MLB Prospect Watch

Making Moves - Miller, Lyles, Erlin

• The St. Louis Cardinals have promoted top prospect Shelby Miller to Double-A, reports Matthew Leach of MLB.com
• The Houston Astros have promoted top prospect Jordan Lyles to The majors, and he is scheduled to make his first career start on Tuesday, tweets Aylson Footer.
• The Texas Rangers have promoted top prospect Robbie Erlin to Double-A Frisco, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Tribune

 

Prospect Action - Sands, Rogers, Trout, McGuire

Wrapping up the action from around the minors on the day the Jerry Sands Era began in Los Angeles...

• Mark Rogers' command issues continued on Monday night, and this time it cost the Brewers top prospect a win, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Billy Hamilton stole three more bases, and John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer explains why the tales of the Reds top hitting prospect are growing by the game.
• Angels fans got to see two of their top prospects in action together, as Mike Trout homered in support of Garrett Richards, who threw eight strong innings on Monday, giving up just two runs, notes Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Blue Jays prospect Deck McGuire got his first professional win on Monday, throwing 5 2/3 innings and striking out four, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Marlins OF prospect Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-4 with two homeruns.
  • Nick Franklin went 3-for-5 as the Mariners SS prospect has successfully rebounded from a slow start to the season.
  • Tyler Skaggs had nine baserunners in just 5 2/3 innings of work, but the Diamondbacks prospect did strike out eight batters during that same stretch.
  • Astros top prospect Jordan Lyles gave up six earned runs in as many innings, to raise his ERA on the season to 7.07.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Colvin, Chatwood, Gordon, Astros

• Phillies pitching prospect Brody Colvin is heading to the disabled list with what is being reported as a back injury, according to PhuturePhillies.com.  Colvin had to leave the game in his last start before completing the third inning.
• Tyler Chatwood will get another start for the Angels, reports Sam Miller of the Orange County Register.
• The Dodgers have a hole to fill at short stop after Rafael Furcal broke his thumb on Monday, and Jared Massey of LAdodgertalk.com speculates whether the team will promote Dee Gordon to take his place.
• The Astros farm system isn't the barren wasteland it once was, and Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle notes some of the more intriguing story lines within the system, including Jordan Lyles inevitable call-up and the organizational battle at short stop between Jonathan Villar and Jiovanni Mier.

 

Opening Day Prospect Action

Finally, some real news to report!

Opening Day around the minor leagues gave us our first glimpse at some highly-touted prospects, and a chance to see which prospects are ready to make the jump to the next level.

• Despite almost making the Astros starting rotation out of spring training, Jordan Lyles didn't exactly dominate Triple-A hitters on Opening Day, says David Heck of MiLB.com.  Lyles lasted just four innings and gave up three runs.
• Mariners top prospect Dustin Ackley went 0-for-2 in his season debut, but as usual, was able to get on base, walking twice in the game, reports The Seattle Times.
• Keyvius Sampson couldn't have hoped for a better full-season debut, as the Padres prospect struck out 10 batters over six perfect innings, reports John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Bryce Harper went 2-for-4 in his professional debut, with an RBI single in his first at-bat and a bunt single in his second, notes Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com.  The Nationals phenom also struck out later in the game, but that didn't prevent him from leaving a positive impression on fans and scouts alike, says Nathan Rode of Baseball America.
• Manny Machado also made his professional debut last night for the Orioles Low-A affiliate in Delmarva, going 2-for-3 and driving in the go-ahead run with a triple, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Diamondbacks first base prospect Paul Goldschmidt picked up the 2011 season right where he left off last season, homering twice on Opening Day, says John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Jacob Turner made his Double-A debut look as easy as the Florida State league was for the Tigers top prospect, according to David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Indians prospect Cord Phelps fell a home run short of the cycle, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• The Florida State League was treated to a real Opening Day pitchers duel, as Mets prospect Matt Harvey out-dueled Cardinals prospect Shelby Miller in Harvey's professional debut, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  Both pitchers threw well, striking out 9 batters apiece, each over five innings of work, but Miller was undone by one unearned run.
• Yankees prospect Melky Mesa led the way for the Trenton Thunder, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double, reports The Trentonian.
• Other notable performances:
  • Jonathan Singleton went 3-for-5 in his first game since the Phillies made him a full-time left fielder.
  • Logan Forsythe went 2-for-3 with two home runs in the Padres first game with their new Triple-A affiliate in Tucson.
  • Rays LHP prospect Matt Moore struck out seven batters in five innings of work in his Double-A debut.

 

Roster Cuts - Lyles, A's, Jays

• The Astros re-assigned Jordan Lyles to minor league camp, and will start the season in Triple-A, says Farmstros.com.
• The A's made a number of cuts on Sunday, optioning Michael Taylor and Trystan Magnuson to Triple-A and re-assigning Michael Choice, Grant Green, Jemile Weeks to minor league camp, reports Jane Lee of MLB.com.
• The Blue Jays sent Anthony Gose and Travis D'Arnaud to minor league camp, says Gregor Chisolm of MLB.com.