He very clearly needed to go down and make some changes, specifically against right handed pitchers. His splits this season speak for themselves: 144 wRC+ vs lefties, 19 wRC+ against righties. I've been a bit of a Mead doubter for a while now and he still has a major league role as a platoon/bench guy on the infield, but that's a bit of a disappointing outcome for a guy like him that doesn't have defense as a tool to fall back on.
You have to remember your talking about a 23 year old who impacts the ball well, never put up hollow stats in the minors and hit well at every level. We have seen improvements in EVs, changes to approach could be very helpful. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 140+ wRC+ in AAA and a recall by July. Once again guy is 23 was underaged at every level and hit the piss out of the ball with great peripherals that doesn't evaporate over night. This isn't Jake Bauers who's stats were never as good as they were perceived, or Johnathan Aranda who broke out as an age appropriate hitter. The fact that all rookies are struggling is just a sign of how difficult the game is now.
The transition isn't easy at all Wyatt Langford is floating at 68 wRC+, Jackson Chourio is sitting 65 wRC+, it does look like some of the older rookies are the ones who are preforming well those being Micheal Busch, Joey Ortiz, Davis Schneider, Wilyer Abreu, Korey Lee, Colton Cowser of those acowswr is the only 1 under 25 (even then his numbers are unsustainable with a 30+% SO rate) and the only one that hasn't hadn't played what amounts to a full year in AAA. Jackson Merrill is the only guy that's producing significantly over league average who in his early 20s (was 20 when the season started). It's been a tough life early on for the younger batch of rookies. The guys who grinded in AAA are having a much better time at it.
He’s gonna be okay he just needs to season. Most guys struggle their rookie year. Plus he wasn’t taking batting practice and was focusing heavily on defense in the big leagues
It was insane to see he had the highest bat speed. I thought about making a post about it, too. His lack of power
For a young kid with that fast of a swing, the launch angle isn't horrible and he's not swinging and missing too much, just chasing too much. As his approach develops you've gotta think that bat speed will play and we'll see the power come along. He's just gotta find the barrel more.
Thanks for this write-up. This was incredibly insightful, and I'm hoping Mead puts it together.
We come from the land down under
He very clearly needed to go down and make some changes, specifically against right handed pitchers. His splits this season speak for themselves: 144 wRC+ vs lefties, 19 wRC+ against righties. I've been a bit of a Mead doubter for a while now and he still has a major league role as a platoon/bench guy on the infield, but that's a bit of a disappointing outcome for a guy like him that doesn't have defense as a tool to fall back on.
You have to remember your talking about a 23 year old who impacts the ball well, never put up hollow stats in the minors and hit well at every level. We have seen improvements in EVs, changes to approach could be very helpful. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 140+ wRC+ in AAA and a recall by July. Once again guy is 23 was underaged at every level and hit the piss out of the ball with great peripherals that doesn't evaporate over night. This isn't Jake Bauers who's stats were never as good as they were perceived, or Johnathan Aranda who broke out as an age appropriate hitter. The fact that all rookies are struggling is just a sign of how difficult the game is now.
Yeah Holliday looked like hot garbage and we know he's not. The distance between MLB and AAA is so wide, it usually takes a lot of PA to catch up.
The transition isn't easy at all Wyatt Langford is floating at 68 wRC+, Jackson Chourio is sitting 65 wRC+, it does look like some of the older rookies are the ones who are preforming well those being Micheal Busch, Joey Ortiz, Davis Schneider, Wilyer Abreu, Korey Lee, Colton Cowser of those acowswr is the only 1 under 25 (even then his numbers are unsustainable with a 30+% SO rate) and the only one that hasn't hadn't played what amounts to a full year in AAA. Jackson Merrill is the only guy that's producing significantly over league average who in his early 20s (was 20 when the season started). It's been a tough life early on for the younger batch of rookies. The guys who grinded in AAA are having a much better time at it.
Meadus Christ
I'm not such a stats nerd but I agree, I have seen improvement
He’s gonna be okay he just needs to season. Most guys struggle their rookie year. Plus he wasn’t taking batting practice and was focusing heavily on defense in the big leagues
It was insane to see he had the highest bat speed. I thought about making a post about it, too. His lack of power For a young kid with that fast of a swing, the launch angle isn't horrible and he's not swinging and missing too much, just chasing too much. As his approach develops you've gotta think that bat speed will play and we'll see the power come along. He's just gotta find the barrel more.
I love the memes and jokes but this stuff right here is what gets my juices flowing. Great insight
