MLB Prospect Watch

International League Preview

Buffalo (TOR)

Instead of getting to watch Travis d'Arnaud, Buffalo fans will get Anthony Gose, who returns to Triple-A.  He can be very exciting to watch, but the reason he's back there is to work on hitting lefties.

Charlotte (CWS)

Simon Castro, Andre Rienzo, and Charlie Leesman make for an interesting rotation, and Jared Mitchell can be exciting in the outfield.  Trayce Thompson will provide some power, but will have to cut down on the swins and misses if he wants to be able to use it in the majors.

Columbus (CLE)

Perhaps no prospect in the IL will be more polarizing than Trevor Bauer, who is working on new mechanics.  How much time he spends in Columbus will depend on how well he takes to the changes.

Durham (TB)

The Bulls feature a starting rotation that may actually be better than some of the bottom-end major league rotations, including prospects Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery, and Alex Colome.  They also feature Wil Myers in the outfield, one of the best hitting prospects in the minors, and former first overall pick Tim Beckham.

Gwinett (ATL)

Despite graduations to the majors and trades, the Braves still have some talent in Triple-A.  Former first-rounder Sean Gilmartin headlines the rotation while Joey Terdoslavich should be the team's most potent hitter while learning to play the outfield.

Indianapolis (PIT)

The best player in the IL, and certainly the best pitcher, should be Gerrit Cole, who won't be in the league too long after Memorial Day.  Tony Sanchez will get one more chance to prove he's more than a backup catcher and Kyle McPherson will stay ready for when the Pirates need pitching depth in the majors.

Lehigh Valley (PHI)

Darin Ruf will try to back up his breakout 2012 season while also trying to learn how to play a non-disastrous outfield.  Ethan Martin has an exciting arm and will try to stick as a starter, and Tommy Joseph has leaped over Sebastian Valle on the organizational depth chart behind the plate.  Plus they have video game urinals in the men's rooms.

Louisville Bats (CIN)

The Reds say that Billy Hamilton will spend the entire season in Louisville so he can learn the nuances of center field, but we'll all believe it when we see it.  Tony Cingrani will work as a starter in the minors, but he'll get called up to bolster the Reds bullpen at some point in the season.

Norfolk (BAL)

This team is all about Jonathan Schoop for the time being, at least until Dylan Bundy gets promoted and Shoop gets overshadowed within his own organization once again.

Pawtucket (BOS)

Allen Webster would have been the talk of Red Sox spring training had it not been for Jackie Bradley, and he should be the talk of Pawtucket with his power arm.  It will also be interesting to see how Bryce Brentz comes back from shooting himself in the leg, literally.

Rochester (MIN)

Kyle Gibson will get his arm in shape and work on regain his command post-Tommy John surgery until he gets the call from the Twins.  Oswaldo Arcia is a talented but still raw outfielder who factors into the Twins rebuilding plans.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY)

Beware of errant fastballs from Dellin Betances, who returns to Triple-A after a disastrous stretch there last season.  Melky Mesa was in the running to fill in for Curtis Granderson but needs to refine his offensive game.

Syracuse (WAS)

No Bryce Harpers heading north this year, but the Nationals did get Rule V draft picks Danny Rosenbaum and Jeff Kobernus back, so yeah.

Toledo (DET)

I give Nick Castellanos a hard time, but he's still the Tigers best prospect.  He'll be working on his outfield defense.  Bruce Rondon will be closing games for the Mud Hens and working on his command in hopes he can close games in the majors this fall.

Links For All Your Deadline Deals

Everyone's got their take on the deals that went down today.  It was an incredibly busy day and there's a lot out there to read.

But don't worry.  We've got you covered.  Rather than saturate the internet with even more coverage, we're just going to put it all in one place for you, deal-by-deal.

 

Shane Victorino to Los Angeles for Ethan Martin and Josh Lindblom.

• John Manuel of Baseball America has complete scouting reports on Martin and Lindblom, saying that Martin "has made significant progress this season" and "has one of the best arms among pitchers traded in July."
• John Sickels of MinorLeagueBall.com has his take on the prospects, saying that "this can work for both teams."
• Jay Weitzel of the Phillies blog Beerleaguer.com says "it's pretty hard to sell to a contender and get a major league player back in return.  And a prospect of this caliber for a two-month rental."
• Dave Cameron of FanGraphs.com says that Lindblom "essentially profiles as a decent situational middle reliever."

Hunter Pence to San Francisco for Nate Schierholtz, Tommy Joseph and Seth Rosin.

• Manuel and Matt Eddy of Baseball America have their scouting reports on Joseph and Rosin.
• Sickels says that Joseph has "tremendous power potential" and notes that "there aren't that many potential regular catchers in the minors."
• Keith Law of ESPN.com notes the depth that the Phillies have added to their farm system, and mentions that it gives Domonic Brown another chance in the majors.

Eduard Mujica to St. Louis for Zack Cox

• Manuel and Jim Callis of Baseball America have their updated scouting report on Zack Cox after his struggles this season.
• Sickels says that Cox "has yet to live up to his [$2 million draft] bonus."
• Michael Jong of FishStripes.com says that Cox's "stock has tumbled" due to his poor 2012 season.
• Tom D'Angelo of The Palm Beach Post reports that the Marlins will send Cox to Double-A Jacksonville.  Cox had been playing at Triple-A Memphis in the Cardinals organization.
• FutureRedbirds.net notes how the opinion of Cox has dropped, saying that the Cardinals "essentially dumped him for a 7th inning right-handed reliever."

