Where is the Waco Kid? Bird hunting in Baltimore. Rangers vs Orioles 7 4-6

[saddles]

It would be an upgrade offensively but still not sold offensively but I do hope they move Lowe to give him or another a shot
Surely we have someone who can get it done by next year

I wonder if they are considering Foscue at 1B.

 

[Kelleyman]

I wonder if they are considering Foscue at 1B.

I want to see some moves to AAA during the break and then see who they put on 2B. Foscue seems a logical look see

 

[DT LUNA]

I want to see some moves to AAA during the break and then see who they put on 2B. Foscue seems a logical look see

Move Semien? Don't think so.

 

[Kelleyman]

It’s official

 

[Kelleyman]

Move Semien? Don't think so.

Did not say that. Want to move Lowe
Was referencing midseason promotions to Round Rock

 

[DT LUNA]

Did not say that. Want to move Lowe
Was referencing midseason promotions to Round Rock

My bad. Misread

 

[saddles]

It sure would be nice if our local media would give us an in depth update on our long term injury guys. It should be getting really close to both Kyle Cody and Josh Jung beginning some baseball activity.

It was originally thought that Jung would be ready to DH six months after his Feb. 23 surgery. That is seven weeks away, so what would normally be preparations to go to spring training type workouts should be commencing very soon.

 

[Kelleyman]

I would think you have to coach these extra innings differently. The first batter is pretty crucial. Need to make contact and last thing needed is a strikeout. And yet we see Odor bunt a guy over. Not necessarily advocating the bunt but come on

 

[DT LUNA]

I would think you have to coach these extra innings differently. The first batter is pretty crucial. Need to make contact and last thing needed is a strikeout. And yet we see Odor bunt a guy over. Not necessarily advocating the bunt but come on

1st batter gets on, a bunt can move him and avoids a dblp with two chances to drive in a run. Worked for years. Don't advocate bunting in many other cases.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Jack Leiter played catch Saturday afternoon at Riders Field, his first time throwing after three days off, and said he should be ready to pitch this week during Double A Frisco’s series at San Antonio.

Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, is on the developmental list with what the Rangers said is arm fatigue. Leiter confirmed the diagnosis, but also said that it’s nothing he couldn’t have pitched through.

“If this is the MLB level and it’s the playoffs, you’re, obviously, good to go, but it’s not,” he said. “A few days does a lot, and that’s kind of what they were thinking. There’s just some fatigue and a little reset, and then get back to it.”

Frisco has an unusual week, at least relative to the minor leagues. San Antonio wanted to host a game on the Fourth of July, so the RoughRiders played on what has been an off day the past two seasons. They will be off Wednesday, which has thrown their rotation off schedule.

As such, Frisco hasn’t set a day for Leiter to return. One option would be to have him pitch an inning Sunday, as was the case with Zak Kent after he dealt with some fatigue, and then start July 16.

When Leiter does return he will do so with a 5.36 ERA in the hitter-friendly Texas League. The stuff has been there, with 60 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings, but Leiter is also navigating his way through better lineups, different travel and a different mentality than when he last pitched in college.

At Vanderbilt, where national championships are the expectation, Leiter was in win-now mode. He still wants to perform well, but he is also doing more geared toward developing into a big-league starting pitcher.

“As a competitive guy, you always want to perform, and there’s a fine balance of working on whatever needs to be worked on on the development side and then the compete side,” Leiter said. “It’s just finding that balance.”

 

[Kelleyman]

re Leiter. Yes he is here to develop and work on things. Not just have great starts using only his best pitches

 

[saddles]

Cole Winn is on the mound tonight and Duran is at SS.

 

[saddles]

re Leiter. Yes he is here to develop and work on things. Not just have great starts using only his best pitches

I think him and Winn both have been doing that this year.

