MLB Prospect Watch

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.

Link: Cardinals' Notes

A few noteworthy links for Redbirds' Fans:

• The Cardinals have re-entered 3B David Freese into the hot corner contest, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, after having sent him down a few weeks ago.  Apparently Joe Mather's 0-19 skid wasn't leaving manager Tony LaRussa feeling too comfortable.
• Also from the Post-Dispatch, reliever Chris Perez was back throwing on Monday, with the intent still on being ready for Opening Day.
• No new information here, but top-prospect Colby Rasums has seen his batting average rise to .283 over the past few weeks, but he still has 19 K's in 60 AB's and has yet to homer this spring.  He's getting plenty of changes to prove he's ready (currently 8th in the majors in official Spring Training at-bats) but is he taking advantage of the opportunity?  Matthew Leach of MLB.com seems to think he should make the team.  What do you think Cardinals' fans?

Link: Cardinals Perez' Losing Out on Closer Position?

Despite being the top prospect competing for the St. Louis Cardinals' wide open closer position, Chris Perez might be taking a back seat due to injury, reports Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  

The injury doesn't appear to be too serious, but in such a tight race, it might just be enough to keep Perez from holding down the role out of Spring Training.

Premier Pitching Prospects Get Chance to Shine

The second full day of Spring Training saw many of the top pitching prospects in the game get their first action of 2009.  Take a look at the mixed results:

• Jordan Zimmerman (WAS) - 2 IP, 0 H, 3 K/0 BB
• Rick Porcello (DET) - 1 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K/0 BB 
• Tommy Hanson (ATL) - 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 K/1 BB 
• Chris Perez (STL) - 1 IP, H 
• Carlos Carrasco (PHI) - 2 IP, 0 H, 3K, 0BB 
• Wade Davis (TB) -  2 IP, 0 H, 3 K/0 BB
• Brett Anderson (OAK) - 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 K/1 BB 
• Jordan Walden (LAA) - 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K/0 BB 

Keep checking back to MLBPW for the latest on all the top pitching prospects throughout Spring Training.