MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Performances - 3/10

Everyone has seen Stephen Strasburg's performance by now, but other prospects got to play too, ya know...

• Jeremy Hellickson struck out all four batters he faced against the Orioles on Tuesday, reports Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  Despite Hellickson's obvious talent, the Rays' rotation doesn't have any openings for the 22-year-old, but his performance certainly gave the Rays a glimpse of what his power arm could do in the back of their bullpen.
• Buster Posey finally got a chance to start for the Giants behind the plate and excelled, says Chris Haft in his MLB.com blog.  He also went 2-for-2 with a home run.
• Jason Heyward has been hitting everything in Braves camp this spring, and that includes the outfield wall, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com.  The top prospect collided with the wall trying to rob a home run on Tuesday, and had some soreness the next day.  he sat out only as a precaution.
• Matt Antonelli is getting some hits this spring for the Padres, something which he hasn't done consistently for the past two years, reports Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Prospect Injury Update 3/10

• The only thing that can keep Scott Sizemore out of the Tigers' Opening Day lineup is the same thing that ended his 2009 fall season - his left ankle.  Sizemore, who broke the ankle in the Arizona Fall League, is considered the front-runner for the team's 2B job, but he asked out of the lineup on Tuesday because of discomfort in the surgically repaired ankle, reports John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.  Of course, it also could have been because he was scheduled to face Stephen Strasburg.  Lowe later reported that Sizemore wasn't worried about the ankle, saying "It just felt weak (today) -- it felt a little unstable, a little muscular. Maybe just a little overworked. I’d rather not take a chance at this point -- I’ve still got three weeks of spring training to go. I’m just trying to be smart -- not get hurt again.
• Mat Gamel is taking a few more days off due to his sore right (throwing) shoulder, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, and may have come back to soon from the initial injury.  Gamel is attempting to overtake Casey McGehee as the Brewers' starting third baseman, but needs this time in Spring Training to show the team he has improved his defense and can handle toe role defensively.

Cardinals Notes

• Allen Craig, who is competing for a roster spot as a backup corner infielder/corner outfielder, will attempt to make his first spring appearance today, reports Matthew Leach of MLB.com.  Craig has been out of spring action with a strained left quad.
• Leach also reports that the Cardinals are looking for a spot to debut last year's first-round draft pick, Shelby Miller.  Miller, an 19-year-old right-hander drafted out of high school, clearly isn't competing for a big-league job, if they can fit him in, the Cardinals would like to see what he can do against advanced competition.

Talk of Chapman Making Reds' Roster

With one dominant outing in the books, the excitement surrounding Aroldis Chapman within Cincinnati Reds' camp is growing exponentially.  It has now reached the point where the Reds are legitimately considering keeping Chapman on the Opening Day roster, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Reds are saying all the right things for now, but they are definitely not ruling out the possibility of keeping their top prospect in the majors.  According to everything the Reds have said so far, the only way Chapman could make their roster would be as the number 5 starter.  They have made it clear that their intentions are to make Chapman a starter until he has shown that he can't handle it, so to keep him in the majors in any other role would go against their plan.

The likelihood of Chapman making the team is still low, but now that the Reds have seen him have success in actual game action, they can certainly envision it more clearly.

Complete Scouting Report on Strasburg's Debut

Stephen Strasburg made his highly anticipated debut for the Washington Nationals Tuesday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers.  He started the game and faced mostly starters from the Tigers' roster.

Strasburg threw 27 pitches in his two innings of work, but 20 of them came in the 2nd inning, when he gave up back-to-back singles.  Neither ball was hit particularly hard.

MLB Prospect Watch scouted Strasburg's outing and you can see a full scouting report on Strasburg's outing, complete with pitch locations and selection.  The chart does not differentiate between 4-seam and 2-seam fastballs and does not have pitch speeds.  Pitch locations are from the view behind the pitcher.

Strasburg threw only his 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, and curve ball in this outing.  The pitches marked in blue are the ones where he hit his location set up by the catcher (regardless of it being a ball or strike), and those marked in orange were where he missed his target.  As you can see, Strasburg's control with his fastball was significantly better from the windup (10-of-13) than from the stretch (2-of-8).

