MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Lavarnway, Borchering, Mets, Giants

• Ryan Lavarnway is trying to win a roster spot in Red Sox camp this spring despite the presence of Kelly Shoppach and Jared Saltalamacchia on the roster, and despite losing 20 pounds this off-season after contracting a virus while playing winter ball, notes Ian Browne of MLB.com.
• Former third base prospect Bobby Borchering is now an outfield prospect, as the Diamondbacks moved the former first round pick to left field during the instructional season this fall in order to fit third basemen Matt Davidson and Ryan Wheeler and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt all into their future plans, says Jack Magruder for Baseball America.
• The New York Mets have invited P Matt Harvey and OF Matt den Dekker to Spring Training, according to MetsBlog.com, but have not invited Zack Wheeler, who was acquired this past season in exchange for Carlos Beltran.
• The San Francisco Giants announced a number of prospect invites to Spring Training, including their last two first-round picks, OF Gary Brown and SS Joe Panik, and many more, reports Chris Haft of MLB.com.

Odds and Ends - Starling, Borchering, Montero

• Bubba Starling, the Kansas City Royals top pick in this year's draft, has been out since Tuesday with a strained quadriceps muscle in his left leg, but he hopes to be back by the end of the instructional league, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.  Fellow prospect Wil Myers is also in Arizona, playing in the Arizona Fall League, and trying to get back on track after his worst professional season, notes Dutton in a different article.
• The Diamondbacks have opened up their logjam at third base that included Matt Davidson and Bobby Borchering splitting time by moving Borchering to left field, reports Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.  Davidson had been splitting his time between the hot corner and DH, while Borchering had been shuffling back and forth between third and first base.  Both should start the season in Double-A and will now be able to be in the lineup and in the field at the same time.
• Kody Sinze showed off his power in two leagues this year, and the Astros 1B prospect has continued his barrage in the Arizona Fall League, says Farmstros.com.
• Jesus Montero will either be a major part of the Yankees next season or will be traded, according to Mark Feinsand and Peter Botte of The New York Daily News.

 

 

Prospect Action - Miller, D-Backs, Schoop, Foltynewicz

• In his first start of the 2011 season, Dodgers pitching prospect Aaron Miller struck out nine batters in six innings of work, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Phillies prospect Brody Colvin threw six innings and gave up just one earned run, but didn't factor into the decision in what turned into a 23-inning affair, reports Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Press.
• Also on the mound for the Phillies farm system was Jesse Biddle, who gave up three runs over five innings of work, says Joe Berkery of Philly.com.
• Orioles prospect Jonathan Schoop recorded the first 4-RBI night of his career, reports theshorebirds.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Diamondbacks prospects had a big night in Visalia, as Matt Davidson and Bobby Borchering each knocked three doubles, and Chris Owings hit his 5th home run of the season.
  • Gary Brown knocked two doubles and stole two bases, and Brandon Crawford added a double and scored two runs in support of fellow Giants prospect Zack Wheeler, who struggled on the mound on Monday, giving up giving up four earned runs in four innings, and walking six batters in the process.
  • Both Trey McNutt and Wade Miley struggled facing off against one another, as the Cubs prospect McNutt gave up a home run to Diamondbacks OF prospect Marc Krauss, two of his four runs allowed, while Miley allowed four runs of his own.
  • Astros prospect Mike Foltynewicz earned his second win of the season, giving up just one earned run over seven innings of work.

 

 

Prospect Action - Borchering, Brown, Arenas

• Bobby Borchering knocked a grand slam on Wednesday, notes John Parker of MiLB.com, giving the Diamondbacks prospect six home runs on the season.
• Domonic Brown extended his hit-streak to 18 games, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer, and apparently it's not "if" but "when" in terms of a call-up to Philadelphia, according to the Inquirer's Matt Gelb.
• Angels RHP prospect Orangel Arenas threw 8 2/3 scoreless innings, reports David Heck of MiLB.com.

 

 

Weekend Wrap-Up - Owens, Mier, Harvey, Borchering, Parker

Saturday

• Rudy Owens took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as the Pirates pitching prospect advanced to 2-0 on the season, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Jiovanni Mier hit his first home run of the season as part of a breakout day for the Astros short stop prospect, says Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.

Sunday

• Mets 2010 first round pick Matt Harvey finally gave up a run as a professional, but it was unearned, leaving him with a still spotless ERA, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• Bobby Borchering's season is off to an incredibly slow start, but he burst out in a big way on Sunday with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, including a home run, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  That's good news for the Diamondbacks, who need some right now after watching top pitching prospect Jarrod Parker struggle yet again in his second start back from Tommy John surgery.  Parker allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings of work, and while his velocity is back to its previous levels, his command and slider are still trailing behind, says J.J. Cooper of Baseball America.