Gaby Sanchez and Kyle Kaminska to Pittsburgh for Gorkys Hernandez

• Callis has his breakdown on Gorkys Hernandez.
• Sickels says it's "unlikely that Hernandez will hit enough to earn a regular job," but raves about his glove in the outfield.
• Jong comments that the Marlins were just trying to "dump Sanchez for any value."
• Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com discusses the possibility of a platoon at first base between Sanchez and Garrett Jones.
• Paul Swydan of FanGraphs.com calls the move a "calculated risk" by the Pirates.

Jonathan Broxton to Cincinnati for J.C. Sulbaran and Donnie Joseph

• Callis and J.J. Cooper of Baseball America break down Sulbaran and Joseph.
• Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com hates the trade for the Reds.
• Wendy Thurm of FanGraphs.com says the trade was unnecessary for the Reds, but does make them stronger.
• Clint Scoles of PineTarPress.com says that "six years of control of these inexpensive relievers is critical to a team like the Royals who can't afford to use money on relief help."
• Bob Nightengale and John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer report that Broxton will be the set-up man for Aroldis Chapman.

Ryan Dempster to Texas for Christian Villanueva and Kyle Hendricks

• Manuel and Callis have Baseball America's reports on Villanueva and Hendricks.
• Jack Moore of FanGraphs.com says that "to fill the biggest need on the major league level, such a price [of prospects] is minimal."
• Sickels says that Villanueva is a "fine prospect but was stuck behind veteran Adrian Beltre and top prospect Mike Olt" in the Rangers farm system.

Lars Anderson to Cleveland for Steven Wright

• Sickels has the scouting reports on both players in this prospect-for-prospect deal.

 

 

Don't forget, you can follow us on Twitter @mlbpw or Facebook for instant updates when new posts are made.

Prospect Action 6/1/12

Triple-A

• Nick Addition dropped to 1-6 on the season despite giving up just one hit in seven innings, thanks to five walks by the Cardinals prospect, notes Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• White Sox outfielder Jordan Danks extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a 3-for-5 game, says The Charlotte Observer.
• Blue Jays outfielder Moises Sierra hit three home runs off as many pitchers as part of a huge offensive day, writes Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.

Double-A

• Ethan Martin continued his bounce-back year, as the Dodgers former first-rounder improved to 6-1 with seven shutout innings, writes San Dykstra of MiLB.com.
• Diamondbacks lefty Tyler Skaggs threw eight strong innings on Friday, allowing just two runs on six hits, notes Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Mike Olt blasted two more home runs Friday night, giving the Rangers third base prospect 13 bombs on the season, notes Emrich.

High-A

• In his first start off the DL since hurting his groin, Zach Lee threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, writes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• It was a rough day ot be a pitching prospect in High-A ball, as Phillies prospect Adam Morgan (box), Marlins prospect Rob Rasmussen (box), Giants prospect Jack Snodgrass (box), and Diamondbacks prospect Andrew Chafin (box)  all took losses.

Low-A

• Angels prospect Kaleb Cowart continued his red-hot hitting, collecting two more hits on Friday and five more RBI's, says Pentis.
• Nick Tropeano struck out nine batters over 5 1/3 innings, reports the Lexington Herald-Ledger, as the Astros pitching prospect continues to make his case for a mid-season promotion.

 

BA Prospect Hot Sheet - 5/11/12

Baseball America put out their weekly hot sheet yesterday, breaking down the top prospects of the week.  Below are the prospects making this week's list:

• Xavier Avery (BAL)
• Matt Barnes (BOS)
• Trevor Bauer (ARI)
• Dellin Betances (NYY)
• Hiram Burgos (MIL)
• Adam Conley (MIA)
• Kyle Crick (SF)
• Keury de la Cruz (BOS)
• Adam Eaton (ARI)
• Tyrell Jenkins (STL)
• Ethan Martin (LAD)
• Wil Myers (KC)
• Jake Odorizzi (KC) 
• Andy Oliver (DET)
• Juan Oramas (SD)
• Adys Portillo (SD)
• Anthony Rizzo (CHC)
• Miguel Sano (MIN)
• Cory Spangenberg (SD)
• Tyler Skaggs (ARI)
• J.C. Sulbaran (CIN)
• Christian Yelich (MIA)

And appearing on the bad list this week were Jermaine Mitchell (OAK), Paul Clemens (HOU), Cory Vaughn (NYM), and Rosell Herrera (COL).

 

Prospect Action - 5/10/12

Triple-A

• Marlins pitching prospect Tom Koehler won his third straight start, striking out eight batters in six innings, according to Bob Fortus of The New Orleans Times-Picayune.
• Phillies pitching prospect Tyler Cloyd out dueled Pirates pitching prospect Jeff Locke on Thursday evening, writes Nancy Zinni of PiratesProspects.com.

Double-A

• Jurickson Profar continued his hot hitting, as the Rangers shortstop prospect extended his hitting streak to 20 games in support of Barrett Loux, who won his minor league-leading seventh game on Thursday, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Ethan Martin threw 6 1/3 hitless innings before giving up a hit in the seventh, as the Dodgers improved to 4-0 on the season, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Chris Dwyer threw 6 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball as he and his fellow Royals prospect combined for a no-hitter, writes Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.

High-A

• Oswaldo Arcia has been hitting at a torrid pace in May, and the Twins prospect kept that going with a 4-for-5 day that included two doubles and a home run, notes Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.
• White Sox outfield prospect Trayce Thompson blasted a three-run homer, according to The Winston-Salem Journal.

Low-A

• Mets pitching prospect Domingo Tapia threw 5 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball on Thursday, according to The Hickory Daily Record.
• Marlins pitching prospect Adam Conley put together a nice start, throwing seven innings of shutout baseball, striking out six, says Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.