2024 Prospects thread

[GL_Storm]

And here's Harry Ford, ranked at 61:

The Mariners have had a great run of first-round picks the last six years; starting in 2018, they took Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Emerson Hancock, Ford, Cole Young, and Colt Emerson, so that’s two above-average big-league starters and three guys currently on this top-100. Ford has always been a work-in-progress as a catcher, as he’s super athletic but was really rough at the position as an amateur. He’s made enough progress that it seems like he could stay at the position, although he’s probably still on the low side of average when it comes to receiving and blocking. He may also hit his way off the position, as he shows elite strike zone judgment, ranking third in the minors in walks last year with 103 and striking out less than 20 percent of the time — although even that is surprising given how infrequently he chases. He might be better off sacrificing some contact for more power, as he’s strong enough to at least be a 40 doubles/15 homers guy, but his swing is incredibly short to the ball and right now it’s below-average game power as a result. He hits a lot like he’s always trying to keep his hands inside the ball, which is a great skill to have but not useful for all pitches in all locations. There are multiple paths for Ford to become a big-league starter — he could just improve his defense to the point where he stays there, and then the bat will play immediately; he could move to somewhere on the infield, where the bat would play but you’d like a little more power; or he could take his athleticism and speed to the outfield, easing the defensive concerns and strain on his body but then almost requiring more in-game power. I’ll bet on an athlete who knows the strike zone, though.

[D-train]

Good stuff. Yeah with Colt and Cole and Lazaro we have 3 likely sure Major league position players. Need add some pitching via the draft in July.

[D-train]

https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/cole- ... r-invitees

[D-train]

[D-train]

[GL_Storm]

These are the first videos I've run across that show Tyler Locklear's swing really clearly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8oQNSWo9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViYF1KFmiNM&t=77s

The issue that I see is that he isn't pushing the bat back during the load phase. Instead, he almost doesn't load at all. There's a slight backwards movement with his body, but the hands don't go back at all.

Most major league hitters try to do something like what Mookie Betts does here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYC9aS60Q60

Every hitter is a little bit different, but almost all of them move the bat rearwards during the load phase to get some separation between the hands and the upper torso. But Locklear doesn't do that at all. His hands stay right near his head and then he just sort of rotates to the ball in what appears to be an extremely fluid and powerful motion. I can't say that what he's doing won't work at the major league level, but this is sort of the opposite of what most major league hitters are trying to do, which is to create leverage in their swing and a bat path that moves the head of the bat through the zone for the longest distance possible. But maybe Locklear will make this work. Maybe he'll be the funky swing guy in the majors. My guess is that he'll get exposed this year in AA and AAA and will have to begin the process of rebuilding his swing, but who knows?

One guy that is sort of unconventional that Locklear could look at is Yordan Alvarez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSKfp4QWz-8

Alvarez is interesting because he doesn't try for that stretch between the hands and the upper body. Instead, he moves his entire body backwards and then begins his launch directly from that reared back position. It's just an absolutely beautiful site to behold.

One thing I wonder about with Locklear is why he's being pigeonholed as a 1B/DH type? From the reports I've read and from what I can see with my eyes, this isn't some sluggish non-athlete type. Yeah, maybe 3B is beyond him, but why not try him in the corner outfield spots?

[D-train]

These are the first videos I've run across that show Tyler Locklear's swing really clearly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8oQNSWo9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViYF1KFmiNM&t=77s

The issue that I see is that he isn't pushing the bat back during the load phase. Instead, he almost doesn't load at all. There's a slight backwards movement with his body, but the hands don't go back at all.

Most major league hitters try to do something like what Mookie Betts does here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYC9aS60Q60

Every hitter is a little bit different, but almost all of them move the bat rearwards during the load phase to get some separation between the hands and the upper torso. But Locklear doesn't do that at all. His hands stay right near his head and then he just sort of rotates to the ball in what appears to be an extremely fluid and powerful motion. I can't say that what he's doing won't work at the major league level, but this is sort of the opposite of what most major league hitters are trying to do, which is to create leverage in their swing and a bat path that moves the head of the bat through the zone for the longest distance possible. But maybe Locklear will make this work. Maybe he'll be the funky swing guy in the majors. My guess is that he'll get exposed this year in AA and AAA and will have to begin the process of rebuilding his swing, but who knows?

One guy that is sort of unconventional that Locklear could look at is Yordan Alvarez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSKfp4QWz-8

Alvarez is interesting because he doesn't try for that stretch between the hands and the upper body. Instead, he moves his entire body backwards and then begins his launch directly from that reared back position. It's just an absolutely beautiful site to behold.

One thing I wonder about with Locklear is why he's being pigeonholed as a 1B/DH type? From the reports I've read and from what I can see with my eyes, this isn't some sluggish non-athlete type. Yeah, maybe 3B is beyond him, but why not try him in the corner outfield spots?

Great stuff, G. Thanks for all this! One interesting thing about Locklear is if France rebounds he is blocked for two season given Garver is the full time DH so maybe they try him in the OF? Did you see Ford is going to get INF reps this Spring?

[GL_Storm]

These are the first videos I've run across that show Tyler Locklear's swing really clearly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8oQNSWo9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViYF1KFmiNM&t=77s

The issue that I see is that he isn't pushing the bat back during the load phase. Instead, he almost doesn't load at all. There's a slight backwards movement with his body, but the hands don't go back at all.

Most major league hitters try to do something like what Mookie Betts does here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYC9aS60Q60

Every hitter is a little bit different, but almost all of them move the bat rearwards during the load phase to get some separation between the hands and the upper torso. But Locklear doesn't do that at all. His hands stay right near his head and then he just sort of rotates to the ball in what appears to be an extremely fluid and powerful motion. I can't say that what he's doing won't work at the major league level, but this is sort of the opposite of what most major league hitters are trying to do, which is to create leverage in their swing and a bat path that moves the head of the bat through the zone for the longest distance possible. But maybe Locklear will make this work. Maybe he'll be the funky swing guy in the majors. My guess is that he'll get exposed this year in AA and AAA and will have to begin the process of rebuilding his swing, but who knows?

One guy that is sort of unconventional that Locklear could look at is Yordan Alvarez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSKfp4QWz-8

Alvarez is interesting because he doesn't try for that stretch between the hands and the upper body. Instead, he moves his entire body backwards and then begins his launch directly from that reared back position. It's just an absolutely beautiful site to behold.

One thing I wonder about with Locklear is why he's being pigeonholed as a 1B/DH type? From the reports I've read and from what I can see with my eyes, this isn't some sluggish non-athlete type. Yeah, maybe 3B is beyond him, but why not try him in the corner outfield spots?

Great stuff, G. Thanks for all this! One interesting thing about Locklear is if France rebounds he is blocked for two season given Garver is the full time DH so maybe they try him in the OF? Did you see Ford is going to get INF reps this Spring?

Yeah, I saw that about Ford. I guess it isn't surprising except that the reports I'm reading all say that he's made good progress as a catcher. But maybe this is the backup plan, or maybe they think he can be a C/2B.

[D-train]

They have Cal for 4 more seasons. I would have traded him. His stock plummets this season. imo

[GL_Storm]

Here are a couple of Harry Ford videos.

Season Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_UquKFTus

From the AFL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuYEgWD0lLY