MLB Prospect Watch

Prospects in the Majors 4/8

• Brett Gardner (NYY) - 0-4, R, batting .143
• Ryan Perry (DET) - 1 IP, K
• Travis Snider (TOR) - 0-3, 2 K, batting .200
• Jordan Schafer (ATL) - 1-4, HR, R, BB, batting .300 with 2 HR
• J.A. Happ (PHI) - 2 IP, 2 ER, H, 2 K/1 BB, HR (Schafer)
• Dexter Fowler (COL) - 1-4, HR (off D. Davis), 2 R, BB, K, started in CF and led off
• Chris Dickerson (CIN) - 0-3, R, RBI, BB, K
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) - 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K, E, batting .375
• Taylor Teagarden (TEX) - 0-1
• Chris Getz (CWS) - 0-4, batting .250
• Colby Rasums (STL) - 0-3, 2 BB, started in LF and led off
• Nick Adenhart (LAA) - 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 5 K/3 BB
• Travis Ishikawa (SF) - 1-4, R, batting .333

Prospects Shine on Opening Day

Even though these prospects made their organizations' big league clubs, they are still technically prospects (we use the MLB rookie standards) so we at MLBPW will still keep you up to date on them.  Here's how they fared on Opening Day:

• Elvis Andrus (TEX) - 1-4, R, K
• Brett Gardner (NYY) - 1-3, R
• Phil Coke (NYY) - 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 K/1 BB, HR (Izturis, C)
• Cameron Maybin (FLA) - 1-4, R, 2 K 
• Jason Motte (STL) - 1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, K, BS 
• David Freese (STL) - 0-1, RBI (did not start) 
• Travis Snider (TOR) - 2-4, HR (off Verlander), RBI, R, K 

Links: Roster Moves and Minor League Assignments

• The St. Louis Cardinals send down closer prospect Chris Perez, according to the Associated Press.
• Brett Gardner beat out Melky Cabrera for the Yankees starting centerfield position, says Mark Feidsand of the Daily News.
• Colorado Rockies top pitching prospect Jhoulys Chacin will begin the season on Double-A, reports Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.  The move was made largely because the weather there will be more mild than at the Rockies Triple-A facility in Colorado Springs.

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

Best and Worst and Need to Know - Sunday 3/8

Let's take a look at the notable performances from Sunday's Spring Training Action:

THE BEST

• Tommy Hanson (ATL) - 4 IP, 4 H, 7 K/1 BB, 1 ER, 4.50 ERA this spring
• Lars Anderson (BOS) - 1-3, BB, RBI, R, batting .133 this spring 
• J.P Arencibia (TOR) - 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, batting .100 this spring
• Adrian Cardenas (OAK) - 2-2, RBI, batting .364 this spring
• Brett Anderson (OAK) - 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 3.18 ERA this spring 
• Gordon Beckham (CWS) - 3-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, batting .333 with 3 doubles this spring
• Greg Golson (TEX) - 1-1, Grand Slam, batting .462 this spring 
• Derek Holland (TEX) - 2 1/3 IP, 4 H, K/BB, 5.06 ERA this spring 
• Mat Latos (SD) - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 K/0 BB, 9.00 ERA this spring 

THE WORST

• Brett Gardner (NYY) - 0-3, K, R, batting .333 this spring
• Bobby Parnell (NYM) - 0 IP, 3 ER, 0 K/2 BB, 13.50 ERA this spring 
• John Mayberry, Jr. (PHI) - 0-4, 3 K, batting .250 this spring
• Carlos Carrasco (PHI) - 2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 K/ 0 BB, 7.71 ERA this spring 
• Wade Davis (TB) - 2 2/3 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 K/2 BB, 2 HR, 6.48 ERA this spring 
• Michael Bowden (BOS) - 1 IP, ER, H, K/BB, 16.88 ERA this spring
• Scott Elbert (LAD) - 1 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 0 K/1 BB, 8.31 ERA this spring 

BIG NAMES

• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - 0-2, batting .455 this spring
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) - 0-1, BB, R, batting .143 this spring 
• Mike Stanton (FLA) - 0-1, batting .333 this spring
• Matt Wieters (BAL) -  1-2, batting .471 this spring 
• Tim Beckham (TB) - 0-1, batting .167 this spring
• Daniel Schlereth (ARI) - 1 IP, 2 H, K, 6.00 ERA this spring
• Carlos Santana (CLE) - 0-0, BB, R, batting .200 this spring
• Buster Posey (SF) - 1-2, BB, batting .375 this spring
• Colby Rasmus (STL) - 0-1, K, batting .242 this spring