Breakout Discussion: Jordan Parraz

by Freneau on Jun 2, 2010 2:57 PM EDT

Reading nwroyal's Prospect Pulse, I saw that Jordan Parraz had a very good May in Omaha (.353/.500/.506) after a terrible April. Seriously, a .500 OBP?

Perhaps it was his cold start, but it really seems like there's been little to no buzz about Parraz this season. Sure MITCH has been our champion, but Parraz has been at AAA for nearly a full season now. I understand that Parraz isn't super young, but he's still only 25. People sometimes act as if he's a 30 year old. I have no idea why the Astros promoted him so slowly, and frankly, that is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

What are y'all's thoughts on JP? Useful part? Potential starter in the OF someday? Nothing?

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Potential fourth OFer

He’s a pretty good prospect, but he has a low ceiling. Tools-wise, each is pretty good but none is great. Still, you have to hand it to Dayton Moore for getting Parraz in exchange for the rotting corpse of Tyler Lumsden.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2010 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

We sure have a lot of 4th OFers

Maier, Parraz, Lough

Maybe one of them will surprise

by Boots 58 on Jun 2, 2010 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

DDJ upside?

by AxDxMx on Jun 2, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Supposedly,

Lough is a much better athlete than DDJ. You don’t hear that about the others. In fact, do you ever hear anything about Smith WITHOUT someone adding what a lousy athlete he is?

by Dadunca on Jun 2, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I originally had DDJ in my comment as the upside

So I think that’s a fair comparable. I dont think any of those three can get much higher than that level

by Boots 58 on Jun 2, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Who is Smith?

batter nine you sucky

by marbotty on Jun 2, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

tim smith

part of the monster haul in the Danny Gutierrez deal

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by Matt Klaassen on Jun 2, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

ah. right

batter nine you sucky

by marbotty on Jun 2, 2010 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Didnt he have an awesome month last year too?

I know I read it somewhere today, but I thought he was texas league player of the month once last year. Ill try to find it, but perhaps he’s just a very streaky player

by Boots 58 on Jun 2, 2010 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

Found it on Royals Prospects

Mike Moustakas has been named as the Topps’ Texas League Player of the Month for May. The 21-year-old Northride, CA resident has been sidelined the last four games with a sore knee, but he hit .393 with a .486 on-base percentage, 35 hits, 32 RBI, seven doubles, nine round-trippers, and 22 runs scored for the month of April. Congratulations, Mikey Moustakas. This marks the second time a Naturals player has been named the Topps Texas League Player of the Month, as Jordan Parraz won the award last June.

by Boots 58 on Jun 2, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I dont know if I see him as a starter long term in the future

If Gordon is taking a spot, plus Robinson (maybe) being there in a few years, and the (possible) move of Hosmer to RF to make room for Butler/Kila, plus Lough being pretty similar (value wise) to Parraz, there’s a decent logjam in the future at OF.

Perhaps he could see time later this year or next year before the kids get here

by Boots 58 on Jun 2, 2010 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

do we have a better OF prospect?

by Freneau on Jun 2, 2010 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

Gordon?? (does he count?) Derrick Robinson.

by Chyladin on Jun 2, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Other than (now) Gordon

I don’t think so (not corner OF anyway). Bottom line, I’d MUCH rather see Parraz called up late this year, and head into 2011 with a Gordon, Maier, DDJ, Parraz OF than for Dayton to pick up either Pods’ or Ankiel’s option. Or, even worse, sign yet another overpriced veteran OF du jour (who we KNOW isn’t any good) over the winter.

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by Sweep_the_Leg on Jun 2, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Lough

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

really?

he’s just a year younger than Paraaz and doesn’t seem to have awesome numbers

by Freneau on Jun 2, 2010 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Tools!

Basically I’m going by the opinions I’ve read at various internet sources I value. It seems like most see Lough as a higher ceiling prospect than Parraz. But not by a lot.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I can see that

by Freneau on Jun 2, 2010 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought I should look it up to see if I remembered correctly (generally)

BA, Sickels, Schaum, Fangraphs, Top Prospect Alert, and KC Royals Insider all have Lough in their top 10 Royals prospects for this year. Only two sources have Parraz in the top 10. And each of the above have Lough ranked higher than Parraz. I think that is basically about tools and ceiling.

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by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2010 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll say Lough, too

and I’ll add a name that isn’t necessarily better but is growing on me: Jai Miller—he kinds of seems like Chris Young lite

by nwroyal on Jun 2, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Moustakas

Just a matter of time…

batter nine you sucky

by marbotty on Jun 2, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

what are you talking about?

Moose is the sweet honey bear of awesomeness in all things! He could win a Gold Glove at ANY infield position RIGHT NOW if he wanted.

by Freneau on Jun 2, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

and he could beat up Chuck Norris!!!

