2024 Prospect Power Rankings

[sportsfan8703]

40 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

Ok, I did it. I moved Mayo to #1 because I believe in the bat so much. Holliday has been hitting well of late so I almost didn't do it, but I just think I'd trade Holliday before Mayo even though I would not trade either.

Basallo still could be better then them both. Really the team has three #1 prospects.

1A, 1B, 1C.

The only issues is the huge dropoff after the top three. No one wants to claim that #4 spot so I left Povich there. Povich should graduate here shortly anyways so hopefully someone will take that step forward and claim that #4 spot that Kjerstad graduate from. 

Maybe the draft will bring us that #4. Or some EBJ XBH. 

[Rbiggs2525]

Just my two cents but I’d like to see Morfe higher. We have an extremely deep top 30 so I can see where it could be difficult. I don’t see a high school pitcher in this draft I’d take over Morfe at this point. 99 MPH with results and not many walks. I’m sure he will go up as the innings go up.

[Hank Scorpio]

Holy Aron Estrada!!!!!!!!!! 

[Tony-OH]

38 minutes ago, Rbiggs2525 said:

Just my two cents but I’d like to see Morfe higher. We have an extremely deep top 30 so I can see where it could be difficult. I don’t see a high school pitcher in this draft I’d take over Morfe at this point. 99 MPH with results and not many walks. I’m sure he will go up as the innings go up.

Morfe will move up for sure because of the velocity readings. He's only 5-8 or 5-9 depending on the source, so if he's really throwing that hard at 18 from that height he's one to watch for sure. Saying that, he's in the DSL so we have to take stats with a grain of salt and I haven't seen him pitch yet so I'm going of reports which always gives me a little pause. 

But a guy who reportedly sits 95-97 and can hit 99-100 is worth following. 

 

[Sports Guy]

49 minutes ago, Hank Scorpio said:

Holy Aron Estrada!!!!!!!!!! 

[RZNJ]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

Morfe will move up for sure because of the velocity readings. He's only 5-8 or 5-9 depending on the source, so if he's really throwing that hard at 18 from that height he's one to watch for sure. Saying that, he's in the DSL so we have to take stats with a grain of salt and I haven't seen him pitch yet so I'm going of reports which always gives me a little pause. 

But a guy who reportedly sits 95-97 and can hit 99-100 is worth following. 

 

I think our mid level guys who we hoped would take that next step, Beavers, Bradfield, Horvath, have all disappointed to some degree.  I feel like there’s a lot of those guys and some potential high end Latin kids (Liranzo, Sosa, Estrada, E. Garcia, Morfe, etc.) that are just too far out to get too excited about yet.   There’s a big hole between Norfolk and Delmarva.    It’s kind of like the old days when you’d try to get excited about a Mac Horvath hot week or Trey Gibson striking guys out in low A.   
 

The system could really use a 2nd half breakout from some Bowie and Aberdeen prospects.

[Tony-OH]

3 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I think our mid level guys who we hoped would take that next step, Beavers, Bradfield, Horvath, have all disappointed to some degree.  I feel like there’s a lot of those guys and some potential high end Latin kids (Liranzo, Sosa, Estrada, E. Garcia, Morfe, etc.) that are just too far out to get too excited about yet.   There’s a big hole between Norfolk and Delmarva.    It’s kind of like the old days when you’d try to get excited about a Mac Horvath hot week or Trey Gibson striking guys out in low A.   
 

The system could really use a 2nd half breakout from some Bowie and Aberdeen prospects.

The problem is when you look at the system behind the top 3, it has largely underperformed this year. Estrada, Etzel and maybe Forrett are the "breakout" guys when you look over things, but I'm honestly struggling to figure out who #4 will be. There is a HUGE dropoff after the first three. The high end Latin guys have not really done anything impressive outside of Estrada, and the next level of guy that you mentioned all have disappointed to an extent. Beavers, Horvath and Wagner (injured mostly) have all been disappointments. Povich and McDermott are kind of who they are with command. I'll be honest, Norby may be #4 right now. 

