Farm System Breakdown – #11: Motley Shue

For an explanation on the distinction between the “Exponential” and “Linear” rankings given below, please refer to my earlier post “Farm System Primer”. I know it’s tedious, but I had just enough details that I felt needed to review, that I didn’t want to start off each Farm System Breakdown post with 4 paragraphs of jargon. And of course, any questions, feel free to inquire within.

Top 30 Rank (Exponential/Linear): 11/8
Total Rank (Exp/Lin): 10/7
Average of Total Rank (Exp/Lin): 12/10
Average Prospect Grade/Risk (Exp/Lin): 49/High / 44/High
Total Prospects: 50

Groups of 15 Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

MPTK = “More Players to Know” section of Handbook, DC = Depth Chart of Handbook, 21IFA = IFA signed and drafted in 2021, NL = Not listed in handbook under any sections

Summary

Now this is a farm system. After looking at the duds of the league in terms of prospect capital, this is a refreshing experience.

A similar construction at the top compared to the Tom Cat’s franchise, you have a strong lead off of Kiriloff, followed up by Royce Lewis (RSVP), William Contreras, Hoese and Priester. You can still squeeze a little more upper talent than the Tom Cat’s at this point in the form of Bo Naylor and Kloffenstein. The distinguishing detail at this point is the depth of the “guys” layer of prospects, as it stretches into the twenties. Many of them a little more intriguing than your typical mid-tiered players. Entering the tier of fringy-role players, it just seems to stretch forever from 23 to 35.

I’m actually a little surprised at how few names I expect to graduate in the near future from the top of this list. With that being said, this is a farm that I would expect to creep up the ranks slowly but surely over the next few seasons. I don’t know if this farm can peak much higher than 8, as I anticipate that the draft position of the Motley Shue franchise won’t allow for top tier talent to be added via draft. But, a slow but steady rise to top half of the league seems reasonable.

If Shue can find his regular season legs in 2021, and coasts on the prospects he currently has, he could create an enviable position of a top half farm in a franchise that’s competing for championships year in and year out.
Go team Shue!