2021 Prospects

[moonslav59]

Of all the guys in our system, I would put my money on Yorke. This kid can rake. He would be at the top of my untouchable list.

 

I might put Mayer above him, but that's total speculation.

 

Who do you put second and third?

[mvp 78]

Of all the guys in our system, I would put my money on Yorke. This kid can rake. He would be at the top of my untouchable list.

 

He's the most likely to be a contributing MLBer. He may wind up in LF/DH land though.

[Larry Cook]

Cassas and Cordero with taters tonight,

[mvp 78]

Cassas and Cordero with taters tonight,

 

Casas hit his with his shortened 2 strike swing too.

[Hugh2]

The issue, now, is to protect him from rule 5 or not. He is clearly not close to MLB ready, but with 26 man rosters, maybe one GM sees enough potential to grab him. Sitting on a bench isn't going to help him develop, either.

 

Ideally, we leave him unprotected and nobody claims him, and the choice is put off another year. By 2022, we'll know more, and other GMs will, too.

 

No one is claiming Jimenez, if he was a pitcher a team might take him and stash him in the back of the bullpen but a hitter is a different animal I think. I think they leave him unprotected, he's just too far away to be a legit risk of losing.

[Bellhorn04]

Casas hit his with his shortened 2 strike swing too.

 

Wow, you really are doing your homework.

[mvp 78]

Wow, you really are doing your homework.

 

Always.

 

Last night's HR

 

Casas' normal swing vs 2 strike swing

[mvp 78]

No one is claiming Jimenez, if he was a pitcher a team might take him and stash him in the back of the bullpen but a hitter is a different animal I think. I think they leave him unprotected, he's just too far away to be a legit risk of losing.

 

If he was solid defensively, maybe someone grabs him. I'm starting to lean towards him not being put on the 40 man yet. He's young and very unpolished.

[moonslav59]

No one is claiming Jimenez, if he was a pitcher a team might take him and stash him in the back of the bullpen but a hitter is a different animal I think. I think they leave him unprotected, he's just too far away to be a legit risk of losing.

 

I agree, but it just takes one GM- maybe on a team that is in tank mode- to lose him.

[mvp 78]

http://news.soxprospects.com/2021/09/scout-chatter-miguel-bleis-enderso-lira.html

 

The early returns on outfielder Miguel Bleis—who signed in January for $1.5 million, making him the Red Sox’ most expensive international signee since 2017-2018—have been very encouraging even though he has only played 15 games. In 41 plate appearances, he is hitting .262/.341/.449 with four home runs and seven steals. Obviously, he is still early in his career, but one scout told me, “he’s the real deal.”

[moonslav59]

Highest Farm OPS:

 

300+ ABs

.928 Yorke

.915 Stephen Scott

.891 Dearden

.871 Granberg

.867 T Reed

.865 Northcut

.863 Meneses

.854 Joe Davis

.835 Castellanos

.825 R Hernandez

.815 Howlett

.808 Munoz

 

200-299

.939 Cordero

.896 Duran

.879 Casas

.871 Cottam

.830 Groshans

.822 Mieses

.822 Wilson (gone)

.813 Decker

.807 Sogard

[Larry Cook]

Cassas with a triple tonight and two runs driven in so far!

[Larry Cook]

Highest Farm OPS:

 

300+ ABs

.928 Yorke

.915 Stephen Scott

.891 Dearden

.871 Granberg

.867 T Reed

.865 Northcut

.863 Meneses

.854 Joe Davis

.835 Castellanos

.825 R Hernandez

.815 Howlett

.808 Munoz

 

200-299

.939 Cordero

.896 Duran

.879 Casas

.871 Cottam

.830 Groshans

.822 Mieses

.822 Wilson (gone)

.813 Decker

.807 Sogard

 

Does granberg start next year at triple a?

[moonslav59]

Does granberg start next year at triple a?

