Starting at 2 pm ET. My redraft of the 2015 MLB draft class and companion piece on the first-rounders who didn’t pan out are both up for subscribers to The Athletic.
Keith Law: Make a whole new religion. Klawchat.
Danny: Had really high hopes for Chance Adams and James Kapreilian. Kap the most talented Yankees pitching prospect in the last 15 years?
Keith Law: Good question. Probably the highest I ranked any Yankees pitching prospect in that span unless I’m forgetting someone way back. (I never bought the Adams hype. Reliever all the way.)
Chris: Hi Keith, I’m not sure there’s any point to the question “Should the Red Sox have traded Devers?” But it can be frustrating for fans to be told “the industry models have this contract as underwater” and “it saves them money in the long run” as justification for jettisoning the guy in his prime who made fans love the team in the first place, who sells the most jerseys, and who is the team’s best player. Do some of these front offices not understand what makes fans watch their team, and what sells tickets?
Keith Law: Yeah the industry models line … I’m not even sure where that came from, who’s feeding that nonsense to writers, but it’s kind of meaningless without a shit ton of context they don’t provide. Underwater for one team could be above for another. Any projections of financial return have wide error bars around expected player performance and the expected value of production, which in turn depends on the expected playoff status of the team. But to your main point, any FO that cites a contract being underwater as the reason fans should like a trade is completely missing the point. Fans want to win. Fans don’t care about that belt that MLB used to give whoever did best in arbitration.
Fred: Any concern in the number of pitches thrown in that recent college no hitter?
Keith Law: A longtime scout texted me after it ended to ask what the heck the Razorbacks were doing. Wood missed six weeks this spring with shoulder inflammation; that’s not the kid to push a little harder (119 pitches is high, but not a number I’d automatically call out as excessive) in a high-stress game. He’s a first-rounder if someone clears the medical. Does the added effort of those last 10-20 pitches add to his risk of injury in the short term – or maybe make his predraft MRI worse?
Teddy: How often do you look back at past drafts and say, “Wow, I guess that team really did/didn’t know what they were doing?” How many years after a draft takes place before a fan base gets to be judgmental about their team’s performance?
Keith Law: So, Teddy-Heather-Jackie-JJ … you submitted at least four questions under different names. Don’t do that. It’s weird.
Keith Law: To answer your question, I’d say after five years, you have a pretty good idea of what picks worked or didn’t, but it takes more like 8-10 to write the whole story of a draft. By that point the HS picks are in their peak-production years, so we should be able to form a coherent opinion on who did well.
Yakety Sox: Thanks for doing this, Keith. Where are you on Logan Henderson, these days? Did his brief stint earlier this year change anything about your opinion of him? Still a back end starter or something more now?
Keith Law: Still a back-end starter – I don’t see the breaking ball he’d need to be more – but he’s one right now.
Danny: Off the top of your head, is Carlos Lagrange the Yankees best pitching prospect/2nd best prospect? Any idea what injuries Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham are dealing with?
Keith Law: No, I would still have him behind those two unless one of them has a serious injury.
Jim: So, how long until Congress and the Felon-in-Chief rescind today as a Federal Holiday?
Keith Law: I’m surprised they haven’t done so already.
JoRo: Thank you Keith for all your top notch analysis! What has happened to Keibert Ruiz & Francisco Alvarez? Have you listened to the latest Psychedelic Porn Crumpets album?
Keith Law: Listened to the PPC album – it’s good but not that memorable, if that makes sense. I would never object to someone putting it on, but couldn’t tell you a favorite song or anything. I still think Alvarez is going to hit and hit for some real power – he’s only 23 and I firmly believe in the axiom that catchers take longer to develop. Ruiz may just not be that good; he certainly isn’t an average catcher and the power he’s flashed at times in the majors (~2023) or minors just isn’t there enough.
Nick: Between Zazueta and Liñan, which Dodger pitcher has the brighter star in your book, and does either have the chance to be a mid-rotation starter or better?
