Jump to content

Maikol Hernandez: The classic example of Latin American Volatility

Tony-OH

By Tony-OH
in Minors

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Popular Post
Tony-OH Hangout Grand Counsel

Tony-OH

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

I feel bad for writing this but Maikol Hernandez clearly can not hit professional pitching.

image.thumb.png.7a8a16133aaf27aba2d9bba4dbaaf9e1.png

He was Orioles first top 50 rated International prospect when he was signed for $1.2 million. He was rated higher than Samuel Basallo though I remember Koby Perez saying Basallo had a higher ceiling. I'd say he was right on the mark on that one.

As a Venezuelan, he probably had less eyes on him then if he was Dominican, but a lot of this just goes to show how hard it is to access these guys at 14 and 15 years old or younger, when these agreements need to be made.

Hernandez is the first of several high priced shortstops (Luis Almeyda and Emilio Sanchez) that have struggled to hit in the early parts of their careers. Now the book is not even close to be written on the last two, but neither have gotten off to good starts and Almeyda has been very injury prone in his short career. When you add in Braylin Tavera's struggles in Delmarva before getting hurt, the million dollar guys have all struggled to hit outside of Basallo.

Luckily, Leandro Arias, who I believe was a $500K guy is really starting to hit in Delmarva and Thomas Sosa shows flashes of his promise and was also a just a $300K guy. 

In the end, it's such a crap shoot and you can see why the Orioles tend to spread out their money vs throwing them at the million guys too often. 

It also may be a good case for a draft. This would allow clubs to evaluate these guys at least at 16 or 17 years old vs 13-15. Still a tough gig, but it would seems to be a little better than throwing millions at teenagers with agreements that were made when they were 14 years old.

  • Upvote 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tony-OH Hangout Grand Counsel

Tony-OH

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, EdwinRip said:

Yet he continues to play everyday.  When will it end? 

Well, he's supposed to be a good defensive shortstop but he's been pretty brutal this year defensively too. At least he got a pretty big pay day and hopefully will be able to use that to better himself and his family, because the only reason he's still playing at all is because they invested so much money in him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Sports Guy Hangout Grand Counsel

Sports Guy

Posted
Posted

Keep taking swings but there will be a ton of failure.

That said, this stuff does illustrate that how much you spend on any one player isn’t really what’s important.  It’s that you are getting as many lottery tickets as possible and hoping to develop them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DocJJ Major Leaguer

DocJJ

Posted
Posted

I am sad to say our International Pipeline has been really disappointing.  Basallo certainly seems like the best of the bunch and may become an impact player down the road.  Arias has shown some potential, and we have a few pitchers in the lower ranks of the minors showing some potential...  but the position prospects have by and large completely tanked....   

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tony-OH Hangout Grand Counsel

Tony-OH

Posted
  • Author
Posted
27 minutes ago, Fiver6565 said:

yeah one flameout (or more) doesn't bother me one bit.  I'd rather see us fail w/ guys than not try at all, as I'm sure pretty much we all would agree.

Obviously you really didn't get the point of the thread if that is all you got out of it. I'll be honest, if that's the best you have to offer, please try and avoid quoting me in your replies as to not waste my time.

 

  • Confused 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Fiver6565 All-Star

Fiver6565

Posted
Posted
6 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

Obviously you really didn't get the point of the thread if that is all you got out of it. I'll be honest, if that's the best you have to offer, please try and avoid quoting me in your replies as to not waste my time.

 

A. I didn't quote you, or anyone else, in my reply

B. What are you talking about?  I'm agreeing with you (and the post from SG that preceded my original post) that Hernandez is a flame out, that he won't be the last, and that its not a big deal because we're at least in the market.

 

I don't get what the issue is or what I didn't 'get' from the thread.

  • Upvote 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Fiver6565 All-Star

Fiver6565

Posted
Posted
22 minutes ago, DocJJ said:

I am sad to say our International Pipeline has been really disappointing.  Basallo certainly seems like the best of the bunch and may become an impact player down the road.  Arias has shown some potential, and we have a few pitchers in the lower ranks of the minors showing some potential...  but the position prospects have by and large completely tanked....   

Most of these kids are still 17 or 18, and the ones who have made it to full season ball have only been there for a couple of months.  A bit early for them to have 'completely tanked', no?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
btownoriole Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

btownoriole

Posted
Posted

Tony - given how woefully underinvested the O’s were before Elias, how are you assessing Perez to date?  He obviously was way behind the curve when he started, and it takes more time to develop international talent given the ages at which they’re signed, but it’s been 5 years and Basallo is the only big prospect to date.  Just feels like the O’s should be further along.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
RZNJ Hangout Grand Counsel

RZNJ

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, btownoriole said:

Tony - given how woefully underinvested the O’s were before Elias, how are you assessing Perez to date?  He obviously was way behind the curve when he started, and it takes more time to develop international talent given the ages at which they’re signed, but it’s been 5 years and Basallo is the only big prospect to date.  Just feels like the O’s should be further along.  

