MLB Prospect Watch

Organizational Update - Washington Nationals

Time to get caught up...

The Nationals once barren system is now beginning to bear fruit.  For simplicity's sake here, I'll assume you already know all about Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen.

Michael Burgess - Stats

The problem with Burgess has always been consistent contact.  His second go-round in the Carolina League seems to have solved that problem for now, but Burgess is going to have to prove he can lower his strike out numbers without repeating a level.  This year's K-rate has dipped below the 20% sign, and his OPS has risen to .814 as a result, which could result in a promotion to Double-A and the next test for Burgess.

Paul Demny - Stats

Demny is repeating the Sally League largely because of his 5.14 ERA last season, but in spite of his 3.78 FIP.  The Nationals are probably thrilled with his "improvements" this season and his 2.77 ERA, despite his FIP of 3.81.  In other words, Demny is about the same pitcher he was last year, but a lot luckier.

Danny Espinosa - Stats

After a season flashing both power and patience, and the corresponding promotion to Double-A this season, Espinosa has struggled slightly against tougher competition, but no more so than a 25-point drop in his BABIP would suggest.  He's still displaying decent plate discipline and some power, so he's far from a lost cause, and may just take some time to adjust to Double-A pitching. 

Destin Hood - Stats

Hood is creeping up on his career high in games played in a season already in 2010, which signals part of the problem.  The other is his plate discipline, as his K/BB ratio through 144 career minor is 146/37.  This season's respectable .290 batting average is a product of his unsustainable .404 BABIP and 22% line drive rate, and even with a bit of good luck, his OPS still stands at just .693.

Jeff Kobernus - Stats

More was expected out of last year's second round pick than his current .235/.260/.261 line.  He's simply not displaying any power or plate discipline (26 K's against 4 BB's).  It's a surprising performance from a college draft pick, but if improvement isn't seen by the time short season ball opens up, a demotion could be in line.

Stephen Lombardozzi - Stats

The son of a former big leaguer, Lombardozzi has been the model of consistency throughout his professional career.  This season, the 2B has maintained his plate discipline while displaying slightly more extra base power, but still no home run ability.  Still, his .384 OBP alone will be enough to keep him around.

Chris Marrero - Stats

Finally in Double-A but still just 21-years-old, Marrero hasn't developed into the complete hitter the Nationals thought they were drafting in 2006, but he does have good power that plays in games.  His free-swinging tendencies may be his demise at the higher levels of the minors, but his .274/.322/.434 line this year at Harrisburg is enough to think that he may still be able to be an everyday player in the majors at some point.

Jack McGeary - Stats

McGeary has managed to get his control back to respectability after an extremely wild 2009 season, but still isn't missing quite enough bats to be truly effective.  He is also averaging less than 5 innings per start, which is due to the Nationals restrictions on him, but is also a bad sign for a pitcher in his 4th professional season, regardless of the educational commitments that made him a part-time player his first few seasons.

Derek Norris - Stats

The best prospect the Nationals have left in the minors after Strasburg and Storen's promotions, Norris has continued to display his impeccable plate discipline this season, but has seen his power zapped due to various injuries.  Even without power, his .277/.440/.369 line is impressive, even if it is only in 20 games.

Nationals Promote Storen

The Washington Nationals have promoted Drew Storen, the second of their two first round picks from last year's draft, tweets Ken Rosenthal.  Storen has dominated both Double and Triple-A this season after equally as dominating performances last season after signing.

With the success of current closer Matt Capps and set-up man Tyler Clippard, the Nationals will be able to allow Storen to acclimate himself to the major leagues without necessarily pitching in pressure situations.  Rosenthan does suggest on FoxSports.com, however, that Storen could be used in the 7th inning to bridge the gap from the starting pitcher to Clippard/Capps.

Big Name Prospects Doing Big Things

• We all new Mike Stanton had power, but the only question mark scouts had was his ability to make contact consistently and maintain respectable plate discipline.  After doing neither of those things during a second-half call-up to Double-A last year, Stanton has impressed scouts and Marlins' officials with his adjustments in 2010, says J.J. Cooper of Baseball America.  Stanton still has 25 strikeouts in 86 at-bats on the season, but he has an equal number of walks and his swings and misses are off-set  it is off-set by his 13 home runs and .360 batting average.
• Plate discipline has been a hot topic surrounding Chicago Cubs top prospect Starlin Castro, whose patience at the plate hasn't been atrocious, but figured to be the difference in his development as he progressed to more advanced pitching.  So far this year, as Matt Swain of Wrigley Bound points out, it hasn't been been an issue as his 9/11 BB/K ratio shows.
• Stephen Strasburg may have had his worst start on paper, but Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post explains why he still didn't pitch all that poorly.  It may have been poorly enough, however, to keep him from joining Nationals' teammate Drew Storen in Triple-A, where John Wagner of MLB.com notes that the young reliever is learning from some veteran pitchers.
• The minors' other high-profile pitching prospect, Aroldis Chapman, also had his worst outing of his pro career, giving up 6 runs over 5 innings, reports MLB.com.  The Reds' top pitching prospect was dominant early in the start, but fell apart in the late innings and was hit harder than he has been this year.

Making Moves - 5/3

• Andrew Lambo, rated as the Los Angeles Dodgers' top prospect in 2008, was suspended for 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy, tweeted Dylan Hernandez.  Jared Massey of LADodgerTalk.com has more information, including some evidence that the suspension may have been for marijuana use.
• The Nationals' plan was to promote Stephen Strasburg to Triple-A after his start on Sunday, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com, but that start didn't go so well.  No move has been made as of yet.
• The Diamondbacks promoted pitcher Josh Collmenter from High-A to Triple-A, but Collmenter continued his success, reports Dan Tomasino of MLB.com.
• The Padres, on the other hand, will not be rushing pitching prospect Simon Castro, says Corey Brock of MLB.com.  Castro is currently dominating in Double-A, but there is no room for the team's best pitching prospect in Triple-A.
• The Rangers have moved hard-throwing prospect Tanner Scheppers to Triple-A, perhaps with the thought of using him in their major league bullpen later this season, suggests Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• The Orioles may also look to some of their young arms for bullpen help, specifically Jake Arrieta, according to Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.
• We've seen some big name prospects move up so far this year, and Marc Hulet of FanGraphs.com discusses the decisions to promote Lars Anderson, Mike Montgomery, and Drew Storen.
• Brett Wallace isn't quite ready for the majors yet, but his manager in Las Vegas, Dan Rohn, says he's only "a month or two away" from being ready to join the Blue Jays, reports Todd Dewey of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
• It doesn't always work out well for every prospect, and the Royals didn't feel it was going to work out with Carlos Rosa, so they shipped him to Arizona for another prospect, SS Rey Navarro, reports Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

Making Moves - 4/30

• You probably thought that the first Nationals' pitching prospect to be promoted would be Stephen Strasburg, but Drew Stroen has beat him to the bunch, according to MiLB.com.  Storen may not have the overall potential of Strasburg, but he's just as ready for the majors.  He'll head to Triple-A and wait for an opening in Washington.
• Lars Anderson is also heading to Triple-A after a hot month to start the 2010 season, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• Mike Montgomery will make his first Double-A start tomorrow after dominating the Carolina League, reports MiLB.com.
• Logan Forsythe is headed to the DL, notes Bill Center of the San Diego Union Tribune.  Forsythe broke his hand while playing in Double-A.
• Baseball America has their weekly transaction post, which has some significant injury updates, including the latest on Marlins' 1B prospect Logan Morrison.