Baseball Prospectus - Chat with Anthony Rescan

Chat: Anthony Rescan

Welcome to Baseball Prospectus' Friday May 04, 2018 1:00 PM ET chat session with Anthony Rescan.

Anthony is an author of Baseball Prospectus and a member of our Stats team.

Anthony Rescan: Hey, folks, a few minutes late, but still here to answer all of your Yolmer Sanchez questions. And, I guess, other stuff, too.

Dusty (Colorado): I heard you were soliciting Wander Javier questions on Twitter. I was wondering what you think his upside is? Thanks!

Anthony Rescan: A snap of his fingers will destroy half the baseballs in the universe.

Jim (Chicago): Juan Soto and A- Ball seemingly do not mix. If he goes on an Acuna-like tear up through the minors, Victor Robles remains out until August and Bryce's impending free agency looms, any chance we see him as a September call-up?

Anthony Rescan: His bat was definitely too mature for Hagerstown at this point. I think it's fair to give him a bit more time in Potomac (and eventually Harrisburg) before we start talking about a September call-up. All things considered, it seems like a bit of a long shot this year. But if he can make it happen, I'm sure they could fit him in at 1st or a COF spot.

Dan (CT): Potential of Taylor Trammell?

Anthony Rescan: From what I've heard, it's limited by defense. The arm is the issue. I don't like him nearly as much if he can't stick in center, obviously. There's enough of an offensive profile there for him to be a solid LF, but he could be special if he can play a passable CF.

Johnny (Boston): Jo Adell or Taylor Trammall - More Fantasy potential?

Anthony Rescan: I'll take Adell. I just really like Adell.

Warren (Australia ): Is Cavan Biggio now a thing? A league that rosters 300 minors.

Anthony Rescan: I think he's worth watching. For a 300 man roster, yea, I'd get after him. I'd honestly roster him in my 80 man league if I could.

Mike (Chicago): Taylor Trammell the next Ronald Acuna? Or another player that could be in that mold?

Anthony Rescan: That's a bit bold, in my opinion. Acuna is real special.

Doug (NY): Where's Jeff?

Anthony Rescan: Jeff, Doug is looking for you.

Jordan (Vegas): Jorge Soler, real or fake?

Anthony Rescan: I'm buying it. He wouldn't be the first guy to turn it around in his mid 20's and he's got the tools to make this real. There's definitely some BABIP correction coming though. So, the extent of the realness might not be this, but I think there's a least an average OF in there.

Will (STL): Adalberto Mondesi has been hot since he came back from injury. Thoughts on his big league impact this season?

Anthony Rescan: Well, he's got to get an extended look this year. The Royals are real bad, so if he flounders it should at least be at the major league level. He's got the run to where his hit tool doesn't need to be fantastic to be a positive player, but he hasn't even flashed it at the top level. So, I'm not sure he'll provide a lot of impact this year, but he should be given the chance to learn and take it into next year.

bob m (brookhaven): What are your thoughts on Soroka and Jack Flaherty-----which do you prefer and how good can they become? Thx

Anthony Rescan: Soroka forced himself to the bigs before 21. You've usually got something if you can do that. He doesn't have that top of the rotation stuff, but I wouldn't be surprised if he nudged his way into that role.

Flaherty is my guy. I've always thought he had the potential to hit that top level projection. I think he'll be a good mid-rotation arm for a while.

If I had to pick one, it'd be Soroka though.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): At season's end, Jesus Luzardo is a top ___ prospect.

Anthony Rescan: He's graduated.

Anthony Rescan (Sitting in your chair): Inception

Anthony Rescan: woah

Mr. Fister (Arlington): What on earth is going on with Hunter Greene? Does the team have him working on something a la spring training, or has he really just been this bad?

Anthony Rescan: Well, a 16.4% walk rate is what some would call "bad". I haven't seen him personally, so I can't say exactly what's wrong. Gotta give him some time to figure it out though.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): So you think Luzardo logs 50 major league innings huh? What do those 50 innings look like?

