MLB Prospect Watch

Desmond Wins Starting Job

Ian Desmond will be the starting shortstop for the Washington Nationals, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.  This announcement coming after a spring-long battle with incumbent Christian Guzman.

Guzman will move into a utility role, seeing time at all four infield positions.  Desmond, on the other hand, won the job with a strong spring to follow up his strong performance last fall when he was called-up by the team in September.  He was also aided by Guzman's inability to stay on the field.  Guzman is battling weakness in his throwing shoulder, and the team fears his ability to make the more difficult throws necessary from the short stop position.

Desmond, 24, has a career minor league line of .259/.326/.388, but developed enough power in the past few seasons to keep defenses honest.  He is coming off a 2009 season in which he batted .330/.401/.477, splitting time between Double and Triple-A.

Desmond Still in Running for Starting Job

The Washington Nationals haven't made a decision yet on who their starting short stop will be, having to to choose between incumbent Christian Guzman and prospect Ian Desmond.  The main hang up on the decision, according to Bill Ladson in his MLB.com blog, is that Guzman has yet to prove that his throwing shoulder is healthy after off-season surgery.  The Nationals are not sure that Guzman will be able to make all of the difficult throws necessary to play shortstop at the major league level.

Desmond had a successful stint in Washington at the end of 2009 in what was his major league debut, and this spring has been considered for a utility role with the team, seeing time at 2B and at all 3 outfield positions.  The team is now saying, however, that if Desmond does not win the job, he will head to Triple-A and be the everyday shortstop, presumably with the thought of assuming the role in Washington sooner rather than later.

Laying Out the Options for Desmond

Ian Desmond is having a strong spring thus far, which, when added to his strong 2009 call-up performance, is building the Washington Nationals' confidence in the young short stop.  This creates a problem for the team's front office (on top of the impending Stephen Strasburg dilemma, as if they didn't have enough on their plate).  The team is still on the books for one more year of Christian Guzman (at $8M), but they are at the risk of having one of their most expensive players being out performed by a rookie in Spring Training.

Bill Ladson of MLB.com lays out the team's options for Desmond, which consist of sending him to the minors, using him as a utility player, or giving him the starting job, and weighs the pros and cons of each.

Despite playing only one game away from short stop in the minors, the Nats used Desmond at 2B during his call-up, and he even had a start in right field.  They have also tried him at 3B and play to use him in left field as well if they end up taking the utility option.

Prospect Performances - 3/6

More and more prospects are getting a chance to shine early in camp...

• Ian Desmond is making a strong case for making the Nationals roster, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.  The Nats have Christian Guzman as the incumbant shortstop, Desmond's natural position, but manager Jim Riggleman has mentioned the possibility of keeping Desmond on the roster as a utility player, using him at second, short, third, and in the outfield.
• It may have been a "B" game, but Jacob Turner and Andy Oliver still got a chance to show the Tigers what they can do, notes Jason Beck of MLB.com.  Turner was the more impressive of the two, impressing the Tigers' front office officials in attendence with his poise on the mound, according to John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.  Neither prospect has a chance to make the big league club this spring, as both were 2009 draftees.
• Mike Stanton gave the Marlins a look at what they have to look forward to with an opposite field homerun, notes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.  Check out the response of Mets' catcher Josh Thole when the ball was hit if you want a good laugh.
• Mark Rogers is finally a Brewer, at least for this spring, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  Rogers, the team's first-round pick in 2004, made his first appearance for the Brewers on Friday, and is pitching pain-free for the first time in years.
• The Pirates took some heat for drafting Tony Sanchez fourth overall last June, but the young catcher from Boston College is putting those criticisms to rest with his on-field performance.  That extended into his spring debut, reports Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as Sanchez showed off all facets of his game.  Sanchez expressed his anxiousness afterwords to Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Oh, and in case you missed it, Jenrry Mejia was really good for the Mets, notes Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.

Desmond To Play Utility Role for Nats

With their lineup virtually set yet not overly impressive, the Washington Nationals are considering leaving prospect Ian Desmond on their 25-man roster at the end of the spring to play a utility role, reports Bill Ladson on his MLB.com blog.  Desmond has been a short stop in the minors and has played some second base as well, and the Nationals will also get him some work at all three outfield positions.

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman claims that Desmond will remain with the team as long as they feel they are able to get the young player enough at-bats.