 

Maybe. Soxprospects have him in AA

[Noles_1335]

Jimenez will never make the 40 man! Living in Salem and watching him play this season, he's got a lot of improving to do if he ever wants to sniff even AA much less AAA. He is supposed to be our top OF prospect...... not even close. He mad so many terrible routes on balls over his head or in the gap. The experience as a switch hitter looks like a disaster at times. His speed isn't top notch for someone with his OF ranking. Now there are a few guys here in Salem with some promise though. Lugo, Rafeala, Decker, Mcdonough, all seem to have more talent right now. Niko I've not seen enough to have an opinion about. Blaze can be good when he realizes certain pitches... kid looks like he's never seen a pitch he's not liked. Yorke was the star in Salem and maybe the only one who was here that will ever make an impact long term. Again, all my opinion for what I saw this year.

[notin]

Jimenez is ranked 7th by Soxprospects. 10th by MLB.com, 8th by prospectslive, and 10th by BA.

 

That's high, but that's not super hyping a guy up either. That's a range you're in if you have talent but aren't a blue-chip prospect either. I think he's appropriately ranked and has the potential to take off if the power comes. Here is what SP has to say about him.

 

" High ceiling, low floor. Wide range of outcomes due to how raw he is and how much development he has left. Can dream on him becoming an everyday center fielder who adds value at the plate and in the field. One of the highest-ceiling players in the system and could establish himself nationally with a strong full-season debut. Will flash four average-to-better tools at least, but is raw at present. One of, if not the most athletic player in the system. Improved physicality and changes at the plate give him a much better chance to hit and to hit for some power as well. Needs work to refine his defensive game, but has the athletic ability and arm strength you look for in a centerfielder. Possesses great work ethic."

 

That's the type of guy who is usually the 2nd or 3rd piece of a bigger trade.

 

I would bet if you had a scouting report on a 19-20 yo Franchy Cordero, it might read something like that…

[mvp 78]

From 2014 when he was still a SS:

 

10) Franchy Cordero, SS, Grade B-: Ineffective in Low-A (.188/.237/.235 in 94 PA) but stronger in short-season ball, .279/.329/.458, wRC+117 in 259 PA in the Northwest League. Young at age 20, but not that young, will try again in full-season ball next year.

 

10. Franchy Cordero, 3B Video: Cordero played shortstop this year as a 6’3/175, lefty hitting 19-year-old in the short season Northwest League. He performed well and was young for the league, but still needs to tighten up his strike zone. As he fills out, Cordero is expected to shift over to third base, with some suggesting he may even still move to right field. Cordero projects for above average raw power, is an average runner and has an above average arm. If he can be more patient at the plate, there’s a chance for an above average regular at third base, but there’s still a long way to go.

 

From the reports I have read, he was less regarded than Jimenez and bounced around between A and instructs. Cordero really struggled to put it together until about 2016 when he started rising in the rankings. He was still a lower tier prospect and behind guys like Renfroe/Dickerson/Margot.

 

With guys this young, it's likely Jimenez never even becomes Franchy.

[mvp 78]

Does granberg start next year at triple a?

 

JUL 866 OPS

AUG 596 OPS

SEP 1069 OPS

 

If he didn't struggle in August, I could see them pushing him up to AAA. My guess is that they start him in AA and he's called up early in the season.

[mvp 78]

Granberg:

 

Greeville 1058 OPS

Portland 800 OPS

 

He's 26, so I'm not going to drool too much over those A+ numbers.

[mvp 78]

SoxProspects have him ranked at 55, which is fine?

[notin]

From 2014 when he was still a SS:

 

10) Franchy Cordero, SS, Grade B-: Ineffective in Low-A (.188/.237/.235 in 94 PA) but stronger in short-season ball, .279/.329/.458, wRC+117 in 259 PA in the Northwest League. Young at age 20, but not that young, will try again in full-season ball next year.

 

10. Franchy Cordero, 3B Video: Cordero played shortstop this year as a 6’3/175, lefty hitting 19-year-old in the short season Northwest League. He performed well and was young for the league, but still needs to tighten up his strike zone. As he fills out, Cordero is expected to shift over to third base, with some suggesting he may even still move to right field. Cordero projects for above average raw power, is an average runner and has an above average arm. If he can be more patient at the plate, there’s a chance for an above average regular at third base, but there’s still a long way to go.

