Young Prospects Development

[Haiku]

I'm new to the game and have a lot of questions.

Who's the better player out of these two?

https://i.gyazo.com/981621d886c48bb9...050d190356.png
https://i.gyazo.com/8669d934243ad13c...cff83b6712.png

Should I give the first one the starting spot right away?
If both are not good enough, should I look for someone else with better ability and let the 19 year old develop in the minors? I'm not sure which is best for young prospects:
1. Giving them the starting spot as soon as possible.
2. Sticking them in the active roster as a backup with an occasional game here and there.
3. Keep them in the minors until they fully develop to the standards of a regular senior player?

[Pdubya64]

Heya Haiku:
I would definitely let the 19yr old develop in the A+ or AA level in order to get his Catching position a bit closer to his potential. 35 is pretty bad to try and force him to play when he is still developing.
Also, he has a REALLY high ceiling. You don't want to hurt that potential by forcing him to assume roles at a level that are too much right now.

If you really need the 23yr old Catcher, he can do a much better all around job as he has some time at AAA. If you don't need him I would let him work some more at AAA to hone those skills of his.

Good luck!

[Cod]

I agree with Pdubya064. Quero is not ready for the majors and calling him up to sit the bench would be detrimental to his development. I would definitely make sure he's starting in AA. For reference, in real life, Quero started this season in AA and he's doing pretty well thus far.

I think O'hoppe is ready for the majors from a positional standpoint. There's some room to grow offensively, so you could start him in AAA and call him up around the All-Star break.

[Haiku]

Thank you both for your input. Apparently I have underestimated the positional rating, because that aside Quero looks like the better offensive player and defensively he's not too far behind O'hoppe. What is a good positional rating for MLB, 50+? Or should I judge solely by their stats if they are ready for promotion? Thanks

[CH1MA3RA]

Generally speaking, 50 is mlb average. So looking at Quero you can see he's rated as 35 out of 45 currently. This tells me he's likely a barely average mlb C in his prime, but he's only a 35 currently so he needs time to develop. When you see a 60 or 65+ positional rating that's all-star caliber. But keep in mind these position ratings are only defensive ratings not offensive. You can easily have a 45 C be a beast offensively or a 65 C be your worst hitter, and a wide range in between. Cheers

[Pelican]

You’ve gotten good advice above. Assume you are using the “old school” ratings on a 20-80 scale? Quero is a guy who projects as at least a part-time DH, if the hitting tool develops, given the low defensive ceiling at catcher (although his arm is above average). At 19, he would already be one of t he youngest players at AA. Give him a year there (if he is not overwhelmed, in which case A+ would be an option), and then see what your scout says. [He may surprise and increase those defensive numbers, or he may not be able to hit AA pitchers….]

With O’Hoppe I’m partial, because I’m a Phils fan, and he was a top prospect. I know his all-around game is sound. He’s solid if not exceptional behind the plate. I’m not crazy about skipping AAA (except for a cup of coffee), but he is probably ready to be a MLB backup - which is probably his ceiling, honestly. Give him a couple of seasons until Quero (we hope) is ready.

[CH1MA3RA]

For your specific players, I'd prob start Quero at A+ and let him excel there until June and then move him to AA. I'd likely start O'Hoppe in AAA but have him on the 40 man so he can be an injury call up, or promoted around the trade deadline if he's playing well. I value regular at-bats ar AAA more than being a bench/backup at MLB, in his case.

[Cod]

Originally Posted by CH1MA3RA

For your specific players, I'd prob start Quero at A+ and let him excel there until June and then move him to AA. I'd likely start O'Hoppe in AAA but have him on the 40 man so he can be an injury call up, or promoted around the trade deadline if he's playing well. I value regular at-bats ar AAA more than being a bench/backup at MLB, in his case.

Interesting idea. Do you typically move players between minor league levels in-season? Do you move players down mid-season as well? I'm curious what kind of results you've seen with that approach. I've always taken the approach of wherever a prospect starts the season, he ends the season...unless he gets called up to the MLB squad. Even then, I have the guys ear marked for the majors already shorted listed in my system.

[CH1MA3RA]

If I promote a guy mid season it's always based on him earning it. But in this example, I'd lock Quero to AA next season if I did the A+/AA mid season thing. I don't demote any player I'm keen on developing. The AI might demote the fringy guys that I'm not controlling, but my top prospects only ever go up, never down. I like to do the mid season A to A+, and A+ to AA as a way to open space at those lower levels for guys acquired via trade deadline and the draft. As for draftees, i don't promote them to A unless their rating at that level is at least 55, or they've had a strong WAR/WRC+/ERA+ across at least 1 rookie season worth of playing time, if that makes sense.

[Pelican]

My approach, FWIW, is to nurture prospects until they get to AAA, if they get there at all. At that point, the question shifts to what the MLB club needs. If a catcher gets hurt, I bring up the best AAA catcher. If my MLB SP has a sore arm, I bring up the best SP in AAA. It’s less a question of whether the AAA guys “deserve” or “have earned” a promotion, and more a case of who can help me win at the MLB level.

Remember, if you have expanded rosters in September (or in April/May, as I do), you can give deserving AAA players some MLB playing time. But I agree with the thought that the best prospects should not be promoted just to sit the bench in MLB. They need to play.

