Prospect Hot Sheet Chat

Josh Norris: Let’s Chat.

Justin (New York): Which, if any, of the following players do you see being ranked in the top 100 next year: Starling Heredia, Bryan Reynolds, Jorge Ona, Keibert Ruiz.

Josh Norris: Based on how much we talk about him in the office and the kind of reviews we get from scouts, I could definitely see Keibert Ruiz getting some consideration.

Bill Curtis (Bradenton): Do you think either Senzel or Acuna make it to the MLB this season or are both likely to arrive early next year?

Josh Norris: I don’t think either make it to the big leagues this season (I thought I read that the Braves already said Gwinnett is Acuña’s last stop this year) but next year seems more likely for both of them. I am very, very excited to see what Acuña does as a big leaguer.

Excited O's Fan (Maryland): Is BbAmerica maybe overlooking the greatness that is Austin Hays' season and bat control? I've seen him play twice now and think he should be a top 50 prospect and hopefully starting in RF for the O's opening day 2017! What are your thoughts on his placement..and outlook for next season? Thanks for doing the chat!

Josh Norris: We most certainly are not overlooking him. I’m very high on Austin Hays, as are the scouts I speak with about him. One comp I got that I particularly liked was Aaron Rowand. The blue-collar type of player who in his prime can help you on both sides of the ball.

White Sox Pitchers (Chicago): Do you agree with the following ceilings on the Sox most notable pitching prospects: Kopech (#1/#2), Lopez (#2/#3), Giolito (#2/#3), Hansen (#3/#4), Dunning (#4/#5)?

Josh Norris: I agree on Kopech and Hansen. Think you might have Dunning a little low and Lopez and Giolito a bit high. I will say I’m probably the low guy on Lopez this year and Giolito has turned the corner a little bit since the beginning of his season. Still, that’s a nice bounty to have, and you left out Dylan Cease.

Bill (Philly): Who is the highest upside pitching prospect in the minors? (including Espinoza, Reyes, and others injured)

Josh Norris: Jeez, that’s a tough one. I might go with both of the guys you named, plus Sixto Sanchez, Michael Kopech and Brent Honeywell. There’s a lot of darn good pitching prospects in the minors.

Joey (Rome): Man Ronald acuna seems to be actually getting better as he advances. Improving K%, BB%, while maintaining incredible slash lines with power and speed. Can you remember anyone else who improved through the minor league accention at such a young age?

Josh Norris: I’m not sure this is a direct answer to your question, but the guy we keep coming back to in the office as far as Acuña’s career path is concerned is Andruw Jones. The young man has star written all over him.

Avery (El Paso, TX): AJ Puk had 13 Ks last night in 6 shutout Innings with only 1 Hit allowed. Safe to say he makes this list today if he is not sent back out for the 7th Inning? (when he tired and gave up 3 Runs).

Josh Norris: Unfortunately, his previous start also fell into this week’s Hot Sheet window. I really considered sticking him in there on the strength of last night alone. His line of 10.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER kinda nullifies the 20 Ks and 4 BBs. There were a few dudes who had that problem, actually.

Doug (Centennial Co): Who is the better prospect between Robles and Acura and why?

Josh Norris: This is a good question, and I’d pick Acuña at this point. His season has been unfathomably good to this point, and he’s performed at every level. I think they’re both gifted center fielders, but I’d give Acuña the nod because I think he’ll make a bigger offensive impact.

John (Milton WI): Keston Hiura has really hit since being drafted, how worried are you about the fact he is DHing and not playing the field.

Josh Norris: I’m not worried at all about that. It was part of the plan after he was drafted. He should play the field next year.

Richard (So Cal): Hello, I am curious who you think the front runner for BA's Minor League Player of the Year is right now ? I would think Ronald Acuna is the guy this year when you look at his all around numbers and his age at each level, nobody can compare. I would think he also has to be a very strong candidate for the # 1 prospect in the game. I keep reading comments for minor league managers and players about how amazing he is to see in person and how he is the best they have seen at any level this year. If there is a better prospect currently in the minors I sure would like to hear who and why they are ?

Josh Norris: There are several candidates, and Acuña is a strong contender. I’ve only gotten to see him in a home run derby and the Futures Game and he comes immediately to mind as one of the most impressive position players I’ve seen all year. He is appointment viewing if there ever were such a thing. There are other candidates, but Acuña is going to be near the top of the list.

Casey (Morgantown): Does Brent Honeywell get called up to take Snell's spot in the rotation? What can we expect if he does?

Josh Norris: They called up Jose Alvarado to take Snell’s spot, so Honeywell will continue to wait.

Jon (Pennsylvania): Very surprised to not see Ronnie Dawson, who is riding a 13-game hit streak and is 19/40 over the previous ten games. He seems to have taken off after moving to the leadoff spot. Was he under consideration this week?

