Brendan Gawlowski Prospect Chat: 2026 MLB Scouting Insights

This blog post dives into insights from longtime scout and analyst Brendan Gawlowski, who recently joined a live chat to talk about MLB prospects, scouting, and player development across several teams.

Gawlowski, a former Pirates scout and current FanGraphs contributor, didn’t hold back. He offered honest takes on individual prospects, challenged some popular rankings, and shared real thoughts on how teams shape—or sometimes mess up—young talent.

Scouting Perspective From a Veteran Evaluator

Gawlowski brings nearly thirty years in pro baseball, and it really shows. His background with West Coast systems and a data-driven Pirates front office shapes a style that mixes old-school scouting with analytics.

Evaluating Pitchers Beyond the Radar Gun

The conversation got interesting when they dug into pitcher Michael Bowman. Gawlowski called him a speculative flier—Bowman’s fastball sits in the low-to-mid-90s but acts more like a cutter.

He pairs it with a workable changeup, but there are some flags. Gawlowski pointed out Bowman’s early arm opening and how hitters pick up the ball, which might limit his upside.

Instead of just chasing velocity, Gawlowski likes to judge command by intent, athleticism, and arm action. That’s something he comes back to a lot.

Prospect Rankings and the Reality of Projection

Gawlowski didn’t sugarcoat his feelings about prospect lists. He pushed back against the hype that makes too many players out to be future stars.

Cole Young and the Value of Patience

He slotted Cole Young in the high-50s on his rankings. Young’s polished and young, but he doesn’t have loud tools and probably won’t be a star.

Still, Gawlowski thinks Young could easily carve out a role in the majors. His take on the 50-grade player has shifted—he’d rather use that label for guys who can actually stick in the big leagues, even if they aren’t flashy.

High-Upside Arms and Offensive Optimism

He gave strong marks to a few pitching prospects, where risk and upside always seem to go hand in hand.

Ace Potential and Rotation Staples

Gawlowski sees Luis Morales as a real ace candidate. Thomas White looks more like a No. 2 or No. 3 starter, which is still valuable.

But he’s quick to say injuries are the biggest threat to these arms, no matter how good their stuff is. On the hitting side, he’s pretty high on Emerson Nimmala and Arjun Nimmala, thinking both could develop into impact bats as they fill out and adjust their approaches.

Organizational Development: Hits and Misses

Gawlowski didn’t just focus on players—he had some sharp takes on how teams develop talent too.

System Strengths and Red Flags

He praised the Pirates for mixing pro scouting and analytics well. He even mentioned Antwone Kelly as a name to keep an eye on in their system.

On the flip side, he knocked the Yankees’ farm for the same sloppy fundamentals that show up in the majors. He also thinks a lot of Angels prospects could use a fresh start somewhere else, hinting at bigger development problems there.

Final Thoughts on Development and Environment

Gawlowski wrapped up with some bigger-picture thoughts. He urged patience with younger players and warned against rushing pitchers into bullpen roles.

• Let starters take their time to develop before moving them to relief
• Injuries happen—it’s just part of the risk, even if it’s frustrating
• Context really does matter in how players grow

He even admitted he kind of appreciates the Rockies. Their system stands out, mostly because their environment throws so many curveballs. You don’t see that every day.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Brendan Gawlowski Prospect Chat: 1/13/2026