1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Baseball America editor in chief JJ Cooper joining us right now. 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: Of perfect timing, We arranged having JJ on the show 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: before we learned the news of Connor Griffin, and we 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: love how that works out. So happy Connor Griffin news 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: day to you, Jj. And then we're excited to see 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: him in his debut. So let's start with the good 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: stuff in terms of the projections, the scouting profile, everything 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: tell us how excited fans in baseball should be to 9 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: watch the next supposed great star in our game. 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: So if Strasburg's rival of straspis, I guess. 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 3: This is Connor Griffin, Eve, and I kind of think 12 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:40,599 Speaker 3: that this might be the most anticipated debut of a 13 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 3: true prospect since maybe Strasburg. Now you could say Showyotani, 14 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 3: but showy Otani was coming over, you know, yes, he 15 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 3: was coming up from the minor leagues technically as internationally 16 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 3: ad but you know all that, But he was, I mean, 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 3: he was fully formed. Connor Griffin is arriving as the 18 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 3: number one prospect in baseball. A guy who can run, 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 3: this is almost anyone can throw as hard as almost anyone, 20 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 3: can hit the ball as hard as almost anyone. And 21 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 3: by the way, also has the fourth best betting average 22 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 3: career betting average of the Minor League since twenty ten. 23 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 3: So like, there's just so many things here. And by 24 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 3: the way, this first teenager position player to reach the 25 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 3: major since Wan Soto in twenty eighteen. There's just so 26 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 3: many things stacking up here. 27 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 4: Oh yeah. 28 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: Also, he makes the Pirates much more interesting and probably 29 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 3: much better. I like the little segment that Bucco Territory 30 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 3: did there where they just have talked about how this 31 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 3: is the team that needs a shortstop. The thing I 32 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: like about this is I think the message that the 33 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 3: Pirates will have, the message they'll have to Connor Griffin 34 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 3: is play defense, run, hit the ball hard. There's gonna 35 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: be some growing pains here, but you're gonna make this 36 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 3: team better while you're kind of adjusting to the major 37 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 3: leagues because he is a big league shortstop and they 38 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 3: needed one of those. 39 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 5: All right, JJY, Very happy for the Pirates, Very happy 40 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 5: for Connor Griffin. 41 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 4: What happened in the week, What happened actually was less 42 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 4: than a week. 43 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 5: What happened in the five days he was in trimpat 44 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 5: Man Like, he went down there and got hot, guys, 45 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 5: Let's call him up now, like, what besides the fact 46 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 5: that they want to sell tickets for opening day, besides 47 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 5: the fact that they wanted people excited for their home opener, 48 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 5: besides the fact that we all know he's going to 49 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 5: sign an extension, not the day of, but it'll be 50 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 5: a few days. Dall, he's probably aready agreed to it. 51 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 5: They're keeping that quiet. What happened in those five days. 52 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 3: He did at four thirty eight, so maybe that maybe 53 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 3: he did play good defense at short stuff. But no, 54 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 3: I think that this does feel like we've seen a 55 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 3: couple of these. 56 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: I feel like now where it's like, oh, we're starting 57 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 2: on the road. 58 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 3: We I don't The funny thing is, I don't even 59 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 3: think it sells more tickets though, Like if Connor Griffin 60 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 3: had made his debut on the road, I still think 61 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 3: Pirates fans would absolutely be like, I want to be 62 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 3: there for Connor Griffin's first home game. It is odd 63 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 3: because I don't know, you know, maybe they tone down 64 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: the hype ten percent by not having him on the 65 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 3: opening day roster maybe, but it doesn't really change much 66 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 3: of anything he does. You know, he's still eligible for 67 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 3: a PPI pick. As you noticed, you know, as you 68 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 3: noted their AJ like, you can't sign an extension before 69 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 3: he makes his major league debut and be eligible for 70 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 3: a Performance Prospect Performance Incentive pick. So if you want 71 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 3: to win that pick by having him be rook of 72 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: the Year or finish high in MVP voting in the 73 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 3: next couple of years. 74 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: Got hold off on that extension. 