Corey Ray

[NievesNoNO]

Should we be concerned about Corey Ray. I know it's a small sample but I wouldn't expect an advanced college bat to struggle like he has. Anybody seen him play or have any insight?

[Noche]

This is really easy for me. Of course not. This guy was the top hitter in the draft two months ago. He is a fantastic prospect. Stearns and company were elated to get him. He is #3 for me behind Arcia and Brinson and right ahead of the pitchers.

[jerichoholicninja]

Any player having a bad 122 PA at any level is not a cause for concern. Especially when those are his first 122 PA as a professional.

[pogokat]

he skipped three full levels and is playing in the worst hitting environment there is. I expected worse than this

[Fear The Chorizo]

Nope, as others have said, his first professional ABs, playing in arguably the toughest league to put of offensive #'s there is, and starting out at a level where most of his competitors/teammates have had at least 2 full seasons of professional experience prior to entering into.

[TeesReport]

Should we be concerned about Corey Ray. I know it's a small sample but I wouldn't expect an advanced college bat to struggle like he has. Anybody seen him play or have any insight?

 

I have watched him since he played his first game with Brevard County. No need to panic, no need for concern. Sure, there are growing pains and he said after his first game, there is a big difference between college and pro ball. He knew it was going to take time to adjust and he deserves that time. He is not taking wild swings, he's making plays in the OF and he will be everything a 1st -round pick should be, at least in my estimation.

 

As you said, it's a small sample size, but he has shown glimpses of what he's capable of. I think he will be fine. Not only that, but he's got his head on straight and he's a down-to-earth kid. One of the best interviews I've done in my two years covering the team.

[MilwaukeesBest]

I have watched him since he played his first game with Brevard County. No need to panic, no need for concern. Sure, there are growing pains and he said after his first game, there is a big difference between college and pro ball. He knew it was going to take time to adjust and he deserves that time. He is not taking wild swings, he's making plays in the OF and he will be everything a 1st -round pick should be, at least in my estimation.

 

As you said, it's a small sample size, but he has shown glimpses of what he's capable of. I think he will be fine. Not only that, but he's got his head on straight and he's a down-to-earth kid. One of the best interviews I've done in my two years covering the team.

 

Could you speak on some of the plays or things you've seen from Ray that us fans up north haven't seen in person yet? Any dazzling defensive catches or throws or impressive at bats?

[MoreTrife]

Should we be concerned about Corey Ray. I know it's a small sample but I wouldn't expect an advanced college bat to struggle like he has. Anybody seen him play or have any insight?

 

I have watched him since he played his first game with Brevard County. No need to panic, no need for concern. Sure, there are growing pains and he said after his first game, there is a big difference between college and pro ball. He knew it was going to take time to adjust and he deserves that time. He is not taking wild swings, he's making plays in the OF and he will be everything a 1st -round pick should be, at least in my estimation.

 

As you said, it's a small sample size, but he has shown glimpses of what he's capable of. I think he will be fine. Not only that, but he's got his head on straight and he's a down-to-earth kid. One of the best interviews I've done in my two years covering the team.

 

Thanks for the first hand insight.

[torts]

he skipped three full levels and is playing in the worst hitting environment there is. I expected worse than this

 

so much of this!!!

[gregmag]

Should we be concerned about Corey Ray. I know it's a small sample but I wouldn't expect an advanced college bat to struggle like he has. Anybody seen him play or have any insight?

 

I have watched him since he played his first game with Brevard County. No need to panic, no need for concern. Sure, there are growing pains and he said after his first game, there is a big difference between college and pro ball. He knew it was going to take time to adjust and he deserves that time. He is not taking wild swings, he's making plays in the OF and he will be everything a 1st -round pick should be, at least in my estimation.

 

As you said, it's a small sample size, but he has shown glimpses of what he's capable of. I think he will be fine. Not only that, but he's got his head on straight and he's a down-to-earth kid. One of the best interviews I've done in my two years covering the team.

