MLB Prospect Watch

Notable Prospect Performances - 6/9

Thank you, Stephen Strasburg, for reminding us again how much fun baseball can be.  You should probably, however, apologize to Mike Stanton for completely overshadowing his 3-hit debut.

In other action...

• It was a big night for Indians' prospects, as Carlos Santana hit his 12 home run of the season and Lonnie Chisenhall homered for Double-A Akron in support of Alex White, who gave up only one hit over six innings, but walked five.
• Brandon Erbe had another rough outing, reports Dean Jones, Jr. of the Baltimore Sun, but there's some good offensive news for the O's from the game, as Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell each had two hits and an RBI.
• Mike Minor has been racking up major strikeout numbers, but he's also had a couple of clunkers tossed in, like the 7 ER's he gave up Tuesday night.
• Yesterday made back-to-back 3-hit nights for Desmond Jennings.  When he gets hot, look out.
• There were some impressive strikeout totals recorded in places other than Washington on Tuesday night, including those by Dan Hudson, who punched out 10 over 7 IP, Brody Colvin who K'd 8 in 7 IP, and Chad James, who set down 9 batters in 5 innings of work.

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/23

• The Atlanta Braves hope that the movement on Mike Minor's fastball and his outstanding changeup are enough to off-set his lack of velocity, reports Bill Ballew for Baseball America.  Minor is the opposite of fellow 2009 draft pick David Hale, who has mid-90's stuff, but was a two-way player in college and needs much refinement.
• Gaby Sanchez may be winning the Marlins' first base competition, but don't expect typical first base production from the prospect, notes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.  Considering Sanchez is 26-years-old, has yet to win a starting job in the majors, and will likely be batting 8th to start the season, the Marlins will likely be happy with any production then can get.
• Jared Mitchell's 2010 season ended before it started, but the 2009 first-round pick out of LSU had been showing why the White Sox were so high on him, notes Phil Rogers in Baseball America.
• The hype that consumed Chicago Cubs camp early this spring has died, but that doesn't mean we won't see Starlin Castro again soon, reports Jeff Vorva for Baseball America.
• Jamie Ramsey of MLB.com gives us a little insight into the world of Reds 2009 Minor League Player of the Year Chris Heisey.
• Brandon Erbe may be heading back to the Orioles' Double-A affiliate in Bowie to start the 2010 season, but he's going to attack the league with his newly refined delivery, notes Roch Kubatko for Baseball Ameica.

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/3

Today's prospect-related links are brought to you by the number 3...

• Brandon Erbe of the Baltimore Orioles talks to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun about the changes he has made in his delivery.
• As if there wasn't enough pressure on 20-year-old Noel Arguelles after defecting from Cuba, Sam Mellenger of the Kansas City Star talks about how the young lefty is the "face of hope and change" for the Royals.
• Speaking of pressure, Alcides Escobar is following not only in the footsteps of departed Brewers short stop J.J. Hardy, but in the footsteps of his Venezuelan countrymen, such as Omar Vizquel and Luis Aparicio, reports Adam McCalvy for MLB.com.
• Drew Storen is enjoying playing in the shadow cast by his Nationals teammate Stephen Strasburg, notes Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
• As Spring Training games begin with professional teams playing local colleges, Gaby Sanchez reflects back on his days at the University of Miami when the team used to scrimmage the Marlins, says Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
• So much for the over-hyping of Starlin Castro.  Amid rumors that he may start the Cubs' opener on Thursday, manager Lou Piniella released the team's starting lineup for that day, with Opening Day starter Ryan Theriot in his rightful place, leading off and playing short stop, notes Carrie Muskat in her MLB.com blog.  Castro is expected to replace Theriot after three or four innings however.
• It was a slow day for Jason Heyward in his first spring game against the Mets on Tuesday.  All he showed the Braves was hitting ability, plate discipline, and speed, according to Marty Noble of MLB.com.
• In addition to being a two-way player early in his professional career, Casey Kelly had the opportunity to be a two-sport star at the University of Tennessee.  He has no regrets, however, on passing up the opportunity to play for the Red Sox, notes the Associated Press.  The emergence of Kelly as the Sox' top prospect will hopefully take some of the pressure off of Lars Anderson and allow him to rebound from a disappointing season, notes Ron Borges of the Boston Herald.

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/1

Today's links are brought to you by green beer, chocolate money, and all of the other wonderful things March brings us...

• Chad Jenkins' sinker is what got him drafted in the first round last year, but as Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star explains, it's his new diets that may allow the Blue Jays to reap the benefits.
• The Cincinnati Reds will have an intrasquad game on Thursday, and Aroldis Chapman will get to throw an innings, reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
• In the Orioles intrasquad game today, manager Dave Trembley listed the inning thrown by Brandon Erbe as one of the highlights, notes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
• First Doc, now Mo?  We've officially gotten carried away with Jenrry Mejia this spring.
• David Freese had a rough off-season, and it was primarily his own doing, but the Cardinals are pleased with his progress since then, reports the Associated Press.
• Josh Bell continues to impress in Orioles camp, according to Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com, and is continuing to work on his hitting from the right side of the plate.
• Starlin Castro is getting a lot of praise this spring, but when it comes from Lou Piniella, you know it's deserved.  Piniella is so anxious to see to see the 19-year-old that he is considering batting him leadoff in the Cubs' first spring game, reports Gordon Wittenmyer on the Inside the Cubs Blog.
• Pedro Alvarez's image may have taken a hit during his contract negotiations with the Pirates, but you would never know he's a future star, according to Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Buster Posey is saying all the right things about being blocked from the Giants for another season, notes the San Francisco Chronicle.

Orioles News

The Baltimore Orioles have as much pitching depth as any organization in baseball, but when that pitching will make its way to Camden Yards is still in question.  Jake Arrieta has been mentioned along with already promoted pitchers Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz, but his time has yet to come, notes Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun.  The young righty is still highly touted and considered a major part of the Orioles future, but he has not progressed as quickly as some expected.

Predicting when a prospect will be ready is often a tricky business.  The Orioles know this as well as any organization, having dealt with this uncertainty with other prospects, such as Brandon Erbe.  It was just a few years ago that Erbe appeared to be on the fast track to the majors, a few disappointing seasons in a row cooled the team's expectations for the local pitcher.  But Erbe appears to be back on track, and is still very much in the team's sights, reports Brittany Ghiroli for MLB.com.  Erbe has a new delivery that is helping him with his control.  He made it as high as Double-A last season, and could start there again in 2010.