75 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 4: But yeah, but the point, that's the point JJ. 76 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 5: They gotta wait because he can't sign extension before he 77 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 5: gets to the big league. So now they're gonna call 78 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 5: him up and then they're gonna wait a couple of days. 79 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 4: Sorry, that's that's it's just all too convenient. 80 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 3: They're gonna see him arrive in Pittsburgh and then they're going, oh, 81 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 3: this guy's really good, maybe we should sign him to extension. 82 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 2: That's how it's gonna work at j. You know, they're 83 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: gonna they're gonna come. 84 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 3: To their real their realization after they see him in 85 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 3: Pittsburgh that they now feel like he might be worth 86 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 3: an extension. 87 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 6: All right, Well that's fair. 88 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 2: I'm glad. 89 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 6: I'm glad that his first games has so much pressure 90 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 6: on it that he could make one hundred and thirty 91 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 6: million dollars if he has a good first game. But 92 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 6: I want to go back to last year, his first 93 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 6: full season in professional baseball, Connor Griffin played fifteen games 94 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 6: in the outfield. Was that a misjudgment by the Pirates 95 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 6: in the sense of, well, you know, we just don't 96 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,239 Speaker 6: know where he's going to be defensively, or was it 97 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 6: kind of like a Bryce Harper type of situation where 98 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 6: they're like, we put him in the outfield easier to 99 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 6: learn he'll be in the big league sooner because of 100 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 6: how much we like his bat. 101 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 3: I think it was a little bit more of the second. Like, 102 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 3: the funny thing is is that this time last year 103 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 3: we really were coming off of a spring training where 104 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 3: Connor Griffin almost all his games with the big league club. 105 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 3: Last year, in spring training, we're in the outfield. And 106 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 3: by the way, this is kind of a you know, 107 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 3: rich prospect problems here, because if Connor Griffin was in 108 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 3: center field, I promise you right now we say that 109 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 3: the Pirates have a hole at shortstop. If Connor Griffin 110 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 3: was in center starting in center field tomorrow, he would 111 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 3: vastly make the Pirates defense better. Because we have seen 112 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 3: O'Neil Cruz in centerfield. Connor Griffin is a potentially Gold 113 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 3: Glove center fielder if that was where he was going 114 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 3: to play. I think they actually did, though kind of 115 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 3: have a little bit of ambiguity about that, and then 116 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 3: as he played, he kind of just showed like, no, 117 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 3: this is a shortstop and kind of goes back to 118 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 3: that old kind of Hey, as good as a center fielder, 119 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 3: great defensive center fielder is if you got the short stop, 120 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 3: you got the short stop, and they needed a guy 121 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 3: like this. I do think that he's actually gotten even 122 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 3: a little bit better this year at short stop. Just 123 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 3: watching his you know eight I think he made twelve 124 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 3: thirteen plays at shortstop over those those five games at 125 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 3: Triple A. He's showing a little bit more kind of 126 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 3: the savvy that you see that you want to see 127 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 3: from a short stop. There was a play where he 128 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 3: went kind of his backhand was about to rush it, 129 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 3: then looked over, realized how slow the runner was running, 130 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 3: and just kind of geared down and just kind of 131 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 3: made an easy throw. Those kind of things that you're 132 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 3: seeing a little bit of that polish get at it 133 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 3: now that we weren't seeing at the start of last year. 134 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: Year. 135 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 6: Defensively, you have to be a big league shortstop to 136 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 6: play in the big leagues. And what I mean is 137 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 6: guys can play shortstop, but you have to be a 138 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 6: big league shortstop. If he never wins a Gold Glove, 139 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 6: is it going to be a failure as a as 140 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 6: a Baseball America diagnosing him as a ridiculous defender, or 141 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 6: is his ceiling really just an above average big league shortstop? 142 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 3: I would say his ceiling is Gold Glove caliber, but 143 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 3: I would say it's more likely that he's just above average, right, 144 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: I think his ceiling is there, like because he does 145 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 3: have a cannon of an arm. 146 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 2: He is athletic. 