MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Munoz, Mitchell, Adrianza, Rays, Royals

• The Oakland A's have signed 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Yairo Munoz, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• Jared Mitchell is trying to put a lost season and another disappointing one behind him, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  Mitchell will be in White Sox camp this spring as a non-roster invitee.
• Giants SS prospect Ehrie Adrianza will always be a better defender than a hitter, but as Andy Baggerly points out for Baseball America, his bat closed the gap between the two last season.
• The Rays have announced their non-roster invites to Spring Training, including a pair of shortstops Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times.
• The Royals have also announced their Spring Training invites, which include a quartet of pitchers - Mike Montgomery, Will Smith, Chris Dwyer, and Jake Odorizzi - and outfielder Wil Myers, according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.

 

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.

 

 

Roster Cuts - Cards, Reds, Giants, Montgomery

• The Cardinals optioned Tony Cruz to Triple-A and re-assigned Lance Lynn to minor league camp, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but as Goold wrote in Baseball America, Lynn could be back in St. Louis at the first sign of trouble.
• The Reds have optioned Yonder Alonso, Todd Frazier and Zack Cosart to Triple-A, says Mark Bowman of MLB.com.  Last week they also optioned Yasmani Grandal to High-A and Phillippe Valiquette to Double-A.
• The Giants optioned Darren Ford to Triple-A and re-assigned Jackson Williams to minor league camp, says Chris Haft of MLB.com.  Last week they optioned Thomas Neal and Conor Gillaspie to Triple-A and Ehire Adrianza and Francisco Peguero to Double-A.
• Mike Montgomery was re-assigned to minor league camp, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com, and will start the season in Triple-A.  Last week, the Royals re-assigned fellow top prospects Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Danny Duffy and catching prospect Salvador Perez.
• The White Sox optioned Tyler Flowers to Triple-A and re-assigned Jordan Danks to minor league camp, says Tom Singer of MLB.com.

 

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)