Comparisons among prospects and Major League talent are rarely fair and can become erratically lazy. While watching any prospect show or draft preview, you will see highly paid analyst make remarks of, “His swing reminds me of Barry Bonds,” or “That sinker/slider combo is reminiscent Greg Maddux.”
How many times have you heard that a Latin pitcher who stands right around six-foot with an above-average changeup is the “next Pedro Martinez?”
It’s lazy. These are regularly men who spent time playing in the game to some capacity, whether it be at an All-Star level, or a brief taste of Minor League Baseball. You would think that they would have some knowledge of how to access an amateur player who is becoming a professional or a player who is just getting into his development.
That is why when reading about comparisons, you must go to those who have a keen eye for doing so. The Nomads and Gypsys of the sport. The scouts. The executives. Those who have covered prospects for years with a pedigree of accountability. Those that call work MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus.
Of the comparisons you will see listed below, they have come from the comments of those mentioned. Most have been mentioned by scouts more than once, and is the primary reason for the support in doing the research and side-by-side gifs you will see. You will not see any Hall of Fame comparisons, and may be disappointed your favorite prospect isn’t compared to an All-Star caliber player. It does not mean the prospect is a wash, or bust, or won’t be able to accomplish more than said comparison. It is a starter kit for those who are hoping to look deeper into the future at what a certain prospect’s career may pan out to be.
As you’ll see in the side-by-sides, there will be no context out of physical comparisons. Not everything in this article is perfect. You’ll even see that in one of the side-by-sides, a pitcher has been flipped from the right side to left side to complete the comparison. Just because a player is compared to another by a scout, executive, or trusted source, it does not mean that player will suddenly be a .300 hitter, or strikeout 300 batters. Everything is to be taken with a grain of salt.
Let us start.
*NOTE: Check back for more comparisons as we collect information*
L: Charlie Blackmon (6’3, 220)
R: Brandon Marsh (6’4, 215)
L : Barry Zito (6’2, 205)
R: Reid Detmers (6’2, 210)
L: Byron Buxton (6’2, 190)
R: Jordyn Adams (6’2, 180)
L: Vincent Velasquez (6’3, 210)
R: Chris Rodriguez (6’2, 185)
L: Miguel Rojas (6’0, 190)
R: Kyren Paris (6’0, 165)
L: Tim Anderson (6’1, 185)
R: Jeremiah Jackson (6’0, 165)
L: Jahmai Jones (6’0, 205)
R: Whit Merrifield (6’1, 195)
L: Jonathan Villar (6’0, 230)
R: Arol Vera (6’2, 170)
L: Archie Bradley (6’4, 215)
R: Jack Kochanowicz (6’6, 220)
L: Freddy Peralta (5’11, 200) *Flipped*
R: Hector Yan (5’11, 180)
L: Harrison Bader (6’0, 210)
R: Alexander Ramirez (6’2, 210)
L: Joey Lucchesi (6’5, 225)
R: Packy Naughton (6’2, 195)
L: Robbie Grossman (6’0, 215)
R: Orlando Martinez (6’0, 185)
L: Randy Wolf (6’0, 205)
R: Adam Seminaris (6’0, 185)
Prospects To Be Added Soon: D’Shawn Knowles, Jose Alberto Rivera, David Calabrese
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This is great. Good work
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Thank you, Joshua
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