MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Biddle, Smyly, Iglesias

• Jesse Biddle had a strong first full-season of professional baseball, and the Phillies former first-round pick discusses his off-season progress and a hopeful start in Clearwater in 2012, writes Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Daily News.
• David Laurila of FanGraphs.com has a Q & A session with Tigers pitching prospect Drew Smyly, discussing everything from his repertoire and mechanics to old college injuries.
• The Red Sox have some uncertainty at the shortstop position entering the 2012 season, and Brandan McGair of The Pawtucket Times asks, why not Jose Iglesias?  The Cuban prospect is already defensively ready for the majors, but questions still surround him about his offensive capabilities, and he could likely use some more time to refine that part of his game in Triple-A.

Prospect Action - Profar, Reed, Hutchison, den Dekker

• Jurickson Profar's bases clearing triple helped propel his fellow Rangers prospects to victory on Wednesday, says The Hickory Daily Record.
• Dodgers first round pick Chris Reed tossed two scoreless innings in his professional debut, reports David Heck of MiLB.com.
• A's 1B prospect Chris Carter cleared the bases with a double of his own, notes The Sacramento Bee.
• Jesse Biddle tossed five scoreless innings, as the Phillies prospect allowed just one hit, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Blue Jays P prospect Drew Hutchison struck out seven batters over five innings of work in his first Double-A start, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Mets OF prospect Matt Den Dekker homered in back-to-back at-bats off of Tigers starter Casey Crosby, according to The Erie Times-News.
• Pirates OF Robbie Grossman went a combined 6-for-8 in a doubleheader, says David Heck of MiLB.com.

 

 

Prospect Action - Skaggs, Biddle, Pomeranz

•   Phillies pitching prospect Jonathan Pettibone, was out-dueled by Rays pitching prospect Alex Koronis, reports ClawDigest.com.  Fellow Phillies prospect Rays pitching prospect Jesse Biddle, however, turned in a gem, fanning eight over seven innings of work, and allowing just three hits, Alex Koronis, according to Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Diamondbacks pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs was inconsistent in his first Double-A start, striking out six in four innings, but allowing five runs in the process notes Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Also making his Double-A debut was Indians pitching prospect Drew Pomeranz, who fared better than Skaggs, allowing just one earned run over 4 2/3 innings, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Alex Liddi blasted a 9th inning homer, tying the game for his Mariners teammates, reports The Seattle Times.

 

Prospect Action - Biddle, Banuelos, Holmberg, Wong

• Phillies LHP prospect Jesse Biddle fanned 8 batters over 5 2/3 innings of work, says John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Yankees LHP prospect Manny Banuelos ended an up-and-down month with a positive start, allowing just one run over five innings on Tuesday, striking out seven during that time, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Orioles middle-infield prospects L.J. Hoes and Greg Miclat each had RBI singles in their loss, according to Jeff Seidel of the BowiePatch.com.
• A dropped ball by Brewers 2B prospect Eric Farris ended up being the difference between Nashville and New Orleans on Tuesday, notes Tim Grubbs of NOLA.com.  Down in A-ball, his fellow Brewers prospect Kyle Heckathorn was back in action after a month off, and responded with six scoreless innings, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Diamondbacks pitching prospect David Holmberg extended his scoreless innings streak to 35 straight with seven more Tuesday night, reports Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids Press.
• Cardinals 2011 first-round draft pick Kolten Wong went 2-for-2 in his professional debut, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

 

Prospect Action - Miller, D-Backs, Schoop, Foltynewicz

• In his first start of the 2011 season, Dodgers pitching prospect Aaron Miller struck out nine batters in six innings of work, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Phillies prospect Brody Colvin threw six innings and gave up just one earned run, but didn't factor into the decision in what turned into a 23-inning affair, reports Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Press.
• Also on the mound for the Phillies farm system was Jesse Biddle, who gave up three runs over five innings of work, says Joe Berkery of Philly.com.
• Orioles prospect Jonathan Schoop recorded the first 4-RBI night of his career, reports theshorebirds.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Diamondbacks prospects had a big night in Visalia, as Matt Davidson and Bobby Borchering each knocked three doubles, and Chris Owings hit his 5th home run of the season.
  • Gary Brown knocked two doubles and stole two bases, and Brandon Crawford added a double and scored two runs in support of fellow Giants prospect Zack Wheeler, who struggled on the mound on Monday, giving up giving up four earned runs in four innings, and walking six batters in the process.
  • Both Trey McNutt and Wade Miley struggled facing off against one another, as the Cubs prospect McNutt gave up a home run to Diamondbacks OF prospect Marc Krauss, two of his four runs allowed, while Miley allowed four runs of his own.
  • Astros prospect Mike Foltynewicz earned his second win of the season, giving up just one earned run over seven innings of work.