MLB Prospect Watch

Need to Know - 2/27

Here are the performances you need to know from Friday's Spring Training Action:

• Freddie Freeman (ATL) 1B - 0-3, K, Started at 1B, Batted 7th 
• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) DH - 1-3, BB, Has yet to play the field during Spring Games 
• Matt Wieters (BAL) DH - 1-2, 2B, BB, R, Started at C, Batted 6th 
• Michael Bowdon (BOS) P - 1 2/3 IP, 5 H 4 ER, 0 K/2 BB 
• Jeff Neimann (TB) P - 2 IP, H, 2 K/ 0 BB 
• Cale Iorg (DET) SS - 1-4, R, K, Started at SS< Batted 9th 
• Brett Gardner (NYY) CF - 2-2, 2B, BB, R, Started in CF, Leadoff 
• Austin Jackson (NYY) CF - 1-2, R, K 
• Jason Heyward (ATL) RF - 1-1 
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) CF - 0-3, K 
• Jake Arreita (BAL) P- 1 IP, 1 K/0 BB
• Tim Beckham (TB) SS - 1-1 
• J.P. Arencibia (TOR) C - 0-1 
• David Cooper (TOR) 1B - 0-2, R 
• Jason Donald (PHI) 3B - 0-2. R, BB, Started at 3B, Batted 2nd 
• Fernando Martinez (NYM) PH - 0-0, BB 
• Gordon Beckham (CWS) SS - 1-2, RBI 
• Dayan Viciedo (CWS) 3B - 2-3, R, RBI, Started at 3B, Batted 5th 
• Tyler Flowers (CWS) C - 1-2 
• Justin Smoak (TEX) 1B - 0-2, 2 K 
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) SS - 0-1, R, Started at SS, Batted 9th 
• Dexter Fowler (COL) CF - 0-4, K, Started in CF, Leadoff 
• Buster Posey (SF) PH - 0-1, K 
• Greg Halman (SEA) CF - 0-2, K
• Cutter Dykstra (MIL) RF - 1-2, R, RBI
• Alcides Escobar (MIL) SS - 1-4, R, RBI, Started at SS, Batted 9th 
• Aaron Cunningham (OAK) LF -  1-1, 2B, RBI, R
• Adrian Cardenas (OAK) 2B - 2-2, R 
• Matt Antonelli (SD) 2B - 1-2, K
• Kyle Banks (SD) 1B - 1-2, K 
• Carlos Santana (CLE) C - 0-2, K 

Big Names - Thursday 2/26

Here are the names to know (that haven't yet been covered here on MLBPW) and their performances from Thursday, 2/26:

• Jason Heyward (ATL) RF - 0-0. BB, R
• Colby Rasmus (STL) CF - 0-2, BB, R, Started in CF, Batted 2nd
• Brett Wallace (STL) DH - 0-2
• Matt Wieters (BAL) C - 0-2
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) CF - 0-2, BB, 2 K, Started in CF, Batted 2nd
• Pedro Alverez (PIT) DH - 1-1, 2B, RBI, Has yet to play the field in spring games
• Lars Anderson (BOS) 1B - 0-2, K
• David Cooper (TOR) 1B - 0-2
• J.A. Happ (PHI) P - 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K/0 BB
• Cameron Maybin (FLA) CF - 1-2, BB, Started in CF, Batted 2nd
• Logan Morrison (FLA) PH - 0-1
• Mike Stanton (FLA) RF - 1-3, K, Started in RF, Batted 6th
• Kyle Skipworth (FLA) PH - 0-1, K
• Reid Brignac (TB) 2B - 0-2
• Brett Gardner (NYY) LF - 0-2
• Gerardo Parra (ARI) RF - 1-3, R, RBI
• Beau Mills (CLE) 1B - 1-3, RBI, Started at 1B, Batted 4th
• Alcides Escobar (MIL) SS - 1-2
• Aaron Cunningham (OAK) LF - 1-1
• Greg Halman (SEA) LF - 1-3, 2K, Started in LF, Batted 5th
• Kyle Blanks (SD) 1B - 1-3, R, Started at 1B, Batted 6th
• Taylor Teagarden (TEX) C - 1-2, K, Started at C, Batted 8th
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) SS - 0-2, BB, Started at SS, Batted 9th
• Justin Smoak (TEX) 1B - 0-1, K
• Dayan Viciedo (CWS) 3B - 1-3, Started at 3B, Batted 6th
• Dexter Fowler (COL) CF - 1-2, K
• Chris Marrerro (WAS) 1B - 1-2, RBI

Odds and Ends from Around the League

MLBPW will keep you up to speed on everything you need to know about all the top prospects' chances of making their respective teams this spring.

• John Romano of the St. Petersburg Times comments on the possibility of Jeff Neimann filling an important bullpen role for the Rays this season.  Neimann is out of options, so if he can't win the #5 starter spot in the Rays rotation, they will have to find another role for him or work out a trade.
• Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch sheds some light on the absence of David Freese during some of the Cardinals' drills this week.  Freese entered camp as the favorite to start at 3B until Troy Glaus returns.
• We posted the results of Atlanta Braves top prospect Tommy Hanson's outing on Thursday, but Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution gives us more details, including reporting that Hanson's velocity was even higher than usual, sitting at 95-96 and hitting 99 at one point.  Seeing a nervous rookie get pumped up for his first Spring Training appearance is one of the beautiful things about the start of a new baseball season.
• According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, Marlins 1B prospect Logan Morrison is opening some eyes in camp.  He's slated to start the season in Double-A, but Spencer predicts we could see him called up min-season a la Miguel Cabrera back in 2003.

Best and Worst - Thursday 2/26

Every day throughout Spring Training, MLBPW will take a look at the best and worst performances among prospects.  Here are today's worthy candidates:

THE BEST

• Freddie Freeman (ATL) - 1-2, HR
• Nolan Reimond (BAL) - 2-2, HR, 4 RBI, BB 
• Travis Snider (TOR) - 1-3, HR
• Matt LaPorta (CLE) - 2-3, HR (off Dan Haren) 

THE WORST

• Jordan Schafer (ATL) - 0-3, K
• Jason Donald (PHI) - 0-3, K
• Trevor Plouffe (MIN) - 0-3, K

Reds Prospects Consistently Ineffective vs. Twins Pitching

You know it's Spring Training when Dusty Baker actually lets rookies see the field, but Reds minor leaguers are going to have to perform better than they did on Thursday if they ever want to gain their manager's confidence.  The Cincinnati trio of Drew Stubbs, Chris Valaika and Yonder Alonso (all top-5 prospects in the Reds' organization) each went 0-2 with a strikeout a piece.

None of the three prospects is far from the majors, as Stubbs reached Triple-A in 2008, Valaika spent half the season in Double-A, and Alonso, the Reds' first overall pick in 2008 (7th overall) is certainly on the fast track after experiencing High-A ball during his draft year.

Look for Dusty to continue to give all three players, as well as fellow prospect Todd Frazier, plenty of at-bats during the Spring.