MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/30

• The Detroit TIgers have announced that Alex Avila has made their major league team and will serve as the number 2 catcher, reports John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.
• In another catching position battle, the Astros have decided to go with J.R. Towles as their starting catcher, sending top prospect Jason Castro to minor league camp, reports Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle.
• The baseball world could get its first real glimpse of a switch-pitcher as Pat Venditte will travel with the New York Yankees today and could see his first game action against major league hitters, says Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
• Lonnie Chisenhall is quickly becoming the face of another Indians' rebuilding project, but that can't keep Tribe fans from getting excited about it, according to Vince Grzegorek of Clevescene.com's '64 and Counting.
• Jon Niese apparently helped his chances at grabbing the final spot in the Mets' rotation despite a rough outing, according to Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News.

Link: Sickles Breaks Down Avila

On his blog MinorLeagueBall, respected baseball evaluator John Sickles breaks down Detroit Tigers catching prospect Alex Avila, including his time with the Tigers.

Links: Callups for Todd, Avila

• The Cleveland Indians have called up relief pitcher Jess Todd, one of two prospects they got in return from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Mark DeRosa deal, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• The Detroit Tigers have promoted catching prospect Alex Avila to help spell current catcher Gerald Laird, who has been struggling at the plate, notes George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press.  Avila is left-handed hitter, so he could see plenty of at-bats if manager Jim Leyland chooses to go with a platoon with the right-handed hitting Laird.

Best and Worst from 5/27

BEST

• Justin Turner (BAL) - 4-5, 2B, batting .305
• Alex Avila (DET) - 2-3, HR, batting .301
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) - 3-4, 2B, HR, batting .293
• Will Venable (SD) - 3-4, 2 HR, batting .258
• Beamer Weeks (SD) - 2-3, 2B, HR, batting .266
• Julio Borbon (TEX) - 3-5, 2B, 3B, SB, batting .289
• Wes Roemer (ARI) - 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K/1 BB, 2.45 ERA
• Chris Withrow (LAD) - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 10 K/0 BB, 5.65 ERA
• Jon Michael Redding (LAD) - 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 11 K/0 BB, 5.13 ERA
• Vin Mazzaro (OAK) - 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K/1 BB, 2.38 ERA
• Brad Lincoln (PIT) - 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 5 K/1 BB, 2.05 ERA
• Omar Poveda (TEX) - 9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 K/2 BB, 3.10 ERA

WORST

• Efrain Nieves (MIL) - 4 1/3 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 5 K/1 BB, 6.30 ERA
• Jon Niese (NYM) - 6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 K/3 BB, 7.96 ERA
• Jeremy Bleich (NYY) - 4 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 3 K/0 BB, 3.86 ERA