MLB Prospect Watch

BA Hot Sheet - 4/27/12

Baseball America is out with their latest edition of the Prospect Hot Sheet.  Now in it's third week of the season, we're beginning to have some repeat customers.  Take a look at our standings on the sidebar to the right to see how things are shaping up.  Making it onto this week's list are:

• Trevor Bauer (ARI)
• Cody Buckel (TEX)
• Dylan Bundy (BAL)
• Chris Carter (OAK)
• Tony Cingrani (CIN)
• Pat Corbin (ARI)
• Charlie Culberson (SF)
• Jose Fernandez (MIA)
• Wilmer Flores (NYM)
• Avisail Garcia (DET)
• Conor Gillaspie (SF)
• Matt Harvey (NYM)
• Taylor Jungmann (MIL)
• Trevor May (PHI)
• Will Middlebrooks (BOS)
• Jared Mitchell (CWS)
• Wil Myers (KC)
• Jake Odorizzi (KC)
• Chris Reed (LAD)
• Jonathan Singleton (HOU)
• Matt Skole (WAS)
• Mike Trout (LAA)

On the bad list this week were Brian Dozier (MIN), Brad Peacock (OAK), Deck McGuire (TOR), and Keon Broxton (ARI).

 

Roster Cuts - Cards, Reds, Giants, Montgomery

• The Cardinals optioned Tony Cruz to Triple-A and re-assigned Lance Lynn to minor league camp, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but as Goold wrote in Baseball America, Lynn could be back in St. Louis at the first sign of trouble.
• The Reds have optioned Yonder Alonso, Todd Frazier and Zack Cosart to Triple-A, says Mark Bowman of MLB.com.  Last week they also optioned Yasmani Grandal to High-A and Phillippe Valiquette to Double-A.
• The Giants optioned Darren Ford to Triple-A and re-assigned Jackson Williams to minor league camp, says Chris Haft of MLB.com.  Last week they optioned Thomas Neal and Conor Gillaspie to Triple-A and Ehire Adrianza and Francisco Peguero to Double-A.
• Mike Montgomery was re-assigned to minor league camp, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com, and will start the season in Triple-A.  Last week, the Royals re-assigned fellow top prospects Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Danny Duffy and catching prospect Salvador Perez.
• The White Sox optioned Tyler Flowers to Triple-A and re-assigned Jordan Danks to minor league camp, says Tom Singer of MLB.com.

 

Winter League Recap - 10/28

Arizona Fall League

• The Saguaros put a 15-1 spanking on the Desert Dogs on Thursday, led by multiple-hit games by Ben Revere, Eduardo Escobar, Devin Mesoraco, Joe Benson, and others.
• The Javelinas connected for three home runs off of B.J. Rosenberg in the 6th inning, including one by Koby Clemens, en route to a 6-4 victory over the Solar Sox.
• Sammy Solis gave up eight hits and five runs (two earned) in five innings of work, but the Scorpions fought back behind Conor Gillespie's 4-hit, 2-home run day to win 9-5.

Venezuelan Winter League

• Mark Trumbo hit two home runs (one off of Mariners relief prospect Dan Cortes) and drive in six in the Navegantes 12-8 victory over the Cardenales.  Alex Liddi struck out three times in the loss.

Dominican Winter League

• Josh Reddick reached base four times, but it wasn't enough offense for the Gigantes as they fell to the Tigres 6-3.  Yamaico Navarro and Carlos Peguero each had a hit in the victory for the Tigres.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Montero, Drabek, and more

• Jesus Montero will miss the remainder of the season with a leg infection, reports Conor Foley of The Times Leader.  No timetable is set for the Yankees' prospects return for winter action.  The team also called up Juan Miranda and Kevin Russo to the majors.
• The Blue Jays have called up Kyle Drabek, and he will make his first career start on Wednesday as the team goes to a 6-man rotation for the remainder of the season.  Also going to a 6-man rotation is the Milwaukee Brewers, which will allow former first round pick Mark Rogers to get a start, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Padres prospect Cory Luebke credits the development of his change-up while injured earlier this season as a key to his success this year, says Corey Brock of MLB.com.
• And finally, as part of a segment that I love (and wish I had thought of first) John Sickles looks at the "Double-A Transition" of prospects as they make what is widely considered the most difficult jump in professional baseball before hitting the majors.  Sickles examined the seasons of Alex Liddi and Conor Gillespie yesterday and Blake Tekotte and others on Friday.

BA Prospect Blog 4/29

Jim Shonerd with Baseball America checks in with a blog entry for Wednesday, discussing Giants prospects Conor Gillaspie and Madison Bumgarner (who had a rough start at the Lancaster JetHawks launching pad of a stadium) as well as Diamondbacks pitching prospect Trevor Harden and Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero.