MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Tigers, Spruill, Yankees

• Jacob Turner may be the front-runner for the last spot in the Tigers rotation this spring, but Jason Beck of MLB.com reports that there are "five or six" others that will be competing for that same spot, including fellow prospects, Drew Smyly, Casey Crosby, and Andy Oliver.
• Zeke Spruill doesn't have a chance to make the Braves rotation this spring despite a strong bounce back season in 2011, but TalkingChop.com points out that Spruill seems to have put his maturity issues behind him, and should start the season just a step away from the majors.
• The Yankees have announced their non-roster invites to spring training, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.  Prospects include pitchers Manny Banuelos and Graham Stoneburner and catcher Gary Sanchez, among others.

Making Moves - de la Rosa, Furbush, Oliver, Lincoln, Hoes

• The Los Angeles Dodgers are considering promoting Rubby de la Rosa to the majors and would use him in their bullpen, tweets Ken Gurnick.
• One day after Charlie Furbush picked up his first major league win, the Tigers have announced that they will put Andy Oliver in their major league rotation, taking the place of the DL-bound Phil Coke, reports Jason Beck of MLB.com.
• The Pirates are thrilled with how Brad Lincoln is pitching in Triple-A, but simply don't have a spot for him in their major league rotation, reports Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  The Pirates did make a move, placing shortstop Chase d'Arnaud on the DL with groin tightness, reports Tim WIlliams of PiratesProspects.com.
• The Orioles have promoted second baseman L.J. Hoes from High-A to Double-A, reports Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun.

 

 

Trout, Chisenhall, Turner Among Victims on Roster Cutdown Day

• The Pirates sent ten players away from major league camp on Monday, including prospects Daniel Moskos and Gorkys Hernandez who were optioned to Triple-A, prospect Jeff Locke who was optioned to Double-A, and Andrew Lambo and Chase D'Arnaud who were not on the 40-man roster and were re-assigned to minor league camp, but both of whom will also begin the season in Triple-A, according to Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• The Angels made a round of cuts on Monday that included top prospect Mike Trout and pitchers Trevor Reckling and Loek Van Mil, reports Owen Perkins of MLB.com.
• Greg Halman was optioned to Triple-A by the Mariners on Monday, notes Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• The Royals optioned both second base prospect Jeff Bianchi and outfield prospect Derrick Robinson to Double-A, says Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• The Indians re-assigned Lonnie Chisenhall, Alex White, and Jason Kipnis to minor league camp, as well as optioned Nick Weglarz and Zach McAllister to Triple-A, reports Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.
• The Astros re-assigned Koby Clemens, Jiovanni Mier, Doug Arguello, Jon Gaston and J.D. Martinez, to minor league camp on Monday, says Farmstros.com.
• The Tigers have re-assigned catchers Patrick Leyland and Bryan Holaday to minor league camp, and have optioned Cale Iorg, Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner to Double-A, says DetroitTigerTales.com.
• The Orioles optioned first base prospect Joe Mahoney to Triple-A, says Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.

 

Prospect Performances - Moustakas, Britton, Parker

FRIDAY

• In a possible glimpse of their future, the Angels were led by the bats of catching prospect Hank Conger and first base prospect Mark Trumbo on Friday, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Mike Moustakas made two errors in the 10th inning on Friday, essentially costing the Royals the game, notes Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

SATURDAY

• Zach Britton threw four scoreless innings for the Orioles, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
• Blake Beavan made his first spring start for the Mariners, and gave up just one earned run over three innings of work, notes Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• Both Jacob Turner and Andy Oliver were impressive against one another in a simulated game, reports Jacon Beck of MLB.com.  The Tigers are stretching both out for their roles as starters in the minors this season, but no longer have the innings to go around to do so in major league spring training games.
• Jarrod Parker threw two hitless innings for the Diamondbacks, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.

SUNDAY

• Charlie Furbush gave up one run over three innings of relief work for the Tigers, says Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• Elih Villanueva tossed four scoreless innings in relief for the Marlins, allowing just two hits.

 

Prospect Spring Appearances - Oliver, Mejia, Harper

• The Tigers have scheduled pitching prospect Andy Oliver to start their Spring Training opener, says Evan Drellich of MLB.com.  The Tigers don't have a place for Oliver in their already crowded rotation, but have essentially ruled out using him in a bullpen role, meaning he should be headed to Triple-A to start the season, according to John Lowe of the Detroit Free-Press.
• Jenrry Mejia, who was the talk of Spring Training last season, will start the Mets first exhibition game, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
• For their intersquad game on Friday, the Mariners plan to match up pitching prospects Blake Beavan and Michael Pineda, says Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.
• The Pirates plan to use Brad Lincoln on Saturday, but he will not start the game, says Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Bryce Harper will see his first spring action for the Nationals on Monday as a replacement in either left or right field, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.