With Minor League Baseball season is in full swing there are many different ways to keep up with it at Prospects Live. To add to that lineup there’ll be some GIFs from top performers at the end of each week. As they say, the film don’t lie and going to the video room is the only way to see what it says.
Three Prospect Bombs
Dodgers OF Andy Pages is huge. His muscular frame is almost surprising for 20 year old. There’s a good deal of power in his bat and he showed that by hitting an absolute shot against the Lansing Lugnuts. His big power potential comes from more than just his frame, his swing is geared toward hitting the ball hard. Between the loft in his swing and flyball approach, it’s easy to throw plus raw power his way.
It’s been a slow start so his .244/.344/.423 slash line is hopefully going to trend upward. He’s already cracked three homers and five doubles this year.
Another bomb comes from Brewers INF Hayden Cantrelle. He came out of the gates blazing in his first few games, then he cooled way off. Like frozen. He was one of my favorite players in the 2020 Draft and it seemed like Milwaukee made a good pick. Maybe this bomb will help him to heat up and start to show the hit tool it seemed like he had out of college. Between that, his speed, and his glove, Cantrelle could be a fun player.
Cantrelle is one of those players who will play above his tools because he can get the most of it. His cold streak might have deterred some from his trail, but if this sparks a turnaround then he might be able to pick some steam back up. The profile is likely second base, his bat will need to catch up to that.
Up next is easily the biggest hitting prospect to be included this week, Alek Thomas. Thomas is one of the big three outfield prospects for Arizona and he is loaded up with tools. Unlike the other two guys whose homeruns were included on this list, he’s off to a blazing start. He’s slashing .338/.436/.615 in Double A. This was his second homer of the season.
Power isn’t necessarily his game, but he does have some. Thomas has an above average hit tool though with some plus speed to boot. It’s a nice swing and an exciting name that could be roaming the Arizona outfield next year.
Three Nasty Pitches
The 2020 draft class has entered the chat. One of the top arms from the class is Reid Detmers. He was mowing people down in his most recent start featuring a fastball registering in the mid-90’s. In total, Detmers logged double digit strikeouts over six innings of work. In four starts this year he’s posted a 3.12 ERA in 17 1/3 innings thus far. While his fastball might’ve been the star of the show early on in his last start, his breaking ball is the pitch he’s known for. That pitch is the first of the three nasty pitches.
The interesting development with Detmers is that velocity. Out of college he was seen as a good floor pitcher throwing a low-90’s fastball with a good curveball. The stadium gun in his last start had him in the 94-96 MPH range. Those extra ticks could be a game changer.
For this next pitcher it has less to do with the pitch, more to do with the guy throwing it. Don’t get me wrong, Cleveland RHP Daniel Espino has some nasty stuff and a fastball that can touch triple digits. The reason I wanted to throw Espino here, though, is his shortened arm path. That is a very significant change, and a good one. It’s got me even more excited for Espino’s future. This particular pitch is a slider for a strikeout.
One of the biggest standouts so far this year has been Cincinnati LHP Nick Lodolo. He’s posted 32 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings while posting only six walks. What Lodolo does well is command his pitches. Mix that command with a fastball in the mid 90’s and an arguably plus slider. Honestly, I’m willing to throw a plus grade on that breaking ball, so seen below.
If anyone had any questions about Lodolo before this season, he is doing a really good job of silencing those doubts. He’s been getting plenty of silly looking swings. Things change, but it’s fair to say he’s looking like a guy with a potential mid rotation future right now.
Hoothpick of the Week
Yes, like toothpick. Each week I will highlight one player a little deeper analysis than the other blurbs. Today it’s Miami Marlins LHP Jake Eder.
I’ve been a big fan of Eder since his first start. He’s got an arsenal of pure stuff that makes him extremely deadly, especially against lefties. To this point in 2021 Eder has logged 5 2/3 innings against left handed batters who are hitting a grand total of .000 against him with 15 strikeouts. That is in part due to his slider, but also he gets whiffs from lefties on his changeup, like this on Brice Turang.
Of course the most filthy secondary is his slider. He does a good job throwing it to both sides of the plate and in any count. Eder will start the hitter with out it or put them away with it. It’s a legitimate pitch that has played well thus far in Double A.
Eder’s fastball has been reported as high as the mid 90’s. In his most recent start it was said to be more in the 91-93 MPH range. Either way he can use it around the zone well. It’s hit or miss as a put away pitch, but he does like to elevate it with two strikes.
The book on Eder is that he is inconsistent. Honestly, he’s been pretty consistent so far. He’s posted a 34/11 K/BB with a 0.45 ERA in his debut season. To say the least it’s been a really fun beginning to his career.