MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action - Weekend Wrap-Up

Saturday, October 22nd

Arizona Fall League

• The Solar Sox recorded a 9-2 victory behind the bat of Cubs SS Junior Lake, who's 4-for-5 day improved his AFL batting average to .379.
• A strong start for Braves P Sean Gilmartin (1 ER in 5 IP) and the first AFL home run for Royals 2B Christian Colon both went to waste as the Saguaros fell 10-3 to the Javelinas.
• Multi-hit days by Giants prospects Gary Brown and Brandon Crawford were enough to overcome A's OF Michael Choice's 5th home run of the AFl season.

Dominican Winter League

• Pirates OF Starling Marte led a 12-hit attack for the Leones del Escogido with three of his own, while Nationals OF Eury Perez added two RBI's and a stolen base in their 6-2 victory.
• A three-run homer by Rockies C Wilin Rosario helped lead his Aguilas Cibaenas to a 14-2 victory.
• Yankees P Pat Vinditte allowed his first runs of the winter, giving up two solo home runs in his one inning of work.

Venezuelan Winter League

• Two doubles by Twins OF Joe Benson helped lead his Tigres de Aragua to a 6-1 victory.
• The Navegantes del Magallanes were led to their 5-4 victory behind the three-hit performance of Mariners 3B Francisco Martinez, as well as a scoreless inning and a third of relief by Rangers P Tanner Scheppers and a scoreless 11th inning by Twins P Deolis Guerra.
• Rangers P Wilfredo Boscan got his first loss of the winter season, allowing four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work.

 

Sunday, October 23rd

Dominican Winter League

• Wilin Rosario hit his second homer in as many nights, but his Aguilas Cibaenas fell 11-6 nonetheless.
• Rays P Alex Colome threw a scoreless inning to finish off the Toros del Este.

Venezuelan Winter League

• Brewers OF Caleb Gindl hit a three-run homer to help lead his Leones del Caracas to a 10-5 victory.

 

 

Prospect Action - 10/13/11

Arizona Fall League

• In a prospect match-up that featured Trey McNutt of the Cubs facing off against Danny Hultzen of the Mariners, the Solar Sox came out victorious despite a better start from Hultzen.  The second overall pick in this year's draft threw three innings, giving up just one run despite scattering six hits.  McNutt gave up two runs in as many innings (only one was earned) while walking three batters.
  • Pirates OF Robbie Grossman went 3-for-5 in the game for the Solar Sox, notes Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• A rough day at the plate for Rangers 3B Mike Olt (0-5 with four K's) didn't hold back the Saguaros, as they took care of the Desert Dogs 6-2.
  • Rays OF Mike Mahtook went 2-for-4 with two RBI's in the victory, notes David Heck of MLB.com, making up for teammate Tim Beckham's 0-for-4 day at the plate.
• Diamondbacks OF Adam Eaton went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI's to lead his Rafters to a 3-1 victory over the Scorpions.  Nationals OF Bryce Harper went 1-for-4, raising his batting average for the AFL season to .087.

 

Venezuelan Winter League

• The Tiburones de La Guaira held squeaked out a 4-3 victory over the Caribes de Anzoategui, thanks in part to an RBi single by Giants SS Ehire Adrianza.  Pirates OF Gorkys Hernandez went 1-for-4 with a double in the loss.
  • Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com has more on Hernandez's performance.
• Mariners 3B Alex Liddi went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts in his Cardenales de Lara's 4-3 loss to Leones del Caracas.  Brewers OF Caleb Gindl went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts in the victory.
• Padres P Adys Portillo gave up 2 of the Aguilad de Zuila's 13 earned runs in their loss to the Navegantes del Magallanes.  Phillies SS Freddy Galvis went 0-for-2 in the loss, while Twins P Deolis Guerra threw two innings in the win, giving up an earned run.
• Joe Benson's RBI double helped his Tigres de Aragua to a 5-1 victory over the Bravos de Margarita.  Red Sox C Ryan Lavarnway went 1-for-2 with two walks in the loss.

 

USA Baseball

• Tigers pitching prospect Drew Smyly threw five scoreless innings, fanning six in the process, leading Team USA over Canada in the IBAF Baseball World Cup, reports David heck of MiLB.com.