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I said "I don't know and I don't care"

by Royal Kingdom on Jun 2, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually Hosmer is the one projected to possibly head to the OF

by Boots 58 on Jun 2, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually think Moustakas’s defense at 3B is just fine. From what I’ve read, he’s not great defensively, but he’s pretty good. So he could easily stick at third base unless the Royals leadership at the time values glove at that position more than bat, and if there is a better defensive alternative handy.

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by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

It's mix

I’ve read some saying he is positively good at 3B. Some average, and KLaw was scathing about it at the AFL.

Time will tell I guess.

by kcbottom9th on Jun 2, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Keith Law has consistently torn Moustakas’s defense to shreds. No one I’ve read at BA, or Sickels or anyone else has been so negative about Moustakas’s defense. I think it is pretty clear from what he’s written that a lot of it has to do with the fact that Law doesn’t think Moustakas has an “infielder’s body.” He’s got more of a “catcher’s body” and so he should be moved to that position. Frankly I think law follows the old school, doctrinaire position-by-body-type philosophy so strictly that he becomes foolish at times.

From other sources, I’ve read a good deal of praise of Moustakas’s footwork, soft hands and strong arm. His range was a little light for SS, but is pretty good for 3B. I see no reason for him to not stick at that position in the majors.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2010 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Wil Myers?

Hopefully he can stay at Catcher, but he’s supposed to be athletic enough to play Center.

by BrRoyal on Jun 2, 2010 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm excited about him only as part of a mix.

Assuming Gordon becomes the everyday RF here in the next month, going into next season the Royals will likely have to replace DeJesus in LF (I have a feeling he is gone). Right now they have Lough, Parraz, and Tim Smith to compete for that spot. I have a feeling that at least one of them will be good enough to play everyday in the majors.

by Chyladin on Jun 2, 2010 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

At least

They should be good enough to be given an opportunity over crappy vets. Let the kids play and see if they have what it takes.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to rush guys, but I don’t want a bunch more Kilas either.

by BrRoyal on Jun 2, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

looking at his MiLB splits/MLE

He has an odd history. He hit OK at most levels, but his LD% was 14, 16, 14, 15; then, in 2009, it was 15% at Idaho Falls (17 AB), 20 at AA (226 AB), and 23 at AAA (47 AB). I’d like more confirmation that his higher LD% is for real, though it has been 19% in 163 AB this year at AAA, so maybe he can be an average OF. But only in 2009 has his MLE been above 700 OPS (745), fwiw.

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by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jun 2, 2010 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

I like Lough a little more than Parraz with his ability to play CF

but he isn’t as patient as Jordan. Parraz shows big power in BP but it’s never really translated on the field. Kid looks like a freak athlete and has alot of tools to work with. His peak is probably a 4th in the bigs I think it was Retro who compared his peak to that of Matt Diaz and I thought that was a good one even though Parraz has more tools to work with.

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by kcscoliny on Jun 2, 2010 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

I see Parraz as a guy that is 4th OFer at the worst.

Of course he is streaky, and if he comes up and hits a bad streak, it could be over. He’s still not old, but not young. If we get a few solid years out of him, great. If not, he was basically free.

Better than most of our OF “prospects”. Lough might do better in the long run and Derreck Robinson will run circles around you, but he’s not bad.

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by 306008 on Jun 2, 2010 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

Parraz

To me Parraz is kind of a bonus. I’m not counting on him for the future, but if he does contribute, all the better. I’m with kcsoliny, I like Lough better—but the Diaz comp for Parraz is pretty good—let’s hope that we don’t give him away like we did Diaz.

by nwroyal on Jun 2, 2010 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Lough's value is significantly mitigated by taking him off CF

Lough in CF > Parraz
Lough in LF ??? Parraz

by Dadunca on Jun 2, 2010 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder

if the outfield will change at all before 2011.

I would hope that Ankiel is not tendered.

I would also hope that DJJ is retained.

I would also hope that Pods is traded.

by Peterman700 on Jun 2, 2010 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

by Peterman700 on Jun 2, 2010 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

I think mitch is the definition of a good 4th OF'er on the bench.

by cfizzle on Jun 2, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

April was horrid.

He’s not as bad as he was in April. But there’s no way he’s as good as May’s numbers. Here’s one factor that explains the differences between months: http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/royal_blues/2010/05/jordan-parraz-and-the-importance-of-the-first-pitch.html

Defense still sucks, though, even when he’s hitting like this.

WTF, self?

by minda33 on Jun 2, 2010 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

one of best arms i've ever seen

but he’s going to have to hit because he’s a stiff defender. not guillen bad because he can move a bit, but it’s still not that good. maybe he can be Emil Brown.

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Jun 4, 2010 12:21 AM EDT reply actions