Complete Universe Facegen Pack 2.0 (New)

[percolaten]

Could we get a Randy Niemann as a player facegen? Looks like the only one is of an older Niemann.

[AESP_pres]

Of course he's a guy who started his career the season after I stop doing FGs to play... guess he will be done when I'll reach 1979. I made him a bit darker than usual because I know that it's better for you.

Edit: Lans since I don't know when I'll post my next update (could be long since I play and I'm in 1971) you can download the FG for your next pack update... Obviously I know it won't be anytime soon since you are part of beta tester team and that surely takes a lot of your free time.

[percolaten]

Thanks, looks fantastic!

[percolaten]

Hey facegen gurus,

wondering if I could get a bearded Trot Nixon and Mark Grudzielanek? In '03, Trot posted his best numbers while wearing a beard, and Grud wasn't too shabby, either.

[percolaten]

High-potential minor leaguer Ivan Melendez needs a facegen.

[LansdowneSt]

Here's an alt of Trot Nixon. I fixed his hair color and just used the slightly older picture before retired from the game. it can be distinguished from the other by the -gt suffix on the ID.

[LansdowneSt]

Same for Mark Grudzielanek. - gt suffix

[LansdowneSt]

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 40 | Overall: 45

A junior-college transfer, Melendez joined Texas for the 2021 season and showed good power with 13 homers but only went in the 16th round to the Marlins that summer. After not signing, he put together one of the most powerful college seasons in recent memory with 32 homers (most in NCAA since BBCOR bat restrictions were adopted in 2011) and led Division I in total bases and slugging percentage on his way to winning the Golden Spikes Award. The D-backs took Melendez in the second round in 2022, and while some questions remain about the entire profile, he lived up to his reputation with 30 homers over just 96 games between High-A and Double-A in his first full season before finishing up with a stint in the Arizona Fall League.

The right-handed slugger has the natural strength for at least double-plus raw power, so much so that coaches have advised him he just needs to “tap the ball” to send it screaming around the ballpark. To wit, he topped out with a 115.5 mph exit velocity in the AFL; only Ketel Marte (117.1) had a higher EV among D-backs Major Leaguers in ’23. Melendez has an uphill swing that creates the loft needed for his high homer total, but that also creates major contact concerns. He had whiff and chase rates above 30 percent on every pitch type he saw at Double-A, including fastballs.

Melendez was primarily a first baseman at Texas, but the D-backs have held out hope for him at third base in the pros. He still needs a lot of work there due to below-average speed and range, and he still might be best at the cold corner or even DH.

[percolaten]

Amazing, Lans, thank you so much!

[bthom]

Hey Lans, mind if I request another slew of higher profile minor leaguers that have risen up in my recent save? Finally downloaded your latest pack update, really good stuff and enjoying all the new additions.

Thank you!

Chase Burns
Noah Schultz
Tekoah Roby
Jacob Melton

[LansdowneSt]

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Though Burns reached 100 mph with his fastball and drew some first-round interest as a Tennessee high schooler, he fell to the Padres in the 20th round of the 2021 Draft because he was set on pitching at Tennessee. He starred in the Volunteers' rotation as a freshman but logged a 6.10 ERA in eight starts in 2023, prompting a move to a long-relief role in which he thrived. He ranked third in NCAA Division I in strikeout rate (14.3 per nine innings) and helped Tennessee reach the College World Series, then opted to transfer to Wake Forest. He parlayed a spectacular junior season into being the No. 2 overall pick in the Draft, tying a record with fellow 2024 draftee Charlie Condon with his $9.25 million bonus.

Burns operates at 97-99 mph and reaches 102 with his heater, but it's fairly straight and batters get a good look at it coming out of his high arm slot, so it gets hit harder than it should at times. His tight slider is a true beast that sits in the upper 80s and has generated a 60 percent swing-and-miss rate during the last two seasons. He also owns a plus low-80s curveball.

Burns rarely uses his upper-80s changeup but it can be a plus pitch with significant fade when it's on. He has a history of throwing strikes and has improved his overall command this spring, though he's still going to need to locate his fastball with more precision at the next level. He has the ceiling of a frontline starter, even if there is a little bit of reliever risk. - mlbpipeline

Closed his mouth before attempting him. There were closed mouth pics of him at UT and Wake but he looked too much like a kid. He's there top prospect so I'll redo him if he ever gets an official, closed mouth Spring Training photo.

[LansdowneSt]

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 60

Schultz barely pitched as an Illinois high school senior in 2022 while battling mononucleosis but did dominate the Prospect League, a wood-bat college summer circuit, leading up to the Draft. The White Sox ended a 21-year span of not taking prep pitchers in the first round by selecting him 26th overall and signed him away from a Vanderbilt commitment for $2.8 million. They handled him with care, as he missed the first two months of his 2023 pro debut with a flexor strain and his final couple of starts with a shoulder impingement, but in between he allowed a run in just one of his 10 Single-A outings while striking out 38 in 27 innings.

