Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2397: The Slightly-Less-Long Offseason

9 snips

Nov 5, 2025

Eric Longenhagen, FanGraphs' lead prospect analyst, dives into the intricacies of international baseball. He discusses the impressive potential of Munetaka Murakami and evaluates Roki Sasaki’s skills compared to MLB standards. Longenhagen critiques the winter scouting moratorium, arguing it could hinder competitive fairness. The conversation reveals which MLB teams might pursue Murakami and highlights other upcoming international prospects. Expect insights on the trends and tools shaping modern scouting strategies!

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INSIGHT

Prospecting Is A Year-Round Endeavor

Prospect work is year-round; Eric scouts Fall League and watches other competitions while tracking players globally.
That continuous coverage fuels better evaluation of international talent entering MLB markets.

INSIGHT

Asia-To-MLB Pathways Produce Varied Outcomes

Increasing flows between MLB and Asian leagues create diverse success paths: some players improve overseas and return stronger.
Top-tier examples like Yamamoto are rare, but many pitchers refine skills abroad and re-enter MLB usefully.

INSIGHT

Roki Likely Better As High-Leverage Reliever

Roki Sasaki's command issues and inconsistent health suggest his best long-term role may be high-leverage relief.
Eric prefers Emmett Sheehan as a starter due to better fastball playability and command upside.

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