The dam of Alamo Short Stacks Draft Picks finally broke on Tuesday as the club announced a major deal with the Mission Viejo Maulers. The Stacks will acquire LHP Tarik Skubal (2/$1), 2B Nico Hoerner (2R/$3) and a 2024 3rd Round Pick (40th Overall) from the Mission Viejo Maulers for 2024 1st and 2nd Rounders (5th and 29th Overall), outfielder Max Clark (Minors) and infielder Jordan Westburg (Minors).
Skubal underwent left flexor tendon surgery in August of 2022 and his rehab extended through the first three months of last season. He was on a limited pitch count initially upon his return and there were some bumps in the road early, but Skubal eventually rounded into form, going 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 52:6 K:BB in his final six starts (36 innings). A ninth-round pick in 2018, Skubal changed up his formula last season, dialing back his slider usage significantly for more four-seam fastballs and changeups. The changeup proved to be a big swing-and-miss pitch for him (50.6 Whiff% per Statcast) -- he still threw his slider, but the changeup became his primary secondary pitch behind the four-seamer. In total, the southpaw pitched just 95 innings last season, but if healthy, he should approach his career high of 149.1 innings set in 2021.
Hoerner took hold of a starting job for the Cubs in 2022 and produced a .281/.327/.410 slash line with 10 homers, 20 steals, 55 RBI and 60 runs in 135 games, and he followed up with similar production last season. He moved from shortstop to second base in 2023 following the signing of Dansby Swanson and had nine long balls, 43 steals, 98 runs and 68 RBI with a .729 OPS across 150 contests. Those figures resulted in a 102 wRC+, and he was sixth in the league in stolen bases while being caught seven times. In total, Hoerner's 414.0 points ranked seventh among second baseman.
The Stacks Front Office was focused on acquiring players through the 2025 Season, which both Skubal and Hoerner are controlled through while maintaining the club's league-high mark in 2024 Cap Space.
The Maulers continued their strong Front Office run, turning a mostly blank roster entering 2023 into a group overflowing with Keeper talent in 2024. GM Chris Ferraro gets back into the 1st Round with this deal after shipping their own pick off last season. The club now holds three picks in the 2nd Round, giving Ferraro even more ammunition to reload this year.
Max Clark is the headliner on the prospect side, entering 2024 as one of the top outfield prospects in baseball. Clark has the potential to be a five-tool player. That’s a term that’s too often thrown around for players who barely scrape average in one of the five tools, but in his case, it’s realistic. He could end up with all five tools grading out as plus. Clark has plus-plus speed, a plus-plus arm, the range to be a plus defender in center field and the bat-to-ball skills to be a plus hitter as well. Projecting his power to be plus is a little more speculative, because he’s a hitter whose line-drive swing has generally been more geared to hitting for average.
Clark got a brief taste of the Florida State League in 2023. He’s expected to start at Low-A Lakeland in 2024 with a goal of playing his way to High-A West Michigan. His combination of speed, defense and hitting ability gives him a high probability of being a useful big leaguer, and if his power develops, he could become a cornerstone of the Tigers’ lineup.
Westburg is a key add for the Maulers with the projection to be an Opening Day activation for a Maulers squad that could use the cap relief. Westburg was one of a host of top young prospects to see action with the Orioles in 2023, receiving a promotion in late June. His playing time with the American League East champs was sporadic, as he wound up starting 53 of 86 games (62 percent). Westburg did start seven of the final 10 regular-season contests and all three games of the Orioles' ALDS loss to the Rangers, so his playing time was trending up late in the year and he should be in line for regular starts in 2024.
The 25-year-old popped 27 homers in the minors in 2022 and 18 in 67 games with Triple-A Norfolk in 2023 before his promotion, but he managed just three long balls in 68 games with Baltimore while dealing with the cavernous left field at Camden Yards. Westburg's average exit velocity (90.2 mph) and hard-hit rate (44.5 percent) were good, and his sprint speed (88th percentile) was better, giving him strong upside in a hurry.
Clark checks in as the 3rd ranked prospect in the Maulers Farm System while Westburg slots in 5th.
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