Joan Gregorio, RHP. 6'7", 180 lbs. DOB: 1/12/1992.
Low A: 6-3, 4.00, 69.2 IP, 17 BB, 84 K, GO/AO= 0.50.
Before we get started on Joan Gregorio's scouting report, there are 4 current minor league players who have the first name of Joan. It is a fairly common first name in spanish speaking countries. It is not pronounced Jone, but Jo-ahn or Yo-ahn. There! Hopefully we an leave the Man Named Joan/Boy Named Sue jokes over at MCC where they belong!
2013 was Gregorio's 4'th on the organization. He recorded sub-3 ERA's in his first two seasons with the DSL and AZL Giants, but had unimpressive K rates. His K rate improved at Salem-Keizer in 2012, but he struggled early and finished with an ERA greater than 5.
His K rate took a big jump for Augusta in 2013 while maintaining an excellent walk rate. His season was highlighted by a 7 inning no-hitter on July 18 which gained him national attention. The Augusta Chronicle report of that game had him pumping high fastballs in the mid-90's with a sharp downward breaking slider and a changeup that faded away from the lefty heavy Lakewood Blueclaws lineup. He apparently suffered a blister during that game and he only lasted 2 inning while allowing 8 ER in his next start. He was shut down for the month of August after his next start, but re-surfaced to pitch 3 shutout innings with 4 K's and 0 BB's on 9/1.
In a couple of videos I found, he appears to have a well-coordinated smooth, easy delivery with loose arm action despite his long, lanky frame. The FB is a hard 4 seamer up in the zone that generates swings and misses. He has evolved since his DSL days from being a modest groundball pitcher to an extreme flyball pitcher. Although his ERA was not as impressive as his K and BB rates, it was inflated considerably by just 3 appearances where he gave up more than 5 runs.
I would expect him to be part of the SJ rotation in 2014 and will be a must-see scouting trip for me when the little Giants come down south. A full season of good health would be welcome.
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Maybe their mothers misspelled birth certificates. That name is one letter away from
ReplyDelete"Johan". And there's a pretty good pitcher by that name. I'll go with Yo-ahn.
OMG! No, it's not a mis-spelling! It's a fairly common male first name in some countries.
DeleteMaybe the misspelling happened a long time ago, in the process of becoming popular.
DeleteIs this really a conversation? Never once, in all the time following this kid, have I thought his first name was odd. I do, however, think his fastball can play on my team any day... regardless of what his name is.
DeleteI agree, that one is best left for the crew over at MCC. Let's leave the real baseball talk to this joint.
If he can pitch as well as Joan Didion writes books, he'll be okay.
DeleteAnd goodness is he tall.
Thank you, DrB and covechatter, for putting a stop to the provincial jokes about Joan as a man's name. Wikipedia lists about a dozen men of note, most of them Catalan, with this first name; it's the same name as Juan, probably the most common Spanish first name for men, and also the name of a Giant HOF pitcher.
DeleteThank you, Campanari. At the least, this has been an interesting digression about the likely origin of his name. It's a good christian name. The only cure for ignorance is enlightenment.
DeleteThank you, everyone.
DeleteI think this is the one time in at least the last 365 days we talk about not joking about the name.
In fact, more is written here in this thread about not joking about the name than actually joking about the name...even that's not excess, as it is, as mentioned above, the one time, as far as I can recall in the last 365 days.
Thank you, everyone.
I think I might be more excited about him if he could use his height to get extreme tilt on the ball and work ground balls. We'll see what Cal League hitters think of that 4 seamer between the belt and the letters.
ReplyDeleteI think in basketball, they talk about the reach, or standing reach, the equivalent, more or less, of the release point height.
DeleteSo, the question is, is his right arm long as well (and not a short one)?
The Giants have never put much, if any emphasis on getting groundballs. In fact, the norm for their prospects is to become more flyball pitchers as they rise through the system. Since the Giants have a rep for developing pitchers, it might lead one to believe that possibly the Giants know something other teams and other analysts don't. Is it possible that ground ball tendency is an overrated skill? My personal belief is that if you are going to be a flyball pitcher, you better bring the heat and you better get your share of K's, but well place fastballs up the zone are still probably the best pitches in baseball.
DeleteFastballs up in the zone are great if you can command the knees. Flyballs may play well at AT&T, but having some groundball pitchers is a nice asset for all those time you can really use a ground ball. Pounding the knees is hard work. I think it's going to be Clayton Blackburn's bread and butter.
DeleteI'll repeat. The Giants have never appeared to emphasize getting GB outs and their prospects often lose any groundball tendencies they may have started out with as they progress through the minors.
DeleteThere are several advantages to giving up flyballs including lower BABIP's because fewer flyballs drop in for hits than groundballs find their way through the IF. The only reason to stay away from flyballs is the fear of giving up HR's but it is well documented that most HR's are given up off "mistake" pitches and get crushed as opposed to long flyballs that randomly find their way over the fence. Nothing gets hit farther than a sinker that does not sink!
Aw man... I always make that joke. I will show myself out on this one, but I will say I'm always skeptical of tall pitchers and Gregorio has made me half a believer before his blister issues.
ReplyDeleteIt's paradoxical and I will make one more comment and wait for Dr.B's next post tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHIs name is not unusual.
Let's not dwell on it.
Talking about not talking about it, and talking about it - in both cases, it is to dwell on it. That's the paradox. And I have written too much. As I say, I look forward to tomorrow's post. That's it for me today. Have a good day.