147 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 3: He does for a guy who's I really keep using 148 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 3: the comp It's kind of true, Like it's kind of 149 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 3: a Mic Trout body, but if Mike Trout didn't move 150 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 3: to the outfield. Mike Trout played shortstop some in high school, 151 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 3: but like that kind of body, but with enough agility, 152 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 3: enough quick enough first step to work. But if you said, like, 153 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 3: is he going to be the rangiest shortstop in the 154 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 3: major leagues, it's hard to believe he'll be that over 155 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 3: that kind of you know, cat quick, kind of more 156 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 3: traditional type of shortstop. But when you throw in the arm, 157 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 3: when you throw in the savvy I will say, like 158 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 3: one thing that he's gonna do much like we've seen 159 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 3: with Elie de la Cruz. He's that shortstop who if 160 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 3: the ball's hit over his head. Well, for one, if 161 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 3: I'm an outfielder, I'm watching out because if he runs 162 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 3: over me, he may kill me because he's that big. 163 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 3: But if he sees that ball kind of in that 164 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 3: that that Bermuda triangle like beyond behind the third basement 165 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 3: in front of the you know, the the left fielder, 166 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 3: he can make that play that not a whole lot 167 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 3: of guys can make. He tracks balls in the air 168 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 3: really well. He does have the arm. If there's gonna 169 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: be a little bit of issues early on, I would say, again, 170 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 3: there's range there, but I don't think he's going to 171 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 3: be exceptional range. I don't think that he's gonna make 172 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 3: the play up the middle and the play deep in 173 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 3: the whole time after time. 174 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 2: But there is that potential. He's still a teenager. 175 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 5: This one's for if the dudes looking for that peak 176 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 5: bedroom performance. Blue Choo just drop their newest innovation, blue 177 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 5: Choo Gold. 178 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: Blue Choo is the number one chewable ed brand, and yes, 179 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: blue Choo Gold dissolves under your tongue and works in 180 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: as little as fifteen minutes. Peak passion and peak performance 181 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: in a single tablet. See why millions of men trust 182 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: blue Choo now with a gold standard upgrade that is 183 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: changing the game for good. Make life easier and discover 184 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: your options at blue choo dot com. And we have 185 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,719 Speaker 1: a special deal for the ftfam. Get ten percent off 186 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: your first month of blue Choo Gold with code foul. 187 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: That's promo code foul. Visit bluechoo dot com for more 188 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: details and important safety information, and we thank blue Choo 189 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: for sponsoring the podcast. This is the future of performance, Faster, 190 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: smarter and precision engineer and free results. Two ingredients for 191 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: blood flow with apomorphine and oxytocin to turn up the 192 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: arousal and connection in your brain and body. 193 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 4: It's blue Choo. Let's not sell anyone short. Okay. Let's 194 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 4: make sure that we don't sell anyone short, all right. 195 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 5: So Connor Griffin is going to be a stud and 196 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 5: I'm happy for Pittsburgh and their fans and for Connor 197 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 5: Griffin once he signs that extension, once they see him 198 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 5: put on the big league uniform, because they haven't talked 199 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 5: about it yet and they haven't eything close to tea. Nope, exactly, yep, exactly. 200 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 5: We haven't heard anything about him signing extension. I want 201 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 5: to go to the other two guys, the prospects of 202 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 5: signed extension, Emerson and Cooper Pratt. 203 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 4: First of all, I'd never heard of Cooper Pratt. 204 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 5: I'd obviously heard of Emerson before because of the Mariners 205 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 5: and he was their top prospect. What do these two 206 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 5: guys bring to the table, and what are the Mariners 207 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 5: and the Brewers seeing these guys that would allow them 208 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 5: to sign both these guys to big extensions before they've 209 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,439 Speaker 5: even really come close to the big leagues. 210 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 3: So Emerson is our number seven prospect in the game. 211 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 3: I would say that he's you know, again, he's not 212 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 3: as fast moving as Connor Griffin, A few, very few 213 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 3: players are, but he is kind of still on the 214 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 3: very much the fast track. I mean, the Mariners have 215 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 3: been pretty open about saying that they expect him to 216 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 3: be their third baseman before too. 217 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: Long this year. 218 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 3: He's a very well rounded player. 