Matt Thaiss Makes Baseball America's 15 Players Turning Scouts' Heads At 2020 Spring Training

[Chuck]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/fifteen-players-turning-scouts-heads-at-2020-spring-training/

Matt Thaiss, 3B/1B, Angels

Scout's Take: "He’s starting to show a lot more power. A lot of guys are taking notice. The power’s been coming the last couple of years. You always knew he had good feel for the zone (and) there’s obviously things you like in the box. It’s just always been so pull-heavy. But now he’s pull-heavy with pop, which isn’t bad … There’s just been a little more whip in his bat, he’s finding the barrel more (and) he’s putting together good at-bats. With the new balls and guys throwing harder and all that, I don’t see why he’s not a guy that you’re talking about 15-20 home runs, maybe even more.”

[Angels 1961]

He should make the team when they play platoon with Albert.

[Dtwncbad]

Is it just me or is it a bit hard to get excited about a first baseman that scouts think might have 15 homer power?

[DMVol]

56 minutes ago, Dtwncbad said:

Is it just me or is it a bit hard to get excited about a first baseman that scouts think might have 15 homer power?

Mark Grace was pretty good....Keith Hernandez never hit 20....

[Dtwncbad]

1 hour ago, DMVol said:

Mark Grace was pretty good....Keith Hernandez never hit 20....

Should I start naming first basemen who never hit 20 that were busts?  How about I do it alphabetically, and I promise to limit it to 100 per letter.

[Lou]

2 minutes ago, Dtwncbad said:

Should I start naming first basemen who never hit 20 that were busts?  How about I do it alphabetically, and I promise to limit it to 100 per letter.

Ok

[ten ocho recon scout]

Annnnnnd spring training cancelled.

[Docwaukee]

15-20 hrs for Thaiss is on the low side imo.  He hit 22 last year between AAA and the bigs for his age 24 season.  I think right now he's in the 20-25 range and when he reaches his prime in a couple year it will be in the 25-30 range with a couple of seasons at 30+.  I know that's optimistic, but I think people are underestimating him.  

A higher end comp for him could be a guy like Jeromy Burnitz.  

[DMVol]

17 hours ago, Dtwncbad said:

Should I start naming first basemen who never hit 20 that were busts?  How about I do it alphabetically, and I promise to limit it to 100 per letter.

You can if you want, smartass....

[ettin]

[tdawg87]

Remember when Trout was a "15-20 HR" guy?

That was cute.

[Stradling]

6 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Remember when Trout was a "15-20 HR" guy?

That was cute.

Well he’s no Aaron Rowland.  

[tdawg87]

4 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Well he’s no Aaron Rowland.  

He was going to be. Unfortunately he never reached those levels.

[Inside Pitch]

8 hours ago, Dochalo said:

15-20 hrs for Thaiss is on the low side imo.  He hit 22 last year between AAA and the bigs for his age 24 season.  I think right now he's in the 20-25 range and when he reaches his prime in a couple year it will be in the 25-30 range with a couple of seasons at 30+.  

Yup...

His 162 game pace last  (449 ABs), at the MLB level had him finishing with 24 HRs... 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thaisma01.shtml

[Claude]

10 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

Yup...

His 162 game pace last  (449 ABs), at the MLB level had him finishing with 24 HRs... 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thaisma01.shtml

Unfortunately he won’t see that many at bats until 2022. 

[wopphil]

He needs to step up. He, more than just about young player, has a path to playing time. The better he plays, the more at bats he will take away from Pujols.

[mulwin444]

It would be awesome if he could replicate his home numbers from last year:

.273 .341 .965 OPS 8 HR 20 RBI in 28 games

into numbers at visiting parks

[Claude]

That damn CJ Cron 

[Dick B Back]

16 hours ago, RendZone said:

That damn CJ Cron 

Too bad he’s not as good as the stud Chris Davis

 

[Claude]

1 hour ago, Dick B Back said:

Too bad he’s not as good as the stud Chris Davis

 

How about that 39 year old Nelson Cruz.

[T.G.]

On 3/14/2020 at 8:00 PM, Dtwncbad said:

Should I start naming first basemen who never hit 20 that were busts?  How about I do it alphabetically, and I promise to limit it to 100 per letter.

Still waiting...

 

[Hubs]

On 3/16/2020 at 6:48 AM, RendZone said:

Unfortunately he won’t see that many at bats until 2022. 

I could actually see him getting 400+ PA's in 2021.

You have to think that 1st base is going to get at least 4 PA per game, probably closer to 4.4, if the offense is rolling.

If they get 700 PA between them, then Albert getting 40% and Thaiss getting 60% could happen. Heck it could be 35% and 65%.

60% is 420 PA.