He threw 6 curve balls in the outing, bouncing 3 of them in the dirt and throwing 2 for strikes.  Both of the curve balls thrown for strikes froze the hitters completely, including the 3-2 bender he threw Brent Dlugach to end his afternoon.

Overall, Strasburg was as impressive as advertised in his first outing.  He located his fastball well and induced ground balls (5 of the 8 batters he faced hit the ball on the ground) with his sinking 2-seam fastball. 

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/9

Today's links are brought to you by Stephen Strasburg's first appearance...

• Max Stassi is drawing positive reviews from everyone in Oakland A's camp who knows anything about catching, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• The Chicago White Sox still aren't sure how they're going to use Dan Hudson this year, reports Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun Times.
• Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies discusses the change in batting stance made by Rockies' prospect Hector Gomez, and raves about the progress he's made.
• The Red Sox had a day full of impressive performances by some of their top prospects.  Cuban short stop Jose Iglesias hit his first home run, reports Ron Borges of the Boston Herald. The Sox went on to win that game, and at one point displayed an outfield of Josh Reddick, Ryan Kalish, and Che-Hsuan Lin, which could be their outfield of the future, suggests Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.

Prospect Performances - 3/9

More and more prospects are seeing game action as Spring Training gets into full swing...

• Brian Matusz bounced back from a rough first inning to strike out 6 in 2 2/3 IP, reports Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.  The 5th spot in the Orioles' rotation is Matusz's to lose.
• Casey Kelly threw two solid innings for the Red Sox in his last appearance, but as Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald notes, it's is poise as much as anything which is most impressive.
• J.P Arencibia is having a solid spring reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.  After a rough 2009 campaign that began with so much hype, the 24-year-old catcher is starting over and learning from the veterans in Blue Jays' camp, adds Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.
• When you think of left-handed pitchers competing for the 5th spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation, you don't immediately think of Matt Maloney, but he's pitching well too, says John Fay of the Cinncinnati Enquirer.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates expect to be led by young players, but they have to be pleased when they get performances like this from Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata, as noted by Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  Brad Lincoln also threw two innings in the game, and has an outside shot at making the Pirates rotation.
• The Detroit Tigers' leadoff spot is Austin Jackson's to lose, but as John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reports, Jackson is doing nothing to lose it.

Phillies News

Prospect happenings for the two-time defending National League champs...

• The Phillies have their work cut out for them with Phillippe Aumont, as they try to return his mechanics to their pre-draft form and try to undo the arm-slot change the Mariners enforced when they tried to move Aumont to the bullpen, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  They also have to get his arm stretched back out so that he can return to being a starting pitcher, notes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
• Gelb also discusses the road traveled by B.J. Rosenberg to get to Double-A last year, and his chances of making the big league club.
• Domonic Brown is having a great spring, going 7 for his first 15 and also throwing three guys out on the bases thus far, reports David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Brewers Send Down Two Prospects

The Milwaukee Brewers sent Eric Arnett and Kyle Heckathorn down to minor league camp on Monday, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  The move was not unexpected, as the two players were only in big league camp as part of their initial contracts after signing.  The two right-handers were the team's top two draft picks in 2009.  Neither appeared in a game this spring.

Another Strong Outing for Mejia

Jenrry Mejia was back on the mound today for the New York Mets, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out four, and giving up only two singles, reports Marty Noble of MLB.com.  The 20-year old right-hander is scheduled to have a 4-inning appearance on Thursday, which is an indication that the Mets are still preparing him to start.  Any starting assignment for Mejia would be in the minor leagues.

That hasn't stopped manager Jerry Manuel from hinting that he would like to keep Mejia in his big league bullpen.  In fact, Manuel has given up on hinting and is now just coming out and announcing his wishes in an attempt to convince the front office to let him keep the budding prospect in the majors.

Chapman Impressive in Debut

10:50 pm: Not surprisingly, the Royals hitters who faced Chapman had nothing but rave reviews to report, says Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.  Most came away impressed if not baffled.  

8:10 pm:  Chapman threw 15 of his 26 pitches for strikes, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com, and according to the radar guns of scouts behind the plate, he hit 100-mph at least 3 times, reports the Associated Press.

Monday 3/8 4:21 pm:  In the most anticipated debut of the spring (until Stephen Strasburg debuts tomorrow anyway), Aroldis Chapman threw two scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals in his first appearance for the Cincinnati Reds in a live game.

