Prospect Hot Sheet Chat (May 20)

MJ (VALPO): Thank you, thank you, thank you for finally recognizing Jamie Westbrook! Little man can hit, hit, hit! (also fields and runs well!) What do the DBacks have in him? Seems like a real gamer--a poor man's Mookie Betts?
Matt Eddy: Westbrook has been showing up on the performance spreadsheets I run during the past two seasons, piquing my interest. He ranked about seventh in runs above average in the Cal League last year, though he would be a bit higher if that were adjusted for age and position. Regardless, it looks more and more like Westbrook has the bat-to-ball and strike-zone skills to perhaps fill a major league role. (He doesn’t have the power or explosiveness of Betts, but few of that stature do.) Positional versatility could be a key avenue for Westbrook getting a foot in the door in the majors, so I would watch his game logs.

Scott (Texas): Alex Bregman has obviously been showing some surprising pop lately, leading the Texas League in home runs despite missing a couple of weeks of action. Does this change his power projections as a big leaguer, or do scouts still view him as more a of a 15-20 HR type of bat?
Matt Eddy: I think you would have to see the underlying data on Bregman’s batted balls — launch angle, exit velo, point of contact — to make a conclusive statement about how much power to expect … but on the other hand, I think most would have taken the “under” on 10 HR by May 20. I think a midpoint of about 15 HR would be satisfactory for Bregman in the majors, even if he plays 3B. He’s going to do enough other things well to make the overall package attractive.

Robert (Salem, Oregon): Hello, love your transactions report. Where do you get all that info from?
Matt Eddy: Thanks Robert. Everything I print is conveyed to us from Major League Baseball on a weekly basis. And that has been the case for more than a decade.

Steve (Chitown): Any chance Victor Robles could see a speedy progression next season similar to Albies has had this season?
Matt Eddy: Anything is possible with the best-of-the-best, the 95th percentile prospects. I feel like most teams like to give young prospects, like Robles, a full season at one Class A level to dominate and grow accustomed to the five-month season. But if Robles is hitting .350 in July, then the Nationals could readjust their 2016 plan.

Larry (LA): Josh Nayor looks legit, what are your thoughts about his ceiling?
Matt Eddy: From what I’ve heard, Marlins 1B Josh Naylor hits the ball very hard on a consistent basis, and I would expect him to have an excellent season at Low-A. The complicating factor for evaluating the raw output is that Greensboro is so homer-happy that it sees more home runs than any minor league park outside the Cal League (with the exception of a few Triple-A parks).

Brett (Altoona, PA): When will Kevin Newman be taking over the short stop position in Altoona? He has nothing left to prove in Bradenton.
Matt Eddy: The Pirates typically play things conservatively — with 2015 fifth-rounder Brandon Waddell jumping to Double-A an exception — so I would expect to see Kevin Newman move to Altoona after the all-star break. (Keep in mind that Pedro Alvarez spent a half-season in the Carolina League back in 2009, one year after he was the top college bat in his draft class.) But yes, Newman, the 2015 first-rounder, has more than met expectations at Bradenton thus far.

Frank (SA): How would you rank the fllowing outfield prospects: Brinson, Zimmer, Winker, Robles, and Frazier?
Matt Eddy: I think the Nationals’ Victor Robles and the Indians’ Clint Frazier are the most dynamic, and the most likely to contribute to your Roto team. The Rangers’ Lewis Brinson needs more time to adjust to Double-A, but he has come a long way from his 2013 full-season debut.

BigBossMan (Toronto): For fantasy purposes only how would you rank the top 5 prospects to covet? Would the list look something like this: Moncanda Bregman Benenitendi Brinson Glasnow? Thx
Matt Eddy: Take out Brinson (for now) and throw in the Braves’ Dansby Swanson. For long-term value, also check in on 2015 high school bats SS Brandan Rodgers (Rockies) and OF Kyle Tucker (Astros). Also: the Nationals’ Victor Robles and Red Sox RHP Anderson Espinoza. I’m sure I’m missing obvious prospects you guys will remind me of.

Dan "The Big Fish" V (Toronto, because Miami sucked): With Bregman shifting to third in the minors for some spot duty...who in 2017 is playing shortstop and who is playing third base for the Astros. Correa would seem more like the type to slide over to the hot corner, but since he is the superstar, how much say does he have in the position change?
Matt Eddy: I would not expect Correa to move anywhere, and his arm gives him a separating tool at shortstop. Teams typically do not shift young, established shortstops off the position in favor of other young players. Though I would love to hear contrary examples . . .

Brett "Soccer Balls" Z (Travellin the US of A): How scary is the Tim Anderson K rate and will he basically be a lighter hitting but faster version of Trevor Story where you just live with it because of all the other good things he is doing? And how is his defense coming along, no worries of a position change anymore?
Matt Eddy: White Sox SS Tim Anderson does have a unique profile. Scouts really like this guy from a tools standpoint, particularly his swing/hit tool and speed. But the strike-zone control is probably going to cut into his production, at least early in his career. Before you judge Anderson too harshly for his glove, keep in mind that he has shown steady improvement each season and that he’s really not as experienced as other first-round talents from his 2013 draft class. He focused on basketball in high school, spent two years in junior college and then missed half of his full-season debut in 2014 because of injury. Anderson is an explosive player who I wouldn’t be shocked to see go 20-20 one day, but with young Alfonso Soriano-like SO/BB ratios.

Nate "Dog" Hunter (Rocking the 1s and 2s): That super two deadline must really be a pain for the Pirates, having to continue to run out Locke and Niese when they have two or three studs in AAA. When June finally comes, Taillon is the first one up right? Is Kuhl or Glasnow second?
Matt Eddy: Seeing that Taillon did not pitch in pro games in either 2014 or 2015, I could see the Pirates wishing to manage him more carefully at Triple-A, mindful that they might need him in September and possibly October. I think Glasnow (on the 40-man) as well as Kuhl and LHP Steven Brault (40-man adds after the season) are more realistic in-season targets based on their success and workloads in recent seasons.

patrick (san diego): It's great to see Eloy Jimenez start to turn the raw skills into production on the field. Do you think he'll find the plate discipline to find success in the higher levels. Or might he be the rare kind of prospect that can succeed even without plate discipline?
Matt Eddy: I think the disparate SO and BB rates plays better up the middle than it does on a corner, which is where Eloy Jimenez is bound. It can often be a major stumbling block for young RH-hitting corner players, e.g. Rymer Liriano, Joel Guzman, Wily Mo Pena and others.

H. Dozier (Omaha, NE): What no love? I'm on an 8 game hitting streak with 3 2B, 4 HR's and 8 RBI this week, while hitting .440 in Triple-A. Only JD Davis has more on the hot sheet. 12 HR's on the year. I was a top 10 pick you know....
Matt Eddy: I’m kind of surprised I didn’t pick you either, Hunter. I’m usually in your corner, and you’re off to a .341/.370/.705 with 8 XBH through your first 11 Triple-A games.

nb (philly): I know that the season is still relatively young and the sample size small, but is there reason to be concerned with Giolito's control issues? Have his mechanics changed at all? Thanks!
Matt Eddy: Yes, I think concern is warranted. Giolito has pulled off the hat trick of disconcerting trends at Double-A thus far: more walks, more hits, fewer strikeouts. His 3.86 ERA doesn’t look that *bad* but credit him with unearned runs and he has allowed 6.23 R/9.

Matt Eddy: Thanks for the great questions today. Hot Sheet returns next Friday. If you have other questions that can be answered in 140 characters, then hit me up on Twitter at @MattEddyBA