He has always had the skillset to do that, it is just a matter of if he can ever put it all together. Like I said, if he could sustain his second half of last year over a full season, that is gonna be right around those numbers you mentioned. With Pederson, it is always going to be a matter of IF he can put it together.
So BA is having a chat and this is not good about Alvarez and is on par with what I have been reading from other services as well.... Carlton (San Diego): What do you see as far as time frame for the following pitching prospects to hopefully make the MLB rotation- Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvarez for the Dodgers and Morejon for the Padres. I know the results for Alvarez are not stellar this year, but from what I have watched online he still looks fine. Morejon is young, but seems advanced for his age. Could Buehler be in the Dodgers rotation to start next season ? Thanks so much Kyle Glaser: Walker Buehler has a chance to start games in the big leagues next year. Morejon you're still looking at 2020-21. Yadier Alvarez actually there is very, very serious doubts he ever starts a game in the majors. As in, after speaking with a half dozen evaluators I can't find a single one who thinks he will. Neftali Feliz is the common comp for him. Electric arm, but slider is shoddy, command is poor and there is no usable third pitch that exists. The expectation is Alvarez becomes a future closer
And a nice tid bit on Verdugo from a scouting report for the Futures game from BA Alex Verdugo, OF Dodgers (Triple-A Oklahoma City) Age: 21. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 205. B-T: L-L. Source: Mexico (drafted out of high school in Tucson). Career Transactions: Selected by Dodgers in second round of 2014 draft. Background: Verdugo was born and raised in Arizona but has long embraced his Mexican heritage, including suiting up for Team Mexico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. What To Watch For: Verdugo’s hitting polish is almost second-to-none in the minors with a smooth lefthanded stroke geared for line drives. He complements his hitting ability with a rocket arm and excellent defensive instincts, setting him up to join the Dodgers outfield shortly.
In that other chat, the guy gave Verdugo a 60-65 hit tool rating based on evaluations from around the scouting world. A 65 would sure be nice. And now his response to a Calhoun question... dis is bad Matt (Boulder): The errors are down this year, but the reviews are still poor on Calhoun in the field. Has he taken any steps forward at 2B and is his D anywhere close to passable with what he could bring with the stick? Kyle Glaser: Calhoun's defense is not playable at second base. That remains consistent from every person in the baseball world, including those in his own organization. But he has been playable in left field in limited looks there. Not good, but playable. That's where he will have to be.
Walker Buehler pitching tonight for the Drillers. Errol Robinson (SS) making his AA debut he was a 6th rounder in 2016!! Moving fast.
That's really a shame that we're now reaching a conclusion that Calhoun won't be playing 2B, especially since he reportedly put in a major effort to improve during the offseason. His bat could've been huge there. I guess his glove work must still be really bad for them to be giving up on him at that position.
TRYING not to get too excited about Buehler but there has been a notable change of approach tonight. NOT throwing at his top speed basically topping out at 95, showing a good curveball along with a slider and change. Don't misinterpret the speed drop however because it looks like it's being done on purpose. Wouldn't surprise me if he's in OKC by early August. Again TRYING not to get too excited.
This probably is not going to help your prospect boner, but during that chat today, the guy said Buehler is probably going to make the biggest jump in their midseason prospect ratings. Also, where are you getting your numbers? What I saw had him sitting 96-98 and topping out at 99 a few times in the first.
Front Page of MiLB.com Verdugo's hitting streak struck 20 tonight after going 3-5 with a BB and is slashing .352/.420/.467 now on the season. During the streak he is 39-82 and 4 k's. Can't be said enough, this dude just turned 21 and he is tearing apart AAA, that is hard to do. https://www.milb.com/milb/news/los-...ends-hit-streak-to-20/c-239759700/t-185364810
I was listening to the broadcast and they rarely revealed the speed but when they did they said 95 - 96. He very well could have touched both MPH.
Here are my thoughts on what to do with Verdugo. Right now, when Gonzalez gets back, the default action probably is that he will get his position at 1B back, Cody will move to left. Taylor, Trayce, etc will be reserve players. We can't call up Alex to have him come off the bench. But on the other hand, it seems like he's ready to make the move up. Unless there's still something that the coaching staff needs for him to refine, why not call him up and make him the starting left fielder and lead off hitter? Once AGon gets back, that won't be an option (barring other injuries). But, let's say Alex bursts out of the gates and is producing at a level that he just can't be sent back down? That in itself could be enough to get over the stigma of not giving AGon his position back once he returns. In other words, this is the perfect time to try Verdugo as an everyday player in the majors to see if he sticks. If not, he gets sent back down for some more work. But if they wait too long and Adrian gets back, it may be too late to give Verdugo a real shot. Just seems to me the consistency he's displaying can no longer be ignored.