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Toolshed: Sugar Land, Somerset park factors

Previewing how two Atlantic League stadiums will play in Minors
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 26, 2021

Two weeks ago, change came to Minor League Baseball in many forms with the new 120-team structure. Last week, another piece of the puzzle fell into place with the 2021 schedules. The view of the Minor Leagues' return feels like it's getting clearer and clearer -- pandemic-pending, of course --

Toolshed: Spring Training camps to watch

Ten groups worth following as top prospects showcase talents
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 24, 2021

Pitchers and catchers have been in Arizona and Florida a while. Position players have officially joined them in earnest. Look around you. It's decidedly spring. To celebrate the official opening of Spring Training and return of full-squad workouts, Toolshed presents 10 camps across the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues that prospect

Toolshed: 2021 Minor League schedule quirks

Six-game series, regular days off among changes this season
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 19, 2021

Thursday was a long day coming. Last Friday, Major League Baseball unveiled a new structure for Minor League Baseball that included 120 teams, 11 leagues and four full-season levels. One important item still in limbo was the schedule for all the leagues, which needed to be hashed out before it

2021 Prospect Projections: NL West rookies

How D-backs, Rox, Dodgers, Padres, Giants prospects stack up
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 17, 2021

This is the sixth and final entry in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs' Steamer 600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers,

Toolshed: Potential pitcher-catcher pairings

Previewing which batteries could feature together in 2021
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 12, 2021

Pitchers and catchers. With feeling now. Pitchers and catchers. OK, one more time. Pitchers and catchers! Those words will be on the tips of baseball fans' tongues next week when hurlers and backstops report for their first Spring Training workouts in Arizona and Florida between Feb. 17-19. Several of the

2021 Prospect Projections: AL West rookies

How Astros, Halos, M's, A's, Rangers prospects could fare in 2021
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 10, 2021

This is the fifth in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs' Steamer 600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for

Toolshed: Gorman wants to find perch with Cards

After Arenado trade, No. 38 overall prospect seeking positional fit
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 5, 2021

Blockbuster trades can send social media into a tizzy. Some fire off hot takes about how a transaction will establish the next dynasty in the sport or sink a franchise into ruin. Others play GM and discuss how they would have done the deal. It all mostly comes from a

2021 Prospect Projections: NL Central rookies

Pirates' Hayes should factor into awards race in second season
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 3, 2021

This is the fourth in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs' Steamer 600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for

Toolshed: What latest deals mean for prospects

How Springer, Semien, Realmuto signings will impact younger stars
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 29, 2021

There's always a trickle-down effect. Don't worry, this isn't another column about the state of the economy. But the statement is true about baseball's free-agent market. Sticking with the typical Hot Stove metaphor, the dial on that specific appliance was turned up from low to medium-high in the past week

2021 Prospect Projections: AL Central rookies

White Sox prepared to pounce again with a little prospect help
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 27, 2021

This is the third in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs' Steamer 600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for

Toolshed: Hunt preparing to catch on with Rays

After Snell trade, backstop ready to show pop, defensive chops
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 22, 2021

James McCann signed a four-year, $40.6-million contract with the Mets this offseason. Prior to his age-29 season in 2019, he had produced just a 76 OPS+ over his first five years with the Tigers and was subsequently non-tendered. The still-unsigned J.T. Realmuto's first All-Star appearance didn't come until he was

2021 Prospect Projections: NL East rookies

How Steamer600 views Braves, Fish, Mets, Phils, Nats prospects
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 20, 2021

This is the second in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs' Steamer600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for starting

Toolshed: Now arriving, international signings

Previewing which players, systems to follow from Jan. 15 forward
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 15, 2021

Jan. 15 isn't typically a big day on the baseball calendar. It's another step toward Spring Training, sure. Another number to rip off of the daily countdown to the arrival of pitchers and catchers, but often little more. The big headlines last Jan. 15 were the free-agent signings of Alex

2021 Prospect Projections: AL East rookies

How Steamer600 views O's, Sox, Yanks, Rays, Jays rookies
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 13, 2021

This is the first in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs' Steamer600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for starting

Toolshed: 2021 NL farm system resolutions

Prospect goals, aspirations for senior-circuit pipelines in new year
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 8, 2021

Be healthy. That is the biggest resolution for everyone, in and out of Minor League Baseball, as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. But we can't write that 30 times. Instead, Toolshed is taking this first full week of 2021 to lay out New Year's resolutions for all 30 farm systems.

