Kjerstad/Beavers/Fabian

[Hank Scorpio]

4 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

It's hard to argue with the conclusion since Fabian has major league defensive center field abilities right now. 

Kjerstad did not show well last year until he got to the hitter friendly AFL but Aberdeen and the Sally League as a whole seems like a bad hitters league (I'm guessing the lighting/batter's eyes are not good) so it's hard to judge to him too harshly. Now saying that, he's got the best pure power of them all so he's got a nice ceiling offensively and why he's higher than both on the top prospect list.

Beavers is really hard to judge for me because the talent is there, but I need to see him over a whole season before getting too high of low, but he seems to be the guy who could end up the best all around player of the three, though I wouldn't rule Fabian out in this department.

MAN it's nice to hear these kinds of discussions.

"Here are three legit outfield prospects that are all ranked lower than 5 on our list." 

Where would Markakis rank on our list today? 

[Tony-OH]

12 minutes ago, Hank Scorpio said:

MAN it's nice to hear these kinds of discussions.

"Here are three legit outfield prospects that are all ranked lower than 5 on our list." 

Where would Markakis rank on our list today? 

Hmm, that's a great question. He would be #4 on our current list before DL Hall.

[LookinUp]

3 hours ago, Hank Scorpio said:

MAN it's nice to hear these kinds of discussions.

"Here are three legit outfield prospects that are all ranked lower than 5 on our list." 

Where would Markakis rank on our list today? 

To be fair to these three, two of them just got into our system and (as Tony said) rankers don't want to get too far out over their skis before seeing a larger sample size.

And for Kjerstad, he's been injured pretty much since he got here, and one of those "injuries" had nothing to do with baseball. So I think the book is still open on him, positive or negative, almost like a new guy coming into the org. There's just not enough of a healthy sample to feel like we really know anything.

[Tony-OH]

55 minutes ago, LookinUp said:

To be fair to these three, two of them just got into our system and (as Tony said) rankers don't want to get too far out over their skis before seeing a larger sample size.

And for Kjerstad, he's been injured pretty much since he got here, and one of those "injuries" had nothing to do with baseball. So I think the book is still open on him, positive or negative, almost like a new guy coming into the org. There's just not enough of a healthy sample to feel like we really know anything.

Agreed. Kjerstad could be #2 on our list or out of the top 20 after this season. We really don't know who the real Kjerstad is but we should after this season at Bowie.

[OriolesMagic83]

Last year was Kjerstad's rookie minor league season and he was coming back from disabling injury.  I think this year we will see the true Kjerstad.  I was surprised and impressed with the power he showed in the AFL.

[AnythingO's]

When HK was in the AFL I started watching his SO rate relative to the others. He generally had more ABs than anyone on the leader board and his SO rate was about 35% about halfway thru. Then week after week it was dropping. He finished with 31 SOs in 98 ABs so after being over 35% halfway thru he did much better. He finished 6th in OPS and batted .357. I am a Heston homer but I believe he will be back to pre-injury or better this year. A very ice "new addition" to the Mil rankings.

[Jagwar]

Kjerstand smacked 2 HRs today in the opener and went 3-3. Gotta like that start to the Spring

 

EDIT: MLB.com says both were to the opposite field. 

Edited February 25, 2023 by Jagwar

[Frobby]

41 minutes ago, Jagwar said:

Kjerstand smacked 2 HRs today in the opener and went 3-3. Gotta like that start to the Spring

 

EDIT: MLB.com says both were to the opposite field. 

One hit the foul pole, the other was to LCF.  In his final at bat, he hit a ball that sliced just about a foot left of the LF foul pole, before ripping a single to RF.   Super impressive day.  

[Jagwar]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

One hit the foul pole, the other was to LCF.  In his final at bat, he hit a ball that sliced just about a foot left of the LF foul pole, before ripping a single to RF.   Super impressive day.  

Absolutely. I almost believe that Kjerstad is the forgotten first round pick. Really hopeful that he can put in a stellar MiL season so that he forces the O's to stick him in their lineup by the start of the 2024 season. 

[yark14]

40 minutes ago, Jagwar said:

Absolutely. I almost believe that Kjerstad is the forgotten first round pick. Really hopeful that he can put in a stellar MiL season so that he forces the O's to stick him in their lineup by the start of the 2024 season. 

Kjerstad could hit 2 HR each game of spring training and still wouldn't make the team.  However, I really like him, Cowser, et al, putting pressure on the established big league OF-ers.  Pushes everyone to be better.

[Frobby]

20 minutes ago, yark14 said:

Kjerstad could hit 2 HR each game of spring training and still wouldn't make the team.  However, I really like him, Cowser, et al, putting pressure on the established big league OF-ers.  Pushes everyone to be better.

Good times coming.  I really like all of our current starting outfielders, but having more competition can only help.

[yark14]

5 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Good times coming.  I really like all of our current starting outfielders, but having more competition can only help.

100% agree.

[Aristotelian]

The opposite field power is impressive. Even with an excuse-me swing he has enough power to get it out. Chris Davis used to do that when he was good. https://twitter.com/Orioles/status/1629571868091899906?s=20

[RZNJ]

I saw video of one of the home runs.  Kjerstad looks big.  Something tells me he spent a lot of time in the weight room.   I hope he can maintain whatever speed he had.

[Chaka Garcia]

13 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I saw video of one of the home runs.  Kjerstad looks big.  Something tells me he spent a lot of time in the weight room.   I hope he can maintain whatever speed he had.

Maybe he can be our next 1B/DH/OF like Mancini or a Mountcastle replacement if we decide to trade him.