MLB Prospect Watch

Trout, Chisenhall, Turner Among Victims on Roster Cutdown Day

• The Pirates sent ten players away from major league camp on Monday, including prospects Daniel Moskos and Gorkys Hernandez who were optioned to Triple-A, prospect Jeff Locke who was optioned to Double-A, and Andrew Lambo and Chase D'Arnaud who were not on the 40-man roster and were re-assigned to minor league camp, but both of whom will also begin the season in Triple-A, according to Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• The Angels made a round of cuts on Monday that included top prospect Mike Trout and pitchers Trevor Reckling and Loek Van Mil, reports Owen Perkins of MLB.com.
• Greg Halman was optioned to Triple-A by the Mariners on Monday, notes Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• The Royals optioned both second base prospect Jeff Bianchi and outfield prospect Derrick Robinson to Double-A, says Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• The Indians re-assigned Lonnie Chisenhall, Alex White, and Jason Kipnis to minor league camp, as well as optioned Nick Weglarz and Zach McAllister to Triple-A, reports Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.
• The Astros re-assigned Koby Clemens, Jiovanni Mier, Doug Arguello, Jon Gaston and J.D. Martinez, to minor league camp on Monday, says Farmstros.com.
• The Tigers have re-assigned catchers Patrick Leyland and Bryan Holaday to minor league camp, and have optioned Cale Iorg, Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner to Double-A, says DetroitTigerTales.com.
• The Orioles optioned first base prospect Joe Mahoney to Triple-A, says Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.

 

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.

 

 

Royals' Injury Updates - Bianchi, Moustakas

Alan Askew of Baseball America talks about the issues that Jeff Bianchi had with his elbow that eventually led to his decision to have Tommy John surgery back in March.  Bianchi will miss the entire 2010 season with his sights set on returning in 2011.

Also noted in the article is Royals' 3B Mike Moustakas who could miss the first two weeks of the Double-A season after straining an oblique during Spring Training.

Royals' Injuries

On the same day when 3B Alex Gordon broke his thumb stealing a base, the Kansas City Royals also has some significant setbacks to a few of their more highly touted prospects.

It was announced today that shortstop Jeff Bianchi will undergo elbow surgery and miss the entire 2010 season, reports Dick Kaegel of MLB.com. Bianchi is the top infield prospect in the Royals' system but has already had an injury-plagued career.

 Also shutting it down is left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy who is experiencing elbow stiffness.  We have touched on Duffy's mechanics in the past, and Wally Fish of Kings of Kauffman touches on the effects of his injury, which is not expected to be as serious as Bianchi's.