219 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: Again, it's hard. 220 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 3: We just talked about Connor Griffin and we also have 221 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 3: Kevin McGonagall, j Jo Weatherhold who I think are exceptional 222 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 3: prospects as well. I would put Emerson in that next 223 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 3: tier below that. That doesn't mean he's not going to 224 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 3: be a very very good player. I mean he could 225 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 3: be a star. I just don't think that he has 226 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 3: that one like Connor Griffin could be, you know, the 227 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:25,319 Speaker 3: fastest dude who hits the ball, the. 228 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 2: Furthest all those things. 229 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 3: McGonagall and weather Hold are probably going to be two 230 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 3: of the better hitters in the major leagues by you know, 231 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 3: this year, by next year, I would say Emerson kind 232 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 3: of fits more in that well rounded where he's going 233 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:39,679 Speaker 3: to provide defensive value. 234 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: He's going to hit for average, he's gonna hit for power. 235 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 2: He's going to be a cornerstone. 236 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 3: He should be a cornerstone for the Mariners. And that 237 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,079 Speaker 3: contract kind of shows that, Like again, he's giving up 238 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 3: potentially some money down the road. 239 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: Obviously, you don't sign one. 240 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 3: Of these contracts where if you hit on everything that 241 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 3: they hope you'll hit on, that you're going to end 242 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 3: up still making every bit of that, giving up on 243 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 3: a couple of years of free agency that he could 244 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 3: be a very young MLB free agent long based down 245 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 3: the road. But this is one of the top prospects 246 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 3: in baseball. The Pratt extension, I do think is a 247 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 3: little bit kind of more interesting, more unusual, I would say, 248 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 3: from the standpoint of we have him as our number 249 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 3: fifty prospects in the game, and that obviously means it's 250 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 3: one of the best prospects in baseball. But the number 251 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 3: fifty prospect in a top ten prospect are two very 252 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 3: different things. A top ten prospect had a piece up 253 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 3: at Baseball America about this recently. A top ten prospect 254 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 3: means that we expect there's kind of almost like a 255 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 3: coin flip chance that you're going to be a star. 256 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 2: You're going to be one of the best players in baseball. 257 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 2: Top fifty prospect. 258 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 3: Some of those end up being stars, a lot of 259 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 3: them end up being solid regulars, but a lot of 260 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 3: them don't pan out. Pratt is kind of he's still 261 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 3: young as a high school pick, kind of guy fell 262 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 3: in the draft but quickly showed very savvy, can really 263 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 3: hit all those batting average last year in the Southern 264 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 3: League may not have shown that. And good defender, you know, 265 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 3: should be a very valuable in fielder, shortstop who could 266 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 3: play second or third as well. But what he doesn't 267 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 3: have is he doesn't have power yet. Maybe that'll come. 268 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 3: And the batting average again there, even though we think 269 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 3: and scouts really like his hit tool, there may be 270 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 3: a little bit more uncertainty with that because he did 271 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 3: hit I think two thirty four last year in the 272 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 3: Southern League. That's one where the Brewers clearly believe in him. 273 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 3: Pratt is a top prospect, but there's a little bit 274 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 3: more risk to that one, I would say on the 275 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 3: Brewers side. That's also why the number that he signed 276 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 3: for is significantly less than cold Emerson's. 277 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: It's still fifty million dollars. 278 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 6: And this is a perfect transition into your list of 279 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 6: the twenty sixteen top ten. Now I didn't go to 280 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 6: your list. I went to Major League Baseball's list for 281 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 6: number fifty in twenty sixteen, ten years ago, and it's 282 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 6: Wilson Contreras. So had a team given fifty million dollars 283 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 6: to Wilson Contreras, it would have been major value. But 284 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 6: let's talk about that group, that list of top ten 285 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 6: from twenty sixteen and where they are now and how 286 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 6: much you expected those guys to be able to do that. 287 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 3: So that's funny, now, I'm going to probably try to 288 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 3: call up our all time fifties and when we do this, 289 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 3: but yes, like I would say that with this, like 290 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 3: you look at our top ten there and I would say, 291 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 3: what you see with this is is again we do 292 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 3: not say that every top ten prospects going to hit. 293 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 3: And I would say that you would say there, and 294 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 3: you say, Alex Reyes, you know, pictures to throw hard 295 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 3: and get hurt are a challenge. Orlando Arcia obviously is 296 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 3: a guy who's been a solid big leaguer, but he's 297 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 3: been less than you would expect for a top ten prospect. 