MLB Prospect Watch

Making Moves - Richards, Alvarez, Montero

• The Angels may be on thenverge of calling up pitching prospect Garrett Richards, according to Sam Miller of The Orange County Register.
• The Blue Jays are promoting hard-throwing pitching prospect Henderson Alvarez to the majors, reports BlueBirdBanter.com.
• Is now the right time for the Yankees to promote top prospect Jesus Montero? That's the question being asked by The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Times Tribune .

 

Prospect Action - Surkamp, RIchards, Profar, Chisenhall

• Yankees prospect Steve Evarts allowed four hits in 6 1/3 innings of work on Friday night, reports Corbin Ensminger of The Post and Courier.
• Eric Surkamp threw six scoreless innings, as the Giants prospect fanned seven, according to the Erie Times-News.
• Angels pitching prospect Garrett Richards won his seventh straight decision, reports Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Luke Jackson battled wildness and lasted just 3 1/3 innings, notes Mark Parker of the Hickory Daily Record, but he was bailed out by the offensive performances of fellow Rangers prospects Jurickson Profar and Jake Skole.
• Indians 3B prospect Lonnie Chisenhall hit a grand slam, says Danny WIld of MiLB.com.

 

Prospect Action - Ackley, Familia, Harper, Richards

• Dustin Ackley recorded four hits on Sunday, reports The Seattle Times, perhaps giving the Mariners a signal that he's turning the corner at the plate.  In other M's news, 2010 first rounder Taijuan Walker took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and fanned 11 batters, says John Parker of MiLB.com.
• The pitching matchup of the weekend was in Trenton, where Mets pitching prospect Jeurys Familia faced off against Yankees prospect Dellin Betances, with Familia getting the upper hand, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Phillies pitching prospect Jarred Cosart took a perfect game into the seventh inning on Sunday, says Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Bryce Harper's 18-game hit streak came to an end on Sunday, as the Nationals prospect went 0-for-4, but Red Sox prospect Bryce Brentz was able to extend his streak to 26 games.
• Garrett Richards struck out nine batters in eight innings of work, as the Angels prospect gave up just two hits, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.

 

 

Prospect Action - Taillon, Machado, Trout

Rain shortened Jameson Taillon's professional debut as the Pirates got to see just two innings of work from their highly touted young right-hander, but that might have been a blessing in disguise, as the 19-year-old fireballer appeared a little over-anxious and battled with his control over the course of 45 pitches, reports Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Still, Taillon's fastball sat between 96-97 mph, showing fans why he was the second overall pick in last year's draft.

• Manny Machado, the player selected by the Orioles immediately following Taillon in last year's draft, homered for the third straight game, says John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Domonic Brown homered in his first rehab start, reports Beerleaguer.com, who also makes mention of a rough start by Phillies 2010 first-rounder Jesse Biddle.
• Charlie Furbush tossed his second straight complete game, as the Tigers LHP prospect fanned 11 batters, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Mike Trout had three extra-base hits on Wednesday in support of fellow Angels prospect Garrett Richards, who out-dueled Rockies prospect Christian Friedrich over six innings to get the victory, according to John Parker of MiLB.com.  Friedrich gave up seven runs in just four innings of work, as his struggles continue.
• In other prospect action:
  • Blue Jays SS prospect Adeiny Hechavarria is showing signs that his bat is catching up to his defense, as he went 3-for-4 on Wednesday with a double, a triple, and a stolen base.
  • Red Sox pitching prospect Drake Britton gave up three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings pitched, which actually lowered his ERA to 11.08 on the season.
  • Giants pitching prospect Eric Surkamp threw seven scoreless innings, fanning 10 in the process.

 

Prospect Action - Sands, Rogers, Trout, McGuire

Wrapping up the action from around the minors on the day the Jerry Sands Era began in Los Angeles...

• Mark Rogers' command issues continued on Monday night, and this time it cost the Brewers top prospect a win, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Billy Hamilton stole three more bases, and John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer explains why the tales of the Reds top hitting prospect are growing by the game.
• Angels fans got to see two of their top prospects in action together, as Mike Trout homered in support of Garrett Richards, who threw eight strong innings on Monday, giving up just two runs, notes Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Blue Jays prospect Deck McGuire got his first professional win on Monday, throwing 5 2/3 innings and striking out four, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Marlins OF prospect Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-4 with two homeruns.
  • Nick Franklin went 3-for-5 as the Mariners SS prospect has successfully rebounded from a slow start to the season.
  • Tyler Skaggs had nine baserunners in just 5 2/3 innings of work, but the Diamondbacks prospect did strike out eight batters during that same stretch.
  • Astros top prospect Jordan Lyles gave up six earned runs in as many innings, to raise his ERA on the season to 7.07.