MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Tigers, Spruill, Yankees

• Jacob Turner may be the front-runner for the last spot in the Tigers rotation this spring, but Jason Beck of MLB.com reports that there are "five or six" others that will be competing for that same spot, including fellow prospects, Drew Smyly, Casey Crosby, and Andy Oliver.
• Zeke Spruill doesn't have a chance to make the Braves rotation this spring despite a strong bounce back season in 2011, but TalkingChop.com points out that Spruill seems to have put his maturity issues behind him, and should start the season just a step away from the majors.
• The Yankees have announced their non-roster invites to spring training, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.  Prospects include pitchers Manny Banuelos and Graham Stoneburner and catcher Gary Sanchez, among others.

Prospect Action - Walker, Odorizzi, Parker

• Taijuan Walker turned in his most dominating performance as a professional, as the Mariners RHP prospect fanned 11 batters over six innings of shutout ball, reports John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Catching prospect Gary Sanchez blasted a home run to help ignite his fellow Yankee prospects to victory, says Corbin Ensminger of The Post and Courier.
• Jake Odorizzi battled himself in his first Double-A start, but the Royals prospect gave his team a chance to win, and earned his first victory at his new level, notes Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Marlins 3B prospect Matt Dominguez hit a walk-off homer on Thrusday night, reports Bob Fortus of the Times-Picayune.
• Jarrod Parker threw five scoreless innings as the Diamondbacks top prospect picked up the victory, according to Daniel Paulling of The Birmingham News.  Marc Krauss provided Parker with all the offense he would need, driving in three runs on the night.

 

 

Prospect Potent Potables - 4/10

If these links were a golf tournament, they'd be The Masters.

• Pedro Alvarez his two home runs on Friday night, giving him three in two games, reports Robert Emrich of MLB.com.  These types of performances are only going to make it more difficult for the Pirates to keep him in Triple-A until June.
• Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press tells us about some of the non-baseball related difficulties of being a rookie in the big leagues through the eyes of Tigers' center fielder Austin Jackson.  Considering how difficult a major league season is for players who have been through it before, it's amazing rookies are able to accomplish anything at all.
• Gaby Sanchez may not be your prototypical eight-hole hitter, but it's working so far for the Marlins, notes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
• Despite his Spring Training back injury, the Reds still have Aroldis Chapman on an accelerated timetable to arrive in the majors, reports John Fay for Baseball America.  Barring injury, seeing Chapman in Cincinnati at some point this season is almost a certainty.
• Prospect Ryan Westmoreland is still far away from returning to the baseball field after brain surgery this spring, but he is closer to home and to the Red Sox organization, as he has returned to New England for his rehab, reports Ian Browne of MLB.com.

Position Battles Won/Lost by Prospects

As Spring Training winds down (Opening Day is one week away!), we are starting to see the conclusions to many of the position battles that have taken place this spring.

• Despite being a favorite of his manager, Justin Maxwell was unable to make the Nationals' 25-man roster, large in part to his .102 batting average this spring, notes Bill Ladson in his MLB.com blog.
• Gaby Sanchez beat out Logan Morrison for the Marlins' first base spot, reports Joe Frisaro in his MLB.com blog.  Morrison will open the season in Triple-A.
• In Braves' camp, Craig Kimbrel is still in a battle for the remaining spot in the team's bullpen, according to Mark Bowman in his blog on MLB.com.
• Matt Antonelli wasn't exactly battling for a roster spot this spring, but a strong March performance has at least put him back on the prospect radar, notes Corey Brock of MLB.com, and perhaps also back in the Padres' future plans.

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/23

• The Atlanta Braves hope that the movement on Mike Minor's fastball and his outstanding changeup are enough to off-set his lack of velocity, reports Bill Ballew for Baseball America.  Minor is the opposite of fellow 2009 draft pick David Hale, who has mid-90's stuff, but was a two-way player in college and needs much refinement.
• Gaby Sanchez may be winning the Marlins' first base competition, but don't expect typical first base production from the prospect, notes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.  Considering Sanchez is 26-years-old, has yet to win a starting job in the majors, and will likely be batting 8th to start the season, the Marlins will likely be happy with any production then can get.
• Jared Mitchell's 2010 season ended before it started, but the 2009 first-round pick out of LSU had been showing why the White Sox were so high on him, notes Phil Rogers in Baseball America.
• The hype that consumed Chicago Cubs camp early this spring has died, but that doesn't mean we won't see Starlin Castro again soon, reports Jeff Vorva for Baseball America.
• Jamie Ramsey of MLB.com gives us a little insight into the world of Reds 2009 Minor League Player of the Year Chris Heisey.
• Brandon Erbe may be heading back to the Orioles' Double-A affiliate in Bowie to start the 2010 season, but he's going to attack the league with his newly refined delivery, notes Roch Kubatko for Baseball Ameica.