MLB Prospect Watch

Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced

The rosters for the 2011 Arizona Fall League season were announced yesterday, and as usual, the rosters included a plethora of big name prospects.  Below are the prospects you need to know, broken down by team:

Mesa Solar Sox

Cubs - Trey McNutt, Chris Carpenter

Orioles - Chorye Spoone, Joe Mahoney, Xavier Avery

Twins - Aaron Hicks

Pirates - Robbie Grossman

 

Peoria Javelinas

Padres - Jedd Gyorko, James Darnell

Brewers - Jed Bradley, Cody Scarpetta, Kentrail Davis, Logan Schafer

Cardinals - Oscar Taveras

Mariners - Danny Hultzen, Nick Franklin, Chih-Hsien Chiang

Mets - Reese Havens, Jefry Marte

 

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Indians - T.J. McFarland

Reds - Brad Boxberger, Yasmani Grandal

Blue Jays - Adeiny Hechavarria, Anthony Gose

A's - Michael Choice, Grant Green

Yankees - Corban Joseph, David Phelps

 

Salt River Rafters

Dodgers - Jake Lemmerman

Diamondbacks - Eric Smith, Ryan Wheeler

Tigers - Casey Crosby

Astros - Jay Austin

Rockies - Nolan Arenado, Tim Wheeler

 

Scottsdale Scorpions

Angels - Mike Trout, Hank Conger

Phillies - Tyson Gillies, B.J. Rosenberg

Red Sox - Brock Huntzinger, Will Middlebrooks

Nationals - Sammy Solis, Derek Norris, Bryce Harper

Giants - Brandon Crawford

 

Surprise Saguaros

Royals - Nathan Adcock, Wil Myers, Jeremy Jeffress, Christian Colon

Braves - Erik Cordier, Sean Gilmartin, J.J Hoover, Christian Bethancourt, Phil Gosslein, Todd Cunningham

Rangers - Neil Ramirez, Michael Olt

Rays - Tim Beckham

Marlins - Kyle Skipworth, Dan Jennings, Matt Dominguez

 

 

 

Winter League Recap - 10/28

Arizona Fall League

• The Saguaros put a 15-1 spanking on the Desert Dogs on Thursday, led by multiple-hit games by Ben Revere, Eduardo Escobar, Devin Mesoraco, Joe Benson, and others.
• The Javelinas connected for three home runs off of B.J. Rosenberg in the 6th inning, including one by Koby Clemens, en route to a 6-4 victory over the Solar Sox.
• Sammy Solis gave up eight hits and five runs (two earned) in five innings of work, but the Scorpions fought back behind Conor Gillespie's 4-hit, 2-home run day to win 9-5.

Venezuelan Winter League

• Mark Trumbo hit two home runs (one off of Mariners relief prospect Dan Cortes) and drive in six in the Navegantes 12-8 victory over the Cardenales.  Alex Liddi struck out three times in the loss.

Dominican Winter League

• Josh Reddick reached base four times, but it wasn't enough offense for the Gigantes as they fell to the Tigres 6-3.  Yamaico Navarro and Carlos Peguero each had a hit in the victory for the Tigres.

 

Phillies Prospect News

For an organization that has seen a lot of prospects leave over the past year, the Phillies still have as many players of note in their system as most organizations in baseball.

Making a name for himself in a big way is Jonathan Singleton, an 18-year-old 1B currently playing for the Phillies' South Atlantic League affiliate the Lakewood Blue Claws.  Singleton has brought back memories of a young Ryan Howard, says Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Daily News, who also provides updates on fellow Phightins' prospects Juan Ramirez, Phillippe Aumont, Domonic Brown, B.J. Rosenberg, Trevor May, Anthony Gose, Cody Overbeck, Nick Hernandez, and Domingo Santana.

Santana is one of the Phillies most intriguing prospects, with tremendous talent but extremely raw abilities.  The organization pushed the 17-year-old Dominican native with an aggressive assignment in Lakewood to start the season, but Brookover reports that Santana could be sent to short-season ball once play begins next month.  Santana has struggled with a .194 batting average and 64 strike outs, but Phillies personnel say they are happy with the progression he has made.

Another interesting arm in Lakewood is Jarred Cosart, a 38th round pick in 2008 who is showing off a power arm and an advanced feel for pitching, according to Lakewood manager Mark Parent (via Brookover).  The Phillies will likely take their time with Cosart, allowing the 19-year-old to progress through the minors with a full year at each level, at least in the low minors.

Also of note, Tyson Gillies, acquired in the off-season in the Cliff Lee deal, has had a setback during his recovery from rehabbing his hamstring, reports Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle.

Prospect Potent Potables - 4/13

Today's links love watching Neftali Feliz hit triple-digits.

• Philadelphia Phillies relief prospect B.J. Rosenberg was placed on the minor league DL with a strained right lat, reports Phuture Phillies.com.
• Overshadowed by the festivities surrounding debuts by bigger named prospects, Shelby Miller, the top prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and their first round pick in 2009 made his 2010 debut on Sunday, reports Joe DiGiovianni of MLB.com, throwing 4 scoreless innings, striking out 7 and giving up two hits.
• Buster Posey got a day off from catching in Triple-A on Sunday, instead playing first base, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.  Posey also homered in the game.  How long until the Giants call him back up?  The first round of inter-league play in American League parks seems like an obvious choice.
• One of the few rookies in the major with an every day job, Tommy Manzella, is moving up in the Astros' lineup to second in the order, according to Nate Latsch of MLB.com.  Unfortunately for the Astros, it didn't help.

Prospect Potent Potables - 4/2

Can you smell that?  It's in the air.  It's, it's...baseball season.

• The New York Mets have not yet made final roster cuts, and according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Jenrry Mejia has a "60/40 chance" of making the club.  Ruben also adds (in Baseball America) that the Mets are very high on 1B Ike Davis and that INF prospect Ruben Tejada, who is only 20-years-old, could be with the team on Opening Day thanks to the Jose Reyes injury situation.
• With rookies Austin Jackson and Scott Sizemore set at the top of their order, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press likes the speed the Detroit Tigers will have this season.
• Carlos Carrasco may have lost the [roster] battle, but his strong spring left a strong impression on the Indians, and assured him of a spot with the Indians at some point this year, says Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• With their pitching staff looking like a M*A*S*H unit and a payroll at its maximum, the Philadelphia Phillies will have to look to internal solutions to round out their bullpen.  They have already brought Andrew Carpenter back to the big leagues to be the long-reliever in the bullpen, reports David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News, and a strong spring from B.J. Rosenberg has made him an arm to watch should the need arise for more reinforcements.
• Tommy Manzella returned for the Astros yesterday, says Brian McTaggart for MLB.com, and resumed his place in the starting lineup.
• Mike Trout, only 18-years-old, shined in a split-squad game for the Angels yesterday, reports Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com.  The Angels have been thrilled so far with the play of Trout, their first round pick from last year.