MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action in the Majors

As the first week of major league action winds down, we're starting to see many of the prospects who made big league rosters take their turns on the field.

• Michael Pineda made his first major league start on Tuesday, and the Mariners were pleased with the results, says Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.  Pineda was one of a number of surprise prospects to stay in the majors after the spring, notes Keith Law of ESPN.com, who questioned the M's decision to keep the young right-hander.
• The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have elevated hard-throwing rookie Jordan Walden into the closer's role at the back of the bullpen after incumbent Fernando Rodney's early season struggles, reports Kevin Baxter of The Los Angeles Times, who also notes the successful relationship rookie catcher Hank Conger has molded with team ace Jared Weaver.  Conger caught Weaver in two late-season starts in 2010 and Weaver praised the prospect's work behind the plate.  Conger made his first start on Tuesday, receiving another Weaver gem, and perhaps adding to the confidence manager Mike Scioscia has in him behind the plate.
• Brandon Belt has struggled at the plate to start the season, and Aubrey Huff has been an adventure in right field, where he's playing to accommodate Belt's arrival in the lineup, but despite these struggles, Giants manager Bruce Bochy says he has no intention of sitting Belt down anytime soon, says Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• Mike Minor will make his first start of the season for the Braves on Wednesday, taking the rotation spot of the injured Jair Jurrjens, says Doug Miller of MLB.com.  Minor will try to get the ball to Craig Kimbrel, the Braves closer who has continued his string of dominance from last season, notes Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
• Jeremy Hellickson will make his 2011 debut for the Rays, getting the start opposite Dan Haren against the Angels on Wednesday, says Spencer Fordin of MLB.com.
• The Washington Nationals plan to move rookie second baseman Danny Espinosa up to the leadoff spot in their batting order, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

 

Injury Updates - Brown, Hellickson, Brackman

• Domonic Brown had surgery to repair the hamate bone in his right hand today, and while he should be out for 4-to-6 weeks, he could be swinging a bat again in two, says David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.  It is unknown where the Phillies will place the rookie right fielder upon his return, as Brown had been struggling mightily this spring before the injury.
• Jeremy Hellickson threw a bullpen session on Sunday that included 34 pitches, and his balky hamstring gave him no issues, putting him on track to appear in his first spring game for the Rays this Friday, reports Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
• Andrew Brackman faced hitters over the weekend, and his next appearance could come in a game for the Yankees, says Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
• Orioles pitching prospect Brandon Erbe is still working his way back from surgery he had last August to repair his torn labrum, and hopes to be back by mid-season, reports Jeff Zrebiec of MLB.com.
• Anel de los Santos, a catcher in the Angels farm system, will miss 8-to-10 weeks with a torn thumb ligament, reports Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.

 

Injury Updates - Hellickson, Teheran, Rosario, Drabek

• Jeremy Hellickson is back on the mound after missing time with a sore hamstring, throwing two bullpen sessions this week, reports Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.  The Rays rookie is scheduled to face live hitters next.
• Julio Teheran missed the better part of a week with back spasms, but the Braves top pitching prospect is back on the mound and could appear in a split-squad game today, says Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• Rockies catching prospect Wilin Rosario missed the end of the 2010 season with a knee injury and is still rehabbing, but hopes to be back to full speed by early April, says Jesee Sanchez of MLB.com.
• Kyle Drabek was scratched from a start earlier this week due to a stiff neck, and has yet to appear in a game for the Blue Jays this spring, says Gregor Chisholm 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.

 

 

Injury Updates - Hellickson, Schafer, Parker, Erbe

As Spring Training gets underway, and throughout the season,  MLB Prospect Watch will keep you up to date on all the prospect injury news.  You can go directly to all of our injury updates by clicking our Injury Update link in the sidebar on the left.

• Jeremy Hellickson complained of some tightness in his hamstring yesterday as he threw his bullpen, but the Rays say it is of no concern and he was able to complete his workout uninterrupted, reports Marc Topkin of TampaBay.com.
• After being named the Brewers Minor League Player of the Year in 2009, Logan Schafer had what was essentially a lost year in 2010, thanks to an array of injuries.  This spring, he's back to full health and trying to pick up where he left off last year, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Jarrod Parker's elboy feels great after Tommy John surgery, but it's his hamstring that is still feeling the effects, reports Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.  Parker does not have the tendon in his forearm usually used to replace the torn elbow tendon during the procedure, so one from his hamstring was used.  The hamstring does not prevent the Diamondbacks top prospect from any of his scheduled throwing.
• Brandon Erbe is starting from scratch after surgery to repair a torn labrum, reports Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com, but the Orioles pitching prospect hopes to miss only a few weeks of the minor league season as he gets his arm back in game shape.