MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 2/28

Some prospect links to check out after the gold medal hockey game...

• Kila Ka'aihue' stock may be lower than it was at this point last year, but his chances of making it to Kansas City may be higher, notes Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• Joe Savery has a new found confidence in his control, thanks to a late-season adjustment, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  The Phillies hope the former first round pick is finally ready to turn the corner after a disappointing pro career thus far.
• After years of barren farm systems when it comes to producing position players, the San Francisco Giants finally have some outfielders on the horizon, says Chris Haft of MLB.com.  In particular, he discusses Francisco Peguero, Thomas Neal, Darren Ford, and Roger Kieschnick.
• While this probably isn't the Indians' main intention, Tony Lastoria from Indians Prospect Insider discusses the effect on service time clocks of sending Michael Brantley back down to Triple-A to start the season.
• Mike Newman of Scouting the Sally has organizational breakdowns for the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox, taking a look at the players in each organization that saw time in the South Atlantic League in 2009.
• The Pirates, always desperate for starting pitching, are attempting to move Donnie Veal back to the rotation, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.  Veal spent 2009 as a reliever (when he wasn't injured) after being selected in the Rule V draft.
• Still no news on the Marlins first base battle between fellow prospects Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez, says Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald.
• Josh Reddick knows that the Red Sox have a lot of outfielders blocking his path, notes Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald.

Mets' Prospects Getting a Legitimate Look

The New York Mets' first base situation is as big of a question mark as any team has entering Spring Training.  The incumbent for the position is Daniel Murphy, but it was only out of necessity that he received as many first base at-bats in 2009 as he did.  Entering this spring, it was assumed that Murphy was still the best option, considering the only other alternative was minor league free agent Mike Jacobs, who was brought in for added competition.  But that was before the team began to consider Ike Davis as a realistic alternative.

More and more people in Mets' camp are discussing the possibility of Davis playing sooner rather than later.  The Mets' still hope that Murphy plays well enough to hold onto the job for at least half a season so Davis can spend some time in Triple-A, reports Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, but even Mets' GM Omar Minaya has made comments discussing Davis as a real possibility, notes Kevin Kernan of the New York Post.

Davis will likely still begin the season in Triple-A, but if he has initial success at that level at all resembling his success in Double-A last season, he could easily be a mid-season replacement for Murphy.

Davis isn't the only Mets prospect competing for a position however.  Battling for a spot in the Mets' bullpen is Eric Niesen, a lefty who is trying to fill their current opening for a left-handed specialist.  Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com has a video of Niesen's recent BP session.

Walker Learning Utility Role

With Andy LaRoche currently manning the hot corner in Pittsburgh and Pedro Alvarez knocking on the door in Triple-A, the Pirates already have a dilemma brewing that they will ultimately have to deal with.  Knowing he's looking more and more like the odd-man out of the Pirates' third base equation, Neil Walker is doing everything he can to make himself more versatile, reports Jenifer Langosch for MLB.com.

It comes as no surprise that Walker is willing to be flexible in order to stay with the Pirates, given that he grew up a fan of the team, but this spring he is exploring all of his defensive options.  He has split his time at second base and third base, and is also getting some extra work in at first base and in the corner outfield spots.  He even caught a bullpen, reminding the organization that he was originally drafted as a catcher.

With a good spring, the Pirates could keep Walker in Pittsburgh is a utility man.  That decision will likely depend on the progress he makes defensively at his new positions.  He won't be playing third base in Triple-A (that job is Pedro Alvarez's), so if he doesn't make the big league roster, he will be sent back to Indianapolis to learn a new position.

Beckham Staying at SS for Another Year

Considering that they used the first overall pick in the draft on him, it is no wonder that the Tampa Bay Rays are insistent on giving Tim Beckham every opportunity to stick at short stop, a position that would maximize his value.  Despite the opinion that most scouts hold that Beckham will eventually have to move off of the premium defensive position, the Rays are going to let Beckham stay there for at least one more year, Bill Chastain reports for MLB.com.

Not all scouts doubt Beckham's ability to stay in the middle of the field, but many predict that as his lower half fills out, he will lose the quickness needed to man the short stop position.  Beckham is ticketed for the Florida State League to start the 2010 season.

Prospect Potent Potables - 2/27

Some links for your weekend enjoyment...

• Casey Kelly continues to impress Boston Red Sox officials, even in the most routine exercises, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald.  But as Ian Browne of MLB.com reports, Kelly is just soaking it all in.
• The Phillies bullpen is almost set, but David Herndon is a Rule V pick, so he's getting an extended look, notes David Murphy of Philly.com.  He also reports on Domonic Brown's education in camp.
• The Detroit Tigers are set to have not one, but two rookies in their starting lineup, and as John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reports, Austin Jackson and Scott Sizemore are learning the ropes together.
• Aroldis Chapman may have to overcome a language barrier now that he's in Reds' camp, but he's getting a lot of help from former major leaguer Tony Fassas, says John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• C'mon guys, let's not get carried away.  Isn't pithcing in New York going to be enough pressure on Jenrry Mejia?
• Freedie Freeman is in Braves camp showing everyone why the team was comfortable with Troy Glaus as a one-year stop-gap at first base, notes Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
• Dustin Ackley and Josh Fields have taken very different paths to get where they are now, but both are major parts of the Seattle Mariners' future, reports Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.