MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/16

• The Chicago White Sox have promoted their first round pick from this year, LHP Chris Sale, to Triple-A, reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  The Sox hoping to get a good look at Sale to gauge the possibility of him being a part of their bullpen down the stretch.
• John Lamb extended his streak of not allowing an earned run to 30 innings on Thursday night, as the Royals' pitcher continues to rise up the prospect lists.  Also streaking is Phillies OF Jiwan James who has extended his hit-streak to 22 games.
• Dustin Ackley's Triple-A career got off on the right foot when the Mariners' prospect homered in his first at-bat, but the rest of his night was not as successful and he ended up with a 1-5 performance in his debut.
• The success Jordan Lyles is having this season can be attributed to an improved curveball and a more consistent cutter, says Ben Badler of Baseball America.  The improved arsenal has allowed the Houston prospect to dominate Double-A hitters despite being in his teens.  Fellow Astro pitcher Ross Seaton isn't having as much success trying to adjust, notes Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.  Also struggling is Jiovanni Mier, the team's top pick in 2009, but the 19-year-old shortstop appears to have benefited from a drop in the lineup, says Bill Ballew for MLB.com.
• Jose Iglesias and Adeiny Hechavarria have a lot more in common than just being Cuban shortstops, and their friendship dates back a long way, reports Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star.

Making Moves - 6/13

• The Braves have promoted pitcher Arodys Vizcaino to High-A Myrtle Beach, reports Talking Chop.com.  Vizcaino will join Randall Delgado and Julio Teheran to form a dangerous Myrtle Beach rotation.  The team also signed second round pick Andrelton Simmons, who wants to be a short stop, but the Braves may make a pitcher.
• The Cubs have added Mitch Atkins to their major league bullpen, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
• The Red Sox put Cuban SS Jose Iglesias on the DL last week after he was struck on the hand by a pitch, but could be back by the end of this week, reports John Tomase of the Boston Herald.
• The Oakland A's signed 17 of the players they selected in last week's draft, reports Alex Espinoza of MLB.com.

Prospect Hot Sheet - 5/14

Baseball America is back with their weekly Hot Sheet, with one huge name leading the way.  This week's list includes:

• Tanner Bushue
• Koby Clemens
• Randall Delgado
• Wilmer Flores
• Jose Iglesias
• Roger Kieschnick
• Marc Krauss
• Lance Lynn
• Devin Mesoraco
• Mike Minor
• Buster Posey
• Garrett Richards
• Mauricio Robles
• Jerry Sands
• Brandon Short
• Kyle Skipworth
• Stephen Strasburg
• Mike Trout
• Neil Walker
• Brett Wallace

Reporting in with less-than-stellar news are Aaron Crow, Josh Reddick, Gustavo Nunez, Rymer Liriano.

Notable Prospect Assignments

Now that major league rosters have been established, teams can turn their attention to picking the most advantageous starting location for their prospects for the 2010 minor league season.  Baseball America has a rundown of some of the more noteworthy assignments and explanations to the thinking behind each decision.  Included (among others) on their list are: 

• Jordan Lyles (HOU) - Double-A Corpus Cristi (skipped High-A)
• Dee Gordon (LAD) - Double-A Chattanooga (skipped High-A)
• Andrew Lambo (LAD) - Double-A Chattanooga (repeat level)
• Jose Iglesias (BOS) - Double-A Portland (professional debut)
• Casey Kelly (BOS) - Double-A Portland
• Lars Anderson (BOS) - Double-A Portland (repeat level)
• Aaron Hicks (MIN) - Low-A Beloit (repeat level)
• Freddie Freeman (ATL) - Triple-A Gwinnett
• Zach Stewart (TOR) - Double-A New Hampshire (in AAA last year)
• David Cooper (TOR) - Double-A (repeat level)
• Dustin Ackley (SEA) - Double-A West Tennessee (professional debut)
• Michael Burgess (WAS) - High-A Potomac (repeat level)
• Nick Weglarz (CLE) - Double-A Akron (repeat level)

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/9

Today's links are brought to you by Stephen Strasburg's first appearance...

• Max Stassi is drawing positive reviews from everyone in Oakland A's camp who knows anything about catching, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• The Chicago White Sox still aren't sure how they're going to use Dan Hudson this year, reports Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun Times.
• Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies discusses the change in batting stance made by Rockies' prospect Hector Gomez, and raves about the progress he's made.
• The Red Sox had a day full of impressive performances by some of their top prospects.  Cuban short stop Jose Iglesias hit his first home run, reports Ron Borges of the Boston Herald. The Sox went on to win that game, and at one point displayed an outfield of Josh Reddick, Ryan Kalish, and Che-Hsuan Lin, which could be their outfield of the future, suggests Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.