MLB Prospect Watch

Links: Posey's Return, Samardzija's Call-up

• The San Francisco Giants catching prospect Buster Posey has missed the last four games after being hit on the head with a curveball, reports Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Posey will return to action tonight.
• The Chicago Cubs have recalled relief pitcher Jeff Samardzija to the majors after having started the season in Triple-A, reports the Seattle Times.

Best and Worst from 6/4

BEST

• Alcides Escobar (MIL) - 2-4, 2B, SB, batting .296
• Ike Davis (NYM) - 2-4, 3B, HR, batting .289
• Austin Jackson (NYY) - 2-4, 3B, HR, batting .348
• Adrian Cardenas (OAK) - 3-3, 2B, SB, batting .389 in Double-A
• Michael Taylor (PHI) - 3-3, batting .351
• Desmond Jennings (TB) - 2-3, 2B, 3B, batting .361
• Bud Norris (HOU) - 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 4 K/3 BB, 2.63 ERA
• Mat Latos (SD) - 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 8 K/1 BB, 0.51 ERA

WORST

• Jeff Samardzija (CHC) - 5 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 6 K/2 BB, 4.43 ERA
• Joe Savery (PHI) - 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5 K/3 BB, 4.05 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Christian Friedrich (COL) - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 7 K/2 BB, 2.77 ERA
• Carlos Carrasco (PHI) - 6 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 K/2 BB, 5.14 ERA
• Madison Bumgarner (SF) - 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 5 K/2 BB, 1.86 ERA
• Austin Romine (NYY) - 1-4, HR, batting .282

Best and Worst from 5/25

BEST

• Lars Anderson (BOS) - 2-4, HR, batting .234
• Juan Francisco (CIN) - 2-4, 2 HR, batting .245
• Carlos Santana (CLE) - 1-2, HR, batting .306
• Gordon Beckham (CWS) - 3-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, .307
• Kila Ka'aihue (KC) - 2-3, HR, batting .277
• Casey Kelly (BOS) - 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 K/0 BB, 1.12 ERA
• Bud Norris (HOU) - 6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 K/3 BB, 2.55 ERA
• Guillermo Moscoso (TEX) - 8 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 11K/1 BB, 4.46 ERA

WORST

• Jeff Samardzija (CHC) - 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 5 K/2 BB, 4.40 ERA
• Tim Melville (KC) - 4 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 K/1 BB, 4.50 ERA
• Marc Rzepczynski (TOR) - 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 6 K/1 BB, 3.74 ERA

Links: Golson, Feliz, Maybin, Coghlan, Samardzija

• Due to some necessary roster changes, OF Greg Golson's stay in the majors was a short one, notes Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
• Andro's blog also discusses some shoulder discomfort that Rangers' top prospect Neftali Feliz has been experiencing. 
• Cameron Maybin was a popular pre-season pick for National League Rookie of the Year, but the super talented 22-year old has struggled so far this season, and as Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports, could be sent down as a result of some roster shuffling for the Marlins.
• One of the roster additions that could move Maybin down to the minors was the call up of fellow prospect Chris Coghlan.  Naturally an infielder, Coghlan has been seeing time in the outfield for the Marlins, Spencer notes.
• Staying with the topic of top prospects disappointing in the majors, the Cubs have send down Jeff Samardzija in order to work on his secondary pitchers, notes Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun Times.
• Baseball America's Ben Badler names some sleeper prospects hiding out in the lower parts of the minor leagues.

Prospect Roundup - NL Central (4/10)

Chicago Cubs

• Triple A - Iowa
  • Jeff Samardzija (RP) - 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 K/2 BB 2 HR
• Double A - Tennessee
  • Tony Thomas (2B) - 1-4, R, RBI
• High A - Daytona
  • Tyler Colvin (DH) - 2-3, R, RBI, BB,
• Low A - Peoria
  • Josh Vitters (3B) - 0-3, R

Cincinnati Reds

• Triple A - Louisville
  • Drew Stubbs (CF) - 0-3, 2 BB
  • Chris Valaika (SS) - 0-4, K
• Double A - Carolina
  • Todd Frazier (LF) - 1-3, 2B, R, RBI, K
• High A - Sarasota
  • Yonder Alonso (1B) - 1-3, HR, 3 RBI
  • Alex Buchholz (SS) - 3-4, 2B, HR, 4 RB, 2 R
    

Houston Astros

• Triple A - Rock Round
  • Drew Sutton (2B) - 1-3, BB, R
  • Brian Bogusevic (CF) - 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K
  • Felipe Paulino (SP) - 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 K/3 BB
    
• Double A - Corpus Cristi
  • Collin DeLome (LF) - 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB
• High A - Lancaster
  • Jason Castro (C) - 1-5, 2B, K

Milwaukee Brewers

• Triple A - Nashville
  • Alcides Escobar (SS) - 1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB
  • Mat Gamel (3B) - 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, E
• Double A - Huntsville
  • Jeremy Jeffress (SP) - 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 BB/2 K  
  • Jonathan Lucroy (C) - 2-3, HR, R, RBI
    
• High A - Brevard County
  • Logan Schafer (CF) - 0-4, 2 K
• Low A - Wisconsin
  • Cutter Dykstra (CF) - 1-4, K
  • Brett Lawrie (2B) - 0-4, R, K
  • Cody Scarpetta (SP) - 4 IP, 2 H, ER, 8 K/1 BB

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Triple A - Indianapolis
  • Andrew McCutchen (CF) - 2-4, 3B, R, RBI, BB, K
• Double A - Altoona
  • Jose Tabata (CF) - 1-4, R, BB
  • Daniel Moskos (RP) - 1 IP, 2 H, ER, K
• High A - Lynchburg
  • Pedro Alvarez (3B) - 3-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
• Low A - West Virginia
  • Chase D'Arnaud (SS) - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI

St. Louis Cardinals

• Triple A - Memphis
  • Bryan Anderson (C) - 1-3, R, BB
• Double A - Springfield
  • Brett Wallace (3B) - 4-5, 4 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI
• High A - Palm Beach
  • Peter Kozma (SS) - 0-4, 2 K