OPP - Other People's Prospects
- Thread starter JM3
- Start date
No idea why they're wasting these bullets in AAA. Almost a certainty he'll need TJ at some point. Might as well have him mowing down MLers until that happens.
Going to two California league games next weekend. Anyone to look for on:
Rancho Cucamonga
Lake Elsinore
San Jose
Modesto?
Thanks!
Rancho Cucamonga
Lake Elsinore
San Jose
Modesto?
Thanks!
Modesto might have the most talented minor-league lineup west of Norfolk. The Nuts have a trio of infielders— Colt Emerson, Michael Arroyo, and Tai Peete— and a trio of outfielders— Lazaro Montes, Jonny Farmelo, and Aidan Smith— that are legitimate prospects. The Mariners drafted each of Emerson, Farmelo, Peete, and Smith in the first four rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft, although I am sure that Antonio Anderson has a wonderful personality. Peete is currently on the Injured List and Miller is not yet a full-time starter, although the latter likely will change once Montes is promoted to High-A.
Rancho Cucamonga is a Dodgers affiliate and therefore has more depth than the Mariana Trench but the Quakes lineup is led by the duo of infielder Jeral Perez and outfielder Josue De Paula. De Paula, a cousin of Stephon Marbury, is as promising a hitting prospect as any in the Red Sox system but does not offer the positional value of Mayer or Anthony if the former sticks at shortstop or the latter proves a viable center fielder. Outfielder Zyhir Hope was considered a secondary acquisition in the Michael Busch deal but has translated his tools to performance well since joining the Los Angeles organization. Payton Martin is the most prominent member of the pitching staff but could be complemented by Wyatt Crowell, Carlos Duran, and Eriq Swan— all of whom are currently in various stages of recovery from injury.
Lake Elsinore was particularly impacted by outfielder Dillon Head’s inclusion in the Luis Arraez trade but still features shortstop Leodails De Vries, the top international amateur from the signing period that began this January. Like Ethan Salas, the top international amateur from the January 2023 signing period, De Vries received an aggressive initial assignment from the parent Padres. The Storm’s Jandaniel (J.D.) Gonzalez is an intriguing catching prospect that has been largely overshadowed by fellow backstop Salas’s rapid ascension through the San DIego system. Carson Montgomery might be the most noteworthy of Lake Elsinore’s pitchers but, like fellow former FSU Seminoles alumnus Crowell, is currently on the Injured List. Mike Martin, Jr.’s meat grinder offered no quarter. The Storm’s healthy hurlers include Eric Yost of Northeastern, but Yost’s prospect pedigree is limited since the full-season minor leagues play neither on Monday nor in February.
San Jose’s best prospect, Bryce Eldridge, was drafted as a two-way player but the Giants are developing him as a position player. The 6-7 Eldridge casts a long shadow at the plate but glacier melt will have to accelerate before his outfield range is compared to Gary Matthews’. Catcher Luke Shliger, shortstop Maui Ahuna, and outfielder Jonah Cox were accomplished collegians, with Cox— acquired from Oakland in exchange for Ross Stripling— best remembered for a 47-game hitting streak with Oral Roberts. The San Francisco system has been ravaged by pitching injuries and San Jose’s share of casualties includes former Red Sox minor leaguer Marques Johnson, acquired from Chaim Bloom’s rainmakers in exchange for Mauricio Llovera. Joe Whitman has managed to escape injury but not insult as a walk rate approaching six per nine innings has inhibited Whitman’s production from approaching his talent. Whitman and the might-be Giants pitchers are coached by Dan Runzler, who concluded his playing career with Pawtucket in 2019. San Jose’s ballpark was built in 1942 and, at least as of a decade ago, was a fascinating testament to local baseball history.
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Great stuff, @Diamond Don Aase ! I will appear to be knowledgeable at the games next weekend! We will be at Rancho C on Saturday (Fireworks!) and Elsinore Sunday (pro wrestling after, which I expect we will miss)