MLB Prospect Watch

Link: Smoak Stars for USA

Texas Rangers' top hitting prospect Justin Smoak has bounced back nicely from a mid-season slump, and is back to his hitting ways, this time for Team USA in the Baseball World Cup, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram.  Smoak had struggled after a mid-season promotion to Triple-A this summer, but began to figure out the more advanced pitching as the season wound down and is now putting his new found approach on display on the international stage.

Link: Cuban Defector Chapman Establishes Residency

Aroldis Chapman, the most highly touted prospect to ever come out of Cuba because of his young age, has established residency in the small European nation of Andorra, reports Baseball America, marking a major step towards his becoming a free agent.  Andorra is known best for having no income tax, meaning that Chapman will be able to keep 100% of his earnings once he signs a professional baseball contract. 

Link: Giants' Prospect Villalona a Suspect in Shooting

San Francisco Giants 1B prospect Angel Villalona has turned himself in to Dominican authorities on Sunday, and is now the primary suspect in the killing of a 25-year-old man, reports the Associated Press.  Villalona was in the Dominican Republic preparing for winter ball, but now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Link: A Look Back at the 2008 Corner INF Draftees

John Sickles takes a look at the corner-infield heavy 1st round of the 2008 draft and how Pedro Alvarez, Yonder Alonso, Brett Wallace, Justin Smoak, David Cooper, Ike Davis, Eric Hosmer and Allan Dykstra are fairing after their first full season.

Link: D-Backs Parker On Recovery Trail?

Shut down six weeks ago with pain in his throwing elbow, Arizona Diamondbacks top pitching prospect Jarrod Parker has been cleared to throw, and played catch from 45 feet yesterday, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.  The Diamondbacks are approaching Parker's recovery carefully, but still hope that Parker can be apart of their rotation at some point in 2010.