Follow the Prospects: Joan Adon, RHP

[welch]

Pitched for Red Wings and won last night. Part of shutout.

https://www.milb.com/rochester/news/adon-bullpen-shut-out-woosox-friday

[zimm_da_kid]

Didn’t see that coming.  That’s an aggressive promotion.  Bet he goes to the AFL and could be in competition for a back end starter spot next year

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Didn’t see that coming.  That’s an aggressive promotion.  Bet he goes to the AFL and could be in competition for a back end starter spot next year

That's early.  It looks like organizations have promoted lower level minor leaguers to AAA to get them a bit more work.  WooSox did the same thing.  Adon wasn't particularly sharp.  He's probably still a High A / AA assignment next year.

[imref]

Called up. Will start today.

Zuck notes: “ Pronunciation of Joan Adon: First name like "Johan" without the "h," last name ah-DOHN.”

[Natsinpwc]

Called up. Will start today.

Zuck notes: “ Pronunciation of Joan Adon: First name like "Johan" without the "h," last name ah-DOHN.”

Joan Jett

[Elvir Ovcina]

Called up. Will start today.

Zuck notes: “ Pronunciation of Joan Adon: First name like "Johan" without the "h," last name ah-DOHN.”

Not his fault, but it's chickencrap to start a guy who was in high-A much of the year in a game that matters.

[Natsinpwc]

Not his fault, but it's chickencrap to start a guy who was in high-A much of the year in a game that matters.

Basically saying freak you Yanks and Jays and Mariners. Maybe they will score a bunch of runs and win. I am rooting for a 4 way tie.

[welch]

Basically saying freak you Yanks and Jays and Mariners. Maybe they will score a bunch of runs and win. I am rooting for a 4 way tie.

Does this start Adon's "clock"? If so, that's a good reason not to start Cavalli, although he started a couple nights ago. Maybe Braymer would have been a better choice. Braymer was voted best pitcher in AAA in August and September. Still not much better than Adon...

Who is on the Nats? Maybe Paolo Espino? Nobody else except for the wretched relief pitchers, and Adon might be more than any of them.

[welch]

Although maybe it's a chance for us to evaluate the accuracy of the skilled talent evaluators who wrote, according to Imref,

Signed for just $50K in 2016, Adon’s stuff has turned heads through the low parts of Washington’s system. He spent his first year in pro ball in the DSL, coming stateside last summer and splitting time between the GCL and New York-Penn League. The Nationals moved the 20-year-old righty to Hagerstown’s rotation this year, and while he ultimately is more likely to wind up back in the ‘pen, facing lineups numerous times and working late into games is good for his development.

Adon’s fastball works in the 93-to-97 mph range as a starter, hinting there’s even more velocity to come if he’s back in a relief role at any point. The pitch flashes occasional lively armside run, though his command and general pitchability are still fairly raw. His primary off-speed is a hard mid-80s slider, showing tight rotation and bite at times. He doesn’t finish the pitch consistently but the signs of a playable big league breaking ball are there. Adon’s changeup is a nascent third offering that lags behind the rest of his arsenal.

The arm-strength makes him a prospect, though Adon’s lack of size, third pitch, and present mechanical effort makes him a better long-term fit in the ‘pen. He has the stuff to fit a middle relief or 7th inning setup role with more breaking ball consistency and continued refinements to his strikethrowing.

Since Adon seems to be aboy 6'2" and weighs about 240 pounds, I guess evaluators think that every kid starter should be 6'8" and 275?

[Smithian]

He looked really good yesterday.

I have some small hope that next year he could work himself into being a back of the rotation regular.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Does this start Adon's "clock"? If so, that's a good reason not to start Cavalli, although he started a couple nights ago. Maybe Braymer would have been a better choice. Braymer was voted best pitcher in AAA in August and September. Still not much better than Adon...

Who is on the Nats? Maybe Paolo Espino? Nobody else except for the wretched relief pitchers, and Adon might be more than any of them.

It starts his service clock, but a couple days won't make a difference.  He was also already on the 40-man all year so it doesn't affect his option years either.   

Cavalli isn't on the 40-man so having him make this start would have meant that he'd need to start burning options next year if he didn't make the team out of Spring Training (which he shouldn't).