MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Indians, Royals, Escobar

• In a change from their rich hitting history, the current version of the Indians farm system is instead loaded with arms, says Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Aaron Crow, Tim Collins and Nathan Adcock, all making their major league debuts, threw scoreless innings coming out of the Royals bullpen on Thursday, reports Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.
• Eduardo Escobar made a good impression on White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen this spring, says Mark Gonzales of Baseball America.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Royals, Belt, Dykstra, Tulsa

• Now that the dust has settled, it appears the Royals will support All-Star closer Joakim Soria with four rookie relievers, notes Michael Engel of KingsofKauffman.com.  Tim Collins, Jeremy Jeffress, Nathan Adcock and Aaron Crow will all begin the year in relief, with Crow being the only one of the quartet that may develop into a starter down the road.
• The Giants still have yet to make a decision regarding top prospect Brandon Belt, but are leaning toward making him their starting first baseman, says John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• In a swap of disappointing former prospects, the Padres have sent former first round pick Allan Dykstra to the Mets for former first round pick Eddie Kunz, reports Don Norcross of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Dykstra, a first baseman, has not performed up to his billing and has fallen on the depth chart behind Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Blanks, while Kunz, a reliever, has not progressed into the late-inning pitcher the Mets had hoped and has yet to stay in the major leagues.
• The Rockies will have a prospect-laden team taking the field in Tulsa this year, says Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.  The season-opening roster will include Christian Friedrich, Casey Weathers, Wilin Rosario, Hector Gomez, and Tim Wheeler.
• Matt Harvey is ready to start the season, and the Mets prospect is throwing as hard as ever, says David Lennon of Newsday.com.
• The Diamondbacks plan to move Bobby Borchering along slowly, says Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, and also plan to give him some time at first base this season.
• Dayan Viciedo is progressing as planned in his recovery from a broken thumb suffered when he was hit by a spring training pitch, reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  The White Sox will keep Viciedo in extended spring training for a few extra days at the start of the season.

 

Position Battles - Royals, DeJesus, Francisco, Craig, Minor

• It appears that Tim Collins and Aaron Crow have secured spots in the Royals bullpen, according to Michael Engel of KingsofKauffman.com.  Engel also suggests that Nathan Adcock has an above-average chance of claiming a spot on the staff as well.
• Ivan DeJesus, Jr. is in the lead to be the Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day second baseman, reports Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
• Juan Francisco is battling with Fred Lewis for the last spot in the Cincinnati Reds bench, says John Fay of the Cincinnati Enqurier.
• The only thing keeping Allen Craig off the Cardinals Opening Day roster would be the team's ability to give him enough at-bats, says Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• Mike Minor lost his spring training battle with Brandon Beachy for the final spot in the Braves starting rotation, but if Jair Jurrjens can't make his first scheduled start, it will be Minor that takes his place, says David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

 

Prospect Performances - Harper, Lawrie, Rizzo, Moustakas

• Bryce Harper showed why he is so highly regarded on Thursday, but also why he's still learning the game, making a nice defensive play in right field and turning a blooper into a hustle double, but also making a throwing error that cost the Nationals the game, says Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
• Ryan Adams homered for the second straight day and is making a case for more playing time from the Orioles, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Brett Lawrie homered for the Blue Jays on Thursday, raising his spring batting average to .381, reports Kelly Thesier of MLB.com.
• Alex Liddi hit his second grand slam in as many days for the Mariners, this one coming off of Angels prospect Ryan Chaffee, reports Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
• Brett Jackson hit a walk-off RBI single to give the Cubs a victory, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
• Anthony Rizzo had four hits for the Padres on Thursday while Simon Castro threw a perfect inning and earned a win, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Scott Elbert showed improvement with his control in his return to the mound for the Dodgers, walking only one in a scoreless inning of work, says Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
• Aaron Crow threw two hitless innings in one of the Royals split-squad games on Thursday, says Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, while Mike Moustakas drove in the winning run in the other, reports Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.
• Lucas Duda continues to hit for the Mets, blasting another home run yesterday in a loss, says Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

 

Prospect Action - Mariners, Turner, Royals

• The Mariners used a trio of pitching prospects to beat the Rangers on Tuesday, as Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke, and Dan Cortes all appeared in the game, reports Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• Jacob Turner was impressive in his first appearance for the Tigers against major leaguers this spring, retiring his final eight batters faced, notes John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.
• Bryce Harper got his first spring hit, an opposite-field single to left, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
• The Royals-Padres game was full of prospect action, as Aaron Crow, Mike Montgomery and Jeremy Jeffress all pitched for the Royals, and Simon Castro threw for the Padres.  Mike Moustaks drove in the go-ahead run for Kansas City with an eighth inning single, reports Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• Allen Craig homered, this time appearing in the game at first base for the Cardinals, notes Rick Hummell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, as did Yonder Alonso for the Reds, who hit a two-run blast.