Toolshed: 2021 AL farm system resolutions

Junior-circuit clubs' goals, desires for prospects in new year
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 6, 2021

Be healthy. That is the biggest resolution for everyone, in and out of Minor League Baseball, as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. But we can't write that 30 times. Instead, Toolshed is taking this first full week of 2021 to lay out New Year's resolutions for all 30 farm systems,

Toolshed: Judging stickiness of Rule 5 picks

On scale of one to five, assessing selections most likely to last
@SamDykstraMiLB
December 11, 2020

First, there were the picks. Next comes figuring out who sticks. On Thursday, 18 players were selected in the Major League phase of the annual Rule 5 Draft. With their selections, each of the 18 took another step toward their goal of playing in The Show (or in one case,

Toolshed: 2020 Rule 5 Draft preview

Establishing basics, previewing picks before Thursday's event
@SamDykstraMiLB
December 8, 2020

Readers might note this edition of Toolshed does not come with a Dallas dateline. Like so many events in 2020, baseball's Winter Meetings are being held virtually this year rather than from deep in the heart of Texas. That, of course, includes the Rule 5 Draft. The annual event typically

Toolshed: Dunand making most of LIDOM return

Marlins infielder off to strong start after missing camps in 2020
@SamDykstraMiLB
December 4, 2020

Joe Dunand played 11 games for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League (Liga de Beisbol Dominicano) last offseason. As of Thursday, he had once again played in exactly 11 games in LIDOM's 2020 iteration. In 2019, he went 4-for-26 (.154) with no homers. This time around, he leads

Toolshed's best of the decade: Teams

Ranking the top award-winning Minor League clubs of the 2010s
@SamDykstraMiLB
December 1, 2020

There was no Minor League season in 2020 and, unfortunately, that means there will be no MiLBY Awards this year either. In their stead, Toolshed is taking the next couple weeks to look back at MiLBY winners from the major categories in the 2010s. The series will rank all the

Toolshed: Reasons for NL systems to give thanks

Steps forward taken for farms' top tiers; more coming in 2021
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 24, 2020

Thanksgiving comes to the United States on Thursday. While there was no Minor League season in 2020, there are still plenty of reasons prospect fans can give thanks over the coming week. This concludes a two-part series in which Toolshed explains what fans of each of the 30 farm systems

Toolshed: Reasons for AL systems to give thanks

Well-rounded systems, new faces in new places worth celebrating
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 20, 2020

Thanksgiving comes to the United States next Thursday. While there was no Minor League season in 2020, there are still plenty of reasons prospect fans can give thanks over the coming week. This begins a two-part series in which Toolshed explains what fans of each of the 30 farm systems

Toolshed: Rule 5 Draft protection preview

Evaluating which top prospects will be added to 40-man rosters
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 17, 2020

The 40-man roster additions are coming. The 40-man roster additions are coming! As discussed in the last Toolshed, Nov. 20 is a big day on the baseball calendar. It's the deadline at which eligible players must be added to their respective 40-man rosters or they'll be left vulnerable to the

Toolshed: Top 2016 picks meet Rule 5 protection

Gauging which prep selections will be added to 40-man rosters
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 13, 2020

Next Friday will be an important day on any prospect lover's calendar. Nov. 20 is the date by which Major League clubs have to add eligible players to their 40-man rosters or leave them unprotected for this year's Rule 5 Draft, which will take place on Dec. 10. Rule 5-eligible

Toolshed's best of the decade: Relievers

Bullpen arms boasted impressive statlines on way to MiLBYs
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 10, 2020

There was no Minor League season in 2020 and, unfortunately, that means there will be no MiLBY Awards this year either. In their stead, Toolshed is taking the next couple weeks to look back at MiLBY winners from the major categories in the 2010s. The series will rank all the