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by Cod

I agree with Pdubya064. Quero is not ready for the majors and calling him up to sit the bench would be detrimental to his development. I would definitely make sure he's starting in AA. For reference, in real life, Quero started this season in AA and he's doing pretty well thus far.

I think O'hoppe is ready for the majors from a positional standpoint. There's some room to grow offensively, so you could start him in AAA and call him up around the All-Star break.

I pulled this from the manual:

Minor league players who get little playing time might not develop as quickly as others. However, major league players and players on a reserve roster develop normally even without playing time.

So I'm curious as to why players think that the MLB bench would be detrimental to development? Is it tied to the idea that they need innings to develop positionally? If that is the case, is the manual wrong?

[CH1MA3RA]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

I pulled this from the manual:

Minor league players who get little playing time might not develop as quickly as others. However, major league players and players on a reserve roster develop normally even without playing time.

So I'm curious as to why players think that the MLB bench would be detrimental to development? Is it tied to the idea that they need innings to develop positionally? If that is the case, is the manual wrong?

Personally, I include consideration as to whether their ceiling is as a reserve player or a starter. In the OPs example, if I saw O'Hoppe as a backup then yeah he's ready for the Pros, but if I saw him as my future C starter, I would want him to have a full-time role in AAA over being a backup in the MLB, waiting for his shot. This is mostly so that I can see his defensive stats like CERA and give the TCR a chance to tick his skills up a notch without accelerating his arbitration clock.

There is a very reasonable case that can be made with using O'Hoppe as the backup C and slotting him in every 4th game roughly, so that he gets semi-regular playing time. Plus this would give him developmental access to the coaching staff that teaches Catching, but ultimately I use my scout to rate players and stats to evaluate them myself, so the more stats the better, and you get more stats by playing full-time.

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by CH1MA3RA

Personally, I include consideration as to whether their ceiling is as a reserve player or a starter. In the OPs example, if I saw O'Hoppe as a backup then yeah he's ready for the Pros, but if I saw him as my future C starter, I would want him to have a full-time role in AAA over being a backup in the MLB, waiting for his shot. This is mostly so that I can see his defensive stats like CERA and give the TCR a chance to tick his skills up a notch without accelerating his arbitration clock.

There is a very reasonable case that can be made with using O'Hoppe as the backup C and slotting him in every 4th game roughly, so that he gets semi-regular playing time. Plus this would give him developmental access to the coaching staff that teaches Catching, but ultimately I use my scout to rate players and stats to evaluate them myself, so the more stats the better, and you get more stats by playing full-time.

I'm not arguing or judging a person's preference. From a realistic standpoint I would have the player starting everyday in AAA myself. However, I'm asking from a purely game play mechanic. In the original scenario it shouldn't hinder the development of the player to be on the MLB bench correct? That is what I'm honing in on?

[CH1MA3RA]

In terms of a purely developmental point of view, no it likely doesn't hinder their progression. But there's more to it than just that, imo. Service time should be considered as it influences arbitration, plus gaining experience at 1 or more defensive positions to add roster depth value is also worthy of consideration.

[Cod]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

I pulled this from the manual:

Minor league players who get little playing time might not develop as quickly as others. However, major league players and players on a reserve roster develop normally even without playing time.

So I'm curious as to why players think that the MLB bench would be detrimental to development? Is it tied to the idea that they need innings to develop positionally? If that is the case, is the manual wrong?

Honestly, I never thought about it from a game mechanic standpoint and don't remember that part of the manual. I just treat these situations like I'm a real-life GM...so I guess you could consider it a house rule that I wasn't aware I created for myself

[CH1MA3RA]

Originally Posted by Cod

... I just treat these situations like I'm a real-life GM...so I guess you could consider it a house rule that I wasn't aware I created for myself

Same. I could talk development stuff all day too LOL

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by Cod

Honestly, I never thought about it from a game mechanic standpoint and don't remember that part of the manual. I just treat these situations like I'm a real-life GM...so I guess you could consider it a house rule that I wasn't aware I created for myself

And that is totally fair. I was just hoping I was understanding the game mechanic correctly.

[Cod]

Originally Posted by CH1MA3RA

Same. I could talk development stuff all day too LOL

You and me both.

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

And that is totally fair. I was just hoping I was understanding the game mechanic correctly.

I think you are, if the manual is to be believed. Unfortunately, the manual is one part of the game that has been neglected for years (even developers admitted to this), so I've started taking it with a grain of salt as the years go by.

[billyray1984]

Above rookie ball, current ratings should be compared to stats, number of PA at a given level and age when evaluating a player.

Quero is still very young and green, but his hitting tools are almost MLB ready (a 45 will play in MLB with his eye/power/gap) and he still has room to grow. I would skip A+ ball, put him in AA this year, watch him month to month and maybe have him skip AAA next year if he performs well in AA. I would not promote to MLB roster at 20 unless there was a significant jump on his floor.

O'Hoppe is already a AAAA/MLB player. Stash him in AAA if you don't need him this year or call him up. In my experience, at his age, and with his stats in AA, he is a finished product. Expect that eye/contact to maybe never develop.

[Pelican]

To me, if the manual is still accurate, the comparison is not so much starting versus not starting at the MLB level; but playing in AAA or AA versus sitting the bench in the major leagues.

So, once your guy is ready to make the jump to the majors, it apparently won't hurt him to play rarely. But, by bringing him up, you are cutting off his ability to develop further in the minors. So, it's still a touch decision.