MLB Prospect Watch

Link: Ackley Possibly at Second Base?

Now that second overall draft pick Dustin Ackley has signed with the Seattle Mariners, the only question that remains is what to do with him.  Ackley, a first baseman in college, is almost certainly going to have to deal with a position change.  The general consensus among scouts is that Ackley's best fit will be in centerfield.  Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times reports that the Mariners' front office feels the same way, and that Ackley will likely start in centerfield when he is assigned, but Baker also makes mention of speculation that Ackley could be tried out at second base in anticipation of the eventual departure of current second baseman Jose Lopez. 

Best and Worst from 6/17

BEST

• Aaron Cunningham (OAK) - 3-5, 2 HR, batting .289
• Jemile Weeks (OAK) - 2-3, HR, batting .403
• Allan Dykstra (SD) - 3-5, HR, batting .209
• Alex Liddi (SEA) - 3-4, HR, batting .344
• Desmond Jennings (TB) - 2-4, 2B, 2 SB, batting .329
• Brian Matusz (BAL) - 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 10 K/1 BB, 0.00 ERA (Double-A debut)

WORST

• Jake Arrieta (BAL) - 4 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 7 K/2 BB, 5.06 ERA in Triple-A
• Chris Withrow (LAD) - 4 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 6 K/2 BB, 5.08 ERA
• Deolis Guerra (NYM) - 4 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 2 K/2 BB, 5.21 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - 2-5, 2B, batting .237
• Buster Posey (SF) - 3-4, batting .335

Injury Update 5/14

Ben Badler from Baseball America chimes in with his weekly injury update.  This week's notables include Gordon Beckham's abs, Neftali Feliz's shoulder, and Chris Valaika's hand.

Other prospects mentioned include:

• Wilson Ramos (MIN)
• Kelvin de la Cruz (CLE)
• Nick Schmidt (SD)
• Jesus Delgado (SEA)
• Justin Jackson (TOR)
• Aaron Cunningham (OAK)
• Kellen Kulbacki (SD)
• Eric Sogard (SD)

Need to Know - 2/27

Here are the performances you need to know from Friday's Spring Training Action:

• Freddie Freeman (ATL) 1B - 0-3, K, Started at 1B, Batted 7th 
• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) DH - 1-3, BB, Has yet to play the field during Spring Games 
• Matt Wieters (BAL) DH - 1-2, 2B, BB, R, Started at C, Batted 6th 
• Michael Bowdon (BOS) P - 1 2/3 IP, 5 H 4 ER, 0 K/2 BB 
• Jeff Neimann (TB) P - 2 IP, H, 2 K/ 0 BB 
• Cale Iorg (DET) SS - 1-4, R, K, Started at SS< Batted 9th 
• Brett Gardner (NYY) CF - 2-2, 2B, BB, R, Started in CF, Leadoff 
• Austin Jackson (NYY) CF - 1-2, R, K 
• Jason Heyward (ATL) RF - 1-1 
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) CF - 0-3, K 
• Jake Arreita (BAL) P- 1 IP, 1 K/0 BB
• Tim Beckham (TB) SS - 1-1 
• J.P. Arencibia (TOR) C - 0-1 
• David Cooper (TOR) 1B - 0-2, R 
• Jason Donald (PHI) 3B - 0-2. R, BB, Started at 3B, Batted 2nd 
• Fernando Martinez (NYM) PH - 0-0, BB 
• Gordon Beckham (CWS) SS - 1-2, RBI 
• Dayan Viciedo (CWS) 3B - 2-3, R, RBI, Started at 3B, Batted 5th 
• Tyler Flowers (CWS) C - 1-2 
• Justin Smoak (TEX) 1B - 0-2, 2 K 
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) SS - 0-1, R, Started at SS, Batted 9th 
• Dexter Fowler (COL) CF - 0-4, K, Started in CF, Leadoff 
• Buster Posey (SF) PH - 0-1, K 
• Greg Halman (SEA) CF - 0-2, K
• Cutter Dykstra (MIL) RF - 1-2, R, RBI
• Alcides Escobar (MIL) SS - 1-4, R, RBI, Started at SS, Batted 9th 
• Aaron Cunningham (OAK) LF -  1-1, 2B, RBI, R
• Adrian Cardenas (OAK) 2B - 2-2, R 
• Matt Antonelli (SD) 2B - 1-2, K
• Kyle Banks (SD) 1B - 1-2, K 
• Carlos Santana (CLE) C - 0-2, K 

Big Names - Thursday 2/26

Here are the names to know (that haven't yet been covered here on MLBPW) and their performances from Thursday, 2/26:

• Jason Heyward (ATL) RF - 0-0. BB, R
• Colby Rasmus (STL) CF - 0-2, BB, R, Started in CF, Batted 2nd
• Brett Wallace (STL) DH - 0-2
• Matt Wieters (BAL) C - 0-2
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) CF - 0-2, BB, 2 K, Started in CF, Batted 2nd
• Pedro Alverez (PIT) DH - 1-1, 2B, RBI, Has yet to play the field in spring games
• Lars Anderson (BOS) 1B - 0-2, K
• David Cooper (TOR) 1B - 0-2
• J.A. Happ (PHI) P - 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K/0 BB
• Cameron Maybin (FLA) CF - 1-2, BB, Started in CF, Batted 2nd
• Logan Morrison (FLA) PH - 0-1
• Mike Stanton (FLA) RF - 1-3, K, Started in RF, Batted 6th
• Kyle Skipworth (FLA) PH - 0-1, K
• Reid Brignac (TB) 2B - 0-2
• Brett Gardner (NYY) LF - 0-2
• Gerardo Parra (ARI) RF - 1-3, R, RBI
• Beau Mills (CLE) 1B - 1-3, RBI, Started at 1B, Batted 4th
• Alcides Escobar (MIL) SS - 1-2
• Aaron Cunningham (OAK) LF - 1-1
• Greg Halman (SEA) LF - 1-3, 2K, Started in LF, Batted 5th
• Kyle Blanks (SD) 1B - 1-3, R, Started at 1B, Batted 6th
• Taylor Teagarden (TEX) C - 1-2, K, Started at C, Batted 8th
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) SS - 0-2, BB, Started at SS, Batted 9th
• Justin Smoak (TEX) 1B - 0-1, K
• Dayan Viciedo (CWS) 3B - 1-3, Started at 3B, Batted 6th
• Dexter Fowler (COL) CF - 1-2, K
• Chris Marrerro (WAS) 1B - 1-2, RBI