Adam Engel

[ron883]

Pardon me if you think this goes in the minor league forum. I haven't heard much about Engel lately. I think he deserves some clamoring about. This dude has quietly hit 7 HR's so far in AAA. He is 25 and is a big time athlete. The guy has plus plus speed and can be a top notch defender in CF. He currently is sporting an OPS of 757. On the flip side, he is only hitting .218. On the other flip side, his BABIP is quite low at .261. His career BABIP is .330.

 

The reason I post this in the main forum is because I think this dude is somebody that could be called up soon. Do you think the Sox leave him there for a while until an injury forces their hand? This guy could be a pleasant surprise for the sox.

 

 

[soxforlife05]

I think Delmonico would get a shot in the outfield first. Leury has played well enough to keep getting CF starts.

[winninguglyin83]

He's been solid lately

 

was hitting under .150 for most of april. Hitting .260 with an OPS of .957 this month.

 

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Engel has been red hot since about the 3rd week of the season. He's got a new hitting approach that is working quite well. And he certainly has a higher ceiling than, say, Jacob May.

 

We have discussed him quite a bit. Here's an in-person report, with video, that FutureSox recently published.

 

Here's the thing with Engel. He's super-streaky. Here's how it happens - he re-tools his swing and approach, gets hot for a few weeks, then hits a skid (like all players will). But he then tinkers with his swing again, which keeps him slumped for long stretches. What he needs is to stick with one approach for a good long while - a few months or a season. Even when he hits a slump.

 

You'll know he's ready if he hits that slump, but recovers from it in a relatively short period and looks the same on the other end. That's when you know he gets it. And that's when you promote him.

 

[TheFutureIsNear]

Hit tool just isn't good enough for Engel to think he'll ever be more than a 4th OF'er, nothing to get excited about. Probably a Drew Stubbs 2.0

[maxjusttyped]

Hit tool just isn't good enough for Engel to think he'll ever be more than a 4th OF'er, nothing to get excited about. Probably a Drew Stubbs 2.0

If he actually becomes Drew Stubbs then that would be worth getting excited about.

Edited May 28, 2017 by maxjusttyped

[Hatchetman]

The way he holds the bat way up high, it's hard to believe he has a chance at anything.

[caulfield12]

It's a bit reminiscent of Ichiro when he first came to the US....but Engel doesn't have the bat speed or hand eye coordination to make it work for him at the next level imo.

[Kyyle23]

Lmao caulfield. Just like Ichiro except he is right handed and can't hit. Other than that, the same

[caulfield12]

Can you think of anyone else who holds the bat in such an exaggerated fashion in the last 10-15 years, and was successful doing so?

 

Why does the comp have to be left handed?

[Kyyle23]

Ummm,you made the comp.

[SoxAce]

Can you think of anyone else who holds the bat in such an exaggerated fashion in the last 10-15 years, and was successful doing so?

 

Kevin Youkilis had a pretty nice career. I'm sure there's others.

[oldsox]

Craig Counsell.

Edited May 30, 2017 by oldsox

[Kyyle23]

Evan Longoria and Wil Myers have both been pretty successful with high batting stances. That Jose Bautista guy too

[southsider2k5]

Evan Longoria and Wil Myers have both been pretty successful with high batting stances. That Jose Bautista guy too

 

Realistically it doesn't matter where his hands are pre-pitch. As soon as the pitcher comes set, his hands drop into the loaded position anyway.

[Hatchetman]

Realistically it doesn't matter where his hands are pre-pitch. As soon as the pitcher comes set, his hands drop into the loaded position anyway.

 

if you watch the video you can see this is not the case. pause it immediately after the video starts, the pitch is out of the pitchers hand and his hands are still up high.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v1434772183/detcws-...ossed-in-stands

 

 

[southsider2k5]

if you watch the video you can see this is not the case. pause it immediately after the video starts, the pitch is out of the pitchers hand and his hands are still up high.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v1434772183/detcws-...ossed-in-stands

 

Looks fine to me.

 

[iamshack]

Looks fine to me.

 

The ball is well out of the pitcher's hand before he lowers his hands.

[Hatchetman]

Looks fine to me.

 

the photo you show the ball is practically in the catchers mitt!

[southsider2k5]

When he starts his swing he is in the loaded position.

[Hatchetman]

When he starts his swing he is in the loaded position.

 

Of course he is, but it may be too late. Time will tell if he is able to succeed with that approach.

[southsider2k5]

Of course he is, but it may be too late. Time will tell if he is able to succeed with that approach.

 

I don't have a lot of faith the guy will succeed, but pre-swing hand position isn't why. Plenty of guys have done it all through baseball history.

[Hatchetman]

Poor mechanics isn't going to help, that's for sure.

[winninguglyin83]

Yaz held his hands high.

 

Ask Hawk.

[iamshack]

I don't have a lot of faith the guy will succeed, but pre-swing hand position isn't why. Plenty of guys have done it all through baseball history.

If he isn't getting his hands down until the ball is on him, that certainly could be a reason why.