MLB Prospect Watch

Injury Updates - Tate, Cumberland, Friedrich, Crosby

• Donavan Tate has been out of the lineup again, this time due to a stomach virus, reports Keven Gemmell of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Tate should be back in a few days, but time away from the field is something that's becoming a bit of a habit for the former first round pick.  Fellow prospect Drew Cumberland is being looked at by team doctors and the Padres will establish a timetable for his return, which may not include the 2010 season.
• Rockies' LHP Christian Friedrich had to leave his last start early with an elbow injury caused by a batted ball, reports Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.  The injury is not believed to be serious, but the team will be careful with Friedrich who has a history of elbow injuries.
• The Tigers have shut down Casey Crosby for the remainder of the year due to recurring swelling in his left (throwing) elbow, reports Jason Beck of MLB.com.  At the moment, Crosby does not need surgery, but he will not throw for almost two months.

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/13

• Chris Nelson has gone from highly touted prospect within the Rockies' organization to a player labeled as injury-prone on the verge of being a bust, but the 2004 first-round pick.  Finally healthy again, Nelson is back on the Rockies' radar and is having a bounce back season that has seen him improve his patience at the plate, reports Chris Jackson of MLB.com.
• Justin Smoak was undoubtedly the key piece received by the Mariners in return for Cliff Lee.  But given the reports that the Yankees had offered top prospect Jesus Montero, Bryan Smith of FanGraphs.com explains why the Mariners chose Smoak instead.
• Also mentioned among the Lee rumors was Brett Lawrie, who was drafted by Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik when he ran the Brewers' drafts.  The Brewers managed to hold on to their future second baseman who is elevating his prospect status despite being among the youngest players in the Southern League, says Guy Curtright for MLB.com.
• Despite the small sample sizes from the Futures Game, Harry Pavlidis of The Hardball Times couldn't help but take advantage of a rare chance to see prospects through the Pitch f/x microscope.  Pavlidis begins his analysis with the left-handed pitchers who participated in the game, including Christian Friedrich, Zach Britton, Mike Minor, Alexander Torres, and Phillippe Valiquette.
• Trevor Reckling is back in Double-A after a horrid start in Salt Lake City this season, and the Angels' hope is that being back in a pitchers' park will help the young lefty get back to pitching rather than throwing, reports Todd Traub of MLB.com.
• There are prospects galore on display at minor league all-star games, but Marlins' 3B prospect Matt Dominguez shined the brightest at the Southern League All-Star Game, says Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

Prospect Hot Sheet - 7/8

After a one-week hiatus, Baseball America returned to producing its weekly hot sheet on Friday with prospect-laden edition to take us into the major league all-star break.

• Yonder Alonso
• J.P. Arencibia
• Engel Beltre
• Dellin Betances
• Peter Bourjos
• Kyle Drabek
• Christian Friedrich
• Paul Goldschmidt
• Greg Halman
• J.J. Hoover
• Eric Hosmer
• John Lamb
• Will Middlebrooks
• Shelby Miller
• Mike Moustakas
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis
• Michael Pineda
• Dennis Raben
• Cody Scarpetta
• Blake Smith

Bringing up the rear on the not-so-positive end of the list are Jordan Lyles, Jay Austin, Josh Vitters and Casey Crosby.

Notable Prospect Performances - 7/9

• Christian Friedrich struck out 12 batters as the Rockies' top pitching prospect celebrated his 23rd birthday.
• Giants' pitching prospect Eric Surkamp did two better, fanning 14 batters in his latest California League start.
• Nationals' OF Michael Burgess was 4-for-5 with a home run and a double.
• Cody Scarpetta struck out 11 batters over 7 scoreless innings, dropping the Brewers' prospect's ERA to 3.94 on the season.
• Devin Mesoraco continued his hot hitting this season with a 3-for-4 performance that left him just a single short of the cycle.
• Phillippe Aumont gave up 4 runs in his first start since his demotion to High-A ball, but only two of them were earned, and he struck out 13 batters.

Making Moves - 5/14

Today's moves know that Trey Hillman wasn't the only problem in Kansas City...

• The Phillies have placed Tyson Gillies on the DL with a hamstring strain, says Gregg of Phuture Phillies, which would explain his lack of running since joining the organization.
• Christian Freidrich is scheduled to make his first start today in over a month, reports Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.  The Rockies' pitching prospect had been out with elbow inflammation.
• In response to a Q&A, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com suggests that Pedro Alvarez will be in Pittsburgh as soon is it's financially feasible, which will be sometime this summer.
• Yonder Alonso has been promoted to Triple-A, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, in an attempt to get him some pitches to hit, according to Reds' personnel.  Double-A pitchers were pitching around Alonso.
• Reese Havens has made the switch to second base everyone expected when he was drafted, and it could speed up his path to New York, says Steve Popper for Baseball America.
• Indians' pitching prospect Hector Rondon is headed to the DL with pain in his forearm, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.