MLB Prospect Watch

Link: McCutchen Gets His Chance

Thanks to the clearing out of space in center field at PNC Park (now that Nate McLouth is in Atlanta), the Pirates have called up Andrew McCutchen.  The speedy leadoff hitter made his long-awaited debut today against the Mets, and immediately showed what he could do.

And according to Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he's ready.

Links: Lots of Braves News

On a busy day for the Atlanta Braves, which saw them release a 300-game winner, here are some links to keep you up to speed:

• Part of the reason for the surprising release of Tom Glavine may have been to save some money for Nate McLouth.  In order to get the Pirates center fielder, the Braves were forced to give up Charlie Morton and two prospects (which were the centerpiece of the deal), pitcher Jeff Locke and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.  David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution has all the details.  Locke is a solid but a superstar pitching prospect in the same fashion that McLouth is a solid but not a superstar outfielder.  Hernandez was the other half of the return for the Braves in the deal in which they sent Edgar Renteria to the Detroit Tigers and also received Jair Jurrjens.  In the end, the Braves have to be happy they received a player like McLouth (who automatically becomes their best hitting outfielder and third best hitter behind Chipper Jones and Brian McCann) without giving up either of their top two pitching prospects (Tommy Hanson or Kris Medlen) or their top hitting prospect (Jason Heyward).  That alone makes it a slight victory for the Braves, even though the Pirates will enjoy Hernandez and probably Locke as well.
• Speaking of Hanson, someone had to be called up to start right?  Well not necessarily.  Even though Glavine was released, he was not yet penciled in to make any starts.  It fact, it was just yesterday that we reported that Kris Medlen would be making Saturday's start for the Braves against the Milwaukee Brewers.  Now, David O'Brien is reporting that Hanson will in fact be making that start.  Kris Medlen will move to the bullpen for the time being.
• For the Pirates, now that McLouth is out of the way in center field, look soon for a call up of their top prospect Andrew McCutchen to fill the void.

Best and Worst from 5/31

BEST

• Josh Vitters (CHC) - 2-4, HR, batting .356
• Todd Frazier (CIN) - 3-4, 2B, HR, batting .330
• Gordon Beckham (CWS) - 3-4, SB, batting .467 in Triple-A
• Matt Dominguez (FLA) - 2-5, HR, batting .222
• Jason Castro (HOU) - 2-4, HR, batting .297
• Eric Hosmer (KC) - 2-4, HR, batting .267
• Ike Davis (NYM) - 2-4, 2B, HR, batting .282
• Wilmer Flores (NYM) - 2-4, HR, batting .261
• Chris Carter (OAK) - 2-3, HR, batting .291
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) - 2-5, HR, batting .295
• Alex Liddi (SEA) - 3-5, 2B, HR, batted .364
• Tim Beckham (TB) - 2-3, HR, batting .299
• Brad Emaus (TOR) - 2-4, HR, batting .284
• Tommy Hanson (ATL) - 5 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 8 K/0 BB, 1.49 ERA
• Brian Matusz (BAL) - 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 4 K/1 BB, 2.37 ERA
• Brad Holt (NYM) - 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 K/1 BB, 3.05 ERA

WORST

• Kevin Mulvey (MIN) - 7 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 6 K/1 BB, 4.08 ERA
• Vance Worley (PHI) - 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 K/3 BB, 3.13 ERA
• Michael Burgess (WAS) - 0-4, 3 K

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

Best and Worst from 5/18

BEST

• Josh Vitters (CHC) - 3-5, 3 RBI, batting .362
• Kila Ka'aihue (KC) - 4-5, 2 2B, batting .292  
• Mike Moustakas (KC) - 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, batting .276 
• Brett Lawrie (MIL) - 2-4, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI, batting .292
• Fernando Martinez (NYM) - 2-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, batting .281
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) - 2-4, 2 SB, batting .292
• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - 3-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, batting .229
• Buster Posey (SF) - 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, batting .293 
• Brett Wallace (STL) - 3-6, batting .429 in Triple-A 
• Desmond Jennings (TB) - 1-2, 2 R, 2B, 3 SB, batting .390 
• Cesar Carrillo (SD) - 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 5 K/1 BB, 5.52 ERA  
• Mat Latos (SD) - 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 8 K/0 BB, 0.36 ERA
• Wade Davis (TB) - 6 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K/1 BB, 3.10 ERA 
• Jarrod Parker (ARI) - 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 K/4 BB, 3.10 ERA in Double-A

WORST

• Devaris Gordon (LAD) - 0-4, SB, batting .322
• Ethan Martin (LAD) - 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 5 K/3 BB, 2.57 ERA  
• Carlos Rosa (KC) - 1 IP, 2 H, 6 ER, 1 K/3 BB, 6.64 ERA