MLB Prospect Watch

January 29, 2012

C.J. Cron tore it up at the plate in his professional debut before his season ended due to a knee injury, but as Bill Plunkett reports for Baseball America, the Angels prospect is back on track to be ready for the season.
Unlike last spring with the Indians, this year Drew Pomeranz is entering Rockies spring training with a chance to win a spot in a big league rotation, notes Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Pomeranz will be competing with a crowded field for a spot, but may be the most talented pitcher in the field.
The Orioles have made their first venture into the international market under new GM Dan Duquette, signing 17-year-old LHP Kim Sung-min, reports Eduardo Encina of The Baltimore Sun.

Yonder Alonso wasn't going to be your typical power-hitting first baseman in any park, and certainly won't be in PetCo Park, but as Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune points out, the spaciousness of the outfield in the Padres home park should play right into Alonso's line-drive hitting strength.
Of the top-10 picks in the 2007 draft, only two - 3B Josh Vitters and P Casey Weathers - have yet to reach the majors, points out Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, who also notes that both are now with the Cubs and that this could be the year for Vitters to make the jump.
Roman Mendez has been with two organizations and has had up and down years, but as Mike Newman points out for FanGraphs.com, Mendez has re-established himself as a legitimate pitching prospects in the Rangers organization with a strong 2011 campaign, bouncing back from a poor 2010 season.

Oscar Taveras established himself as one of the top position player prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, thanks to a 2011 season that saw him bat .386 in the Midwest League that is being taken with a grain of salt thanks to a .440 batting average on balls in play. But as FutureRedbirds.com points out, just because his BABIP is unsustainable doesn't mean Taveras' entire performance should be discounted, and they normalize the performance for us and show that it is still pretty impressive.
Many people take the easy road and just compare Astros 2B prospect Delino DeShields, Jr. to his father, and given that they play the same position, it's the natural thing to do, but as Mike Newman of FanGraphs.com notes in his in-depth scouting report, DeShields Jr. is a much different player than his father.
The Seattle Mariners have announced their non-roster invitees to camp, reports Greg Johns of MLB.com. Prospects getting the invite include pitchers Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Erasmo Ramirez, and Stephen Pryor, SS Nick Franklin, and OF Vinnie Catricala.

The Oakland A's have signed 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Yairo Munoz, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.
Jared Mitchell is trying to put a lost season and another disappointing one behind him, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Mitchell will be in White Sox camp this spring as a non-roster invitee.
Giants SS prospect Ehrie Adrianza will always be a better defender than a hitter, but as Andy Baggerly points out for Baseball America, his bat closed the gap between the two last season.
The Rays have announced their non-roster invites to Spring Training, including a pair of shortstops Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times.
The Royals have also announced their Spring Training invites, which include a quartet of pitchers - Mike Montgomery, Will Smith, Chris Dwyer, and Jake Odorizzi - and outfielder Wil Myers, according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.

FutureRedbirds.net takes a look at the success the St. Louis Cardinals have had drafting pitchers in the early rounds, including Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly, and Jordan Swagarty.
The Rangers have moved both Mike Olt and Tommy Mendonca off the hot corner, despite them both being capable defenders at the position, notes Jeff Wilson for Baseball America. With Adrian Beltre blocking both players in the majors, Olt is getting time at first base this spring while Mendonca is converting to catcher, a transition that could take time, but could also pay off with major dividends if successful.
The Cleveland Indians have promoted or traded away most of the top talent in their farm system, but Jim Piascik of Indians Prospect Insider has five names from within the organization that are worth getting excited about this season, including 2011 first-round pick Francisco Lindor.