 

From the reports I have read, he was less regarded than Jimenez and bounced around between A and instructs. Cordero really struggled to put it together until about 2016 when he started rising in the rankings. He was still a lower tier prospect and behind guys like Renfroe/Dickerson/Margot.

 

With guys this young, it's likely Jimenez never even becomes Franchy.

 

Hey I’m still waiting for Tony Blanco to blossom…

[sk7326]

Honorable mention in Keith Law's Prospect of the Year column https://theathletic.com/2840781/2021/09/22/2021-prospect-of-the-year-royals-bobby-witt-jr-tops-keith-laws-award-list/

 

Nick Yorke, 2B, Boston

 

I just saw Yorke for the first time last week, catching one of two three-strikeout games he had in the season’s final series, but that was just a soft ending to a tremendous season for the surprise first-round pick from 2020. Yorke was rehabbing from a shoulder injury and had barely been scouted since the previous summer, so teams that had him in at all had him in the second or third rounds — or later. All the 19-year-old did in his pro debut was hit .325/.412/.516 between Low and High A, with nearly as many walks as strikeouts. (I saw 4.3 percent of his strikeouts for the entire season in just that one game, in fact.) His swing is really good, simple, direct, likely to produce a lot of line-drive contact, although probably no more power than we saw this year. He’s fringy at second base but won’t have to move off the position unless his shoulder flares up again. I’d be lying if I denied that seeing him swing through multiple fastballs in the zone bothered me, but the full season of production has to trump the one-game look here. Everyone killed the pick when Boston took Yorke — myself included — but it’s worked out beautifully.

[sk7326]

Thing with Jimenez is that there is just not a lot of power ... .306/.346/.405 ... but there is a lot of contact and of course as an 80 runner, you're going to pop. I really have no idea how he handles Portland - the real "is he a guy or not" level for these dudes.

[Larry Cook]

Granberg:

 

Greeville 1058 OPS

Portland 800 OPS

 

He's 26, so I'm not going to drool too much over those A+ numbers.

 

When I watch him play, he seems to almost always put the ball in play.

 

I know he is older, can’t play defense and is not a power guy, but I keep rooting for him to get a chance in Boston, because he does have a decent hit tool.

[mvp 78]

@SoxProspects

Nick Yorke is the first team second baseman for the MLB Pipeline 2021 Prospect Team of the Year. The 19-year-old second baseman slashed .325/.412/.516 with 20 doubles and 14 home runs over 442 PA in time spent between Low-A and High-A.

[mvp 78]

From MLB Pipeline's writeup:

 

2B: Nick Yorke (BOS No. 4, MLB No. 98)

A/A+: .325/.412/.516, 97 G, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 76 R, 52 BB, 13 SB

 

One promising year isn’t vindication alone, but Boston’s decision to take Yorke, who many thought was a second- or third-round talent, in the first round last year sure looks a whole lot better now. Yorke’s .325 average was seventh-best in the Minors (minimum 400 plate appearances), and his 149 wRC+ was tied for 12th among that group of 356. To his further credit, the 19-year-old put up his best numbers over a 21-game stint at High-A Greenville, where he batted .333/.406/.571 following an August promotion.

[mvp 78]

Also, on the recent SoxProspects podcast, they have stated that scouts think his glove will be good enough to stay at 2b. There had been question if he'd be moved to corner OF.

[mvp 78]

The WooSox also named Yairo Munoz their team MVP, and Raynel Espinal was named their pitcher of the year, via Joe McDonald. Munoz hit .317 with a .902 OPS in 85 games, while Espinal went 11-4 with a 3.55 ERA.

[mvp 78]

@SoxProspects

Ronaldo Hernández went 2-for-4 in last night's 2-1 Worcester victory. The 23-year-old catcher has slashed .444/.500/.556 over 20 PA since his late-season promotion to Triple-A.

 

Another guy who started the season off really slow. If he can hit well at AAA, he'd be a good backup/role player here. His defense is still behind.

[mvp 78]

@SoxProspects

Raynel Espinal pitched a gem in his final start of the season last night with a line of 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. The 29-year-old righty ends the season with an 11-4 record as well as a 3.44 ERA, .202 OBA, 1.10 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts over 117.2 IP.