MLB Prospect Watch

Link: Rave Reviews for Ackley at Second Base

What started out as an experiment to try and find more ways to expedite top pick Dustin Ackley's path to the major leagues is turning into a real possibility, according to Seattle Mariners' officials quoted by Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.  The Mariners are particularly impressed with Ackley's athleticism and baseball instincts, and it is becoming a real possibility that Ackley may play primarily second base in the minors when the 2010 season begins.

Ackley was the second overall pick in the 2009 draft and has yet to play a regular season game professionally.  He was primarily a first baseman in college, but played the outfield in the Arizona Fall League.

Link: Bastardo Sharp in DWL, Slated for Bullpen

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. was quoted as saying that LHP Antonio Bastardo has been "pitching very well" this winter in the Dominican, reports Jason Weitzel of Beerleaguer.com, a Phillies blog.  Despite his strong performance this winter, however, Amaro made it clear that Bastardo's home next season will be in the Phillies' bullpen rather than in their rotation.

Bastardo had some initial success in the Phillies' rotation last season, including a solid start in San Diego, but his two-pitch mix is better suited for the bullpen and his reputation has been to break down after putting too much into his starts.  The Phillies believe he will hold up better in the bullpen, and hope Bastardo can fill in for J.C. Romero, the Phillies left-handed set-up man who had surgery this off-season and is likely to miss part of the 2010 season.

Link: Getting to Know the Newest Phillies Prospects

Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a pair of background pieces on the Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gillies, the two players the Phillies acquired in the Cliff Lee deal with the Seattle Mariners.  There's not a lot of new information about either player's abilities or future, but both pieces give a little insight into each player's path to where they are now.

Link: More Talk of Frazier at SS?

We had already heard some rumblings that Cincinnati Reds multi-talented prospect Todd Frazier might get a chance to move back to his original position of short stop this Spring Training.  Now John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer is running with the possibility of the Reds' only short stop option that can actually hit.

Frazier played shortstop throughout high school, college, and his early years in the minors.  He was regarded as the top prospect in the Reds system until their recent signing of Aroldis Chapman.

Link: Niese has Hurdles to Climb for mets' Rotation Spot

The New York Mets' inactivity in the starting pitching market this free agent season does not signal an automatic rotation spot for pitching prospect Jonathan Niese, reports Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.  Instead, the front-runner for that spot appears to be Fernando Nieve, with Niese providing him competition in Spring Training.

Niese is recovering from a hamstring injury that has prevented him from pitching this winter.