MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 4/5

Happy Opening Day!

• The two-time defending National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies will feature three rookies in their bullpen, Matt Gelb points out in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Antonio Bastardo, Andrew Carpenter, and Rule V draft pick David Herndon all made the team, due in large part to injuries to Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero.
• The Colorado Rockies are having four of their prospects skip a level, reports Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies, with the biggest name of the bunch being Tim Wheeler.  The Rockies' second of two first round picks in 2009, Wheeler will jump to High-A Modesto after having played in rookie level Tri-City last year after signing.
• Prospects will be on the forefront for the Detroit Tigers this year, as the team will feature two in their ever-day lineup to start the season.  Austin Jackson will be in the lead-off spot, and as Jason Beck reports, the former Yankee farmhand is excited about the challenge.  Joining Jackson in the lineup will be 2B Scott Sizemore, and the team recently announced that the former VCU Ram will be batting in the 8th spot.
• Tommy Manzella says he feels a little behind at the plate after having missed a week of spring games with a quadriceps injury, reports the Houston Chronicle, but given that the rookie was given the starting job primarily for his defensive abilities, the Astros should be satisfied as long as he can effectively field his position.  Also of note in the article were the assignments of the team's top two prospects - C Jason Castro (Triple-A Round Rock) and SS Jiovanni Mier (Low-A Lexington).

Hewitt Officially an OF, and other Phillies Musings

When you're the two-time defending National League Champions, there's usually not too much expected from minor league prospects when you get to big league camp in March.  That is the case for the Philadelphia Phillies, who have only a few minor holes to fill, but may fill them with prospects, as Andy Martino reports.

The Phillies will be looking at a will be watching the battle between lefties Sergio Escalona and Antonio Bastardo to see who will replace last year's LOOGY Scott Eyre in the bullpen.  Starting pitcher Andrew Carpenter will battle for the 5th spot in the rotation with holdovers Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer.  And of course, all eyes will be on the newly arrived trio of Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, and Juan Ramirez to see how soon the Phillies will be able to justify their casting-off of Cliff Lee.

On a non-pressing note for the 2010 season, 2008 1st round pick Anthony Hewitt, who was a short stop in high school and moved to 3B in his first professional season, has now officially moved to the OF.  Hewitt has been a bust so far, but the Phillies remain tantalized with his tremendous talent, and hope that a shift to a less-stressful defensive position will allow Hewitt to focus on become a more complete hitter.

Link: Bastardo Sharp in DWL, Slated for Bullpen

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. was quoted as saying that LHP Antonio Bastardo has been "pitching very well" this winter in the Dominican, reports Jason Weitzel of Beerleaguer.com, a Phillies blog.  Despite his strong performance this winter, however, Amaro made it clear that Bastardo's home next season will be in the Phillies' bullpen rather than in their rotation.

Bastardo had some initial success in the Phillies' rotation last season, including a solid start in San Diego, but his two-pitch mix is better suited for the bullpen and his reputation has been to break down after putting too much into his starts.  The Phillies believe he will hold up better in the bullpen, and hope Bastardo can fill in for J.C. Romero, the Phillies left-handed set-up man who had surgery this off-season and is likely to miss part of the 2010 season.

Links: Prospect Success in Major Leagues

Not all prospects are struggling in the majors...

• So maybe Fernando Martinez isn't obliterating the Mendoza Line, but it's always a good sign when your manager fights to keep you on the roster.  Martinez, who was originally called up by the Mets to take the place of the injured Ryan Church, is apparently going to be sticking around in New York despite Church's return from the DL, according to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.  And apparently, Martinez has Jerry Manuel to thank.
• Less certain of a roster spot despite better performance, Phillies pitching prospect Antonio Bastardo churned out another solid start on Sunday night, this time against much better competition, reports David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.
• Not to be outdone, Vin Mazzaro (who is currently 1/5 of an Oakland A's starting rotation that is 80% rookies), also got a win in his second career start, albiet with significantly less run support notes the Daily News.

Links: Phillies Updates

The defending World Champions may be in a state of flux at the moment given their pitching woes, but that doesn't mean all the news has to be bad.  In fact, the Phillies got some starting pitching help in the form of Antonio Bastardo last night.  Even though he counterpart Jake Peavy was done in by the flu, don't discount Bastardo's performance on the mound, notes Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

There was also some noteworthy news in the minor league ranks.  Kyle Drabek, who is coming closer and closer with each start to surpassing Carlos Carrasco as the Phillies top pitching prospect (if he hasn't already) was recently promoted to Double-A Reading, but as The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, his first start is being moved up from tomorrow night to tonight.

Drabek should get plenty of run support at Reading, where outfielder Michael Taylor is solidifying himself as a contender in the Phillies already crowded corner-outfield position, reports Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer.