MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action in the Majors

As the first week of major league action winds down, we're starting to see many of the prospects who made big league rosters take their turns on the field.

• Michael Pineda made his first major league start on Tuesday, and the Mariners were pleased with the results, says Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.  Pineda was one of a number of surprise prospects to stay in the majors after the spring, notes Keith Law of ESPN.com, who questioned the M's decision to keep the young right-hander.
• The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have elevated hard-throwing rookie Jordan Walden into the closer's role at the back of the bullpen after incumbent Fernando Rodney's early season struggles, reports Kevin Baxter of The Los Angeles Times, who also notes the successful relationship rookie catcher Hank Conger has molded with team ace Jared Weaver.  Conger caught Weaver in two late-season starts in 2010 and Weaver praised the prospect's work behind the plate.  Conger made his first start on Tuesday, receiving another Weaver gem, and perhaps adding to the confidence manager Mike Scioscia has in him behind the plate.
• Brandon Belt has struggled at the plate to start the season, and Aubrey Huff has been an adventure in right field, where he's playing to accommodate Belt's arrival in the lineup, but despite these struggles, Giants manager Bruce Bochy says he has no intention of sitting Belt down anytime soon, says Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• Mike Minor will make his first start of the season for the Braves on Wednesday, taking the rotation spot of the injured Jair Jurrjens, says Doug Miller of MLB.com.  Minor will try to get the ball to Craig Kimbrel, the Braves closer who has continued his string of dominance from last season, notes Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
• Jeremy Hellickson will make his 2011 debut for the Rays, getting the start opposite Dan Haren against the Angels on Wednesday, says Spencer Fordin of MLB.com.
• The Washington Nationals plan to move rookie second baseman Danny Espinosa up to the leadoff spot in their batting order, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

 

Position Battles - Pineda, Emaus, Elbert, Collins

• Michael Pineda appears close to claiming a spot in the Mariners starting rotation, and that has a lot to do with the development of his change-up this spring, according to Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.
• With the demotion of Justin Turner, Rule V draft pick Brad Emaus appears to be in line to be the Mets Opening Day second baseman, reports Andrew McCarron of the New York Daily News.
• Scott Elbert took another step closer to claiming a job in the Dodgers bullpen, pitching on back-to-back days for the first time this spring, says Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
• Tim Collins has been nothing short of impressive this spring, and is one of just two lefties in competition for a spot in the Royals bullpen, notes Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• The Braves will use Craig Kimrbel as a closer, but he will share the role with Johnny Venters, notes TalkingChop.com.

 

Position Battles - Moskos, Cubs, Kimbrel, Banuelos

• Despite his strong spring so far, Daniel Moskos remains a long-shot to make the Pirates bullpen, mostly due to the other left-handed veterans that seem destined to take one of the available slots, says Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• Brett Jackson remains is a long-shot to crack the Cubs Opening Day roster, but between the impression he made last spring and his repeat performance this year, he's making the team's decision as difficult as possible, notes Phil Rogers of Baseball America, who also mentions pitching prospects Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson, and Trey McNutt as all likely to head back to Triple-A but could see time in the majors this year.
• The Braves haven't said anything about Craig Kimbrel's struggles and how that will affect their use of the hard-throwing prospect as a potential closer, but they may have to make a decision soon if his bouts with wildness continue, says Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
• Manny Banuelos has been the most impressive young pitcher in Yankees camp, and while he is still likely headed to Double-A Trenton to start the season, his performance this March could result in a promotion sooner than had been planned, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

 

 

Prospect Pitching Action - Lyles, Pineda, Britton, Pomeranz

• Jordan Lyles held the Yankees scoreless in his first Astros start this spring, despite walking two batters, says Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
• Michael Pineda recorded two hitless innings and one strikeout in his quest for a spot in the Mariners rotation, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.
• Arodys Vizcaino retired six of the seven batters he faced and hit 97-MPH with his fastball in his first spring appearance for the Braves, notes Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Craig Kimbrel bounced back to have a positive performance after his poor first outing, says Evan Drellich of MLB.com.
• Zach Britton pitched well despite over-throwing and dealing with nerves in his first Orioles appearance, says Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.
• The Cardinals have some unexpectedly open rotation spots, and Lance Lynn took a good step towards claiming one of them on Wednesday, reports Matthew Leach of MLB.com.
• Drew Pomeranz made his first start in an Indians uniform this spring, striking out two in one inning of work.

 

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Pirates, Royals, Kimbrel, Trout

• The Pirates top prospects aren't far enough along to be in spring training just yet, but that didn't stop Jameson Taillon, Stetson Allie, and Luis Heredia from sneaking over from minor league camp to catch a glimpse of the big leage action, says Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Spring Training is always a time to see young players who may be a few years away, but the Royals are taking that to a whole new level with eight pitchers in camp who are 22-years-old or younger, including prospects John Lamb (20), Noel Arguelles, Mike Montgomery, and Tim Collins (21), and Nathan Adcock, Danny Duffy and Chris Dwyer (22), reports Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• Even if he's not the Braves closer on Opening Day, Craig Kimbrel will be at some point this season, a notion it seems everyone but the team is ready to admit, says Paul Newberry of the Associated Press.   But don't expect him to match his ridiculous strike out totals from last season, says Davie O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  After all, no one ever has.
• For all of the tools that scouts rave about when discussing Mike Trout, it's his makeup that has the Angels really excited to have the game's top prospect in camp, notes Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.
• The Rays farm system is so deep that they have some legitimate pitching prospects that get overlooked, says John Sickles of MinorLeagueBall.com, who mentions Nick Barnese, Alex Cobb and Kyle Lobstein among others.
• The Yankees are hoping to see more contact from Kelvin De Leon to go with his massive power, notes George King of Baseball America.