Keith Law: Zazueta projects as a starter; Liñan is more likely a reliever than a starter. Not sure if I’d go mid-rotation on Zazueta yet.
droopydave: You put out a notice against RFK a few months ago. But are you on-board with removing the artifical dies in our food? Sounds like a good thing.
Keith Law: That’s the problem with it – it sounds like a good thing, but isn’t it just chemophobia in a cheap suit? “Artificial” doesn’t mean bad or harmful, but RFK Jr and his army of wellness grifters and science deniers say it is, using the appeal to nature. (Although they also attack seed oils, which are perfectly safe and often healthful, and those are natural.) If there is actual evidence a food additive is harmful, then ban it. In the absence of actual, firm evidence, then let consumers decide. If you want to eat “all natural,” that’s your prerogative. I mean, Amanita bisporigera are all natural too. I’m gonna pass on that one.
Kip: Thanks for doing these. Has Didier Fuentes moved into Atlanta’s top five? Do you have the same projection (mid-rotation starter in a few more years) as you did earlier this year?
Keith Law: I haven’t looked much at all into reordering any team’s internal rankings but I do still see Fuentes as a potential mid-rotation starter. It’s three real pitches and the splitter looks like it’s going to keep getting LHB out for him.
Finnegan: If the Nats were allowed to trade the #1, what one player would be a fair trade for both teams?
Keith Law: It should be an All-Star caliber player, right? You get to take whoever you think is the best player in the draft and pay him less than $11 million to control his rights for six-plus years of service, in all of which he’ll probably be further underpaid. If that guy is going to generate 25 WAR before free agency, which is on the low side, what’s that worth? a 2000% return?
Justin: In your Mets list, you mentioned “it’s bizarre that he doesn’t miss more bats with this arsenal.” That appears to have continued this year. Any further understanding here? I’m wondering if there’s something weird about his repertoire that gears more toward weak contact than toward whiffs. 58 gb%! Overall would you say that he’s made strides this year to the tune of being a top 100ish prospect?
Keith Law: um … who’s that about?
Campbell: So, Kristian Campbell is a terrible fielder at second base — not his fault, since he wasn’t a second baseman in the minors. It took one day at the Major League level before Roman Anthony had to (rather publicly) get tutored by Alex Cora on how to field ground balls in the outfield. Do the Red Sox have a problem with the minor league fielding instruction? Or do they just not care about fielding in general?
Keith Law: well, I’d say calling up a player to play a position he doesn’t know how to play is questionable personnel management, at least. But I also know that across much of baseball, minor league development is more focused on hitting than fielding.
Justin: Josue De Paula doesnt look like he should be fast, but he has 19 stolen bases. I certainly don’t expect him to have a 40 SB pace in the majors someday or anything, but is there enough speed and savvy there for, idk, 20 per season?
Keith Law: I don’t think so. It’s below-average speed. Minor league stolen base totals can be kind of skewed by pitchers who can’t/don’t hold runners, catchers who can’t throw, etc.
Justin: I can’t help but be more impressed by Samuel Basallo’s season than Roman Anthony’s. A .336 ISO from a 20 yr old in AAA just *feels* wild and special. Do you think he gets the call soon? Itd probably be naive to think he’ll thrive in the majors, but do you think he can at least survive there yet to the tune of, idk, a 95 wrc+ once space is created?
Keith Law: I like that you’re being realistic here … there’s such an assumption that every elite hitting prospect is going to bang right away, even though most of them don’t. Cam Smith’s rookie season is even more impressive if you compare him to higher-drafted or higher-ranked guys this year who are struggling with the same competition he’s hitting. And yes, I think a 90-95 wRC+ from Basallo is a reasonable expectation, especially since he understands the strike zone and has legit power.
Danny: Any dope on the Yankees’ pick at 39? Impossible to predict who they’ll take (or will be available) but any sustained interest in prep shortstop class?
