Forgotten Prospects

[jerichoholicninja]

I doubt he'll ever get a major league look but I've always liked Nick Shaw from his video where he talks about his approach at the plate. The .707 career minor league OPS will never get him to the show but that .372 OBP can't be ignored.

[clancyphile]

Micheal Reed with another huge OBP day today. I'm really intrigued about him as a potential 4th OF. I'm curious how he compares at the plate to say Schafer. On the stat lines both are light in the power department, but Reed is hitting better at a younger age at AA than Schafer overall, and has consistently put up excellent walk numbers.

 

Reed's got OBP skills and speed, plus increasing power (1 homer in all of 2013, 5 in 2014, 3 in 1/3 of a season in 2015). I think he's another Carlos Gomez. He's got an arm (7 assists so far).

 

I could see a starting outfield of Roache in left, Reed in center, and Coulter in right in 2017.

[Outlander]

Micheal Reed with another huge OBP day today. I'm really intrigued about him as a potential 4th OF. I'm curious how he compares at the plate to say Schafer. On the stat lines both are light in the power department, but Reed is hitting better at a younger age at AA than Schafer overall, and has consistently put up excellent walk numbers.

 

Reed's got OBP skills and speed, plus increasing power (1 homer in all of 2013, 5 in 2014, 3 in 1/3 of a season in 2015). I think he's another Carlos Gomez. He's got an arm (7 assists so far).

 

I could see a starting outfield of Roache in left, Reed in center, and Coulter in right in 2017.

I am as big as a fan of Reed's as anybody but they have been playing him pretty much only in RF probably because of Taylor. I don't really know his injury situation right now but I wouldn't mind if they bumpef bumped Reed up to play cf in AAA and gave Roach a shot at AA by mid season. At the moment I have doubts Reed can play cf at big league level but if he can he would certainly be in the running for a starting gig once Gomez leaves.

[Jenkins5]

Michael Reed has the making to be a Michael Brantley. Forced to the Corner due to being with better defensive CF. Big on base guy. Not as much power as ur hoping 4 (yet) Will walk, steal, play great defense (Reed has been gunning ppl out on bases), and everything else you need. Isn't this what the Brewers need? Not a HR beast but just a guy who hits, gets on base, makes things happen, and plays good D? Every one wants to talk about how AA is the hardest level and give all this well deserved hype to Arcia but Reed will be 22 all season and has been nearly as impressive as Arcia. Guy is a player. Honestly, he is a top 10 prospect for sure for us and could be Top 5 soon enough if he can use that lower body more to generate some extra power

 

Yadiel Rivera is 23 in AAA and has really started to become the player we hoped for. Most important is he has gotten better every year! He hasn't had those power surges he would have when he was in Helena and Wisconsin but I do believe has ability to hit for power. Big thing for him is while his power may not be as good as it once appeared it could be, a lot of that is because he has dropped the all or nothing approach and shortened his swing to increase contact and be a true hitter. Call me crazy but at 23, 6'3 180, and known to have some Power projection.... I have not given up the thought that he could play 3B at the next level. Give you some great D with 10-15 HRs a season. Maybe get up to 18-22 Hrs in his prime 27-29 seasons... He should be a top 15 prospect for us IMO

 

Chris McFarland

No one ever loves on Chris....why? Not sure. He was thought to be a 2-5rd pick outta HS but a strong commitment to Rice dropped him way done to us. He impressed and was push up straight to Wisconsin 4 his first full season. He struggled a bit but held his own. Think most soured on him after that. Since then he has been the Robin to Clint's Batman in that wave. He plays solid defense, is solid on offense, and really he may not appear to be plus at anything, he is just a good all around player at everything. Quietly he leads FSL in hits.... And that was with a huge slump that dropped average over .100 points in mid-late May. I think he for sure is a top 15-20 guy. He is our #1 true 2b prospect.

