MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Performances - Belt, Pineda, Kelly

• Brandon Belt continued his assult on a Giants roster spot and Cactus League pitching, blasting a two-run homer as part of a three RBI day, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.  But Giants manager Bruce Bochy recently confirmed that Pat Burrell will be the team's Opening Day left fielder, says Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, leaving no room for Belt in the starting lineup.
• Michael Pineda threw six shutout innings in what should be his last spring start, and virtually cemented his spot in the Mariners starting rotation, says Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• Despite being sent to minor league camp over a week ago, Casey Kelly made a surprise spot start in major league camp for the Padres, allowing three runs in four innings of work on Friday.
• Diamondbacks LHP prospect Tyler Skaggs threw three more scoreless innings on Friday, extending his scoreless innings streak this spring to six, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Even though they are on the back fields now, Shelby Miller and Zack Cox continue to shine in Cardinals minor league spring games, says Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

 

Position Battles - Belt, Pineda, Montgomery

• Brandon Belt hasn't made the Giants roster yet, but they have a spot in the lineup all set for him if he does, reports Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• The Mariners are giving Michael Pineda every legitimate chance to crack their starting rotation, says Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.
• The Royals are still looking at Mike Montgomery and haven't ruled him out for a rotation spot, says Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
• Jake McGee is going to be a reliever for the Rays, and he may get some save opportunities, notes Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com.

 

Spring Prospect Action - Harper, Yankees, Belt, and more

This is why there's nothing that's not awesome about Spring Training...

• Bryce Harper made his spring debut on Monday, entering the game for the Nationals as a pinch-runner and eventually striking out twice in two at-bats, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
• The Yankees got some impressive pitching performances from two of their young arms, as Ivan Nova threw two perfect innings on Sunday, says Erik Boland of Newsday, and Dellin Betances struck out the side in his one inning of work, touching 97-MPH on the radar gun, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
• Mike Minor got off on the right foot towards claiming the Braves final rotation spot, says Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
• Phillies manager Charlie Manuel chalked up the poor performances of relief prospects Justin De Fratus and Michael Schwimer to trying to do too much in their first spring training performance, notes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
• Jarrod Parker walked the bases loaded in his first appearance in a Diamondbacks spring training game, but he also was able to work out of the jam, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
• Brandon Belt got a start in the Giants split squad game on Monday and responded with three hits, notes Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Aroldis Champan hit triple-digits repeatedly, but struggled mightily with his command, reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
• Bryan Morris threw a one-two-three inning for the Pirates, including retiring Johnny Damon and Evan Longoria, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• And the following prospects put their power on display, homering during spring training action:
  • Matt Dominguez dropped a two-run bomb in his effort to show the Marlins that his bat is as far along as his much-heralded glove, says Matthew Leach of MLB.com.
  • Tim Wheeler homered off of Rockies teammate Christian Friedrich in Sunday's intra-squad game, notes Thomas Harding of MLB.com.
  • A's OF prospect Michael Taylor displayed the power that abandoned him for much of last year, says Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.
  • A number of Mariners prospects have been going deep, including Carlos Peguero on Sunday and Johermyn Chavez and Greg Halman on Monday
  • The future of the Royals offense was on display on Monday, as Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas both homered.

   

  
  
  

   

Prospect Potent Potables - Cardinals, Belt, Nationals

• The Cardinals farm system is not among the deepest in baseball, and FutureRedbirds.net examines the lack of depth at shortstop in particular.
• Brandon Belt is causing a lot of excitement this spring, especially considering the Giants are coming off a World Series title, but despite the team saying he will have a chance to compete for a roster spot, GM Brian Sabean expects Belt to start the season back in Triple-A, according to Chris Haft of MLB.com.
• Adrian Nieto, a top catching prospect in the Nationals system, will miss 50 games to start the season after violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, reports Spencer Fordin of MLB.com.

 

 

Spring Training Battles - Belt, Arencibia, Brown, Astros, Indians

• Yesterday, we discussed the buzz surrounding top prospect Brandon Belt in Giants camp, but today we have some more details of Belt's chances of making the team this spring.  According to GM Brian Sabean, Belt will head back to the minors unless he wins a starting job, reports Chris Haft of MLB.com.  Essentially, the Giants don't want to stunt Belt's development by trapping him in a part-time role, so if he can't crack the starting lineup, he'll head back to Triple-A until he can.  Considering the team's handling of Buster Posey last season, it's reasonable to think that Belt will be heading back to Triple-A until June unless he has an incredible spring.
• J.P. Arencibia enters Spring Training with the Toronto Blue Jays as the favorite to take over the starting catcher duties, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.
• The more we hear from Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, the further it sounds like Domonic Brown is from being the team's starting right fielder on Opening Day, notes Jim Salisbury for Baseball America.
• Joining Jordan Lyles in Houston Astros Spring Training will be J.D. Martinez, Koby Clemens, Jiovanni Mier, and others, reports Brian Mctaggart of MLB.com.
• The Cleveland Indians announced their non-roster invitees today as well, with big prospect names such as Alex White, Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Drew Pomeranz among the notables, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.