Keith Law: No dope there, sorry. Just a wild guess, but Cooper Flemming sure seems like their flavor.
Justin: The Pirates hired a consulting firm to come up with the Ben Cherington hire 5+ years ago. At the time, that gave me some confidence that the ship would be steered in the right direction. Here we are in year 6 of a rebuild, and the Pirates seem to have year-3-of-a-rebuild level talent. Obviously some of this is Bob Nutting’s fault, but what happened here? Shouldn’t an average GM be able to lose on purpose for 5 years and then come out on the other end with more talent than he knows what to do with?
Keith Law: Ownership needs to take a large portion of the responsibility there. They’ve also done some things really well, especially in pitching development. Their hitting development hasn’t been as successful, and I think that’s overshadowing a lot of things. Is Termarr Johnson, owner of one of the most widely praised hit tools in the last five drafts at least, failing to develop on scouting, on player development, or just on him? Henry Davis, who hit absolutely everywhere through AAA – is that a function of asking him to play RF in his debut, irregular playing time since, or were we just wrong about his bat? And so on. It’s complicated. I can say “they haven’t churned out enough hitters” but when you dig a little deeper I don’t see a consistent trend to point to
JoeRo: Keith- will see the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp this weekend. Anyone I should keep an eye out for?
Keith Law: Joe Mack. Not a ton else. I’m not a big Deyvison de los Santos believer.
Aaron C.: How do you watch baseball when you’re at home? Let’s say a top prospect is called up and you want to check him out. On in the background while you cook dinner? Check out his at bats the next morning on the app over coffee?
Keith Law: I’ll watch live on mlb.tv or, if he’s in the minors, sometimes wait a day or two till it’s in Synergy and I can just watch all of his pitches/swings in a row.
Aaron C.: I’ve sent your top 50 pizza list to lots of folks who love them some pizza and it got me wondering: what’s the single most disappointing pizza you’ve ever eaten? The one that you were SO looking forward to, but for whatever reason, it broke your cold, dark Klaw heart.
Keith Law: See? two questions from the same user and the same name and I still answered both. Santarpio’s – hyped for years, it’s maybe average. Also they’re cash only and doing that in 2025 is sus.
Keith Law: Also Taconelli’s in Philly. Revered by locals. It’s fine.
James: Can you expand on choosing Bregman over Tucker? Bregman seems close to washed and Tucker seems like a top 5 MVP guy for years to come
Keith Law: Bregman’s at ~3 WAR this year. Close to washed?
Chris: With Emmet Sheehan returning from TJ last night, what is his ceiling?
Keith Law: I’ve always thought reliever over starter but you have to give him a shot to start with that stuff.
Justin: Let’s say a team has a lot of interesting pitching and has at least a little bit of evidence of developing it well. Let’s say they are terrible at developing hitting. Would they be better off drafting a pitcher that they’ve shown an ability to develop, and then maybe trade away any eventual pitching excess, or taking the hitter who is hopefully good enough to transcend their bad hitting development? This is a philosophical general question, but also a Pirates question.
Keith Law: Yes. It’s the law of comparative advantage. You just have to believe that the trade market will exist when you need it to – that market is not as fluid as, say, real-world commodities markets are.
Kip: I’m not confident Hurston Waldrep will even be able to succeed as a late-inning reliever. Is there any hope for him?
Keith Law: They haven’t tried him in relief yet. I’d like to see if that helps at all before throwing in the towel. The splitter is still an out pitch.
Guest: Since you’ve often said that nobody reads the intro (!), have you endeavoured to put easter eggs or inside jokes in there?!?
Keith Law: I do in articles sometimes. A few people catch them but most people fly right past them.
Jim: Hey Keith, is it me, or did Davey Martinez’ “it’s not the coaches” presser sound like someone waiting for the axe to fall. And, should it fall? Thanks!
Keith Law: I don’t know if he’s the real reason they’re so bad right now, but that speech was ill-advised. “Fuck them players” is not the way to keep your job.