Anthony Rescan: I'm really bullish on Luzardo. I think he'll be an entirely passable starter in whole who really flashes brilliance in some starts. That'll give A's fans a lot to look forward to. That said, I could definitely see them holding him down given that he hasn't really thrown much in pro ball, but that's a lame take and I'm not here to be lame today.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Do Story's strikeouts make him "underrated?"

Anthony Rescan: Not really. He's fine and will be replaced soon enough by Brendan Rodgers.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Won't Rodgers be replacing the soon to be departing DJLM?

Anthony Rescan: Well, yea, if they don't resign him. Then Story will be displaced to 2nd.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Isn't Story a plus defender at SS? Why would Rodgers displace him?

Anthony Rescan: Huh, look at that. They've been moving Rodgers around quite a bit this year in Hartford. It looks like that might be the plan. We'll have to see how this shakes out. Usually when you have a top SS prospect, you just let them play SS, unless you have one of the top regulars there.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Isn't Story a plus defender at SS? Why would Rodgers displace him?

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Percent chance that Casey Mize goes 1.1?

Anthony Rescan: He's such a Tigers pick. That's where I'd have him going in a mock.

matt (chicago): what are we getting from justus sheffield this year?

Anthony Rescan: I love Justus Sheffield. It seems like he has a shot to steal that last rotation spot with all the injury problems they've had there. If not, he can slide into the pen and make use of that nasty slider. So, yea, I don't think he's long for AAA.

Bo Dingus (Dingusville): How much of Didi's performance is attributed to him being sandwiched in between Judge and Stanton? Seems like when VMart hit between Miggy and JDM. Fastball city!

Anthony Rescan: He's seeing less fastballs than he did last year. He's at 34% from LHP and 35% from RHP compared to 40% and 39% last year. Also seeing less sinkers. I don't think it's a pure "he's getting lots of fastballs" thing.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Is Dane Dunning legit? Or is he more of a mid-rotation innings eater?

Anthony Rescan: What's wrong with that?

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Should SF convert Panda to a relief pitcher?

Anthony Rescan: Hell yes. Hook it into my veins.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): How long before Gleyber Torres is hitting leadoff for the Yanks?

Anthony Rescan: I'm sure he'll get a look this year, but I doubt he sits there in the order this season.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Aren't the Brewers at least wondering what Hader could do in the rotation? I get it, he's doing well where they have him, but I have a feeling that someday there's going to be a lot of "what could've been" flying around.

Anthony Rescan: I wouldn't be at all surprised if they stretched him out next year. I honestly like this development plan for a guy like him. Chris Sale did the same thing. He's pretty good.

Buddy (Peoria, IL): How worried are you about Senzel?

Anthony Rescan: I'm not sure what's going on with him. Vertigo is bad though.

Also, I got a haul for him from Jarrett in fantasy, so send well wishes to Jarrett.

Buddy (Peoria, IL): Scott Kingery has sure cooled off. Is he heading to the minors, or are they going to stick with him?

Anthony Rescan: They've got so many options in the bigs that it may just be the best idea to send him down. He clearly needs consistent ABs.

Buddy (Peoria, IL): What the hell has gotten into Ozzie Albies?

Anthony Rescan: Dingers. I seriously have no idea, but I hope he stays this way.

Mr. Fister (Arlington): Thoughts on the ceiling of Logan Gilbert? Would love to see my Royals draft him.

Anthony Rescan: Midrotation arm. Should go within the first 10-15 picks.

Rick (TN): Jeisson Rosario is an OBP machine. What's his upside?

Anthony Rescan: Worth watching. He's far away, but he's got a profile that could put him into Top 101 territory in the near future.

Anthony Rescan: Thanks, everyone, for participating in the chat. It was fun. Let's do it again.