[TheCrew07]

Chris McFarland

No one ever loves on Chris....why? Not sure. He was thought to be a 2-5rd pick outta HS but a strong commitment to Rice dropped him way done to us. He impressed and was push up straight to Wisconsin 4 his first full season. He struggled a bit but held his own. Think most soured on him after that. Since then he has been the Robin to Clint's Batman in that wave. He plays solid defense, is solid on offense, and really he may not appear to be plus at anything, he is just a good all around player at everything. Quietly he leads FSL in hits.... And that was with a huge slump that dropped average over .100 points in mid-late May. I think he for sure is a top 15-20 guy. He is our #1 true 2b prospect.

 

Do you mean on this site or nationally because I was very complimentary of him last year.

[Jenkins5]

Chris McFarland

No one ever loves on Chris....why? Not sure. He was thought to be a 2-5rd pick outta HS but a strong commitment to Rice dropped him way done to us. He impressed and was push up straight to Wisconsin 4 his first full season. He struggled a bit but held his own. Think most soured on him after that. Since then he has been the Robin to Clint's Batman in that wave. He plays solid defense, is solid on offense, and really he may not appear to be plus at anything, he is just a good all around player at everything. Quietly he leads FSL in hits.... And that was with a huge slump that dropped average over .100 points in mid-late May. I think he for sure is a top 15-20 guy. He is our #1 true 2b prospect.

 

Do you mean on this site or nationally because I was very complimentary of him last year.

 

Overall and both. Maybe here or there he is talked about but he is not discussed often as a prospect. In our top 25, he ranked like 28th. I just feel he is highly underrated

[TheCrew07]

A long time ago an astute poster wrote something that stuck with me about how there aren't really 2B prospects, I believe the discussion was regarding Weeks or maybe Lawrie, but it was an interesting observation.

 

Chris transformed his body, I mean he literally came back looking like a completely different player for his 2nd go round through WI, but he's not a natural defender and had work to do at the plate. I'm thrilled that he keeps getting better but right now we have a glut of SS who are also hitting well, have better range, and are better defenders than he is.

 

Trades may certainly thin out at that crop or maybe Rivera falls back but McFarland is pretty much in that same spot for me that Gennett was. Not that they are similar players, because they aren't, but Chris finds himself lower on the MLB pecking order simply because of the organization's SS situation. That's certainly not his fault so all he can do is continue to improve and truthfully after watching him for 2 seasons he's one of the guys who I struggle to place every time we do a list. He'll move up for me a little bit this next time, but I'm not sure how far, he's going to be an incremental guy for me if he keeps ascending.

[Jenkins5]

I remember when he was drafted, many scouts felt he could eventually be a 3b. His power hasn't come as much as some scouts thought it could yet. I believe he could play SS as a fill in but that's about it. Scooter was strictly a 2b with zero other options. What I like about Chris is those options are still there for him. I think he could be a solid MLB average 2b but if not think he could be a solid 2b/3b utility guy.

[igor67]

I really got into McFarland last year, there might be more to offense than batting average but it is still the most important one and I find myself getting very interested in guys who can hit over .300.

[CheezWizHed]

A few other "under the radar" prospects having good years:

 

SP:

Jorge Ortega - 2.03 ERA, 5K and 0.7 BB per 9IP, 0.887 WHIP, 62 IP at A+

Javier Salas - 2.32 ERA, 6.5K and 2.3 BB per 9IP, 1.16 WHIP, 54.1 IP at A+

 

RP:

Austin Ross (wow!) - 1.65 ERA, 12.5k and 2BB per 9IP, 0.951WHIP, 27.1 IP at AA

Josh Uhen - 3.86 ERA, 10.6K and 2.4BB per 9IP, 1.5 WHIP over 18.2 IP at A - ERA and WHIP are not great, but K/BB ratio is my key here.