 

[saddles]

Not just have great starts using only his best pitches

That is what Feliz did at one point and it landed him in the bullpen.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

re Leiter. Yes he is here to develop and work on things. Not just have great starts using only his best pitches

Got to throw strikes regardless of what pitches he throws.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

It would be an upgrade defensively but still not sold offensively but I do hope they move Lowe to give him or another a shot
Surely we have someone who can get it done by next year

If they put their mind to it I agree they should have someone by next year.

 

[DT LUNA]

If they put their mind to it I agree they should have someone by next year.

I have wanted to see if Huff could play 1B. If not we might want to trade him. He does not need to sit and catch as a back up. Garver doesn't make it any easier either.

 

[saddles]

Extensive Look at 2022 MLB Draft Prospects

Today, I continue with another group of writeups about one of the guys suspected to go early in the draft. Today's post is about Jackson Holliday, a high school shortstop from Stillwater, Oklahoma. I will include several writeups with links to the article and then one link to a longer article about him.

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/jackson-holliday-702616

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60

The son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, Jackson not only has some of the best bloodlines in the high school class but also is one of its better hitters. Though he struggled at times on the showcase circuit last summer when he got too focused on homers, he finished strong and has taken his game to another level as a high school senior and should go in the first five selections. Gatorade's Oklahoma prep player of the year, he broke J.T. Realmuto's national high school record for hits in a season with 89 in 41 games while batting .685/.749/1.392.

Holliday has an advanced approach, no surprise given his roots, and a knack for putting the barrel on the ball. He usually makes consistent hard contact, though he didn't during the summer when he let his simple left-handed stroke get too long. After getting bigger and stronger, he's hitting the ball with more authority than ever this spring, and he also looks more relaxed at the plate and is letting his considerable power come naturally.

Holliday has gotten faster as he has gotten stronger, and he now flashes plus-plus run times as a senior and is a consistent plus runner. He's throwing better too, and his solid to plus arm strength and enhanced quickness give him a better opportunity to remain at shortstop. His high baseball IQ also helps his chances after many evaluators previously believed he was destined for second or third base. In the unlikely event that he makes it to college, he'll play for his uncle Josh, the head coach at Oklahoma State, where Matt is a volunteer assistant.

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Top 30 players in 2022 MLB Draft: Druw Jones, Jackson Holliday have strong bloodlines; Kumar Rocker makes list


Holliday is another top prospect with big-league bloodlines working in his favor. His father Matt made seven All-Star Games over a 15-year career, and his uncle Josh is the head coach at Oklahoma State (where he's committed to play in the unlikely event he attends college). Holliday hasn't coasted on his name or his connections; he spent the past year getting himself into better shape, and improving his offensive game. He's no longer pulling off pitches as frequently as he had in the past, and he's more open to using the whole field. His explosiveness allows him to smoke almost anything thrown over the plate, and he can run and throw well, too. There's a real chance he'll remain at shortstop, which, with his offensive upside, makes him a justifiable top-three pick.

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MLB Draft Profile: Jackson Holliday - Prime Time Sports Talk


Height: 6’1″
Weight: 180 lbs.
DOB: 12/04/2003
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Scouting Grades

Hit: 60
Power: 55
Run: 60
Arm: 55
Field: 55

Projected to be a top 10 pick in this year’s draft, Holliday has been raking at the High School level. MLB.com has him as their fourth-ranked prospect. A left-handed hitter, the 18-year-old shortstop is still getting bigger and faster. He has the pedigree, baseball IQ, and the work ethic to make any coach happy to have him on their team.

Holliday barrels the ball consistently when he doesn’t let his swing get too long. As he gets stronger, the power will come naturally, and as long as Holliday realizes that he could get to his plus power in games. The potential top-5 pick has a smooth stroke when he is on. He loads well and his hands drive straight to the ball with some natural loft. He doesn’t have a leg kick, instead turning his front leg allowing him to close his hips before he explodes through the zone.

