MLB Prospect Watch

Links: Weekend Round-Up 4/19

Here's a look at the prospect news from the past week:

• Arizona Diamondbacks top prospect Jarrod Parker seems to be having no problem in the hitter-friendly California League, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
• The Baltimore Orioles are expected to announce tomorrow that they will be calling up their 2008 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Brad Bergesen to take Alfredo Simon's spot on the rotation, reports Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.  Zrebiec also updates us on the status of Matt Wieters who left Friday night's game early.
• When the Texas Rangers made the decision to retain prized prospect Elvis Andrus this spring, they knew they would be getting a solid defensive player, but as Anthony Andro of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram reports, they're getting a lot more than that.

Prospects in the Majors 4/8

• Brett Gardner (NYY) - 0-4, R, batting .143
• Ryan Perry (DET) - 1 IP, K
• Travis Snider (TOR) - 0-3, 2 K, batting .200
• Jordan Schafer (ATL) - 1-4, HR, R, BB, batting .300 with 2 HR
• J.A. Happ (PHI) - 2 IP, 2 ER, H, 2 K/1 BB, HR (Schafer)
• Dexter Fowler (COL) - 1-4, HR (off D. Davis), 2 R, BB, K, started in CF and led off
• Chris Dickerson (CIN) - 0-3, R, RBI, BB, K
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) - 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K, E, batting .375
• Taylor Teagarden (TEX) - 0-1
• Chris Getz (CWS) - 0-4, batting .250
• Colby Rasums (STL) - 0-3, 2 BB, started in LF and led off
• Nick Adenhart (LAA) - 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 5 K/3 BB
• Travis Ishikawa (SF) - 1-4, R, batting .333

Prospects Shine on Opening Day

Even though these prospects made their organizations' big league clubs, they are still technically prospects (we use the MLB rookie standards) so we at MLBPW will still keep you up to date on them.  Here's how they fared on Opening Day:

• Elvis Andrus (TEX) - 1-4, R, K
• Brett Gardner (NYY) - 1-3, R
• Phil Coke (NYY) - 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 K/1 BB, HR (Izturis, C)
• Cameron Maybin (FLA) - 1-4, R, 2 K 
• Jason Motte (STL) - 1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, K, BS 
• David Freese (STL) - 0-1, RBI (did not start) 
• Travis Snider (TOR) - 2-4, HR (off Verlander), RBI, R, K 

Rangers' Andrus Progressing Every Day

Jeff WIlson of the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram reports that 20-year-old Rangers prospect Elvis Andrus is having a strong spring, focusing on learning the finer points of the game rather than working on honing his natural ability.  Andrus is learning form two of the best, 11-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel who is in camp competing for the shortstop position, and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, renowned as one of the best hitting instructors in the game.

With age on his side and Vizquel in camp to keep shortstop warm for him, the Rangers see no need to rush Andrus to the majors.  Look for him to start the season in Triple-A and be primed for a call-up to Arlington at some point during the 2009 season.

Monday's Best

A snowy day throughout the Northeast proved on Monday why Spring Training takes place in Florida and Arizona.  Here's a look at the top names and how they performed in today's games:

• Matt Wieters (BAL) - 0-2
• Nolan Reimold (BAL) - 0-2 
• Lars Anderson (BOS) - 1-3, BB 
• Brad Bergesen (BAL) - 3 IP, 4 H, 3 K/0 BB
• Todd Frazier (CIN) - 0-2 
• Pedro Alvarez (PIT) - 0-0 
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) - 1-3, R, BB, 2 K
• Austin Jackson (NYY) - 0-1 
• Brian Bogusevic (HOU) - 1-1. RBI 
• John Mayberry, Jr. (PHI) - 1-4, 2B, R, RBI 
• Jason Donald (PHI) - 1-4, BB, R, 2 K
• Ricky Romero (TOR) - 1 1/3 IP, ER, 0 K/ 6 BB
• Brett Cecil (TOR) - 2 2/3 IP, H, 3 K/ 1 BB
• Reid Brignac (TB) - 0-2, K
• Tim Beckham (TB) - 0-1, RBI
• Wade Davis (TB) - 3 2/3 IP, H, 1 K/ 0 BB 
• Brett Wallace (STL) - 0-1 
• Colby Rasmus (STL) - 0-1 
• Daniel Schlereth (ARI) - 1 IP, 2 H, 3 K/ 1 BB 
• Alcides Escobar (MIL) - 0-4
• Kyle Blanks (SD) - 1-2 
• Carlos Triunfel (SEA) - 1-1 
• Gordon Beckham (CWS) - 0-2 
• Tyler Flowers (CWS) - 0-1 
• Kevin Pucetas (SF) - 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 K/ 1 BB 
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) - 0-1 
• Justin Smoak (TEX) - 0-0 
• Matt LaPorta (CLE) - 0-2, R, RBI 
• Carlos Santana (CLE) - 0-2
• Dexter Fowler (COL) - 0-2, 2K
•