298 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 3: And Joey Gallo had an early kind of uh, you know, 299 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 3: peak and then it kind of tailed off pretty quickly. 300 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 2: The guy does have a ton of always had a 301 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 2: ton of strikeouts. 302 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 3: But I would say overall, you look at that list 303 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 3: and you say it that Cory Seeger skipped a lot 304 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,719 Speaker 3: of very good players skipped on. 305 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 4: You skipped one, You skipped number four one, number. 306 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 3: Four huliar Urius was a really good picture until you know, 307 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 3: off the field legal issues and all. 308 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,719 Speaker 5: But you guys don't include those. You don't include those 309 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 5: in your prospect rankings. 310 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 4: JJ, we we. 311 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 3: Do, but they are hard to fully evaluate. You know, 312 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 3: it's hard to wake up. That's a great point, you know, 313 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 3: but hey, some guys who you know, you hear makeups 314 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 3: obviously makeups very difficult to evaluate. And you know, Urius 315 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 3: was a guy who is a sixteen year old was 316 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 3: considered to be advanced enough to go to the Midwest 317 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 3: League at an age where no one gets to go there, 318 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: and then you know, down the road he was a 319 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 3: very good pitcher, even in the postseason and then but 320 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 3: he was one of the players who where the legal 321 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 3: issues are such that he essentially just kind of disappeared 322 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 3: from Major League Baseball almost like that because of that. 323 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 3: But I think that that's a good way, a good 324 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 3: useful way to lay out, like place the piece I 325 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 3: did yesterday kind of you could say, like, Okay, why 326 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 3: are they giving Cooper pro or let's say, especially cold Emerson, 327 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 3: Why are they giving cold Emerson this much money? 328 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 2: He hasn't proven that he can play in the big leagues. 329 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 3: And the piece that I kind of tried to lay 330 00:14:56,280 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 3: out yesterday is is that's true, but they feel pretty 331 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 3: good about the likelihood that he's going to be a 332 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 3: long term productive regular even if he doesn't have that 333 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 3: MLB you know that astis by his name where you 334 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 3: could say he's already a big leaguer. But the other 335 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 3: part of this is is I think that the way 336 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: just our brains work, if he had been up for 337 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 3: a year and gets his extension and then it all 338 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 3: falls apart, it'd be like, oh, well, that wasn't surprising. 339 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 3: He showed that he could do it, and then what happened, 340 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 3: Like I used an example, Yesterdy Johnson, India was the 341 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 3: National League Rookie of the Year not that many years ago, 342 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 3: and he had a great season that year and he 343 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 3: was twenty four years old. And if you saw that season, 344 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 3: you would say, oh, this is what he should be 345 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 3: able to do or something like this for the next five, six, 346 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 3: seven years. And that's been the best season of India's career. 347 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 3: That was his highest in batting average, on base percentage, 348 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 3: lugging percentage, home runs, you know, war any way you 349 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 3: want to look at it, he was at his best 350 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 3: as a rookie. 351 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 2: And but you wouldn't look at that. 352 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 3: And say, you know, if they'd assigned him to an extension, 353 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 3: it would have been oh, it's just pointing that his 354 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,239 Speaker 3: production tailed off, but it wouldn't be because he was unproven, 355 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 3: because he had already proved it. He'd already had success 356 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 3: at the big league level. Colt Emerson may not have 357 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 3: had success at the big league level, but when you 358 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 3: look at what he's done in the minors, when you 359 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,359 Speaker 3: look at the evaluations of him, there's a pretty good likelihood. 360 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 3: Much like we talk about these Connor Griffins and Kevin 361 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 3: mcgonagall's and jj Weatherolds, there's a likelihood that this guy 362 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 3: is going to be a long term productive regular because 363 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 3: most guys who are top ten prospects, especially at this age, 364 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 3: most of them end up being long term productive regulars 365 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 3: or better. 366 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: And that is why you make these moves now, so 367 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: that when they hit, you save a ton of money. 