 

The Dominican Winter League starts play today.  MLB Prospect Watch will keep you covered.

 

 

Mexican and Venezuelan Leagues Begin Today

In addition to the Arizona Fall League beginning league play today, the Mexican and Venezuelan Leagues both begin action today in their respective nations.  While both leagues feature players of all ages and affiliations, the Mexican League typically has more retired major leaguers and veteran players while the Venezuelan League is typically more prospect-laden.  As usual, you can follow all of the fall and winter league action here at MLB Prospect Watch.

Here are some of the notable prospects who will see time in the international winter leagues this off-season:

Mexican League

• Caneros de los Mochis - Sebastian Valle (PHI)

 

Venezuelan League

• Augilas de Zulia
  • Austin Bibens-Dirkx (CHC)
  • Harold Garcia (PHI)
• Bravos de Margarita
  • Cesar Hernandez (PHI)
  • Joe Mahoney (BAL)
• Cardenales de Lara
  • Mauricio Robles (SEA)
  • Alex Liddi (SEA)
• Caribes de Anzoategui
  • Gorkys Hernandez (PIT)
• Leones de Caracas
  • Carlos Carrasco (CLE)
  • Nick Weglarz (CLE)
• Navegartes del Magallanes
  • Deolis Guerra (MIN)
  • Jesus Montero (NYY)
  • Freddy Galvis (PHI)
  • Mark Trumbo (LAA)
  • Johermyn Chavez (SEA)
• Tiburones de La Guaira
  • Ehire Adrianza (SF)
• Tigres de Aragua
  • Wilson Ramos (WAS)

 

Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet - 7/23

This week's version of Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet features a lot of names you may not know.  Which is, of course, why we read.

• Manny Banuelos
• Chris Carter
• Tyler Chatwood
• Collin DeLome
• Danny Espinosa
• Grant Green
• Jason Kipnis
• John Lamb
• Alex Liddi
• Cory Luebke
• Jesus Montero
• Matt Moore
• Chris Nelson
• Francisco Peguero
• Stolmy Pimentel
• Anthony RIzzo
• Wilin Rosario
• Julio Teheran
• Cory Vaughn
• Nick Weglarz

Bringing up the rear on this week's list are Zach McAllister, Juerys Familia, Deolis Guerra, and Cito Culver.

Making Moves - 5/16

• The Florida State League wasn't much competition for Kyle Gibson, and it doesn't look like the Eastern League will be either.  That's the feeling you get after the Twins promoted their top pick from 2009 and watched him dominate in his first Double-A start.  Gibson struck out 10 batters in 7 1/3 IP en route to his first victory at the new level.
• After pulling the desperate move of keeping Jenrry Mejia in the majors to help their bullpen, the Mets are now considering sending him back down to the minors to work his way back in to the mold of a starter, says Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com.
• The Brewers could be getting suspended pitcher Jeremy Jeffress back soon.  The embattled pitcher with the blazing fastball is slated to return from his 100-game suspension for substance abuse sometime in the end of May, report Adam McCalvy and Jordan Schelling for MLB.com.  Jeffress has been suspended twice and has admitted problems with marijuana use in the past, but the Brewers need to make a decision on whether or not to add him to the 40-man roster by the end of the season or risk exposing him to the Rule V Draft.
• Neil Walker has proven everything he can in Triple-A, including learning a handful of new positions, so Tim Williams of BuccoFans.com asks the obvious question of when Walker will come to Pittsburgh.  Thanks to some service time math, it looks like we could see Walker up by the end of May.
• Baseball America has their complete list of transactions from last week, including a few that slipped under the radar:
• • Juan Francisco (CIN) to the 7-day DL
  • Kelvin de la Cruz (CLE) promoted to Double-A
  • Jacob Turner (DET) back from the 7-day DL
  • Randal Girchuk (LAA) to the 7-day DL (could miss 4-6 weeks with a sprained thumb)
  • Delois Guerra (MIN) promoted to Triple-A
  • Loek Van Mil (MIN) demoted from Double-A to High-A
  • Jemile Weeks (OAK) to the 7-day DL (could miss a month with tear in hip)
  • Jarred Cosart (PHI) back from 7-day DL