MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 6/30

• Michael Burgess's power is down but his plate discipline has improved, an adjustment the Nationals wanted him to make to help him become a better all-around hitter, reports Pete Kerzel of MLB.com.
• In addition to impressing on the mound, Jordan Lyles has shown the Astros that he is an impressive all-around athlete and no slouch with a bat in his hands either, says Todd Traub of MLB.com.
• With all the success Jonathan Singleton has had this season, it's easy to forget that the Phillies kept him in extended spring training to start the season, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reminds us.
• Sean Ratliff is making the most of his opportunity since the Mets called him up to Double-A, reports Ryan Isley of MiLB.com.
• Hector Noesi threw a complete game shutout in his latest outing on Tuesday night, making it five straight starts of at least 7 innings for the Yankees' pitching prospects, according to Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball.com.  Fellow pinstripe pitching prospect Dellin Betances is re-learning how to pitch after narrowly avoiding Tommy John surgery last season, but the results thus far have been very promising, says Lee Diekemper of MiLB.com.
• Orioles' 3B prospect Josh Bell broke out of a 1-for-15 slump in a grand way Tuesday night.

Prospect Potent Potables - 6/29

• Mets' GM Omar Minaya says Jenrry Mejia's shoulder injury won't affect his trade value, according to Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com.  Of course, what else would Minaya say?
• Andrew Lambo is back in Double-A after his 50-game suspension, reportedly for marijuana, says Guy Curtright of MLB.com.
• Oscar Tejada is re-establishing himself as a prospect within the Red Sox organization, reports Alex Speier of Baseball America.
• Phillippe Aumont has responded nicely to extended relief duty since the Phillies demoted him to the Florida State League, says Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.  The team would still like Aumont to be a starter down the road, but at the moment would like him to pitch more often in order to make adjustments between appearances more easily.
• The Reds need an extra starter this Thursday, and it will be either Travis Wood or Matt Maloney, says John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.  Fay thinks it will be Wood.
• Dayan Viciedo hasn't seen much action since his promotion to Chicago, and given the White Sox succes lately, it's understandable, reports Samuel Zuma of MLB.com.  The question remains, however, if he's not going to play, wouldn't he be better served in the minors?

Notable Prospect Performances - 6/29

• Cubs' OF prospect Brett Jackson is taking nicely to Double-A so far, turning in his second 2-for-5 night with a home run in as many games.
• Thomas Neal isn't showing the same massive power that move him up the Giants' prospect radar last season, but he did follow up his 3-homer game two nights ago with a home run and a double on Monday night as part of a 4-hit evening.
• Desmond Jennings continues to show that he is close to being ready for a move to Tampa, and given that B.J. Upton may be digging himself into the doghouse, the Rays could be in line for a move.  More likely, however, is a call-up later this summer, a role for Jennings as a defensive replacement/pinch-runner if the Rays make the post-season, and a full-time opportunity next season when Carl Crawford likely moves on.
• Julio Teheran hit his first bump in the road since the Braves moved him to the High-A Carolina League, as the Columbian righty was touched up for 3 home runs and 8 earned runs in 5 1/3 IP on Monday night.
• As if the Rangers needed another impressive pitching prospect, Wilfredo Boscan struck out a personal season-high 11 batters in 8 shutout innings of work.  Boscan, not normally a big strike out pitcher, has now fanned 18 hitters in his last 13 innings of work.

Prospect Potent Potables - 6/28

• Jenrry Mejia, back in Double-A as the Mets try to re-convert him back into a starter, left his game on Sunday with "right shoulder stiffness," according to Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com.
• Austin Romaine's election to the Future's Game is yet another sign that the Yankees' catching prospect is close to the majors, says Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball.com.  The Yankees have as much catching depth as any system in baseball, making the 4-year deal they gave Jorge Posada that much more perplexing.
• Michael Taylor hasn't played like the player the A's thought they were getting this off-season, but he's been red-hot of late and is starting to make his case for a call-up, says Jane Lee of MLB.com.
• There's no minor-league rotation more talented than that of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, let by Julio Teheran, reports Bill Ballew of Baseball America.
• The Cubs promoted a number of prospects to the next appropriate level, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, including Brett Jackson to Double-A, Rafael Dolis to Double-A, and Trey McNutt to High-A.
• Pedro Alvarez is still making adjustments at the plate in the majors, but his once shaky defense has looked solid, says Alex Espinoza of MLB.com.

Bumgarner to Start for Giants Tonight

Madison Bumgarner will make his 2010 major league debut tonight for the San Francisco Giants, reports John Schlegel of MLB.com.  Bumgarner, who made one start in the majors last season, leaves Triple-A with a 7-1 record and a 3.16 ERA.

Bumgarner has been the Giants' top pitching prospect since being selected by the team in the 1st round (10th overall) in 2007 out of high school.  The 20-year-old lefty has watched his strikeout numbers drop over the past 12 months, which last season and early this year could be attributed to a drop in velocity.  Bumgarner's velocity has returned in the past few months, as have the positive results, even if they are without the same frequency of swings and misses.

No news yet on whether or not Bumgarner's promotion is a permanent move or a spot start.