Reply your questions, in fact! We answered a very good one about Jac Caglianone’s two-way future on this week’s episode of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, however we acquired much more, so let’s get to it!
Is Thayron Liranzo a legit catching prospect or will he be a 1B earlier than even cracking a MLB roster? – Panicstreak @panicstreak.gobirds.on-line
After a tough begin defensively post-trade deadline, did Thayron Liranzo do something within the AFL to make you extra assured he can stick behind the plate? – Jonathan Miller @runningjpm.bsky.social
I assumed I’d begin out with a pair of questions on a man I loved watching within the AFL this fall. Liranzo landed at No. 16 on Jim Callis’ High 30 AFL prospects record after he slashed .375/.492/.667 and gained Fall Stars Sport MVP honors along with his go-ahead homer. There are only a few questions on his bat; the Tigers acquired a man who seems like he’s going to provide quickly in a giant league lineup in return for Jack Flaherty on the Commerce Deadline. Because the questions level out, the issues come relating to his work behind the plate.
It’s not that he did something particularly within the AFL I can level to, however right here’s what I do know. On my first full day of Fall League protection, I had scouts completely raving, unsolicited, about Liranzo’s arm. We’ve a 60 grade on it in his report and that may be mild, with tons of arm power, accuracy and elite-level pop instances. He does must work on the remainder of his receiving, however I can let you know that one of many Tigers Minor League arms with him within the AFL, Jake Miller, informed me after we have been chatting that he completely cherished throwing to Liranzo, each in Arizona and with Excessive-A West Michigan, and that different Tiger farmhands felt the identical manner. That offers me hope that he’s going to be simply superb again there, on condition that he’s solely 21 and but to play above A ball.
What are the chances Bubba Chandler is within the Pirates 2025 rotation? And do the Pirates have any first base prospects on the horizon? – Cryptohat @cryptohat.bsky.social
Since I name Pittsburgh my dwelling, I do take pleasure in answering a query in regards to the native ballclub. And I’d say the chances are superb that we’ll see Chandler in Pittsburgh in some unspecified time in the future in 2025. The Pirates’ high prospect is No. 15 on the High 100 and is coming off of a really profitable 2024 marketing campaign that noticed him attain Triple-A and end with a 3.08 ERA, .189 BAA and a ten.5 Ok/9 price (vs. 2.9 BB/9). Maybe extra importantly, he had a lot left within the tank on the finish of the yr, pumping upper-90s warmth in his final begin.
After seven begins with Triple-A Indianapolis, I don’t assume Chandler, simply 22 years previous, has far more to show within the Minors. So then it turns into a matter of when the Pirates determine to convey him up. Positive, some extra time with Indy wouldn’t harm his improvement, however what if he’s lights out in Spring Coaching if/after they give him the possibility in massive league camp to compete for a job? They waited on Paul Skenes for a bunch of causes, then noticed him win Rookie of the 12 months they usually misplaced out on an additional Draft decide they’d have acquired had he been up on Opening Day. And since he gained the award, he was given a full yr of service time anyway. Would the Pirates think about having Chandler up on Opening Day due to that lesson? That can be a really fascinating storyline to observe this offseason and in Bradenton for Spring Coaching. However even when he’s not a part of a rotation (Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Luis Ortiz and Bubba Chandler certain sounds good, doesn’t it?), proper out of the gate, search for Chandler to make a giant contribution in Pittsburgh.
As on your different query, the reply isn’t any, probably not. First base continues to be a little bit of a gap within the system. Will probably be fascinating to see in the event that they go and signal somebody as a free agent to fill that hole, or use a mix of fellows like Endy Rodriguez, Henry Davis (can he play first?) and Gold Glove winner Jared Triolo.
What’s the degree of concern that Tre’ Morgan simply is not going to hit lefties? – Sandy Kazmir @sandykazmir.bsky.social
My colleague Jim Callis ranked Morgan because the No. 18 prospect on this yr’s Arizona Fall League after he hit .338/.391/.500 and completed third with an 8 p.c strikeout price. As he acknowledged, some scouts thought he had the perfect method within the league this fall. That’s an vital level as a result of it’s that method that permits me to really feel he’s going to determine it out towards left-handed pitching.
I get the place the priority is coming from. Morgan hit simply .188/.258/.263 towards lefties in the course of the 2024 common season (.357/.444/.529 vs. RHP). He didn’t face sufficient southpaws within the AFL, although he did go 3-for-8 (three singles) with two sacrifice flies in 10 plate appearances. At LSU as a junior in 2023, he hit .292/.349/.396 vs. LHP in line with Synergy (in comparison with .317/.440/.557 towards righties). That’s a disparity, but it surely’s not alarming. Whereas there may be questions on how a lot affect he’ll in the end have on the plate, resulting in issues about the place he profiles, I actually am not nervous about long-term failure when going through left-handers. He’s had one professional season and he’s proven he’s going to make a whole lot of contact and persistently good swing choices. I feel he’s going to determine lefties sufficient to be an on a regular basis participant, even when he isn’t the basic first base/nook outfield run producer.
How actual is Justin Crawford’s bat? May he be a darkish horse Rookie of the 12 months candidate relying on the Phillies’ offseason? – Alec Kostival @baseballalec.bsky.social
I’m all in on his bat, despite the fact that I do know what some individuals are involved about. Let me clarify. On the floor, there needs to be no trigger for fear, proper? All of the No. 53 general prospect (No. 3 on the Phillies’ High 30) did was get to Double-A at age 20 and end with a .313/.360/.444 line and 42 stolen bases. The massive factor evaluators have been nervous about is how usually Crawford hits the ball on the bottom. On the decrease ranges of the Minors, somebody along with his velocity can get away with it, outrunning infield defenders making an attempt to make performs for infield hits. In 2023, he hit floor balls round 70 p.c of the time. That improved to about 61 p.c in 2024, which continues to be excessive, however a step in the suitable course. Crawford is rarely going to be an influence man, however he does want to point out he can drive the ball extra and I feel he’s heading in that course. Bear in mind, he’s not near reaching his bodily maturity max and extra power will result in extra line drives and fly balls with out ever promoting out for energy. All that stated, I don’t assume he’s a Rookie of the 12 months candidate, not for 2025 at the very least. He wants a yr of reps on the higher ranges, so let’s revisit this in 2026, lets?
