MLB Prospect Watch

Twins Cut Ramos

The possibility of prospect Wilson Ramos making the Minnesota Twins' roster ended today when the team cut him from their big league roster, reports Joe Christensen of the Minnesota Star Tribune.  Ramos is one of the top prospects in the Twins' system and is a potential impact bat behind the plate, but is also young and inexperienced, and keeping him in the major leagues could have been considered a stretch.

Instead, the Twins will use Drew Butera as their backup catcher.  Butera is also a prospect, but by eligibility standards only, as he has never appeared in the major leagues, despite having turned 26 this past summer.  He is a career .214 hitter in the minor leagues and thus is on the roster strictly for defensive purposes and to spell Joe Mauer behind the plate.

Ramos will being the season in Triple-A Rochester after having spent a half-season at Double-A in 2009.

Potent Potables - 3/31

Today's info-packed links are brought to you by the end of the not so action-packed month of March.

• Craig Kimbrel didn't end up making the Braves' bullpen after all, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com, but he will get to be the closer in Triple-A, and we should see him in Atlanta this summer.  Bowman also adds that Jason Heyward could return to the Braves' lineup today as he re-cooperates from a bout with shin splints.
• The Colorado Rockies sent Eric Young, Jr. back to Triple-A, reports Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies.  Little EY has been in prospect purgatory for a few years now, appearing to be ready, but without a spot to prove himself.  He too will be back in the majors at some point this season, but may be relegated to a bench role much the way he was last September.
• David Freese has won the St. Louis Cardinals' third base job for Opening Day, according to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, but the announcement has a very "lack of better options" feel to it.
• Fernando Martinez will start the season in Triple-A, says Michael Baron on MetsBlog.com.  F-Mart had been competing with Gary Matthews, Jr. for the New York Mets' temporary starting field job (until Carlos Beltran comes back from injury), but the team may have finally elected to let Martinez finally play at the level he's best suited for and leave him there until he proves himself.  For such a highly rated prospect, Martinez has never produced the numbers consistent with his talent, but the excuse has always been that he was young for his level (true).  Having turned 21 during the off-season, Martinez will finally be playing against the proper level of competition.
• The Minnesota Twins are considering keeping top prospect Wilson Ramos as their backup catcher, despite already having the best player in the American League behind the plate, reports Kelly Theiser of MLB.com.  The thinking is that having a backup catcher who can hit will allow manager Ron Gardenhire to let Joe Mauer DH more often and give their big money man a few more days off.  They could also begin to work Mauer into another position in the field if they don't want to lose Jim Thome's bat in the lineup, although the idea is pure speculation at this point and has yet to be mentioned by anyone in the Twins' organization.
• Pat Venditte appeared for the New York Yankees yesterday, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, and threw with both arms.  The switch-pitcher is trying to prove that he's more valuable weapon than novelty act, and got off to a good start in his first appearance against major league hitters.  And for a good chuckle, don't miss the breakdown of the "Venditte Rule" broken down in the article about when he faces a switch-hitter.

White Sox Keep Santos, Demote Hudson

In an improbable turnaround that is due in part to potential and in part to the numbers game that is a major league roster, the Chicago White Sox have elected to keep Sergio Santos in their major league bullpen, while Dan Hudson will head to Triple-A and resume his role as a starting pitcher, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  The two moves are not directly related, as Hudson was one of a number of cuts that were made, but both had been competing for one of a few remaining spots in the team's bullpen.

Santos, a converted infielder, was out of options and would almost assuredly have been claimed had he been exposed to waivers.  The former first round pick as an infielder now posses a mid-to-high 90's fastball, and most surprisingly for a player who is new to pitching, good control of two off-speed pitches.  This advanced feel for a slider and change-up are why the White Sox felt they could risk keeping Santos in the major leagues while he continues to develop as a pitcher.

Hudson, on the other hand, would have been competing, and likely would have landed, a rotation spot on many teams, but not one as deep as the White Sox.  Hudson flew through the Sox' minor league system in 2009, making his way to the majors primarily as a reliever late in the season.  There was thought that the team may keep Hudson in the majors to start the season, serving as a swing man/long reliever/spot starter, but instead elected to let him go to Triple-A where he can train as a starting pitcher.  He will likely be the first pitcher recalled should the team need a spot start, or a long-term replacement for one of it's rotation mainstays.

Chapman to Minors Soon?

The Cincinnati Reds have yet to make an official roster move regarding Aroldis Chapman, but GM Walt Jocketty was direct in his explanation of how Chapman's back spasms effected his chances of making the major league team, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.  Jocketty also noted that, had it not been for the injury, Chapman might have actually made the team.

Chapman was removed from an appearance on March 22nd with back spasms and sat out of baseball activities for a few days.  He appeared in a minor league game on Sunday and looked like his old self again, but the Reds are intent on making Chapman a starter, and the time off limited the Cuban's ability to build up his arm strength and increase his workload.

The team has not yet officially sent Chapman to the minors and has not announced where he will begin his professional career, but a move is expected soon.  The final spot in the Reds rotation is being battled out between prospects Travis Wood and Mike Leake, the latter of whom was drafted in 2009 and has yet to appear in a minor league game himself.

Rangers Pitching Prospect Placement

T.R. Sullivan offers up some interesting information on his MLB.com blog regarding where the Texas Rangers plan to start a number of their pitching prospects, and in what roles they will be pitching.  The information is coming courtesy of Rangers' farm director Scott Servais.

• It appears Neftali Feliz will remain with the big-league club in a set-up role after some speculation that he could be sent down to work on his secondary stuff, which he will need to one-day be a starter.  Feliz showed the Rangers that he still has his 100-mph fastball as he blew away Rockies' hitters yesterday in a relief outing.
• Kasey Kiker will return to a starting role after making a few relief appearances toward the end of last year, but that could be in either Double or Triple-A.
• The Double-A Frisco rotation will feature Martin Perez and Blake Beavan.
• Michael Main will be in the rotation in High-A Bakersfield.
• Neil Ramirez will be in the rotation at Low-A Hickory.
• Tanner Scheppers, who impressed in big-league camp this spring, will begin the 2009 season in a relief role in Double-A, but only to monitor his innings, according to the organization.  He could still start at some point during this season, but given his domination in short stints this spring, the Rangers may be considering him a late-season boost to their major league bullpen, much like Feliz was last season.