368 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: That is the whole point, and the player gets rich 369 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: right away. So it's good math. 370 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 3: Could I just point out with that, like to AJ's point, 371 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 3: like with this extension that you know they're not talking 372 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 3: about yet, but that they will maybe bring, you know, 373 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 3: broach with Connor Griffin once he's approven big leaguer. But 374 00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 3: this is kind of a problem, I think for the 375 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 3: MLBA in the long run because on the individual player side, 376 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 3: these deals make a ton of sense. 377 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 2: If the Pirates are going to pay. 378 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 3: Connor Griffin, let's say one hundred and thirty million dollars 379 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 3: Roman Anthony type contract, it's really hard to turn that 380 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 3: down because you've got one career and yes, you may 381 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 3: be sacrificing hitting free agency as a twenty six year 382 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 3: old a la Juan Soto, but you're also going to 383 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 3: be not you're just you're going to be rich, but 384 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 3: your grandkids will be rich because of that deal. That's 385 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 3: something that's a little difficult for that. You don't get 386 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 3: as many of these kind of reset the market free 387 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 3: agent deals. Reset the market arbitration moves when these players, 388 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 3: these stars get locked up so early. 389 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 2: In their careers. 390 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 3: And I don't know what the real answer is that 391 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 3: for if you're the PA and you want to see these, 392 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 3: you know, record free agent deals, that kind of then 393 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 3: move the entirety of the market. Connor Griffin is the 394 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 3: kind of guy who, if he doesn't sign extension, could 395 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 3: be the next like, oh, this is the record breaking contract, 396 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 3: but this would probably if he extends, they'll probably buy 397 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 3: out that age twenty six, eight, twenty seven, maybe age 398 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 3: twenty eight year where you're going to be a much 399 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 3: smaller contract with twenty nine year old free agent doesn't 400 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 3: make the same as a twenty six or a twenty 401 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 3: seven year old free agent star right. 402 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 2: Salary good point, J. 403 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 5: Salary cap is the answer to everything that solved the 404 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 5: world problems. Salary cap just just salary cap. And by 405 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 5: the way, also what you just said is one hundred 406 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 5: percent true. How do you tell a nineteen year old kid, hey, 407 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 5: here's one hundred and thirty million. Man, I really hope 408 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 5: those first couple of days of him in the big 409 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 5: leagues go well, because if it don't go well, he's 410 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 5: not going to sign that extension. 411 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 4: And if he does go well, he'll get that extension. 412 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 5: So, man, I'm hoping and praying for Connor Griffin that 413 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 5: he gets his first day goes really well. 414 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 4: So they can announce that this I mean so they 415 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 4: can offer him an extension. 416 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 2: Hopefully the first five days go as well as that 417 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 2: five days in Triple A. Did that should ready for 418 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 2: the big leagues? 419 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 5: Imagine if they go as well as in Triple A, 420 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 5: they might have to double that contract offer. 421 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 1: I can see the documentary One Day one changes everything. 422 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 2: JJ. 423 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: Thank you appreciate it. That's JJ Cooper from Baseball America. 424 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: Hot Sheet is the show that you can catch him on, 425 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: among other shows of course, on the Baseball America YouTube 426 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,239 Speaker 1: channel Baseball America podcasts the channel as well. Subscribe to it. 427 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: Ap Sheet airs Tuesday's three PM Easter right after FT Live. 428 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 2: This episode is brought to you by Fox One. 429 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 1: Go get that new app. Stream baseball, stream football, stream 430 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: World Cup action you'll be watching. 431 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 5: Oh definitely, I can't wait. I actually want to try 432 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 5: and get to a game. But well, and there, I'll 433 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 5: still have my Fox one app. I'll have MLB, the shows, 434 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 5: the great shows that Fox has, college football that I love, 435 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 5: college basketball, they have it all. This really is the 436 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 5: app that you can get all of anything you want 437 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 5: to watch on an app. Fox one has it and they. 438 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: Are great at yeah, the big sporting events. And by 439 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 1: the way, the World Cup is June eleventh to July nineteenth. 440 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: You can get a free seven day trial of Fox one, 441 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: so go check that out and you can start your 442 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: seven day free trial today. Offers are subject to change. 443 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,439 Speaker 1: Go to Fox one for complete terms and conditions. Fox 444 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: one streaming now