. In such a talent-filled PCL for hitters, it is hard to put Gallo, Reed, Renfroe, Arcia, Contrereas behind him as they each have ceiling as middle of the order guys who can drive in 100 runs annually. I see Arcia as a RHH Franciso Lindor at some point and Gallo/Reed/Renfroe could be the next great power hitters in the game. I think Margot could grow into 10 homer potential (remember he’s young) but like him more as a elite defender, leadoff man.

J.P. (Springfield, IL): Thanks for chatting, Brent. Had he qualified, about where would Lewis Brinson have ranked? Is it safe to assume his numbers were overinflated as a result of his environment?
Brent Ingram: Lewis Brinson is an interesting case. He only had 89 at-bats in the PCL, so I didn’t get as much input on him. I think he could become a force in the league next year with 500 at-bats and work at refining his approach and basestealing. When I think of Brinson, I think of Keon Broxton in 2016. I really like Broxton. I think his background, as a football-player first with a scholarship WR option with FAU, hindered his development as a younger player but he started to really develop in his own in 2016. He has the ability to have five tools and is only going to improve his pitch recognition and discipline. He seems to get better everyday and who can forget that HR robbing catch of Rizzo in Milwaukee.

Brent Ingram: Couple of guys to touch on before we run out of time: Love Joan Gregorio’s potential from Sacramento. He’s 92-94 with a low 90s sinker and a slider that could develop into a plus offering. If starting doesn’t fit the big-bodied Gregorio, could see him becoming a weapon in a bullpen. Mitch Haniger from Reno was part of a strong outfield in the Dbacks system. He showed five-tool potential in 2016, with above-average power, play discipline and arm strength. I think he becomes an everyday RF and No. 2 hitter. Socrates Brito is another of the Reno OF. He as the Dbacks minor leaguer of the year in 2015 and had a strong season in 303 at-bats in Reno. He can run down balls in the gaps in the outfield with plus-plus speed and with his plus arm, profiles best in RF, but can play anywhere out there. He needs to control the strike zone better with just 13 walks in the PCL. Kyle Freeland, lefty out of Albuqueruqe and former Evansville ace, could become a middle of the rotation guy who can eat up 180 innings a year, with health. He is athletic and has a low arm slot with a fastball has high as 97 and the best slider in the system, a 85-87 wipeout. At worst he is a back-of-the-bullpen lefty weapon. Bruce Maxwell was an offensive first catcher out of Birmingham Southern and was so focused on improve his defense, offense slipped a bit. He had a 10 homer season in 193 at-bats in triple-A before showing some potential in the big leagues. A left-handed power catcher can be a force in the game and he has a good approach, solid play discipline and can hit to all fields. He has drawn rave reviews from pitchers in his understanding of working a game plan and has a strong, accurate arm. Dillon Overton ranked fourth in the PCL in ERA and second in wins. A former star ace at Oklahoma, Overton’s Tommy John surgery after signing has delayed his progress. He was more of a velocity prospect in college and his velo has not truly returned in pro ball. He is 88-90 and tops 92 but has plus command and can pitch backwards. His changeup is the best of his secondary weapons and he throws a curveball and a cutter. At just 175 pounds an offseason committed to improving his strength could go a long way to helping him regain his prospect shine and show an ability to be a guy who can take the ball 32 times each year.

Brent Ingram: Looks like I’ve exhausted my time! Thanks to everyone for the great questions. I had a blast and hope to do it again sometime!