Chapman struck out 3 batters and walked one while surrendering one hit during the outing.  He was the first reliever used by the Reds, pitching the 3rd and 4th innings.

Check back to this post frequently as it will be updated constantly throughout the next few days with reaction to Chapman's performance from opponents, teammates, coaches and scouts.

Heyward Continues to Impress in Braves Camp

Every time someone warns the Braves of the dangers of rushing Jason Heyward to the majors, like Bill Sanders of the Atlanta Journal Constitution tried to do, the kid goes out and gives the team another reason to keep him around.

This time, it was a very loud reason, as the 20-year-old prospect drilled a 420-foot home run, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com.  The bomb was Heyward's first home run of the spring, which had been about the only thing missing from the show he's been putting on since reporting to camp.  Heyward is hitting over .400 and has shown exceptional plate discipline and an ability to avoid striking out.

The Braves still have not made an official decision on Heyward, but manager Bobby Cox is perhaps his biggest fan.  The offense-starved Braves would have to show impressive restraint to send Heyward back to the minors to start the year.

Chapman to Debut on Monday

Aroldis Chapman is scheduled to make his professional debut for the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, and as Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports, he's ready.  Chapman will pitch out of the bullpen, but the team has not announced which innings he will pitch.

The game is not televised, so be sure to check back with MLB Prospect Watch for a breakdown of how opinions, and enough breakdown to match the hype surrounding the Cuban defector and his much-anticipated debut.

Royals' Injuries

On the same day when 3B Alex Gordon broke his thumb stealing a base, the Kansas City Royals also has some significant setbacks to a few of their more highly touted prospects.

It was announced today that shortstop Jeff Bianchi will undergo elbow surgery and miss the entire 2010 season, reports Dick Kaegel of MLB.com. Bianchi is the top infield prospect in the Royals' system but has already had an injury-plagued career.

 Also shutting it down is left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy who is experiencing elbow stiffness.  We have touched on Duffy's mechanics in the past, and Wally Fish of Kings of Kauffman touches on the effects of his injury, which is not expected to be as serious as Bianchi's.

Posey Sees Time at First Base

The San Francisco Giants used top prospect Buster Posey, naturally a catcher, at first base for a few innings on Saturday, notes Chris Haft in his MLB.com blog.  Using Posey at 1B is an idea that Giants' manager Bruce Bochy has tossed around a few times this spring, although this was the first time it actually happened.  Posey played the position well and looked comfortable around the bag.

The Giants have a difficult decision in front of them regarding Posey, their top draft pick in 2008 (5th overall).  He is undoubtedly their catcher of the future, but the general consensus within the organization is that he could use some more time in the minors to refine his defensive play behind the plate.  The Giants, however, are a team that has struggled to score runs in recent years, and Posey's bat would be a welcome addition to the lineup.

The Giants have mentioned not wanting to keep Posey in the majors because they won't have an opportunity for him to catch every day, but with a team that is only one or two bats away from contending, the temptation to leave Posey on the roster is growing daily.  Posey appears to have adapted well to first base, and he would give the team a platoon partner for Aubrey Huff, who struggles to hit lefties.  Most scouts also believe that Posey has the athleticism to play other positions on the field.

Prospect Performances - 3/7

We continue to get looks at prospects while they are still in big league camp.

• Aaron Crow worked two scoreless innings fo the Royals on Saturday in his first appearance in a big league uniform, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.  The Royals also got a chance to see Rule V draft pick Edgar Osuna and prospect Blake Wood, each of whom threw a scoreless inning, notes Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• Add Fernando Martinez to the list of impressive rookies in Mets' camp.  F-Mart hit two homeruns in a 4-for-4 day against the Nationals, reports Marty Noble of MLB.com.
• Jeremy Hellickson made his Rays debut against the Yankees on Friday, and Kevin Gengler of RaysProspects.com has a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of the young righty's performance.
• Angels fans got to see two prospects in a row, reports Lyle Spencer in his MLB.com blog.  Tyler Chatwood and Trevor Reckling made back-to-back appearances, each throwing two innings.
• Recently acquired Mitch Talbot threw two scoreless innings for the Indians, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Talbot, acquired in an off-season trade with the Rays, is battling to be the Indians' 5th starter.

