MLB Prospect Watch

Notable Prospect Performances - 6/23

• It may have been an all-star game, but that didn't stop Jerry Sands from putting on a show for the fans, homering in the first inning and taking home MVP honors in the Midwest League All-Star Game, reports Matthew Linder of MiLB.com.  Sands' three-run shot in the first inning came off Cubs' pitching prospect Trey McNutt.
• Jason Castro's major league debut couldn't have gone much better, says Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle, as the Astro catcher singled off of Tim Lincecum in his first major league at-bat, and threw out two base runners during the game.
• Domonic Brown went 3-for-4 with 2 home runs, leading the Reading Phillies to victory.  Teammate Cody Overbeck, recently promoted from Clearwater after tearing up the Florida State League for the first part of the season, collected just his 3rd hit in 8 games in Double-A.
• Mike Moustakas continued his hot hitting, with a 3-for-5 night, including a double and a home run.  The Royals' 3B now has 39 extra-base hits in 53 games on the season.
• Rays' first-round pick Justin O'Conner made his professional debut on Tuesday with a 1-for-4 game for the GCL Rays.

Prospect Potent Potables - 6/19

• Matt Hagen of The Hardball Times discusses where many of the 2010 draft picks are going to fall within his top-100 rankings, assuming they sign.
• People are beginning to change their opinions about Andrew Brackman, says E.J. Hagen of TYU.
• Ben Revere is making a name for himself within the Twins organization, reports Matt Stucko of MLB.com.
• Koby Clemens is taking to first base, but really just wants to hit, says Todd Traub of MLB.com.
• Chorye Spoone is almost back to his old self after arm surgery in 2008, according to Stephanie Storm of MLB.com.
• Marc Hulet of Fan Graphs.com takes a look at some of the top third base prospects from around the minors including Mike Moustakas, Miguel Sano, Matt Dominguez, Matt Davidson, and Cody Overbeck.

Making Moves - 6/17

• Reese Havens is missing games again for the Mets, reports Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com.  Havens is penciled in as the Mets' 2B of the future, but can't seem to stay on the field.
• In order to help the Reds' ailing bullpen, the team may promote one of their left-handed pitching prospects, either Matt Maloney or Travis Wood, to the majors and convert them to a reliever, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• A number of minor league outfielders have had their chance with the Red Sox this season, and according to John Tomase of the Boston Herald, it's only a matter of time before Ryan Kalish gets his chance.
• The Phillies moved third base prospect Cody Overbeck to Double-A on Monday, reports Phuture Phillies.com.
• MLB Trade Rumors has a complete breakdown of all of the 1st and Supplemental round picks and whether or not they have signed.

Phillies Prospect News

For an organization that has seen a lot of prospects leave over the past year, the Phillies still have as many players of note in their system as most organizations in baseball.

Making a name for himself in a big way is Jonathan Singleton, an 18-year-old 1B currently playing for the Phillies' South Atlantic League affiliate the Lakewood Blue Claws.  Singleton has brought back memories of a young Ryan Howard, says Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Daily News, who also provides updates on fellow Phightins' prospects Juan Ramirez, Phillippe Aumont, Domonic Brown, B.J. Rosenberg, Trevor May, Anthony Gose, Cody Overbeck, Nick Hernandez, and Domingo Santana.

Santana is one of the Phillies most intriguing prospects, with tremendous talent but extremely raw abilities.  The organization pushed the 17-year-old Dominican native with an aggressive assignment in Lakewood to start the season, but Brookover reports that Santana could be sent to short-season ball once play begins next month.  Santana has struggled with a .194 batting average and 64 strike outs, but Phillies personnel say they are happy with the progression he has made.

Another interesting arm in Lakewood is Jarred Cosart, a 38th round pick in 2008 who is showing off a power arm and an advanced feel for pitching, according to Lakewood manager Mark Parent (via Brookover).  The Phillies will likely take their time with Cosart, allowing the 19-year-old to progress through the minors with a full year at each level, at least in the low minors.

Also of note, Tyson Gillies, acquired in the off-season in the Cliff Lee deal, has had a setback during his recovery from rehabbing his hamstring, reports Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle.

Prospect Potent Potables - 5/20

Stephen Strasburg is still good, just in case you were wondering.

• Carlos Peguero is off to the start the Mariners have always expected from him, reports John Hickey for Baseball America, but keep him mind that he's 23-years-old and in Double-A, which is getting just old enough to take a grain of salt with his performance.
• Diamondbacks' pitcher Wes Roemer is heading to Triple-A, tweets Matt Eddy.  And speaking of D-Backs-related tweets, Jarrod Parker, the team's top prospect despite Tommy John surgery, says he will throw off a mound on Monday for the first time since the operation.  Isn't Twitter great?
• As Cody Overbeck is trying to prove to the Phillies, sometimes struggling is just a matter of being injured and not knowing it, says Lee Diekemper of MiLB.com.
• The Rangers' farm system is deep enough that Jamey Newberg of MLB.com found 10 non-fastball pitches worth talking about among their pitchers, and ranked them for us.  It's worth noting that if one pitcher has the 2nd and 4th best off-speed pitches in a system this deep (as Martin Perez does on this list) and also throws in the high 90's, then he might be pretty darn good.
• Edgar Osuna has to be having the best season of any player who was offered back to his old team after the Rule V draft (Atlanta), but was turned down and was allowed to stay with his even worse team (KC).  Not that that's a huge group.
• You probably thought it was over long ago, but just now is the Wagner Mateo saga is finally complete.