Schultz had one of the best sliders in the 2022 Draft, and his low-80s sweeper with high spin rates continued to destroy lower-level hitters because he creates exceptionally wide angle with his huge 6-foot-9 frame and low three-quarters arm slot. His four-seam fastball has sat at 93-95 mph and touched 97 in short stints the last two years, and Chicago is helping him add a sinking two-seam version as well. He's in the nascent stages of developing his changeup, a fading mid-80s offering that shows signs of becoming average.

With his size and arm angle, Schultz persistently draws physical comparisons to Randy Johnson. Though he's not as overpowering as the Hall of Famer, he's far more polished at the same stage of their careers. He has unusual athleticism and body control for a tall youngster, pounded the strike zone during his brief pro debut and exhibits very good feel for his slider. - mlbpipeline

Another that I elected to close the mouth before attempting. He's a smiler in nearly all the pics I found.

[LansdowneSt]

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Ranked No. 144 in the 2020 Draft class by MLB Pipeline, Roby went 86th overall to the Rangers and was signed away from a Troy commitment with a $775,000 bonus. He showed promise on the mound during his time in the Texas system, particularly in 2022, but battled a sprained elbow in 2021 and a shoulder injury in the first half of 2023. The Cardinals picked up the Double-A arm at the Trade Deadline in the Jordan Montgomery deal, gave him four starts in Springfield and then got him innings in the Arizona Fall League.

Roby touched as high as 99 mph in the Fall League as he re-established his health and was generally around 93-96 in the Texas League with a four-seamer that played up with good extension and flat angle. He spots the fastball well too, giving it another chance to be a plus pitch. His 80-83 mph curveball plays well off the heat, dropping nearly straight downward to get swings-and-misses. He added a low-80s slider with the Rangers, but it’s a tighter pitch that can be hammered when left up. His 81-83 mph changeup can generate whiffs but lacks consistency.

The 6-foot-1 righty repeats his delivery and sidestepped free passes well in 2023 (6.3 percent walk rate). He could avoid the center of the zone better and might just need more experience to improve the command. Shoulder issues have continued to dog Roby in his first full season as a Cardinal, bringing greater questions about his ability to handle a starter's workload. The stuff remains undeniable, however. - mlbpipeline

[LansdowneSt]

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

After spending his first college season at Linn-Benton (Ore.) CC and having his first two years at Oregon State truncated by the pandemic and an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, Melton won Pacific-12 Conference player of the year honors and set Beavers records with 83 RBIs and 175 total bases in 2022. He surprisingly dropped to the end of the second round, where Houston snapped him up with a $1 million bonus, and he batted .245/.335/.467 with 23 homers and 46 steals in 99 games in his first full pro season in 2023. When the Astros were negotiating the Justin Verlander trade with the Mets last summer, they preferred to give up Top 100 prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford so they could hold onto Melton.

Melton still doesn't have a classic left-handed swing, but Houston has helped him streamline it and tone down a big leg kick that he had in college. His strength and bat speed create plus raw power that plays to all fields, and his mechanical changes have enabled him to drive the ball in the air more consistently. He struggled against southpaws and did most of his damage at the friendly confines of High-A Asheville in 2023, but he also produced outstanding underlying metrics in terms of swing decisions, consistency of hard contact and exit velocity.

Melton has plus speed and uses it well, stealing 46 bases in 53 attempts last year. His quickness gives him solid range in center field and he has a better chance to remain up the middle with 2022 first-rounder Gilbert departing in the Verlander deal. He also fits the right-field profile with his offensive upside and solid arm strength. - mlbpipeline.com

I thought this one came out well.

[bthom]

Brilliant as usual. Not sure how you get rid of the smilers but it looks so natural. And you're right, Melton turned out great.

Thanks again!

[AESP_pres]

Originally Posted by bthom

Brilliant as usual. Not sure how you get rid of the smilers but it looks so natural.

I'm positive he use AILabTools Editor... at least this is what I use for them.

[AESP_pres]

Quency Hill (Minor League)

I usually don’t focus on players who never made it to the majors, but Quency Hill had some impressive seasons in Philadelphia's minor league system. He showed enough potential that he might have gotten a shot at the big leagues. If you enjoy playing with minor league rosters, there’s a chance he could eventually make the jump, and you’ll already have him in your lineup when that happens.

To be honest, I discovered his name while reviewing Ted Sizemore’s trade history. Hill stood out with 49 wins over five seasons in the Phillies’ system, so I thought he deserved a place in the pack.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=hill--001ran

[dewelar]

Frank Gilmore (gilmofr01 / gilmor001fra) could use some help. His facegen in the main pack is one of the old ghoulish faces. I expected to find one in Pres' pack as he's an 1880s NL player, but no luck.

[AESP_pres]

Maybe I forgot to include him since he was an old FG under the short BBRef id... I give him another try.

I included the old FG (first), the new one (second) and the reference image in the player banner.

[AESP_pres]

Fast question dewelar... was this the FG included in the pack because it's a really old one I did years ago and he's sure worthy of being called ghoulish?