MLB Prospect Watch

Link: Sox Kelly to Jump to Double-A?

The Boston Red Sox have announced that they will give pitching prospect Casey Kelly a chance to make their Double-A rotation, despite that he has yet to pitch professionally as a full-time pitcher, reports Sean McAdam of CSN New England.  Kelly pitched 46 2/3 IP in High-A in 2009, and made the decision this off-season to give up hitting and focus solely on pitching for the Red Sox.

Link: Sox' Kelly a Pitcher for Good

Boston Red Sox former two-way prospect Casey Kelly has elected to hang up the bats for good and focus solely on the pitching aspect of baseball, reports John Tomase and Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.  The decision was one that the Red Sox were likely to eventually force on Kelly, but they preferred to let Kelly make the decision on his own.  Kelly had a 2.08 ERA this season on the mound, but batted only .222 at the plate.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said that Kelly will get a non-roster invite to Spring Training and could start in the high minors in 2010.

Link: Time for Kelly to Pick a Position

Casey Kelly, the Boston Red Sox two-way prospect as both a shortstop and a pitcher, needs to pick a position this off-season, comments Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald.  Casey was a pitcher for the first part of the season, then switched to playing shortstop full time once he had reached a predetermined innings limit set by the Red Sox.  Kelly is listed as a shortstop in the Arizona Fall League.

Best and Worst from 7/7

BEST

• Mike Stanton (FLA) - 3-5, 2B, HR, batting .221 in Double-A
• Michael Taylor (PHI) - 3-4, 2 2B, 3 SB, batting .345
• Chad Huffman (SD) - 3-4, 2 2B, HR, batting .250
• Buster Posey (SF) - 3-5, 2B, HR, batting .325
• Derek Norris (WAS) - 2-3, 2 HR, batting .320
• Zeke Spruill (ATL) - 8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 10 K/0 BB, 3.02 ERA
• Brian Matusz (BAL) - 8 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 11 K/0 BB, 0.34 ERA in Double-A
• Casey Kelly (BOS) - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 K/1 BB, 3.09
• Jordan Lyles (HOU) - 7 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 10 K/1 BB, 2.92 ERA

WORST

• Jordan Walden (LAA) - 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 3 K/4 BB, 4.95 ERA
• Carlos Carrasco (PHI) - 4 IP, 3 H, 6 ER, 5 K/6 BB, 5.06 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Mike Moustakas (KC) - 3-4, batting .264
• Ben Revere (MIN) - 2-5, 3B, SB, batting .304
• Anthony Hewitt (PHI) - 2-4, HR, batting .186
• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - 1-5, HR, batting .200
• Angel Villalona (SF) - 2-4, 2B, batting .267

Best and Worst from 6/10

BEST

• Xavier Avery (BAL) - 5-5, 2 2B, HR, batting .310
• Jake Smolinski (FLA) - 2-4, 2 HR, batting .267
• Ike Davis (NYM) - 2-5, HR, batting .286
• Austin Romaine (NYY) - 2-5, HR, batting .290
• Alex Liddi (SEA) - 3-4, 2B, HR, batting .333
• Buster Posey (SF) - 2-4, HR, batting .311
• Jason Knapp (PHI) - 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K/0 BB, 3.92 ERA

WORST

• Casey Kelly (BOS) - 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 K/0 BB, 3.78 ERA
• Amaury Rivas (MIL) - 5 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 2 K/1 BB, 3.67 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Christian Friedrich (COL) - 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 K/1 BB, 2.70 ERA
• Daniel Moskos (PIT) - 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 K/1 BB, 3.94 ERA
• Mat Latos (SD) - 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 H/2 BB, 0.79 ERA
• Tim Alderson (SF) - 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 K/1 BB, 2.20 ERA