MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Miller, Mets, Westmoreland, Pimentel

• Everyone in St. Louis wants to know when top prospect Shelby Miller will make it to the majors, and the writers from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch do their best to answer that question.
• The Mets have been in numerous talks during the winter meetings, which puts their top prospects on alert, but Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com wonders what the value really is of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, and Jenrry Mejia.
• Excellent news for Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland, who has finally been cleared for game action after a full year away, and is slated to face live pitching soon, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com.
• The Oakland A's have signed 17-year-old OF Sanber Pimentel, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• Padres SS prospect Drew Cumberland, whose career was thought to be over after sitting out all of 2011, is going to try to play again this season, says Corey Brock of MLB.com.

Injury Update - Francisco, Scheppers

• The Cincinnati Reds have placed Juan Francisco on the major league DL with a strained left calf, reports John Fay of the CIncinnati Enquirer.
• The Texas Rangers have placed Tanner Scheppers on the DL with stiffness in his lower back, stemming from the injury that slowed him this spring, reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

Baseball America has a complete listing of all minor league prospects who were on the DL to start the week, including Trey McNutt (blister), Reese Havens (oblique strain) Drew Cumberland (vertigo).

 

Making Moves - 7/21

• Anthony Slama may not be the youngest prospect to come along, but he has been among the most productive at what the Twins have asked him to do, and they've finally asked him to do it in Minnesota, reports Jocelyn Syrstad of MLB.com.
• After destroying the Sally League, the Astros decided to jump J.D. Martinez all the way to Double-A, says Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.
• Tanner Scheppers is back in the bullpen in Triple-A after an unimpressive performance as a starter, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  The move, however, has nothing to do with being roughed up as a starter, but is simply to prep him for a bullpen role in Texas later this season.
• Andrew Carpenter was promoted to the majors to replace the struggling Kyle Kendrick, says Phuture Phillies.com, and was forced into action immediately on Tuesday night when Phillies' starter Jamie Moyer had to leave the game after one inning.
• We have an official timetable for Drew Cumberland's knee injury - 6-to-8 weeks, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com, for what is officially being called a severe knee laceration.

Injury Updates - Tate, Cumberland, Friedrich, Crosby

• Donavan Tate has been out of the lineup again, this time due to a stomach virus, reports Keven Gemmell of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Tate should be back in a few days, but time away from the field is something that's becoming a bit of a habit for the former first round pick.  Fellow prospect Drew Cumberland is being looked at by team doctors and the Padres will establish a timetable for his return, which may not include the 2010 season.
• Rockies' LHP Christian Friedrich had to leave his last start early with an elbow injury caused by a batted ball, reports Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.  The injury is not believed to be serious, but the team will be careful with Friedrich who has a history of elbow injuries.
• The Tigers have shut down Casey Crosby for the remainder of the year due to recurring swelling in his left (throwing) elbow, reports Jason Beck of MLB.com.  At the moment, Crosby does not need surgery, but he will not throw for almost two months.

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/18

• The Pirates are hopeful that injured prospect Tony Sanchez will be able to return before the end of the season from the broken jaw the catcher sustained after being hit by a pitch, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Dustin Ackley is self-admittedly still developing as a player, says Michael Ko of the Seattle Times, but he appears to be major league ready when it comes to maturity.
• Zach Britton has shown every indication that he's ready for his call to Baltimore, but as Brittany Ghiroli points out, there may not be a rotation spot available for the young lefty.
• Padres' SS prospect Drew Cumberland suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury while sliding into a wall on Thursday, but an injury to the kneecap has been ruled out and it appears to be a deep gash instead, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.  Cumberland is still expected to miss a significant period of time.