MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Montero, Drabek, and more

• Jesus Montero will miss the remainder of the season with a leg infection, reports Conor Foley of The Times Leader.  No timetable is set for the Yankees' prospects return for winter action.  The team also called up Juan Miranda and Kevin Russo to the majors.
• The Blue Jays have called up Kyle Drabek, and he will make his first career start on Wednesday as the team goes to a 6-man rotation for the remainder of the season.  Also going to a 6-man rotation is the Milwaukee Brewers, which will allow former first round pick Mark Rogers to get a start, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Padres prospect Cory Luebke credits the development of his change-up while injured earlier this season as a key to his success this year, says Corey Brock of MLB.com.
• And finally, as part of a segment that I love (and wish I had thought of first) John Sickles looks at the "Double-A Transition" of prospects as they make what is widely considered the most difficult jump in professional baseball before hitting the majors.  Sickles examined the seasons of Alex Liddi and Conor Gillespie yesterday and Blake Tekotte and others on Friday.

Prospect Roundup - NL West (4/10)

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Double A - Mobile
  • Evan Frey (CF) - 1-4, 2B, 2 R, BB
  • Gerardo Parra (RF) - 1-1, 2B, R, 4 BB
  • Daniel Schlereth (RP) - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER K/1 BB
• High A - Visalia
  • Collin Cowgill (RF) - 2-2, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Colorado Rockies

• Triple A - Colorado Springs
  • Eric Young Jr. (2B) - 1-4, 2 R, 2 K
  • Carlos Gonzalez (CF) - 1-5, RBI, K
• Double A - Tulsa
  • Chris Nelson (SS) - 0-3, R, BB

Los Angeles

• Triple A - Albuquerque
  • Xavier Paul (CF) - 1-5, 2B, R, RBI, K
• Double A - Chattanooga
  • Andrew Lambo (LF) - 2-6, K
• High A - Inland Empire
  • Preston Mattingly (LF) - 0-4, 2 K
• Low A - Great Lakes
  • Tony Delmonico (C) - 3-4, 3B, 2 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, K

San Diego Padres

• Triple A - Portland
  • Kyle Blanks (1B) - 0-5, R, K
• Double A - San Antonio
  • Cedric Hunter (CF) - 2-4, 2 R, RBI
• High A - Lake Elsinore
  • Beamer Weems (SS) - 1-3, 2B, BB, K
• Low A - Fort Wayne
  • Blake Tekotte (CF) - 0-4, R, K
  • Allan Dykstra (1B) - 0-4, 2 K

San Francisco Giants

• Triple A - Fresno
  • Ryan Rohlinger (3B) - 0-2
• Double A - Connecticut
  • Jackson Williams (C) - 1-3, 2B, R
• High A - San Jose
  • Buster Posey (C) - 0-5, RBI, K
  • Angel Villalona (1B) - 2-4, HR, RBI, R
  • Nick Noonan (2B) - 2-5, 3B, RBI
  • Tim Alderson (P) - 4 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 K/1 BB
• Low A - Augusta
  • Charlie Culberson (3B) - 1-4

Prospect Ranking: Leadoff/Speed Players

Chicks may dig the long ball, but someone has to do the dirty work.  After all, without a good leadoff hitter, power hitters could only drive in themselves.  These players offer little in the way of power, but their best tools are plus speed and the ability to get on base.  They must be able to play the toughest defensive positions (CF, SS, 2B) and they must do the little things right to make up for what they can not do.

Here the top-20 potential future lead-off men currently in the minor leagues:

1	COL	Dexter Fowler	CF
2	PIT	Andrew McCutchen	CF
3	ATL	Gorkys Hernandez	CF
4	TB	Desmond Jennings	CF
5	NYY	Brett Gerdner	CF
6	LAD	Ivan DeJesus, Jr.	SS
7	OAK	Jemile Weeks	2B
8	COL	Eric Young, Jr.	2B
9	SEA	Tyson Gillies	CF
10	CHC	Tony Thomas	2B
11	ARI	Evan Frey	CF
12	MIL	Cutter Dykstra	CF
13	LAA	Clay Fuller	CF
14	BAL	L.J. Hoes	2B
15	PHI	Quintin Berry	CF
16	PIT	Brian Friday	SS
17	SD	Blake Tekotte	CF
18	BOS	Derrik Gibson	3B
19	CLE	Delvi Cid	CF
20	BAL	Matthew Angle	CF