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OT: The Toronto Blue Jays

When pitchers start making adjustments and when we see how he reacts to that, then you can at least start the conversation...but that's just the hitting.
Tough position, lots to do...I'm curious to know if he can call a good game.
 
Bleedsblue&white said:
When pitchers start making adjustments and when we see how he reacts to that, then you can at least start the conversation...but that's just the hitting.
Tough position, lots to do...I'm curious to know if he can call a good game.
Click to expand...
He ranks in the 80's or 90's percentile for almost every defensive category.

There is no doubt he is a elite or near elite defensive C.
 
So Fangraphs updated their #s to account for yesterday's games.

Valenzuela after 22 games, 62 PAs:
  • 4 HR
  • 116 wRC+
  • 4 DRS
  • 0.7 WAR
Yeah, those are starter numbers
 
Pwner said:
So Fangraphs updated their #s to account for yesterday's games.

Valenzuela after 22 games, 62 PAs:
  • 4 HR
  • 116 wRC+
  • 4 DRS
  • 0.7 WAR
Yeah, those are starter numbers
Click to expand...

Those are elite starters numbers actually, but a tiny sample.

Also the same numbers that heineman put up last year over the whole season, tho, and that didn't make Heineman a starter.

Valenzuela

AAA (23-25): 212pa, 58wrc+
AA (22-24): 829pa, 100wrc+
A+ (20-22): 634pa, 108wrc+

MLB Projections: 75wrc+


It doesn't mean he'll never improve but odds are he's not an mlb starter caliber bat. But he's definitely looking like he has enough bat to be a very good backup C with his defense.

And with Heineman coming back down to earth then yeah looks like an easy decision to keep Valenzuela up.


Early pitch data seems to indicate that valenzuela mostly struggles against velocity, but is handling off-speed pitches very well.
 
Yeah his power numbers right now are about double what he's done in the minors and that's what is propping up his wRC.

If this is him breaking out into a legit power stick, then sure. But probably not. The combo of decent pop and real gud D is a nice backup though even if he ends up more along the lines of 80-85 wRC+
 
That's the interesting part - he's an impressive physical specimen and shown legit dead center power so there's always a chance of more late breaking power. But even with solid power numbers his last couple stints in AAA he was still well below average so the power surge has to be pretty big.
 
zeke said:
That's the interesting part - he's an impressive physical specimen and shown legit dead center power so there's always a chance of more late breaking power. But even with solid power numbers his last couple stints in AAA he was still well below average so the power surge has to be pretty big.
Click to expand...

Yeah his hit tool is rough. He needs to have legit above average power to even have a scrape at being an average MLB stick.
 
Yeah but i do like him and liked him at the time of trade because his milb numbers were definitely not terrible enough to write off for a good defensive catcher which he clearly is.
 
You basically want your backup C to be elite or very good at one thing.

Its usually a high end defender, or a castastrophe back there with 20 HR pop.

I think this kid could be elite D with 8-12 HR pop, which is excellent for a backup.
 
Its kinda wild how were scuffling ( injuries) but Okamoto over Bo and Cease look like absolute HR decsions in a world where the majority of teams probably regret their FA choices.
 
zeke said:
Yeah but i do like him and liked him at the time of trade because his milb numbers were definitely not terrible enough to write off for a good defensive catcher which he clearly is.
Click to expand...

I have zero qualms with a cheap backup with a bunch of #yearsofcontrol who can surprise oppo pitching with ~10 bombs a year while being a well above average defensive catcher even if he's only a 80-90 wRC+
 
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