Larry: Odds Gavin Fien gets to the Dbacks pick at 18? I really like him and he seems like their type of player.
Keith Law: I think 50% chance or better.
Corey: Are the Rockies bad at drafting, developing, or both? Some of their picks seemed right at the time, but it seems like most of them failed to turn into anything substantial
Keith Law: They have been bad at developing for some time now, but I know they have made some significant changes since Bill Schmidt took over as GM, and I see signs of hope. Also, please send Charlie Condon to AA already. He’s got a .491 OBP in A+. Several of his draft mates are in the majors!
Aaron C.: In a recent chat, someone asked if Druw Jones might be considered a bust and IIRC you said (paraphrased) he was trending that way. Who’s the player(s) who approached the absolute brink of “bust” for you, but still salvaged even a half-way decent MLB career?
Keith Law: Devin Mesoraco. Two-plus years in, he was a non-prospect.
Ryan: With the Dbacks having a pretty large hole in CF, and Caldwell being at least a couple years away, do you think they’d entertain the idea of moving Lawlar to center?
Keith Law: I have never heard anyone suggest that. I know they see Lawlar as a shortstop, although with Perdomo there I’m not sure how they’ll reconcile the two.
Campbell: Has there been a prospect you specifically wanted to watch play in person, and didn’t have to leave the state of Delaware to do it?
Keith Law: We have a high-A team right here in Wilmington, so that happens all the time. If you mean draft guys, Kevin McGonigle played at the Wilmington stadium in his draft year, although that only saved me a 40-minute drive.
Jackie Daytona: Which cubs prospect would you be looking to flip for pitching if you were Jed?
Keith Law: Caissie.
Ollie: What can you tell me about two Dbacks prospects in the AZL guys who have had great starts- Enyervert Perez and JD Dix?
Keith Law: Dix is the better of the two. Had a scout tell me he thought Dix might be their best draft pick from last year, which is really saying something. Perez has legit power, not sure about the hit tool or ultimate position.
A Salty Scientist: Scouting the statline, but Chase Burns looks really exciting with the K and BB numbers. Like even more exciting statlines than Bubba and Painter. What does he need to still work on? Are the BB numbers control over command at this point?
Keith Law: Fastball is still very true, and he needs to throw his changeup a lot more.
TJ: In hindsight, would the Cubs have been better off keeping Smith and Paredes? Tucker has been awesome, but those two are having solid years and Smith looks like a future star.
Keith Law: A good bit of Paredes’s success this year is the home park – he’s got a decent home/road split. and I think Tucker’s actually been a little unlucky based on the batted-ball data. I’d accept an argument that giving up six years of Smith for one of Tucker is going to turn out to be a bad move.
Chris: Best baseball player ever?
Keith Law: Barry Bonds.
JJ: Did you know Mr. Peanut’s first name was Keith?
Keith Law: I didn’t because it’s not. Weird.
James: What’s keeping Anthony Volpe from making the leap to above average regular? Could the same be said about Chourio?
Keith Law: The power he flashed in AA – and what I projected from that – hasn’t come to fruition yet. Still some time for that.
davealden53: Is there a rules-based solution to the increased pitchers injuries or is this just what the future of baseball will be?
Keith Law: We need to discourage pitchers from throwing max-effort on most or all pitches. Reducing the size of pitching staffs might address that, so that pitchers have to pace themselves more as they know they’ll likely stay in the game longer … but will they do so? Will more guys get hurt in the short term from working through fatigue because we’ve never developed them to throw 100-110 pitches as a starter or 30-40 pitches as a multi-inning reliever?
Taylor: My fridge went out and my food went bad. I’m in Chandler AZ. What should I have for lunch?
Keith Law: is Chou’s still there? That’s the easy pick.
Jay: So, are we about to join the war?
Keith Law: you mean start a war?
