Pedro Alvarez had 70 power but lacked the hit tool to realize that power. O'Neil Cruz has 70 to 80 power but cannot consistently hit LH pitchers. Somewhere along the way I realized that the hit tool was the most important tool in a position player's box. Because of this, the ceiling attributed to a position player is determined by his hit tool. That's why I considered Griffin an Ill advised pick. I believed that before the draft. If he can't hit he is a more rounded Billy Hamilton or a Cole Tucker with power.
Sorry, I had too. The LHH/RHH player comps bother me!!
Gourson has the same open stance to start as Albies though and not as big or pronounced of a leg kick but he’s got a slight one. And both get their power from bat speed.
Nick G has locked good defensively at 2B too but I think Gourson is a little more athletic and a better defender.
Just no SS, please!! Give some reps at 3B here and there but just stick him at 2B/RF/3B/DH(in that order).
And I don’t think this is a problem, I think this kind of stuff figures itself out(plus it’s a good problem to have) but the Pirates have already stated they plan on playing Griffin at SS(at least to start). Do they start Griffin at SS in Bradenton and Sanford in the complex?
And what about Yordany?? Does he move to 3rd? Then what about Rynders?? Does he start in the Complex next year too?
And what about Severino?? High A if he moves up to Bradenton to finish off this season and continues to rake? But he would be pushed out of his 3B role with Yordany and Rynders and maybe 1B/DH??
Rivas should be moved up to High A next year. For his defense alone so imo he shouldn’t be part of that mix.
Like I said, it’s a good problem to have but they have already stated they plan on letting Griffin play SS to start.
Both him and Stanford in the Complex seems like they would be jockeying for PT. Maybe Sanford starts in Bradenton being the better defender already??
Who knows with them? And this stuff is hard to predict anyways with injuries, MiLB Rule 5 picks, who they release, MiLB UFA’s, the season not over yet and players could rake and get promoted at the end of the season and then they definitely start the next season at that higher level, where the draft picks are placed after they sign or if we even see them this year, etc.
It's a mystery how things are going to proceed. Until this year, Griffin could've signed and spent a month or so in the FCL. Then I'd bet he'd go to Bradenton next year. Now, I have no idea what these guys are going to be doing after they sign.
Good write up. I’ve complained about the lack of offensive upside in the system so it’s refreshing to see them change course a bit. One other thing I’ve noticed: they don’t seem too interested in taking advantage of the parameters of PNC Park. Lots and lots of right handers. McAdoo, Lege, Patrick and Farrow are all right handed.
Not to mention, smaller markets always need to make use of platoon splits, and the short side guys are always easier/cheaper to find. Connor Joe is a good example, as I suspect the Rockies looked at him solely as a lefty masher.
Let’s just hope somebody in this group works out. They have strategies to try to find pitching upside in late rounds. Encourage them to do that with bats.
I wasn’t being so much critical as curious. I was curious if there’s a reason they did this? Maybe right handed hitters later in drafts have better track records. Maybe it was just a matter of those guys being the most talented players left in their estimation. Or perhaps there’s some philosophical reason I don’t understand?
Pedro Alvarez had 70 power but lacked the hit tool to realize that power. O'Neil Cruz has 70 to 80 power but cannot consistently hit LH pitchers. Somewhere along the way I realized that the hit tool was the most important tool in a position player's box. Because of this, the ceiling attributed to a position player is determined by his hit tool. That's why I considered Griffin an Ill advised pick. I believed that before the draft. If he can't hit he is a more rounded Billy Hamilton or a Cole Tucker with power.
Pitch control has the same function.
Gourson is more like an Ozzie Albies-lite.
Sorry, I had too. The LHH/RHH player comps bother me!!
Gourson has the same open stance to start as Albies though and not as big or pronounced of a leg kick but he’s got a slight one. And both get their power from bat speed.
Nick G has locked good defensively at 2B too but I think Gourson is a little more athletic and a better defender.
Just no SS, please!! Give some reps at 3B here and there but just stick him at 2B/RF/3B/DH(in that order).
And I don’t think this is a problem, I think this kind of stuff figures itself out(plus it’s a good problem to have) but the Pirates have already stated they plan on playing Griffin at SS(at least to start). Do they start Griffin at SS in Bradenton and Sanford in the complex?
