MLB Prospect Watch

Potent Potables - Forsythe, Collier, Jenkins

• San Diego Padres rookie 2B/3B Logan Forsythe had knee surgery, ending his 2011 season, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.
• Zach Collier, an OF prospect in the Phillies organization, will miss the first 50 games of the 2012 season after testing positive for amphetamines, according to PhuturePhillies.com.
• Chad Jenkins struck out nine batters in seven innings of work to earn a playoff win for the Blue Jays Double-A affiliate, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Matt Dominguez finally made his major league debut this week after pre-season anticipation that he might break camp as the Marlins starting 3B didn't pan out, says Christina DeNicola of MLB.com.
• Cubs 3B prospect Josh Vitters homered in his first playoff game as a pro, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.

 

 

Notable Prospect Performances - 4/28

We're getting far enough into the season where stats are starting to mean something...

• It may be time for the Nationals to move Stephen Strasburg at least up to Triple-A, just to see if there are any minor league hitters that can challenge him.  He didn't face any on Tuesday, as he no-hit the Reading Phillies through 5 innings, according to MiLB.com.  The only base runner reached on a passed ball after a strike out.
• Shelby Miller had a rough outing last night, which was chronicled by Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus who was in attendance.  Goldstein tweeted about the Cardinals' '09 first-rounder throughout the game, giving updates throughout Miller's wild performance.
• Chad Jenkins made the is best start of his pro career on Tuesday, going 8 strong innings and getting his first win, reports MiLB.com.  Jenkins, the Blue Jays' first round pick in 2009, had been off to a rough start in his first three appearances, but held his opponents scoreless while striking out 9 batters in his latest outing.
• Jason Donald added a 4-hit game to his case for a promotion to Cleveland, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Donald is hitting .324 on the season with 9 extra-base hits, while current Indians' second baseman Luis Valbuena is hitting .170 on the season and is a career .241 hitter.

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.

2009 Draftees Impressing in First Camp

For most players drafted in last year's draft, this spring is their first opportunity to show coaches and team officials what they can do.  Even for those who signed in enough time to play with their organizations last season, Spring Training is the first chance for the big league coaching staff to see them in person.  A few of them are turning some heads.

• At this point, everyone in the Nationals' organization has seen Stephen Strasburg, but he continues to impress, reports Bill Ladson for MLB.com.  
• Donavan Tate may not have a chance to make the Padres roster this year, but after an injury-filled start to his professional career, he is getting a chance to impress in the Padres mini-camp, notes Corey Brock on MLB.com.  Tate suffered a groin injury in the fall, then had an ATV accident in the off-season.  He says he's completely healthy now.
• In Blue Jays camp, manager Cito Gaston came away impressed with Chad Jenkins and his signature sinker, Jordan Bastian reports on MLB.com.  Jenkins has lost significant weight since being drafted, and given the team's already young rotation, he could move through their organization quickly.