This is fantastic to hear. Thanks for the information.

 

What everyone is saying here tracks with my instincts, but I'm glad to hear people who know more than I do say it. It's an aggressive, challenging placement, and he's holding his own. I like the approach. If he hit like a monster right away at A+, he'd instantly become our top prospect (at least once Arcia passes the PA threshold). As it is, he's still top-5ish.

[FVBrewerFan]

Personal preference, I need to see some success before I consider him a top 5 prospect- especially after the trades. Yes, he bypassed three levels, but that's a bit misleading. If he's supposed to be the top college bat coming out, he better be beyond rookie ball. So the only question was WI or BC.

 

Also, growing tired of the BC excuse. Yes, it's a park that zaps all power. But it's not impossible to hit and take a walk. Guys like Demuth have been able to do it.

[pacopete4]

he skipped three full levels and is playing in the worst hitting environment there is. I expected worse than this

 

so much of this!!!

 

 

Why is Brevard Co so hard to hit in? Just curious.

[TheCrew07]

he skipped three full levels and is playing in the worst hitting environment there is. I expected worse than this

 

so much of this!!!

 

 

Why is Brevard Co so hard to hit in? Just curious.

 

BC is very tough on RH hitters because the park sits in a location where just about every day there is a 15-20 MPH wind blowing in directly over the LF wall. It doesn't effect LH batters so much except to push everything hit to RF towards the line.

 

Since the vast majority of hitters are RH we should expect our pitchers to do very well pitching in the friendliest pitchers park in the league for half their games and our RH hitters to have their numbers suppressed some from playing half their games in those conditions.

[nate82]

 

BC is very tough on RH hitters because the park sits in a location where just about every day there is a 15-20 MPH wind blowing in directly over the LF wall. It doesn't effect LH batters so much except to push everything hit to RF towards the line.

 

Since the vast majority of hitters are RH we should expect our pitchers to do very well pitching in the friendliest pitchers park in the league for half their games and our RH hitters to have their numbers suppressed some from playing half their games in those conditions.

 

It is not impossible to have a good year in BC but here are three players and what they did in BC. In 2008 Lucroy hit .292/.364/.479/.843, Cain hit .287/.358/.448/.806, and in 2006 Braun hit .274/.346/.438/.784. Not bad but at A+ you are looking for a little bit more especially with top prospects but BC does sap the power of RH batters just look at Braun's 2006 numbers for proof as that was the lowest OPS Braun put up in all of his years in the minors.

[igor67]

I think when you are saying that the only 3 guys to hit well have substantial MVP voting years that pretty much nails how ridiculous the park is.

[FVBrewerFan]

I think when you are saying that the only 3 guys to hit well have substantial MVP voting years that pretty much nails how ridiculous the park is.

 

Not true. Demuth and Davis had good seasons this year. Cooper last year. And plenty of others over the years. Again, yes, power numbers will be down. But plenty of guys had good seasons in the past.

[JohnBriggs12]

I wanted the Brewers to draft Zach Collins, the lefty hitting catcher out of the U. It's too early to draw conclusions but Collins has an OPS over .900 at the same level as Ray.

[pacopete4]

 

BC is very tough on RH hitters because the park sits in a location where just about every day there is a 15-20 MPH wind blowing in directly over the LF wall. It doesn't effect LH batters so much except to push everything hit to RF towards the line.

 

Since the vast majority of hitters are RH we should expect our pitchers to do very well pitching in the friendliest pitchers park in the league for half their games and our RH hitters to have their numbers suppressed some from playing half their games in those conditions.

 

It is not impossible to have a good year in BC but here are three players and what they did in BC. In 2008 Lucroy hit .292/.364/.479/.843, Cain hit .287/.358/.448/.806, and in 2006 Braun hit .274/.346/.438/.784. Not bad but at A+ you are looking for a little bit more especially with top prospects but BC does sap the power of RH batters just look at Braun's 2006 numbers for proof as that was the lowest OPS Braun put up in all of his years in the minors.

