Twins Daily 2024 Top Prospects: #10 Tanner Schobel, 2B/3B

Schobel is blocked by three much better young potential stars at his two primary defensive positions. His bat is not suited to DH. His doppelgänger Keaschall is right behind him and might be a better version. Miller is a better utility infielder/late inning specialist because of his glove and can cover SS. Martin is probably a better hitter and has more positional flexibility, including 2B.  

Schobel seems like he could be the ideal definition of a trade candidate either this season or next (as his value improves and he moves further up our list). 

Classic utility infielder profile

I predict Schobel or Keaschall will be part of significant trade package over the next year. They are just so similar and it's not like we are projecting infield holes to fill with the Twins anytime soon.

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One of the more concerning elements of Schobel's decline at Double A was his struggle with getting the ball out of the infield. Over 77 games at High A, over 83% of Schobel's fly balls left the infield, meaning the balls he lifted in the air could land as extra-base hits or home runs. Upon his promotion to Double A, Schobel's infield fly ball percentage (IFFB%) jumped from 16.5% to 26.2%. Double-A pitchers got Schobel to pop out at an alarming rate, leading to his power decrease. If Schobel wants to pass the crucial Double-A test, he needs to focus on driving the ball.

I think this sums it up pretty well. He's an interesting player: when he shows some pop in his bat, you start to see him as a quality MLB player, either as a super-utility or maybe more. When he doesn't show that power, then the hit tool just isn't strong enough to carry him. He makes good contact, he takes some walks, he's a good base-runner ( 19-3 SB-CS ratio is outstanding) but he struggled at the plate in Wichita to get any power at all. I think it's a decent sign that he kept taking walks even when he was struggling, and he made a ton of contact in sept to finish a little stronger, but he's going to have to do better than the 9 xbh he got in AA last season.

Important season for him. If he adjusts and starts looking like the guy from High A again this season, a couple months adjustment midseason is nothing. If he can't get the ball out of the infield this year, he's going to need a lot more hits and walks to have much of a future.

I sure like when we pick guys like this in the draft. For all the misses on the 1st rounders, we really do a great job at getting that role player talent. We do need to keep a couple of them around but what a great trade chip. Its not that we need Schoebel et al to start and develop into an allstar but dang, one of these guys will just on the law of averages. Keep the right one and sell the rest for needed assets. 

Is there a little Craig Biggio in that swing? 

3 minutes ago, Dman said:

AA seems like the toughest level for hitters to get through.  The pitching is generally really good at that level.  

It definitely seems to be where you see either a leap forward or washouts. the pitchers at AA either have superior stuff or refined approaches that don't rely on overwhelming a hitter with one pitch. The pitchers there are working on a 3rd pitch and already have a quality off-speed pitch they can work with. a lot more of them can hit their spots and you can't wait for someone to groove a 3-1 fastball in the heart of the plate. This should be a good test for Schobel.

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

I think this sums it up pretty well. He's an interesting player: when he shows some pop in his bat, you start to see him as a quality MLB player, either as a super-utility or maybe more. When he doesn't show that power, then the hit tool just isn't strong enough to carry him. He makes good contact, he takes some walks, he's a good base-runner ( 19-3 SB-CS ratio is outstanding) but he struggled at the plate in Wichita to get any power at all. I think it's a decent sign that he kept taking walks even when he was struggling, and he made a ton of contact in sept to finish a little stronger, but he's going to have to do better than the 9 xbh he got in AA last season.

Important season for him. If he adjusts and starts looking like the guy from High A again this season, a couple months adjustment midseason is nothing. If he can't get the ball out of the infield this year, he's going to need a lot more hits and walks to have much of a future.

Could be adjusting to pitchers with more spin in their fastball (more "raise"), so what was a well hit ball now is a "pop up"?

Twins like to waste time stretching some prospects defensively. If Schobel has the tools why not give him the opportunity to have a go at SS? Where he could be more valuable to us.

19 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Classic utility infielder profile

You are right....which is NOT what you want out of a 2nd round pick......

14 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I won't speak for others, but I was simply talking about their styles and what type of prospect they are. But those numbers actually make me feel even more strongly about that comp. Definitely the same type of player.

Agree.  Well, let’s hope if we move him, we get more in return than we did with Steer……..(sarcasm intended).

34 minutes ago, miracleb said:

You are right....which is NOT what you want out of a 2nd round pick......

You always hope your early draft picks become impact players with high ceilings. But if they become big leaguers and solid position players, a starting pitcher or high leverage bullpen pitcher, that’s still a decent pick. Nick Gordon is an example of a disappointing early pick. One breakout utility season followed by injury, and not a great minor league history for a number one. At least he has shown enough ability to be on a ML roster. Of course there are a huge number of early draft choices who flame out, so there is that. 

1 hour ago, miracleb said:

You are right....which is NOT what you want out of a 2nd round pick......

Any 2nd round pick who contributes in the big leagues is beating the odds.

How about we quit drafting utility infielders and draft outside the box (our usual box). How about trying a big lug of an outfielder who may not look like a prototypical ballplayer, but knocks the cover off the ball. Aaron Judge anyone?31 teams passed on him.

6 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Any 2nd round pick who contributes in the big leagues is beating the odds.

Just a "contributor" is NOT what you WANT from a 2nd round pick.   You WANT that from an occasional 10th round pick.   

15 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Less than 50% of 2nd round picks even make the majors....

Trust me, when the Twins draft a first or second round pick, they are not hoping that they just might contribute a little bit to the major league team.  That might be the ultimate result....but that is NOT the goal when they are drafting in the 2nd round.  That might be the goal when they are drafting in the 10th round........but certainly not in the 2nd round.

23 hours ago, KBJ1 said:

How about we quit drafting utility infielders and draft outside the box (our usual box). How about trying a big lug of an outfielder who may not look like a prototypical ballplayer, but knocks the cover off the ball. Aaron Judge anyone?31 teams passed on him.

Your wish is my command!

https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/66043-twins-daily-2024-top-prospects-9-brandon-winokur-sscf/

20 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Of course, not, but that doesn't matter when setting realistic expectations. I'm not even sure what your point is here.

My point was that they are not looking for a "classic utility infielder" when drafting in the 2nd round.  That is just common sense.  It seems like you are slowing coming around to this (above) with your "Of course not....."

11 hours ago, miracleb said:

My point was that they are not looking for a "classic utility infielder" when drafting in the 2nd round.  That is just common sense.  It seems like you are slowing coming around to this (above) with your "Of course not....."

I don’t think you and Mike were ever disagreeing. Everyone wants more than a utility player in every round, but the reality is that so many players fail to even make the majors so something is better than nothing.

11 hours ago, Twins33 said:

I don’t think you and Mike were ever disagreeing. Everyone wants more than a utility player in every round, but the reality is that so many players fail to even make the majors so something is better than nothing.

Bingo...the key there is the word "fail."  They are not drafting with the hopes that they "fail."  They are drafting (in the 2nd round) to get a guy who can be an All-star type player,   Of course, that doesn't always happen.  But that doesn't change the reason WHY they drafted a player in the 2nd round!
:-)