Defensively, Holliday is above average right now. He was named the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his Junior Year. He has good footwork and makes accurate throws from anywhere. Holliday could grade 60 in both arm and fielding as he continues to grow and refine his tools at the position. He is an intelligent runner and combines that with plus wheels which will help his range and keep him at shortstop long-term.

Weaknesses

There is not much to dislike about the kid. The only knock would be that Holliday’s swing can get a little out of whack when he tries to hit home runs. He can get pull happy and speed up his bat path, leaving himself vulnerable to good off-speed stuff especially off the plate outside.

Pro Comparison: Trevor Story

While Story is struggling in his first year out of Coors Field, he has the talent to turn it around. The similarities are there as Holliday can hit for power and steal a few bags while playing a solid defensive shortstop. They will be similar in size as well once the 18-year-old fills in and adds some good muscle.

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Top 100 MLB Draft prospects: Keith Law's latest big board

I’m not sure anyone has helped himself more than Holliday has this spring, notably during his team’s spring break trip to Arizona in March, where Holliday showed incredibly well in front of a lot of decision-makers in town for spring training. He has one of the best swings in the draft, even with a slight bat wrap, with strong plate coverage and above-average power, more likely to be a high-doubles guy with 15-20 homers than a 30-homer guy even at his peak. He’s been hard to strike out as an amateur, only showing occasional weakness against fastballs up, and so far his pitch recognition has been strong for his age and experience level. He’s improved his defensive skills at shortstop, although there’s also been talk of him moving to centerfield to take advantage of his speed if he can’t stay at short, rather than moving him to second or third. It also hasn’t hurt that his father, Matt, was a longtime big-leaguer and seven-time All-Star, and that scouts have been just as impressed by Jackson’s younger brother, Ethan, who may become a top-5 pick in the 2025 draft. Jackson’s heading for the same range this year.

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2022 MLB Draft - Mock Draft 3.0 — Prospects Live

Texas was hot and heavy at Holliday’s games as his season came to an end. A lot of teams were rushing in mid-May to get final looks at Holliday but the Rangers were doubling up on the opportunities, making sure multiple eyes got looks at the talented Stillwater shortstop. Holliday possesses a rare blend of hit, power and athleticism with a sweet left-handed swing. He’s got the potential to be a future middle-of-the-order bat at a premium position. In a year where prep shortstops are a bit down, Holliday represents the same caliber player as some of the blue-chip preps seen drafted early in 2021. The Rangers have made it rather clear the four prep bats are highest on their list. That’s the direction they’ll likely go.

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Potential Orioles Draft Pick Jackson Holliday: Going No. 1 Would Be 'Very Special' - PressBox

Holliday, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound shortstop out of Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, is the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday. Jackson Holliday is committed to Oklahoma State, where his uncle, Josh, is the head coach.

Holliday, Collegiate Baseball‘s National High School Player of the Year, compiled 89 hits this spring — a new national record, eclipsing the previous mark set by current Philadelphia Phillies three-time All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto in 2010.

Among his 89 base knocks, Holliday crushed 17 home runs, 29 doubles and six triples. He finished with a slash line of .685/.749/1.392. Holliday stole 30 bags and committed just three errors in 150 chances, displaying an impact everywhere on the field.

Holliday has plans to stay at shortstop for his entire career. He believes there are “no Plan B’s,” and that shortstop is “a premier position to be able to play.”

“I think I’m one of the better all-around players. I really enjoy pretty much every aspect of the game and I really enjoy competing,” Holliday said. “I feel like I’m a very good defender. I really love playing defense, and the rest of my game takes care of itself.”


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2022 High School Baseball Player Of The Year: Jackson Holliday

 

[Nightcrawler]

Works for me.

still shouldnt have given him “fan favorite” status and a big contract like it seemed to do.

 

[DT LUNA]

still shouldnt have given him “fan favorite” status and a big contract like it seemed to do.

Don't think that is why he got the contract.He and Gallo both got it and Gallo didn't do anything but strike out. Poor FO is the answer inmo.