The Houston Astros organization is currently playing in its fourth World Series in the last six seasons. That despite losing key pieces like outfielder George Springer, shortstop Carlos Correa and pitcher Gerrit Cole over the last couple of seasons. But that’s why they’ve become the standard franchise in baseball over that timeframe. They found other pieces to step in and replace those key cogs. That comes from having a great farm system loaded with talent at many different positions.
One player currently developing in the Stros farm system is outfielder Zach Daniels, a talented player chosen in the fourth round of the 2020 five-round MLB Draft. Daniels was able to overcome early struggles in college and then make the cut in a year where the draft was severely shortened. At Tennessee, he sputtered through his first two seasons, only to bounce back in his COVID-19 shortened junior season with splits of .357/.478/.750 in just 17 games played.
Daniels is performing well in the Arizona Fall League, showing that unique blend of speed, raw power and supreme athleticism.
Daniels, the Astros 29th-ranked prospect hit a 481- foot moonshot homerun that registers as the longest dinger hit by an Astros player in 2022. That distinction was previously held by slugger Yordan Alvarez who’s 469-foot shot in May sent shockwaves through the RingCentral Coliseum, home of the Oakland Athletics.
Daniels told reporters this, following his big homer ….
“It’s probably the longest in my career. Probably one of the top exit velos for my home runs, too. So definitely a big home run for me.”
Daniels Has Above Average Raw Power: Struggles With Off-Speed Pitches
Throughout his Tennessee career, Daniels displayed solid power, but he also matured with his approach to the plate. Daniels started to understand how making contact and allowing pitchers to provide the power, rather than swinging for the fences, can actually produce more favorable power results.
“You let him be the power, to be honest. I can’t take credit,” Daniels said. “But, definitely, you have to shorten up and then just let him supply the power. You don’t have to try too hard or hit it as hard.”
The next step in Daniels’ development is to become better at hitting the off-speed pitches. Until then, he’s going to have problems as pitchers will continue to throw him junk they know you can’t hit.
Daniels Needs To Look No Further Than Jeremy Peña For Motivation
Daniels was fortunate to be around Astros rising star Jeremy Peña during the spring. In fact, both were routinely part of the same hitting group. While Peña earned a job from the jump and has blossomed into one of the stars of this Astros World Series run, Daniels has a little more work to do. Seeing Peña win the 2022 ALCS MVP is also good for Daniels, as it allows him a first-hand look at what hard work and dedication to your craft can do. Daniels is now even mimicking Peña’s plate discipline and stance.
“It’s kind of lay back and rotate as I go,” said Daniels explaining Pen’s style. “That allows me to make an in-game adjustment a little bit better and let’s my bat come through the zone a bit cleaner too as well.”
This MLBbro has all the tools, but he’ll need to show consistency to reach the Majors as Peña has already done. If he does, he could provide another power bat and solid glove for the Astros.
When the Kansas City Royals drafted the rangy 6-foot-6 Austin Charles with the last pick of the 20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, many believed his high end was as a two-way star sort of in the mold of Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani.
But that seems to be pipe dream as the team plans to develop him strictly as a position player and not as a pitcher. Meaning he could become one of the tallest shortstops to ever take the infield of in a Major League game.
Charles nearly returned to college at UC Santa Barbara, but he and the Royals agreed right before the August 1 deadline. With the intriguing prospect in tow, the Royals are now focused on developing him into another in the growing trend of tall shortstops around MLB.
During a visit to the Royals training complex in Surprise, Arizona, Charles says he realized he was more than ready for professional baseball.
“The visit just opened my eyes to see what they’re doing. I knew it was a good organization and fit.”
Ain’t too many cons when you playin’ with the pros🙌🏽
Charles Is Part Of Growing Trend Of NBA-Size Shortstops
Playing shortstop requires great instincts and feel, and that’s something the Royals say Charles possesses. The team’s hitting coordinator Drew Saylor raved about the Charles’ abilities and traits he possesses.
“He’s got great feel, great instincts at shortstop, and Iove his internal clock. He does a really good job with his first-step reads and he creates pretty good angles for himself.”
Saylor also complimented Charles’ work ethic and resiliency for a young player.
Charles Has Captivating Raw Power
At 6-foot-6, with very long arms, Charles will have to learn to adjust to off-speed pitches. But with the proper plate work and development, Saylor believes they can get Charles to work a specific zone.
“Because he has that natural strength. He has the potential to be a guy who can possibly mishit balls and still hit them really, really, really far …. He’s just continuing to know where his swing plays, and just the small adaptations that are needed to different shapes in the strike zone.
— Perfect Game California (@California_PG) July 2, 2022
“The most exciting part for me is just the curiosity and the energy he brings to the ballpark every day. It’s infectious,” Saylor added.
Charles hopes to follow in the footsteps of other tall shortstops like rising Pirates star Oneil Cruz, who stands 6-foot-7.
Royals have accumulated some nice pieces for the future, including second baseman Samad Taylor, whom Charles could team with to form a nice duo down the line.
Samuel Richardson, the 17-year-old Missouri commit, stole the show at the recent States Play Invitational.
The 6-foot-1 and 190-pound power hitter went yard to help put the West ahead on Sunday in their 5-1 win. Richardson’s big hit happened to be the only time a player went deep in the three games played, and he sought of spoke it into existence.
On Friday during batting practice, Richardson who had switched teams was asked if he was the player who switched teams at the last minute. Richardson replied, “yes.”
The reporter followed up with, “Going to go deep and win the game for the West, huh?”
In a weekend short of long ball theatrics, Richardson’s moonshot more than made up for it. His shot was so powerful it had the Eastern team “oohing and ahhing” in disbelief afterwards.
Players responded with ….
“That was a bomb.”
Even Richardson chimed in on his accomplishment …
“I knew I had my timing down: I got it down on deck. I just knew that if he threw me a pitch in the zone, I couldn’t miss it.”
“And I didn’t miss it.”
Richardson Thanks Higher Power For Talent He Has
Following his whirlwind moment of hitting a homer, an ecstatic and euphoric Richardson had this to say.
“First of all, I was thanking God. And then I was like, Man I just hit a more run in a Major League Spring Training Park. Just a lot of excitement.”
That had to be a dream come true for the 17-year-old who’s a 2024 MLB Draft prospect. The big strong Mizzou commit projects as a third baseman. For his efforts Richardson not only received his MVP trophy, but two tickets to Game 2 of this year’s World Series. And while we have no idea where that game will take place, we do know Richardson will be in attendance, thinking about when his moment comes to be on the other side of the equation as an MLB player.
Richardson Has Opposite Field And Pulling Power At Age 17
Richardson is blessed with pure, raw power that allows him to spray the baseball to all parts of the field. He’s capable of going yard as evidenced by his big homer in the All-Star Game. But he’s also shown an ability to go opposite field with pop. He also pulls the ball really well for someone so young.
The belief is while at Mizzou he’ll clean up some mechanical and technical things against some pro-level SEC pitching. And when it comes time, he’ll be a pro-ready hitter, ready to help a MLB team right away at the plate.
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