Mike Strong (L) - 1.46 ERA, 9.9k and 2.9BB per 9IP, 0.811 WHIP over 24.2IP at AA

Damien Magnifico - 1.35 ERA, 7,7k and 2.3BB per 9IP, 1.1 WHIP over 20 IP at AA

 

1B:

Nick Ramirez: .290 .368 .467 .835 at AA ball (Compares favorably to Clark in the thin air at AAA and Nick is 3 years younger)

Garrett Cooper: .281 .364 .363 .727 at A+ ball (seems his power drained in the thick Florida air, but still hitting and OBP machine).

 

OF:

As mentioned a few times: Roache and Reed doing a nice job. I can see Reed as an Aoki type player. Maybe with a bit more power.

 

2B/SS/3B:

Nathan Orf: .258 .372 .338 at AA ball - Some nice OBP skills. Possible utility guy?

Tucker Neuhaus: .260 .339 .396 .735 at A ball- Fading a bit lately and playing mostly 2B, but still only 20.

 

C:

- Really only Carlos Leal as a viable option for a catcher prospect.

[Jenkins5]

I'll just keep beating the the Michael Reed drum... Guy is a top 5-10 prospect still being ranked by ppl in the 15-25 range. The only thing that makes me feel better is Michael Brantley was the same unloved way and now look....

[Outlander]

Yeah, Miller Park Prospects had an updated ranking last week and had him at 16, with one of their staff having him at 21. Wake up people.

[CheezWizHed]

Actually, Brantley was pretty highly respected. Not a top prospect, but peaked at #8 (when we had Lucroy. Lawrie, etc... ahead of him)

 

I'm as happy as anyone to see Reed's improvements. I've been watching him a long time. But at the same time, Hunter Morris killed AA ball also and has done nothing else since. Don't be too quick to crown Reed, either.

[reillymcshane]

I'm as happy as anyone to see Reed's improvements. I've been watching him a long time. But at the same time, Hunter Morris killed AA ball also and has done nothing else since. Don't be too quick to crown Reed, either.

 

Totally agree. I like Reed a lot (I'm a sucker for OBP). I love seeing the increased power production. But it's only two months. He needs to sustain his improvements. Still, there's a lot to like. He's 4th in the Southern League with an OPS of .946. Seeing a player thrive at AA at a young age is a great sign of future success.

[Outlander]

He has always had the on base skills and been young for his level. I'm counting on him and Arcia setting up the table at the big league level for years to come. Not tempering my expectations for him.

[Outlander]

A quote from Keith Law that praises first round pick Trent Clark but also shows that Keith Law is high on Reed:

 

He's a kid who hit all last summer against the best pitching, and immediately becomes the Brewers' second-best prospect, right between shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Michael Reed.

[clancyphile]

C: - Really only Carlos Leal as a viable option for a catcher prospect.

 

Adam Weisenburger is a Southern League All-Star, showing very good OBP skills, and a good arm (threw out 52% of would-be base stealers).

[CheezWizHed]

A quote from Keith Law that praises first round pick Trent Clark but also shows that Keith Law is high on Reed:

 

He's a kid who hit all last summer against the best pitching, and immediately becomes the Brewers' second-best prospect, right between shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Michael Reed.

 

[sarcasm]Ah, that's too bad. And I had high hopes for both of them[/sarcasm]

[Jenkins5]

Finally!!! Someone else one else who agrees Reed is a Top 5 prospect! Hopefully this is a new trend! #freereed

[MrTPlush]

Top 5 prospect might be a little much. He is a corner outfielder with little power to date, strikes out a lot, has a VERY questionable .375 BABIP, and does not have a stellar track record. Yah he has put together some nice seasons, but nothing all that impressive to warrant a Top 5 placement. He has had a pretty high BABIP over his career, but is he really going to be that kind of guy in the MLB? Does he really have the make-up to sustain that?

 

To me he looks like a solid, but nothing special prospect. A guy who could maybe be a solid starter if the stars align or more likely a fringe starter/4th OFer. That is why he continues to stay off the Top 10 rankings.