Weekly Mailbag: Axiel Plaz, Outfielders taking strides in 2024, Brubaker return

Another weekly mailbag article with questions on Axiel Plaz, minor league outfielders, and pitchers returning from TJ.

Photo Credit: WTM

DilfMagic (@ DilfMagic on Twitter) - Any information you have on Axiel Plaz and his dropoff this season and what to expect next year from him? Anything and everything about Charles McAdoo.

I think it’s simply a very young player making the jump to the States. He didn’t turn 18 until August, yet he played all year in the Florida Complex League.

Add that players who are a little more physically mature than others tend to dominate the DSL, but that doesn’t always translate when jumping to the US (see Alexander Mojica).

As far as McAdoo, he had about a good start, as you could hope from a 13th-round pick. The more I dug into him, the more I realized how accomplished he was in college, so you almost want to buy more into his results.

Charles McAdoo: Pull approach led to early results, is there more to game?

Then again, he was a college draft pick in Single-A, who will also be going into one of the most hitter-friendly environments in the minors. Before we buy in, it may have to come in late 2024/2025, depending on when he hits Altoona.

Yark (@eYARKulation) - 3 A Ball outfitelders that can be poised to make significant strides in 2024? Also I think Forrester can be the 1B of the future, how legit?

The easy answer is Lonnie White Jr., who can make some serious strides this year if it continues to come together. Regarding upside, few possess what White does when it comes to hitting prospects in the system.

I have a few names from players jumping from the complex to A Ball that I will save for an article, but one guy who could take a big jump in 2024 is Shalin Polanco. If not for an injury, he probably comes close to a 20/20 season as a teenager in Single-A.

Estuar Suero is another high-tool guy that Pipeline and Baseball America liked going into this year.

Forrester will be one to watch in 2024. I don’t know how I feel about labeling someone' position of the future,’ but if he lands at first, he does have the tools to do so. I didn’t see him play too much in 2023, but he did pick up 10 walks and five hits in 29 plate appearances.

From what I did see, he seemed a tad too conservative at the plate. Obviously, that worked out with the 10 walks, but of the seven strikeouts, a few were looking.

From a PAC-12 school, he could jump straight to Greensboro. He could be a guy, but I’ll have to see more first to see exactly where he falls regarding future plans.

LeeFoo (@LeeFoo9) - What type of impact will JT and Skenes have if they come back/up around July? Should we temper our expectations?

I would always lean towards caution, especially on rookies and players returning from injuries. Despite the numbers, Brubaker had a solid season in 2022 and looked fantastic in the spring before the injury.

Obviously, there is a lot of hype for Paul Skenes going into the season. He could be everything that they said he could be from day one, he could also take some time to adjust.

If he makes his debut this year, he will be adjusting to major league hitting and the rigors of throwing every five days at the highest level of baseball.

Not the easiest thing to do.

He was the first overall pick, and there should be some expectations with him, but there should also be some room for learning in 2024.