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.

Injury Update - Stoneburner, Pomeranz, Vizcaino

• The Yankees have placed RHP Graham Stoneburner on the disabled list, reports Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball.com.
• Braves prospect Arodys Vizcaino had to leave his start early on Monday, according to the Lynchburg Hillcats website, which was apparently a precautionary move due to tightness in his lower back.
• Indians prospect Drew Pomeranz also left his Carolina League start early, but most reports say it was due to a minor hamstring injury.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Chapman, Erbe, Stoneburner

• The Reds may be leaning towards leaving Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen for the time being, reports Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer, this according to general manager Walk Jocketty.
• Once a highly-touted prospect within the Orioles system, injuries and inconsistency have jeopardized Brandon Erbe's status in the team's plans for the future.  His latest setback was surgery to repair a torn labrum, a procedure that ended his 2010 season, but should allow him enough recovery time to be ready to throw again by spring training, according to Roch Kubatko of Baseball America.
• The Indians are excited about second-round pick LeVon Washington, who they will play in center field and hope to get into full-season ball in 2011, says Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com.
• The Padres inked Dominican outfielder Edwin Moreno last week, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.  The 17-year-old lefty was delayed in signing after he failed a drug test as an amateur.
• The Yankees think that pitching prospect Graham Stoneburner compares favorably to current major leaguer Jake Westbrook, according to George King of Baseball America.

 

 

Prospect Hot Sheet - 5/7

For the first time this season, but likely not the last, the Prospect Hot Sheet that Baseball America produces every Friday features a player that is already in the majors by the time we get to read it.  This week's list includes:

• Jay Austin
• Ryan Berry
• Brian Bogusevic
• Domonic Brown
• Starlin Castro
• Kelvin De La Cruz
• Luis Exposito
• Michael Kirkman
• Ian Krol
• Brett Lawrie
• Mike Moustakas
• Bryan Morris
• Rudy Owens
• Michael Pineda
• Neftali Soto
• Mike Stanton
• Graham Stoneburner
• Jose Tabata
• Julio Teheran
• Eric Thames

Making up the bad part of the list this week are Andrew Brackman, Brad Holt, Tim Melville, and Robert Stock.