Nick Ashbourne

There are some very successful, very experienced pitchers on this ball club, and Miles is wise to seek out their guidance because there's a lot that they've learned over a decade-plus career, closer to 20 years for Max Scherzer, and there's a lot he can absorb and help him develop beyond just what he does on the field.

It's funny, what stood out to me about that interview was not the veteran pitchers, but the catcher, Valenzuela.

Sure.

where you're talking about someone who is an MLB rookie, and you often think when someone comes up as a catcher and they're a rookie, the things that they need to work on aren't always just the skills.

It's the how do you handle a staff, where are you in terms of thinking the game, reading swings, calling games.

That really feels like veteran stuff, and all those descriptions he gave about Valenzuela kind of being a guiding force for him, that really impresses me, that there's a catcher who is –

And when people are covering major league ball clubs, one of the most common guys they'll go to is the backup catcher.

That person isn't necessarily always busy and they know a lot about the game.

They know the hitting side.

They know the pitching side.

That's probably Valenzuela's future if he stays with the Blue Jays just because Kirk is such a good player.

No fault of his own.

So if he's already establishing himself as one of the better people to talk to, he's going to be locked into that role with the media for better or for worse from his perspective.

Maybe already, honestly.

I think the Valenzuela one already looks very good.

Wagner was, you know, kind of a high floor, low ceiling type of prospect.

He hasn't really caught on with the Padres too well.

I don't think he would have a fit with the Blue Jays.

And Valenzuela looks like someone who could be a part of the future, you know, kind of even medium long term.

You would think so, because generally speaking, at this time, so close before the game, it's just information you would know.