 

Thank you both. Always wondered what people were referring to.

[wichmae]

I wanted the Brewers to draft Zach Collins, the lefty hitting catcher out of the U. It's too early to draw conclusions but Collins has an OPS over .900 at the same level as Ray.

Zack was one of the most advanced college bats in the last draft. However thats pretty much all he brings. He probably cant stick behind the plate and is a poor runner. Its good to see him excelling at high A but long term Ray was and still is a better prospect.

[StearnsFTW]

I think when you are saying that the only 3 guys to hit well have substantial MVP voting years that pretty much nails how ridiculous the park is.

 

Not true. Demuth and Davis had good seasons this year. Cooper last year. And plenty of others over the years. Again, yes, power numbers will be down. But plenty of guys had good seasons in the past.

 

 

Cooper is the only righty in the bunch though. That park sure seems murderous on right-handed hitters. Davis is switch, but therefore 70% left-handed.

 

It seems like it can be done, but pretty rare.

[FVBrewerFan]

I think when you are saying that the only 3 guys to hit well have substantial MVP voting years that pretty much nails how ridiculous the park is.

 

Not true. Demuth and Davis had good seasons this year. Cooper last year. And plenty of others over the years. Again, yes, power numbers will be down. But plenty of guys had good seasons in the past.

 

 

Cooper is the only righty in the bunch though. That park sure seems murderous on right-handed hitters. Davis is switch, but therefore 70% left-handed.

 

It seems like it can be done, but pretty rare.

 

But Ray is LH. Which is my point, BC is no hitters paradise but no excuse for Ray hitting .500ish OPS. Only 100 ABs though

[wichmae]

100 abs is too small for anyone to judge but another thing to consider is the wood v alum adjustment as well being aggressively placed. He also may have some wear down/fatigue too. If this repeats for another year we can all be alarmed

[TheCrew07]

he skipped three full levels and is playing in the worst hitting environment there is. I expected worse than this

 

I'm exactly right here with Pogo... jumping Ray to BC was awfully aggressive and my expectations were appropriately low given his lack of experience. I might be missing someone but I don't recall a draftee that ended up in A+ during the same calendar year without starting in either R+ or A and hitting at every level before being promoted. I think Kris Bryant possibly skipped A ball, but it's very uncommon to start a prospect at A+ out of the gate... and now that I think about it Zack Collins did to.

 

As I said about Lara in whichever LR that was last week, start them at the bottom and let them earn their way up.

[igor67]

Actually that reinforces the point none of those 3 players you mentioned (Davis, Cooper, Demuth) posted an .800 OPS at Brevard and your calling that a good season. That might be OK if we we're talking about middle IFers or catchers, but that is a highly warping perspective. Cooper was close to .800, but the other were not. All 3 are also known for power not being an important part of their prospect profile. I don't know to what extent that gets in players heads, but it is not hard to imagine weird consequences of an environment that extreme. We know that Coors messes with hitters when they go on the road and those are top level pros I would not be surprised to find out that even lefty batters (being in the minority) are influenced indirectly (if all your teammates are struggling).

[FVBrewerFan]

Actually that reinforces the point none of those 3 players you mentioned (Davis, Cooper, Demuth) posted an .800 OPS at Brevard and your calling that a good season.

 

Right, that's because I acknowledge BC is going to affect slugging%. So .750ish is a good season in BC. I'm just trying to point out the park isn't a good excuse for a guy like Coulter having a horrible season (especially since he's repeating the level) or for Ray to hit. 500 OPS there. If you're a good hitter, you can still put up a "nice" .750 season while explaining away the other 50+ points are due to the park.

 

It's actually a good test, so is CS. These guys will struggle when they get to MLB, and they'll need to learn how to overcome that. So it does help in evaluating prospects, how do they handle adversity? Don't get me wrong, I would prefer all our parks be neutral hitting/pitching parks. But there is some value at least in playing in BC and CS.