Tony has Luis DeLeon in his top ten.  How often can you expect to produce a Basallo.  Chace and Portes are middling prospects at Aberdeen.   Our first really up-to-speed class was the Braylin Tavera class in 2022.  Sosa, Arias, and Tavera made the end-of-season FCL top 20 prospects.    Arias is doing well as a 19 yo at Delmarva.  Sosa is holding is own but has strong underlying metrics.  Tavera struggled and got injured but made consistent contact.   Hopefully he gets back and does what Arias and Aron Estrada have done, which is adjust after rough starts.  Speaking of Estrada, he's been on fire.  

Elis Cuevas, 19, also from that class, was leading the FCL in hitting as of Sunday and was top 5 in OPS.   Lots of other good stories. 

Think about it.  Basallo is 19 and came from Perez 2021 signing class when Perez was winging it and waiting for scraps, which is what Basallo was.  First deep class was 2022 and those guys are only 19 now.  How many top 100 prospects are 19?

  • Upvote 2
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Fiver6565
      I sort of don't get Elias's plan

      By Fiver6565 · Posted

      This times 1000.   A five game losing streak where we’ve lost exactly 1.5 games in the standings, by the way. You would think we were suddenly ten games behind the Yankees (who’s asses we just finished kicking five days ago) with the way people act.    Good time for an OH vacation for me because the flop sweat around here is flooding the place. 
    • Safelykept
      Gunnar Henderson 2024

      By Safelykept · Posted

      And then theres Manny.
    • Bemorewins
      The 2024 Trade Deadline

      By Bemorewins · Posted

      I don't know if anyone is questioning if the Orioles will still qualify for the postseason after this recent rough stretch. However, the concern that I am seeing/reading/hearing is that once October begins, we don't have the kind of pitching talent necessary to go deep into the Fall by winning multiple rounds against teams who have better pitching talent. 
    • Roy Firestone
      5 losses in a row. Baltimore...we have a problem. Thread revisit...O's have no way to win the WS unless...

      By Roy Firestone · Posted

      I believe this is truly the "all in " year...not next year or the year after. After this year, it's conceivable we could lose Burnes, and Santander, and that would mean two of the best and(among) the most important players on the team. No Burnes(he'll command at least 30 million a year and likely more) would maybe give us ONE solid pitcher in Grod, and our outfield will be in flux. No, I think THIS is the year the Orioles have to win, and that means some dramatic, possibly risky trades at the break yield some significant upgrades to our beleaguered pitching both with starters and the pen. If we don't get it this year, we may never have a potential post season team in the next couple of years..not at this rate.
    • RZNJ
      Keith Law has O's taking Tommy White at #22 in latest mock draft

      By RZNJ · Posted

      Luke Dickerson, SS, Morris Knolls HS, Rockaway, N.J. There are shades of Jackson Merrill and Sammy Stafura with Dickerson as a northeast/mid-atlantic prep shortstop who has received a lot of late helium this spring. He’s an offense-oriented righthanded hitter with a background as a talented hockey player. He might fit better at second base or center field, but teams like his hit/power combination enough to take him inside the first two rounds. He had a solid showing at the draft combine last week, as well. 
    • terpoh
      The 2024 Trade Deadline

      By terpoh · Posted

      As the bluejays continue to fade, I cant help but think that they would be a trade fit if they decide to sell.  Specifically Gausman and Berrios. Gausman is under contract for 2 seasons after this one, and Berrios has 4 years with an opt out after 2 years. So you would essentially have both of those guys for 2.5 years which would be a big boost for 2024, and the coming years with Burnes likely gone and Bradish out for 2025. They are both on hefty contracts (for Orioles standards) but with our payroll and new ownership group you would think that wouldnt be a huge problem. Not sure what the asking price would be for one of, or both, of those guys but worth looking into. I know its hard to look at trading within the division, especially what would potentially be a "blockbuster" type of  deal but I just dont see a ton of options on the trade market right now outside of the White Sox, A's and Rockies and none of those teams can match what the bluejays have to offer.
    • Safelykept
      Gunnar Henderson 2024

      By Safelykept · Posted

      He was all of that yes, but nothing close to Gunner so far or Cal's best year, and you also forgot about Eddie. not to mention Palmer in the 70,s

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...