Brian: Hi Keith, I know you saw Reading not that long ago. You didn’t write anything about Keaton Anthony, and while I know he’s never really been much of a prospect, he’s just hit at every level—Including 4 doubles & a .917 OPS in his first 7 games at AAA. Is it just a college kid who won’t be able to handle major league pitching?
Keith Law: Yeah, I don’t see more than an emergency call-up.
Paul: if you were picking for the Nats at the top of this draft, what direction would you go in?
Keith Law: Probably Doyle. You could talk me into Holliday.
Ben: Your thoughts on the Cards’ Rainiel Rodriguez? Are we looking at a future top 50 prospect?
Keith Law: answered that in a previous chat … maybe is the best I can do for you.
Kevin: If you are the Red Sox, would you potentially trade Arias for a bat like Brent Rooker, given there may not be a spot for Arias in the MLB infield anytime soon
Keith Law: No. I think Arias is too good for that.
Alek: Is there a world in which Daylen Lile is a solid every day guy? What else does he need to do? He passes the eye test so far in the majors and raked in the high minors at just 22.
Keith Law: The best chance of that happening is if he’s a +5 RAA or better CF. Otherwise I don’t think he has the juice to be an everyday guy. I saw him a lot in Wilmington, and while he’s a little better hitter now than he was here, the power isn’t there.
TJ: The Angels lineup has two players hitting above .270 and 6/9 (not nice) players with OBP’s less than .300, including two below .200. Is it that hard to field replacement level players?
Keith Law: It’s not, but you have to draft better than they have – and I’d extend that to say you have to let your amateur scouts do their jobs in full and take players who might need more time to reach the majors.
Rich: Klaw you rule. You seeing any specific themes or reasons behind the Yanks dip in player Dev (position players especially) last couple of years? Seems a lot of guys (Lombard aside) have just stalled. Is it approach? Profile of who they take? Player dev lacking? All of the above?
Keith Law: How so? I mean that sincerely – who’s not developing who should have? They’ve got a nice stable of arms coming, spread now between A+ and AA, and a couple of really solid bats. I didn’t like the Spencer Jones or Trey Sweeney picks, so I’m not surprised neither of them has panned out, but in Jones’s case I understand the logic (it’s 80 power and a plus athlete). I just didn’t think he could hit. And they’ve done an excellent job getting the most out of some lower-round picks of pitchers, polishing them into guys who are good enough to trade or use as up/down starters.
Troy: The Miz seems unlikely to make it as a starter. Closers are nice, but I always felt Hader was more valuable as a 2-3 inning fireman whatever stretch of the game was needed. Is there a reason teams don’t try elite relief guys in such a role. I feel Miz would fit well in that role.
Keith Law: I agree, but a guy who gives you 150 innings as a low-volume starter is probably still going to be more valuable than a 75-inning reliever.
Alek: Saw kiley had kade anderson1/1 to wash….have you heard any connection there?
Keith Law: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6417805/2025/06/12/mlb-mock-draft-202…
David: Is the long-term plan to leave Mayer at third if/when Bregman opts out? Is Story going to stay at short or will he be the guy that moves? What are they doing with Campbell and Rafaela? Make it make sense please!
Keith Law: Mayer should be at short. He also should be in AAA … last I looked he was whiffing on breaking stuff more than half the time. They called him up before he made any adjustment to that firm front side.
James: I don’t follow college baseball at all, but love when non P4 schools do well. Any real prospects on Coastal Carolina or Murray State? Looks like a lot of older players
Keith Law: Caden Bodine, Coastal’s catcher, could go in the late first. No one on Murray State. And I’m with you – 100% rooting for the Chanticleers here.
Nick R: Would love to know what you’re hearing about Ms at 3?
Keith Law: Same as above – I published a mock draft just a week ago. It’s all in there.
Rich: Speed at which teams getting guys to majors after draft surprising you last couple of years?
Keith Law: No. There’s a strong financial incentive to do so, and the best college competition is good preparation for AA.
