2063.02: SFB Dev Lab Participants

[BaseClogger]

11/7/2062


I got away from posting my offseason dev lab participant list the last couple of years after we all got used to OOTP25. From the first time I used the lab I liked the defensive improvement program but I was shying away from the high difficulty tracks. Last offseason I read enough TN posts with basically no players lumping because of the higher difficulty programs that I resolved myself to take more risks. Now that might backfire with the new strategy coinciding with the introduction of OOTP26. But at least it makes it easier to write this post with all 10 slots filled with long tracks since none of these guys will (hopefully) leave their program until the start of spring training.


1B Keith Tims Quality of Contact

After just two seasons Tims has a career 141 wRC+. His 32 homers in 2062 helped him amass 116 RBIs batting behind Yuu Suzuki. He doesn't walk much and I could do a plate discipline program, but he still has 1 undeveloped point of batter BABIP so we'll chase that. I'd rather raise the OBP with more singles than walks.

SS Fernando Estrada Quality of Contact

We've traded several middle infielders the last couple years and Estrada is part of the reason why. He bumped a point of infield error during the 2062 season that makes him look more like a real shortstop. His bat unfortunately took a big step back from his rookie campaign thanks to his BA dropping from .251 to .178. If Estrada can get his hitter BABIP rating back up to 5 we think he'll be good enough to stick in the majors (at least as a bench player).

CF Jim Sitton Two-strike Approach

It seems like all of our prospects on the precipice of the BBA need some help making contact and Sitton is no different. The heir apparent in center field could play in the majors now if more of his 4/6 AVK rating fills in.

LF Daniel Throsby Two-strike Approach

Throsby is old for a prospect but IFAs be like that sometimes. His ratings are mostly filled out but he won't reach his 7 potential contact until more of his 5/8 AVK rating develops.

RF Kit Markoulides Two-strike Approach

Another 24-year-old former IFA, Markoulides is very similar to Throsby, including his need for his 4/6 AVK rating to finish off so he can escape the minors.

SS Jason Steward Two-strike Approach

Steward already got a September cup of coffee because he's out of options in 2063. In v25 he was fully developed but the transition to v26 saw his AVK rating dropped to 3/4. Hopefully this gets him there.

3B Jose Mendoza Generate Bat Speed

Mendoza was our first-round pick in 2060 and already looked fully developed at the end of 2062. He should be ready for the majors early in 2063 regardless of the outcome of this training thanks to his plus hit tool, but seeing his potential power go from 5 to 6 in v26 made this an easy decision.

SP Rick Marriott Improve Control

Our org really needs more help on the pitching side these days, but all my mature prospects are hitters. Maybe Marriott can rediscover the 6 control he had a couple years ago?

RP Duane Bishop Improve Control

Bishop is fully developed so this is a bit of a hail mary, but he's our best young pitcher and is borderline a starting pitcher if his control was a little more reliable.

RP Jose Diaz Secondary Pitch Improvement

Diaz repeats the same program he aced last offseason. Despite the bump his slider received at the time, his transition to v26 caused it to backslide to 5 despite its potential increasing to 11. He needs to figure out that slider if he wants to unlock his 10 potential stuff.

[Trebro]

I'm looking forward but also scared about v26 Dev lab

[RonCo]

If you could pick only one to pay off, it's probably Sitton?

[BaseClogger]

If you could pick only one to pay off, it's probably Sitton?

Yeah, not even particularly close. I don’t have a lot of faith in the two IFA corner outfielders and every other player is already useful.

[RonCo]

Steward could be sneaky valuable, too.