And what about Yordany?? Does he move to 3rd? Then what about Rynders?? Does he start in the Complex next year too?
And what about Severino?? High A if he moves up to Bradenton to finish off this season and continues to rake? But he would be pushed out of his 3B role with Yordany and Rynders and maybe 1B/DH??
Rivas should be moved up to High A next year. For his defense alone so imo he shouldn’t be part of that mix.
"Just no SS, please!!"
Brace yourself. With these guys, everybody plays everywhere. It's wonder they haven't tried Hunter Barco at SS.
Lol..I’ve seen Gourson at SS and he’s not one.
Btw, how do like this Bradenton team to start the season next year??
CF-WillTaylor
2B-DuceGourson
SS-KonnorGriffin
RF-AndrewPatrick
1B-Severino
3B-Yordany
DH-AxielPlaz
C-CamdenJanik
LF-ShalinPolanco
BN - Miguel Sosa, Jesus Castillo, Jeral Toledo, Eddy Rodriguez, Solomon Maguire, Luke Scherrer
A complex team something like this?
SS-WyattSanford
2B-CarlosCaro
3B-EddieRynders
1B-TonyBlancoJr
C-RichardRameriz
RF-IanFarrow
CF-CristianJauregui
DH-EstuarSuero
LF-EduardoOviedo
BN- Isaias Dipre, Jonathan Rivero, Samuel Escudero, Carlos Tirado, Johnson Pena, Andres Villafane
And a Greensboro team something like this??
2B-Delgado
1B-GarretForrester
C-OmarAlfonzo
RF-LonnieWhiteJr
3B-EthanLege
CF-MitchJebb
DH-EnmanuelTerrero / JosiahSightler
SS-JavierRivas
LF-HudsonHead/BraylonBishop
BN- Geovanny Planchart, Justin Miknis, Sergio Camapana, Maikol Escotto, Kalae Harrison
Griffin in Bradenton to start the year seems aggressive for them but I love the thought.
Like I said, it’s a good problem to have but they have already stated they plan on letting Griffin play SS to start.
Both him and Stanford in the Complex seems like they would be jockeying for PT. Maybe Sanford starts in Bradenton being the better defender already??
Who knows with them? And this stuff is hard to predict anyways with injuries, MiLB Rule 5 picks, who they release, MiLB UFA’s, the season not over yet and players could rake and get promoted at the end of the season and then they definitely start the next season at that higher level, where the draft picks are placed after they sign or if we even see them this year, etc.
It's a mystery how things are going to proceed. Until this year, Griffin could've signed and spent a month or so in the FCL. Then I'd bet he'd go to Bradenton next year. Now, I have no idea what these guys are going to be doing after they sign.
Ya, it’s tough to know what they are gonna do now with this. I think Griffin gets pushed fairly aggressively though.
And people forget that Griffin was a reclassified too. He would’ve been an older 2025 Prep but still he’s an 06 b-day.
They say they have no concerns wrt Griffin's hit tool even though that's the consensus question :thinking
Wisdom of our baseball elders holds true, you can’t teach a kid to hit.
Good article!
Ethan posted in an older thread that the Pirates re-signed Domingo German.
That’s very interesting
Doesn’t hurt.
Wondering if they still have an option for next year, option might not be the proper term, but I’m sure the point remains…..
They may but he has another opt out after the deadline
Good write up. I’ve complained about the lack of offensive upside in the system so it’s refreshing to see them change course a bit. One other thing I’ve noticed: they don’t seem too interested in taking advantage of the parameters of PNC Park. Lots and lots of right handers. McAdoo, Lege, Patrick and Farrow are all right handed.
I wanted more left hand power bats, there's a lot more right hand pitchers out there and platoon splits happen quite frequently.
Not to mention, smaller markets always need to make use of platoon splits, and the short side guys are always easier/cheaper to find. Connor Joe is a good example, as I suspect the Rockies looked at him solely as a lefty masher.
Let’s just hope somebody in this group works out. They have strategies to try to find pitching upside in late rounds. Encourage them to do that with bats.
I wasn’t being so much critical as curious. I was curious if there’s a reason they did this? Maybe right handed hitters later in drafts have better track records. Maybe it was just a matter of those guys being the most talented players left in their estimation. Or perhaps there’s some philosophical reason I don’t understand?
I imagine those were just the guys who were there.
Responding to the title: I surely hope they have.