Rating Last Year's Rookies-Community Prospect #13 Runoff
by Dalman on Nov 22, 2025 8:16 AM EST
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PrintVoting was more fractured then ever this round with 5 guys (Espinosa, Goldschmidt, Luebke, Chapman and Kimbrel) all within a narrow band of 14% to 22%. The top two were separated by only a single vote and with them sharing only 41% of the vote between them, there is very little reason to have a preconceived notion which of the two of them would win a runoff.
So, a runoff it will be. In one corner we have San Diego Padres pitcher Cory Luebke. In the other corner, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt.
So, picking just between Goldschmidt and Luebke, who is the best prospect for future performance among that pair?
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+1
Nobody ever goes, 'Oh, I'm wrong.' Somebody eventually just goes, 'Shut up. We gotta eat, so let's shut up for minute.' - Louis C.K. on arguing
by casejud on Nov 22, 2025 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
+1
Minor League Ball's 2010 Rookie of the Year Poster
If you didn't know by now, my screen name is sarcastic
by mathisrocks5 on Nov 22, 2025 5:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
+1
I see Luebke as a mid-rotation starter for a long time to come, great fit in SD.
by kyuss94 on Nov 22, 2025 9:29 AM EST up reply actions
+1
"We did a lot of good things last year, and now we've got Julio ... That does nothing but improve the offense, and we expect to do better. That's our goal, to lead the NFL in everything. Every offensive category." -Roddy White
by Beachy Keen on Nov 22, 2025 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
I'm a little surprised....
by the love that Luebke is getting this early. He’s performed very well in the majors, but his minor league track record doesn’t point towards this sort of dominance in the strikeout department. Is he really that more likely going forward to be a better player than someone like Goldschmidt, Minor, or Chapman?
I guess I’d just like to hear the reasoning for him at this point from someone who voted for him. If we were voting on what they did last year, then sure, he should be on here (or before), but curious what people expect out of him going forward.
by brok515 on Nov 22, 2025 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
The strikeout’s have been somewhat a surprise given that he’s seen an improvement since advancing to the highest level, something you never expect, but it does happen. He’s been on a pretty mean streak going back to 2009 though.
In 2009, splitting the year between A+ and AA, opponents hit .231/.285/.322 off him. In 2010 split between AA & AAA he faired even better, .201/.251/.312. This year in the majors they only hit .209/.274/.335 off him and away from Petco he was a beast: .187/.260/.310 (279 PA’s).
In the minors his velocity was reported to be of the 88-91/92 variety. I’ve seen most of his starts going back to the end of 2010 and was quietly pleased that his velocity sits in the 91-93 range, with pinpoint control. Not exactly the typical finesse lefty one would be lead to believe he was.
He’s a lot of fun to watch pitch. Doesn’t really have any of those annoying tendancies you see from a lot of arms early in their careers. Of course, as a 26-year old rookie, you expect him to be more well-rounded.
by Amish_Willy on Nov 22, 2025 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
I don't understand
Luebke is a nice player, I get that, but I’ll take the everyday player who can hit 35-40 hrs over a guy who at best will be a number 2 starter. Goldy’s a guy that could be a potential star, whereas I don’t see that kind of potential from Luebke.
by LetsGoMets413 on Nov 22, 2025 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
That's where I'm at too
It seems a lot of folks (& this is hardly new) don’t agree with the contention that Paul Goldschmidt has ‘star potential’ but I think it’s difficult to watch him & not have thoughts like that though. I am a Cory Luebke fan & I think he can be a nice starter for a few years, but this isn’t a contest for me personally.
PS - I would have had Goldschmidt easily off by this point if it were a list I culled together, but it’s telling just how strong this class of rookies is (in my opinion) that none of the dozen names above him on the actual community grouping really seem out of place. Great group with talent still out there in Goldschmidt, Luebke, etcetera.
by Matt0330 on Nov 22, 2025 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
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