Promotion Speculation - 2026

[sveumrules]

Leonard has 158 innings in LF this year, 77 innings at 2B then a smattering in RF (14 innings) and 1B (12 innings).

Reading between the lines (plus numerous scouting reports mentioning his defensive shortcomings) I'd imagine they view Eddys in a similar vein as Tyler Black as a guy they really wouldn't trust in the field much beyond standing in LF or at 1B in an emergency.

[wallus]

Who gets promoted first? Williams, Pratt or Lara?

You could make an argument that all three of them could be promoted within the next few weeks. Then the other question is how many rookies do you want in the lineup? All of them are pretty young.

[wibadgers23]

9 minutes ago, wallus said:

Who gets promoted first? Williams, Pratt or Lara?

You could make an argument that all three of them could be promoted within the next few weeks. Then the other question is how many rookies do you want in the lineup? All of them are pretty young.

My gut is Williams.  I just don't think they are ready to pull the plug on Ortiz quite yet.  They'll DFA Rengifo to make room for Jett.  

The only way Lara gets called up is if there is a significant, long-term injury to one of the outfielders.  Might be awhile for him.

[CheezWizHed]

12 hours ago, wibadgers23 said:

My gut is Williams.  I just don't think they are ready to pull the plug on Ortiz quite yet.  They'll DFA Rengifo to make room for Jett.  

The only way Lara gets called up is if there is a significant, long-term injury to one of the outfielders.  Might be awhile for him.

I agree that Williams is probably the first one up with Rengifo DFA being the easy option.  But neither Ortiz or Mitchell/Perkins should be too comfortable in their positions.  

Perkins is in his last pre-arby year, so I doubt he has much of a future with the club.  Lara (at worst) is a close match (switch hitter, good defense) although Perkins is better as a RHB and Lara as LHB, but both are pretty close.  If Lara continues to tear the cover off the ball and Mitchell isn't, it wouldn't surprise me to see Lara replace Perkins and tag-team with Mitchell. 

I think Ortiz has until the ASB to turn it around.  If Cooper continues the tear he is on at AAA, I'd expect Ortiz traded and Pratt come up. 

Having three rookies in the lineup isn't ideal, but neither is having three black holes at the plate.  You still have Hamilton at SS/3B to make a three-way shuffle at the two positions to mitigate some of the growing pains.  In the OF, you have Mitchell and Chourio at CF if Lara struggles to adjust. 

So it isn't like they don't have backup options and honestly... it doesn't feel like the rookies could be worse. 

• Ortiz: 196/282/245 - 51 OPS+
• Rengifo: 199/262/257 - 47 OPS+
• Perkins: 105/203/158 - 4 OPS+

[igor67]

I would guess they would try and stagger any promotions for a variety of reasons, for example if you promote Williams, you still have Pratt available if for some reason Jett really struggles. I suspect Ortiz finds a way to stick around because of the glove even if that seems redundant with Pratts skill set.

[CheezWizHed]

I think Ortiz can still be optioned to the minors, so you could stash him there as an emergency backup if Cooper struggles too. 

[CheezWizHed]

4 minutes ago, igor67 said:

I would guess they would try and stagger any promotions for a variety of reasons, for example if you promote Williams, you still have Pratt available if for some reason Jett really struggles. I suspect Ortiz finds a way to stick around because of the glove even if that seems redundant with Pratts skill set.

True.  I'm thinking:

• Williams in June - post Super 2 date
• Cooper around the ASB
• Lara between the ASB and Sept.  I think CF has a longer leash, but Perkins really hasn't done much the last two years offensively. 

[igor67]

I'm thinking they are hoping someone between Rengifo, Ortiz, and Hamilton provides enough offense to be a solid option for ABs on the left side of the IF and then Williams can still be a primary 3rd base but also slide into the OF from time to time and bump Perkins. I think Lara getting promoted this year requires Garret to not be viable. That said if he keeps hitting with his defense it becomes difficult to not try and put your best players on the field this year

[wallus]

I think Perkins is safe until Lockridge comes back.

[CheezWizHed]

Perkins is a well-known entity and I'm sure he will do better offensively than now (very consistent with a 650 OPS and low 80s OPS+ for 3 years), but why wouldn't Lara be his one-for-one replacement? 

Personally, I could seem them pair Lara and Mitchell pretty easily in CF. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

4 hours ago, igor67 said:

 I suspect Ortiz finds a way to stick around because of the glove even if that seems redundant with Pratts skill set.

Agree. The glove, along with the ability to play 2nd & 3B as well as SS. But if at some point both Pratt & Williams make it up here AND Hamilton shows that the way he swung the bat on Wednesday is more than a fluke---we already know how he can effect a game with his feet--- it becomes interesting.

[ghostdrew]

None of them unless an injury happens 

[rickh150]

Perkins is not safe…expecting Lara up any day now. There are innings for Lara to play now with Mitchell not seemingly at 100%. Perkins is there for late in season defense or a safety valve if Lara struggles.

Renfroe’s glove looks suspect lately, which is going to lead to thoughts of why play this guy. Bringing Williams up to play 3B and a little OF feels right.

Ortiz could be optioned…I can see that…for Pratt.  But I don’t think it’s coming any time soon if the team is winning. Ortiz is like a starting QB that way only. If the team is winning with him providing something/anything (quality to exceptional d), he should be ok. Once the team has a difficult stretch scoring runs, the change could happen.