Josh Norris: He was, but alas there are only 20 spots on the list. So he and a few other guys whose weeks I liked got cut.

Jim (Indiana): What's the word on Mickey Moniak? Looks like a big reach at 1/1 last year. Do evaluators still see impact MLB outfielder or more fringy regular now?

Josh Norris: He is very divisive in the scouting community right now. It’s for sure not been the year he wanted, but you can definitely find scouts who believe in him as an everyday regular. Others are concerned by the lack of a standout tool, and there are specific concerns about his reads on fly balls. All that said, there’s plenty of time for him to work out the kinks.

Casey (Morgantown): What's going on with Triston McKenzie? We have been spoiled with his utter dominance. Is it similar to 2016 and he's having a hard time maintaining velo late in the year or something else?

Josh Norris: If there’s one knock on McKenzie, it’s for his ability to hold up over the course of a season’s workload. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 165, he’s basically a stick figure on the mound. The stuff is electric, but he needs to add some bulk.

John (Milton WI): What do you think of Freddy Peralta? He has great K rates(12.5/9IP), low BA against(.187), and has improved his walk rates from earlier in the year.

Josh Norris: I love Freddy Peralta. One of my very favorite pitchers I’ve seen this year, simply because he’s such a puzzle. If you watched him in a bullpen session, you might not come away wowed at his stuff, but hitters simply do not square him. Oftentimes, they do not make contact either. Nothing he throws is straight, and that’s showed over the course of the year.

Formerly the Smasher (Canada): Why doesn't Connor Greene miss more bats?

Josh Norris: From a scout who saw him recently, because he doesn’t really know how to pitch. Sometimes his sequences will get predictable and sometimes he’ll simply leave the ball up in the zone too often. The stuff is there, now there has to be some nuance to his game.

Stuart (Philadelphia Pa): Peter Alonso has received well deserved recognition for his lethal bat. With Dom Smith certain to get the chance to lock down 1B, what happens when Alonso is ready for MLB? Is he able to play 3B or LF? Or does he need to go another team to get playing time?

Josh Norris: I think he might become trade bait if he keeps mashing, honestly.

Sergio Q (Tijuana, Mexico): There are rumors that Chris Paddack will start throwing again in September, what was your opinion of him before his TJ Surgery?

Josh Norris: Fun Chris Paddack story. I went to see him against Kolby Allard last year in Greensboro. Allard was OK that day, but when I looked up Paddack had whiffed nearly everybody he’d faced. He was definitely in the upper echelon of the Marlins’ system before the injury, and he’ll be a wild card in a loaded Padres’ system if he returns to form.

Ryan (PA): Who is in the running for number 1 prospect going into next season? Is it between Acuna, Robles, Gleyber, Guerrero?

Josh Norris: I’d say all of those guys have a case, although Gleyber has the misfortune of being out until sometime next year after the surgery. Acuna and Vladdy are leading the way right now for me, but Robles can make up ground with a strong final month in Double-A.

David ((KC)): If you had your pick of stashing one these potential stat-sheet fillers for fantasy-- (B Rodgers, R Acuna, E Jimenez, V Robles), rank em on what your gut tells you for the biggest potential 2018 pay-off ?

Josh Norris: All of these guys are taken in my fantasy league, but if I could raid one of my rivals’ farm systems, I’d take Acuna. My farm system, incidentally, has Anderson Espinoza, Lucas Giolito and Estevan Florial.

Jack (Hou): It's pretty surprising to see a HS pitcher like Forrest Whitley not spend all of his first year in lo-A. Do the reports support a #1/2 ceiling?

Josh Norris: He’s certainly looked tantalizingly good here at Buies Creek. I wouldn’t go as high as a No. 1, personally, but he’s certainly got the pitches to prove me wrong. His changeup is in the running for the best I’ve seen this year, along with the Phillies’ JoJo Romero.

Brian (Greensboro): No Braves pitcher on the high upside? More to being a good pitcher than just velocity as previous Braves greats have shown......

Josh Norris: I could have named two dozen pitchers, but that would defeat the point of the question. I like plenty of the Braves arms, including but not limited to: Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz, Kyle Wright, Mike Soroka, Kolby Allard and Luiz Gohara.

Zak (san diego): What are your thoughts on the A's gambling on 2 injured prospects in the Sonny Gray trade?

Josh Norris: Dustin Fowler was one of the biggest risers in the Yankees’ system before the trade and might have been on the mythical “do not ask” list if healthy. Kaprielian is a bigger risk simply because he hasn’t pitched a whole lot since getting drafted. If both of those guys return to form, this trade could be a win for both sides.

Josh Norris: That’s all for me today. Thanks for the questions today and all season long. Just two months until the Arizona Fall League is upon us. Get excited!