Rich: With all pitchers seeming to be ticking time bombs, are the Pirates just been foolish is wasting Chandler’s arm/pitches in minors at this point?
Keith Law: At this point I would probably just call him up, although I know they’re still working on the breaking stuff.
James: Should the Pirates have pitched Skenes vs. Skubal because it gives them a better chance to win and something fun to do in a miserable season?
Keith Law: I’m surprised MLB didn’t lean on the two teams to get their act together.
Zac: If you were the Tigers, would you move Clark and Mcgonigle to AA? Clark has struggled a bit lately, but I feel like they’re ready.
Keith Law: I would have moved them up Sunday night.
J: Hi. Wouldn’t normally ask a question like this, but i was recently informed that Andrew Heaney, Dennis Santana, and IKF for Jordan Lawlar was a reasonable trade and not an offer of 3 journeymen gotten for free having good years that Mike Hazen would laugh at. Please clarify.
Keith Law: Had I had a drink in front of me, I would have spit it out.
Jay: Are we about to go to war? Without congressional approval?
Keith Law: I can’t imagine Republicans would go for such a blatant abuse of executive power, Jay. What are you even thinking?
J: Feel like most teams Harry Ford would be up around now, but he’s in a weird spot. Feels like a trade likely, but what do you think most likely course of action with him?
Keith Law: Would be up to play where, though?
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: Been to Long Island recently? Looking for some new food recommendations.
Keith Law: Last time I was there was to see Sean Newcomb pitch at Stony Brook. It’s been a while.
Jason: Odds the brewers could have 3-4 top 20 prospects going into next year with Made, Pena, Pratt, Quero? Also, do you see Pena moving a bit faster than Made, though with less upside?
Keith Law: Odds of 3-4 in the top 20 are probably zero.
Izzy: Is Iron Maiden the best heavy metal band ever?
Keith Law: Yes. What’s the question, though?
Izzy: How has Mookie looked at SS this year? I’ve seen some metrics that say he’s been top 5, but then asked Eric L at FG and he said Mookie’s arm was weak and gave him a 45 grade. Where are you?
Keith Law: I haven’t seen anywhere near enough of him to offer a subjective opinion. I don’t watch as much MLB stuff because I’m typically watching minors or amateurs in the spring.
Anxiety on LI: This time next year best chance at top prospect overall: Made, Pena, Griffin, other
Keith Law: Other.
Jason: Has your projection Eduardo Quintero changed? How much of his power this year been a product of where he’s playing?
Keith Law: Rancho has always been a great place to hit, but he’s actually hitting much better on the road, in neutral parks. K% is a little higher than you’d like but it’s a great season. Does it change my projection … I don’t think so?
Evan F.: Any winners from the MLB Combine this week?
Keith Law: It’s only about the interviews, really. I’m not there – I’ll talk to scouts after it’s over.
Keith Law: I have never seen the point of going, since most of the good prospects don’t play in the games there.
Brian: Any thoughts on why the Phillies have been so bad at developing both hitters and relievers? Kerkering and Conor Brogdon are really it since Hector Neris debuted in 2014 & Rhys Hoskins is probably the only above average bat they’ve developed since the core of the 2008 team.
Keith Law: I have long believed that you develop relievers by bringing in a lot of starters and letting them sort themselves out. I don’t feel like they’ve done a ton of that – and they’ve also traded a lot of prospects away, too.
StanleyHudson: Are Painters recent struggles at AAA concerning? Do you see him as a legit future #1? Best current/past MLBer comparison? Thanks Klaw, love your chats!
Keith Law: They’ve got him using the slider heavily, and it’s probably his worst pitch. The numbers are worse as a result, so that doesn’t bother me, but I don’t get forcing the slider on him when the CB is plus and the FB plays.
James: I get that Skenes is a generational talent and it would be a PR nightmare to trade him. But given that he’s one pitch away from TJ, isn’t the smarter play to trade him if you can get a current MLB starter, a potential future MLB starter and three likely field players given how bad their offense is? Horton, Wiggins, Alcantara, Caissie and Rojas? Wouldn’t that make them a much better club both now and in the future?