I kept looking at the list and I wanted to move more guys down, but realized the guys below them are doing poorly too. 

Hopefully this draft will bring some exciting new blood in because Elias and his scouts are swinging and missing a lot on college hitters since the 2021 draft, and that is making the system look weaker.

Having three potential impact guys in the system makes the system still a good one, but they really need some guys to click in this second half. There is talent, just not guys putting up numbers to match.

[Sports Guy]

2 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

The problem is when you look at the system behind the top 3, it has largely underperformed this year. Estrada, Etzel and maybe Forrett are the "breakout" guys when you look over things, but I'm honestly struggling to figure out who #4 will be. There is a HUGE dropoff after the first three. The high end Latin guys have not really done anything impressive outside of Estrada, and the next level of guy that you mentioned all have disappointed to an extent. Beavers, Horvath and Wagner (injured mostly) have all been disappointments. Povich and McDermott are kind of who they are with command. I'll be honest, Norby may be #4 right now. 

I kept looking at the list and I wanted to move more guys down, but realized the guys below them are doing poorly too. 

Hopefully this draft will bring some exciting new blood in because Elias and his scouts are swinging and missing a lot on college hitters since the 2021 draft, and that is making the system look weaker.

Having three potential impact guys in the system makes the system still a good one, but they really need some guys to click in this second half. There is talent, just not guys putting up numbers to match.

Yep. The good news is that the Os system seems to be looked at favorably, even outside the top 3 guys.  But they definitely need some uptick by some of these guys for the second half.

[Rbiggs2525]

I think Baumeister finishes strong. The life on his pitches looks really good and then he will have a moment where it all falls apart. Seems like a trend with Orioles pitching prospects where they cannot stop the big inning. A walk, error, bloop and grand slam.

[Tony-OH]

I know one thing, Thomas White would have looked a lot better in the org than Bradfield at #17. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's too early to make any real judgements, but just saying. White even signed for $69,700 less.     

[CaptainRedbeard]

22 hours ago, Tony-OH said:

Morfe will move up for sure because of the velocity readings. He's only 5-8 or 5-9 depending on the source, so if he's really throwing that hard at 18 from that height he's one to watch for sure. Saying that, he's in the DSL so we have to take stats with a grain of salt and I haven't seen him pitch yet so I'm going of reports which always gives me a little pause. 

But a guy who reportedly sits 95-97 and can hit 99-100 is worth following. 

 

Any idea if Morfe throws straight over the top or from a lower angle? He’s going to have low extension being so short and that will decrease his effective velo, but from a low angle at that height his VAA would be crazy and probably more than make up for it.

[Tony-OH]

1 minute ago, CaptainRedbeard said:

Any idea if Morfe throws straight over the top or from a lower angle? He’s going to have low extension being so short and that will decrease his effective velo, but from a low angle at that height his VAA would be crazy and probably more than make up for it.

No idea. Haven't had any convos about him this year yet. Here's what he looked like a year and half ago.

 

[Rbiggs2525]

18 minutes ago, CaptainRedbeard said:

Any idea if Morfe throws straight over the top or from a lower angle? He’s going to have low extension being so short and that will decrease his effective velo, but from a low angle at that height his VAA would be crazy and probably more than make up for it.

I think Sonny Gray would be the example for all shorter pitchers on how to get extension. He’s above average at 5’10.

[sportsfan8703]

@Tony-OH it’s good to see Josenberger get on the board in someway. 

We seem to have not been able to hit yet on one of these big athletes… Rhodes, Trimble, Horvath, Wagner, EBJ, Josenberger, and even McLean to a point. I like the strategy though and the book is only closed on McLean.

[Tony-OH]

5 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

@Tony-OH it’s good to see Josenberger get on the board in someway. 

We seem to have not been able to hit yet on one of these big athletes… Rhodes, Trimble, Horvath, Wagner, EBJ, Josenberger, and even McLean to a point. I like the strategy though and the book is only closed on McLean.

He's had a couple of good weeks and there are some tools to work from. Worth keeping an eye on to see if things continue to click.