Laying Out the Options for Desmond

Ian Desmond is having a strong spring thus far, which, when added to his strong 2009 call-up performance, is building the Washington Nationals' confidence in the young short stop.  This creates a problem for the team's front office (on top of the impending Stephen Strasburg dilemma, as if they didn't have enough on their plate).  The team is still on the books for one more year of Christian Guzman (at $8M), but they are at the risk of having one of their most expensive players being out performed by a rookie in Spring Training.

Bill Ladson of MLB.com lays out the team's options for Desmond, which consist of sending him to the minors, using him as a utility player, or giving him the starting job, and weighs the pros and cons of each.

Despite playing only one game away from short stop in the minors, the Nats used Desmond at 2B during his call-up, and he even had a start in right field.  They have also tried him at 3B and play to use him in left field as well if they end up taking the utility option.

Prospect Performances - 3/6

More and more prospects are getting a chance to shine early in camp...

• Ian Desmond is making a strong case for making the Nationals roster, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.  The Nats have Christian Guzman as the incumbant shortstop, Desmond's natural position, but manager Jim Riggleman has mentioned the possibility of keeping Desmond on the roster as a utility player, using him at second, short, third, and in the outfield.
• It may have been a "B" game, but Jacob Turner and Andy Oliver still got a chance to show the Tigers what they can do, notes Jason Beck of MLB.com.  Turner was the more impressive of the two, impressing the Tigers' front office officials in attendence with his poise on the mound, according to John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.  Neither prospect has a chance to make the big league club this spring, as both were 2009 draftees.
• Mike Stanton gave the Marlins a look at what they have to look forward to with an opposite field homerun, notes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.  Check out the response of Mets' catcher Josh Thole when the ball was hit if you want a good laugh.
• Mark Rogers is finally a Brewer, at least for this spring, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  Rogers, the team's first-round pick in 2004, made his first appearance for the Brewers on Friday, and is pitching pain-free for the first time in years.
• The Pirates took some heat for drafting Tony Sanchez fourth overall last June, but the young catcher from Boston College is putting those criticisms to rest with his on-field performance.  That extended into his spring debut, reports Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as Sanchez showed off all facets of his game.  Sanchez expressed his anxiousness afterwords to Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Oh, and in case you missed it, Jenrry Mejia was really good for the Mets, notes Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.

Frazier OK After Chapman Plunking

Despite a 95-mph fastball to the knee, Todd Frazier is just a little bruised, reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.

Frazier was plunked by fellow prospect Aroldis Chapman in the Cincinnati Reds' intrasquad game on Thursday, but came away with just a nasty bruise in what could have been a much more damaging accident.

Other than the hit-by-pitch, Chapman displayed good control during his outing.

Mejia Too Good for His Own Good

It's outings like these that make the New York Mets look smart for considering using a 20-year-old as a set-up man in their bullpen this year.

Jenrry Mejia faced seven Marlins on Friday, retiring all of them, four by strikeout, reports Marty Noble of MLB.com.  He dominated hitters with his 94-95 mph sinking cutter, which hitters have reportedly mistaken for a slider because of its movement.

What began as a far-fetched notion based on ridiculous comparisons, the Mets' idea of breaking camp with Mejia in their bullpen looks smarter and smarter after performances like this.  The question still remains, however, whether it would be more beneficial for Mejia to go back down to the minors and work towards becoming an ace starter.

Mejia has impressed so far this spring, dominating primarily with one pitch.  It's a cutter with movement that combines that of a slider and a sinker.  He also throws a curveball and a changeup, both of which need refinement.  Despite his effectiveness with just one pitch this spring, don't the Mets owe it to Mejia and to themselves to give him a chance to add to his repertoire and fulfill his potential as an ace starting pitcher?

Mejia has thrown only 44 1/3 innings above A-ball and has battled control during his minor league career.  Even if he fails to improve his off-speed pitches, there is nothing that would prevent him from returning to a relief role and having any less success than the Mets believe he can have now.

The Mets cannot possibly justify keeping him in the majors in April.  Even if he goes to the minors and has success, he would still be a great August call-up for their bullpen down the stretch.  The opportunity to stretch out his arm, work on his off-speed pitches, and refine his game can only benefit him in the long run, whereas rushing him to the majors could ultimately stunt his development.