MLB Prospect Watch

Making Moves - Stanton and More

The NL East just keeps getting better and better.

It appears that on the same day that Stephen Strasburg will make his major league debut for the Nationals, so too will Mike Stanton for the Marlins.  The team announced that they will be promoting the power-hitting outfielder in time for their series with the Phillies on Tuesday, reports Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald.

But Stanton was hardly the only prospect on the move over the weekend...

• The Phillies have demoted Phillippe Aumont, sending the struggling right-hander back down to High-A ball, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  The team plans to keep Aumont as a starter, even if he works in some long relief stints for Clearwater at first.
• Jake Arrieta could be heading to Baltimore soon, and despite his obvious future as a part of the Orioles' rotation, he could be used to help bail out a bullpen that is desperately taking on water, report Jeff Seidel and Noah Rosenstein for MLB.com.
• The Rangers have placed pitchers Tanner Scheppers and Martin Perez on the 7-day DL with minor injuries, reports William Wilkerson of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram.  Scheppers strained a hamstring while Perez has a cracked fingernail.
• Also dealing with fingernail issues is Giants' 2009 first-round pick Zach Wheeler, who has not pitched since mid-May due to a torn fingernail, reports Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.  The Giants have placed Wheeler on the DL and are sure to be cautious with their young power arm.
• The Pirates appear to be preparing for Brad Lincoln's promotion to the majors, and have him lined up to start for them on Wednesday, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• After a short stint back in the minors, Craig Kimbrel is rejoining the Braves, says Evan Drellich of MLB.com.

Braves Prospect News

Typically the promotion of a minor league closer who won't be immediately closing in the majors doesn't warrant extensive analysis, but there's just something about Craig Kimbrel that has Braves' fans excited.  So excited, in fact, that Capital Avenue Club has a complete rundown of Kimbrel's place in Braves' prospect history, making the bold statement that when"Looking back at the list of historic Braves relief prospect, Craig Kimbrel is probably the best to come through the system in 18 years."  It's a bold statement, but not completely inaccurate, as Kimbrel's ceiling as a closer is as high as any who have preceded him.

Kimbrel won't close immediately in Atlanta, but given Billy Wagner's impending retirement, he could get the opportunity soon.  On a lighter note, I never get tired of hearing stories about how, where, and when prospects get the call that their going to the big leagues, like this one about Kimbrel by Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

Kimbrel's promotion hardly leaves the cupboard bare in the Braves system however.  Ben Badler of Baseball America discusses (subscription required) the dominant outing that Arodys Vizcaino had over the weekend and Talking Chop.com has their take on the article for those who can't read the whole thing.  Vizcaino, acquired from the Yankees in the off-season Javier Vazquez trade, has showed this season why his curve ball is rated as one of the best in the minor leagues.  He's a two-pitch pitcher for the time being, but even if his change-up never develops, he should, at the very least, end up as a power bullpen arm, perhaps one day setting up for Kimbrel in Atlanta.

Making Moves - 5/5

Baseball America has released their weekly transaction list from the previous week, which mentions a few minor DL transactions that snuck though the cracks, including:

• Matt Antonelli of the San Diego Padres to the 60-day DL because of surgery on his hamate bone, one day after being recalled.
• The Blue Jays put Travis D'Arnaud on the DL with a "tweaked back."
• Notable names returning from the DL include Reese Havens (NYM), Andrew Brackman (NYY), and Adrian Cardenas (OAK).

Not mentioned because it just happened today was a transaction by the Atlanta Braves that saw them promote reliever Craig Kimbrel to take the spot in their bullpen vacated by Kris Medlen, who will be replacing injured starter Jair Jurrjens in the rotation, reports Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Kimbrel had been in a spring training battle for the last spot in the Braves' bullpen, but lost out to Jesse Chavez.  Kimbrel had 6 saves in Triple-A this season, and had struck out 21 batters in 15 innings, while walking only 5.  He had a 1.20 ERA.

Potent Potables - 3/31

Today's info-packed links are brought to you by the end of the not so action-packed month of March.

• Craig Kimbrel didn't end up making the Braves' bullpen after all, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com, but he will get to be the closer in Triple-A, and we should see him in Atlanta this summer.  Bowman also adds that Jason Heyward could return to the Braves' lineup today as he re-cooperates from a bout with shin splints.
• The Colorado Rockies sent Eric Young, Jr. back to Triple-A, reports Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies.  Little EY has been in prospect purgatory for a few years now, appearing to be ready, but without a spot to prove himself.  He too will be back in the majors at some point this season, but may be relegated to a bench role much the way he was last September.
• David Freese has won the St. Louis Cardinals' third base job for Opening Day, according to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, but the announcement has a very "lack of better options" feel to it.
• Fernando Martinez will start the season in Triple-A, says Michael Baron on MetsBlog.com.  F-Mart had been competing with Gary Matthews, Jr. for the New York Mets' temporary starting field job (until Carlos Beltran comes back from injury), but the team may have finally elected to let Martinez finally play at the level he's best suited for and leave him there until he proves himself.  For such a highly rated prospect, Martinez has never produced the numbers consistent with his talent, but the excuse has always been that he was young for his level (true).  Having turned 21 during the off-season, Martinez will finally be playing against the proper level of competition.
• The Minnesota Twins are considering keeping top prospect Wilson Ramos as their backup catcher, despite already having the best player in the American League behind the plate, reports Kelly Theiser of MLB.com.  The thinking is that having a backup catcher who can hit will allow manager Ron Gardenhire to let Joe Mauer DH more often and give their big money man a few more days off.  They could also begin to work Mauer into another position in the field if they don't want to lose Jim Thome's bat in the lineup, although the idea is pure speculation at this point and has yet to be mentioned by anyone in the Twins' organization.
• Pat Venditte appeared for the New York Yankees yesterday, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, and threw with both arms.  The switch-pitcher is trying to prove that he's more valuable weapon than novelty act, and got off to a good start in his first appearance against major league hitters.  And for a good chuckle, don't miss the breakdown of the "Venditte Rule" broken down in the article about when he faces a switch-hitter.

Position Battles Won/Lost by Prospects

As Spring Training winds down (Opening Day is one week away!), we are starting to see the conclusions to many of the position battles that have taken place this spring.

• Despite being a favorite of his manager, Justin Maxwell was unable to make the Nationals' 25-man roster, large in part to his .102 batting average this spring, notes Bill Ladson in his MLB.com blog.
• Gaby Sanchez beat out Logan Morrison for the Marlins' first base spot, reports Joe Frisaro in his MLB.com blog.  Morrison will open the season in Triple-A.
• In Braves' camp, Craig Kimbrel is still in a battle for the remaining spot in the team's bullpen, according to Mark Bowman in his blog on MLB.com.
• Matt Antonelli wasn't exactly battling for a roster spot this spring, but a strong March performance has at least put him back on the prospect radar, notes Corey Brock of MLB.com, and perhaps also back in the Padres' future plans.