MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Performances - Biddle, Wheeler, Loux, Petricka

• Jesse Biddle made his full-season debut for the Phillies affiliate in Lakewood on Sunday, throwing four innings and giving up two runs, but got the loss, reports Joe Berkery of the Philadelphia Daily News.
• Royals prospect Mike Moustakas hit his first home run of the season on Sunday.
• Zack Wheeler threw five hitless innings in his first start in the hitter-friendly California League, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  The Giants are hoping Wheeler can stay healthy and pitch an entire season for the first time in his short career.
• Fans in Myrtle Beach were treated to a prospect showdown on Sunday, as Barret Loux made his professional debut for the Rangers new Carolina League affiliate against Jake Odorizzi, making his first start since joining the Royals organization, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• White Sox prospect Jake Petricka threw six no-hit innings in his first start in full-season ball, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• Bryce Harper ended his 0-for-9 slide with two singles on Sunday, says John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Other notable performances...
  • Indians 2B prospect Cord Phelps had a 2-HR day.
  • Yankees CF prospect Slade Heathcott had three more hits to get his batting average back up to .500 on the season.
  • Twins P prospect Adrian Salcedo struck out 10 batters in six innings of work.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/26

• The Cubs farm system may be taking a hit as prospects like Andrew Cashner and Jay Jackson join the big league team, but Chris Archer is doing his best to take their place among the top pitching prospects in the Cubs system by continuing to impress in Double-A.
• Brad Lincoln's minor league success didn't translate into productivity at the major league level, and the Pirates right-hander has been optioned back to Triple-A, reports Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• J.J. Cooper of Baseball America takes a look back at some of the more impressive performances from the weekend, including Eric Hosmer, Michael Pineda, Peter Bourjos, Adrian Salcedo, and Jeremy Hellickson.
• Speaking of Hellickson, Rays' manager Joe Maddon said over the weekend that the team may use the team's top pitching prospect in a relief role similar to the way they used David Price in the 2008 playoffs, according to Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.
• J.P. Arencibia is heating up again, and is showing off the power that has put him on the prospect map in the first place, says Chris Jackson of MiLB.com.  Arencibia may never be an all-star catcher due to his free-swinging ways and fluctuating batting average, but there is a place for a solid defensive catcher with plus power in the major leagues, and that place may soon be Toronto.
• Michael Kirkman has re-established himself as a prospect thanks to refined control that was at one point bad enough to threaten his career, says Jeff Wilson for Baseball America.  While Kirkman may never be a control artist, he has refined his command enough to be effective, and could see time in the Rangers' bullpen later this year.
• Orioles' pitching prospect Nathan Moreau tossed a no-hitter in his first start after a promotion to High-A Frederick, reports Roch Kubatko for Baseball America.  The 11th round pick in 2008 has has success against younger competition to this point, but has had success in 3 starts in the Carolina League, his highest level of competition yet.