Keith Law: Could you ever really get full value for what he brings to the franchise? Not just on-field value, but as the centerpiece, someone fans will pay to see.
Darren: I know you hate Delauter (a joke of course) but, given the hole in RF in Cleveland, he should be up pretty damn soon you’d like to think?!
Keith Law: Yes – if he’d been healthy he would probably have been up in April.
John: Isn’t it in teams’ best interest to leave players in the minor leagues for as long as possible? Why put Roman Anthony (or Bryce Harper or Juan Soto) on a fast track through the minors, and then lose him to free agency just as they hit their presumed physical prime? Instead, the players get rushed through the minors (where many are not learning the defensive half of the game at all), and their prime physical years are played for the guy’s second team, not the team that drafted him.
Keith Law: The point of developing prospects is to get their value on the field in the majors. If you hold a guy down for service-time reasons, then you’re not reaping any benefits from his bat/arm when he’s ready. You’re betting on a highly uncertain return six or seven years in the future over a more certain return now.
Jib: Is Joshua Baez doing what you thought he might be able to do? Or is this a testament to the Cardinals shift to actually growing their player development program? Or both?
Keith Law: I’m cautiously optimistic on that one, and very much crediting it to the new PD folks.
Bobo: Will Andrew Bailey tell Kyle Harrison to throw his slider more?
Keith Law: The true slider? I hope so. Not the slurvy one. Or help him try to alter its shape.
James: Have you tried Tribute Pizza in San Diego? Bianco level
Keith Law: No but it’s on my list.
Mike: Who is the most talented player of the past 10 years that won’t make the hall of fame? First thought is Byron Buxton but wanted your take.
Keith Law: He is the Eric Davis of our era.
zoor: Kevin McGonigle on #1 prospect watch ?
Keith Law: Yes.
Keith Law: That’s a guy more likely to be #1 in January than any of the other three in the question above where I said “Other.”
Justin: sorry, the question about the Met with stuff that lagged the K’s was about Nolan McLean.
Keith Law: ahhh … yeah, that trick can work if he cuts the walk rate. Great athlete with limited pitching experience so I see more growth than usual for his age.
Guest: The Mets have 4 players for two positions, 2B & 3B. Mauricio, Baty, Vientos, and Acuna. Who do they trade, start, or demote?
Keith Law: Mauricio for sure. More likely Vientos than Baty.
Darren: Alfonsin Rosario is having a good year. Is the swing and miss showing enough improvement to get excited about him? Is he ready for the AA test yet?
Keith Law: It’s not, just talked to a guy who saw him and isn’t buying that it’s real improvement.
Bobo: do you think the Giants should commit to Devers at 1B and start giving Eldridge reps in RF?
Keith Law: No, Eldridge has had enough issues at 1B that I wouldn’t try a harder position with him.
Dylan: How far away was Slade Caldwell from making your updated top 50?
Keith Law: About four inches.
Woodsy: Did you happen to read Joon Lee’s piece about the Red Sox’ front office dysfunction and highly questionable AI hiring practices?
Keith Law: Oh, I did. Corporate culture really matters, especially given how much baseball asks of scouts and coaches and how little they’re paid.
Sean: Looks like Fuentes is getting called up to start this weekend against Miami.
Keith Law: Of course he is. I’m surprised they didn’t pluck someone from the complex league.
Woodsy: What’s on your Mount Rushmore for cocktails?
Keith Law: Good one to end on. The Last Word. Manhattan. True daiquiri. Dark & Stormy. Honorable mention to Naked & Famous. And if it’s made with a good vermouth I still love a Negroni and many of its variations.
Keith Law: Thanks for all of the questions, and a happy Juneteenth to all of you. Next Big Board update is scheduled for July 1st or 2nd, and then it’ll be mock drafts from there on out. Stay safe!