MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Munoz, Mitchell, Adrianza, Rays, Royals

• The Oakland A's have signed 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Yairo Munoz, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• Jared Mitchell is trying to put a lost season and another disappointing one behind him, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  Mitchell will be in White Sox camp this spring as a non-roster invitee.
• Giants SS prospect Ehrie Adrianza will always be a better defender than a hitter, but as Andy Baggerly points out for Baseball America, his bat closed the gap between the two last season.
• The Rays have announced their non-roster invites to Spring Training, including a pair of shortstops Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times.
• The Royals have also announced their Spring Training invites, which include a quartet of pitchers - Mike Montgomery, Will Smith, Chris Dwyer, and Jake Odorizzi - and outfielder Wil Myers, according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Montero, Hutchison, White Sox, Pastornicky

• Newly acquired Seattle Mariners C Jesus Montero is going to be given "every opportunity to catch," reports Larry Stone of The Seattle Times, quoting Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik.
• Drew Hutchison, who made great strides in the Blue Jays organization last season splitting time between Low and High-A, should start this season in Double-A, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.
• The White Sox have announced their non-roster Spring Training invites, reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com, a list that includes Jared Mitchell, Trayce Thompson, and Jordan Danks.
• Mark Bowman of MLB.com suggests that the Braves would have preferred to allow Tyler Pastornicky a few more months in the minors to develop, but says that the team's finances have likely forced them to go with the rookie as their starting short stop.

Prospect Performances - Pineda, Harper, Teheran, Britton

• It was a good day to hit for White Sox and Indians prospects, as Stefan Gartrell homered and had an RBI single and Jared Mitchell had an RBI single of his own in the game, reports Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.  For the Indians, second base prospect Cord Phelps drove in a run, and Nick Weglarz hit a two-run bomb.
• Michael Pineda gave up just a hit and a walk in two scoreless of innings of work, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.  Josh Lueke also threw two shutout innings for the Mariners and third base prospect Alex Liddi went 1-for-2 in the contest.
• Bryce Harper went 2-for-2 with two RBI's in his best game yet this spring for the Nationals, despite some heckling from one loud fan, says Bill Ladson of MLB.com.  Jiovanni Mier went 2-for-2 for the Astros in the game, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Jerry Sands homered on Monday and continues to make his case for a promotion to Los Angeles sooner rather than later, notes Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Julio Teheran threw a scoreless inning in his first appearance for the Braves this spring, notes Mark Bowman of MLB.com.  Also appearing for the Braves was fellow prospect Randall Delgado, who threw a perfect ninth, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com, while the Marlins saw prospect Tom Koehler blow a save in the ninth but earn the win in extras.  
• Mark Trumbo continued his quest for an Angles roster spot on Monday with a 4-for-4 performance that included his third home run of the spring, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Zach Britton threw three scoreless innings for the Orioles on Monday, says Emrich.

Prospects scheduled to make pitching appearances today are Rubby de la Rosa (LAD), Garrett Richards (LAA), and Alex White (CLE).

 

Injury News - Hellickson, Bianchi, Mitchell

 

• Jeremy Hellickson sat out workouts on Friday with a tight hamstring that begin bothering him on Thursday, reports Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  The Rays are calling it a minor strain and are being cautious with the young right-hander projected to be the teams fifth starter.
• After missing the entire 2010 season after Tommy John surgery, Royals shortstop prospect Jeff Bianchi is back on the field and is going at full speed, reports Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• Jared Mitchell is no longer slowed by the devistating left ankle injury he suffered in Spring Training last season, but the White Sox prospect is dealing with a sore left hamstring that he injured during the instructional league, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com.

 

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Sale, Pastornicky, Lyles

• The White Sox may have to use Chris Sale in a number of roles next season, but pitching coach Don Cooper would like to see the young lefty stick to one role for the time being, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  Sale could be joined in Chicago by Jared Mitchell, who is making up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League and could prove his readiness at some point during the 2011 season.
• Tyler Pastornicky wasn't the biggest name in the Braves trade for Alex Gonzalez this past season, but he is trying to prove he's more than just a throw-in, says Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
• TYU takes a closer look at Yankees pitching prospect D.J. Mitchell.
• The Astros farm system is still more barren than most, but as Bryan Smith of FanGraphs.com points out, Jordan Lyles is one prospect worth following closely.