MLB Prospect Watch

Braves, White Sox, Mariners, Angels Invite Prospects to Spring Training

As we enter that part of the pre-spring training part of the baseball schedule, we have five more teams that have announced their invites to spring training.  As always, you can find a complete index of all of the prospects invited to spring training here, regardless of whether they are automatically invited thanks to being on the 40-man roster or if they got a non-roster invite.

*click on the team name to see the full list of their spring traning invites

Atlanta Braves

The biggest names here are Joey Terdoslavich, who was thrust into the role of "Chipper's replacement" about two years too early and likely still can't play third base.  Lefty Sean Gilmartin is trying to follow the Mike Minor path to the majors, but still has a year to go.  Evan Gattis is known as a catcher, but if the Braves don't fill their need in left field, don't be surprised to see him earn a solid look deep into spring training.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox don't have much in the way of major league-ready, impact prospects, but it should be exciting to see 2012 first rounder Courtney Hawkins in camp.  Jared Mitchell is still trying to regain his form from a devistating spring training injury a few years ago, and fellow outfielder Trayce Thompson is trying to prove his strikeouts aren't too much to keep him from being a major league contributor.

Seattle Mariners

The list of M's prospects invited to camp includes the usual suspects, including top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker, who has the arm to potentially tempt the Mariners decision makers to give him a chance to break camp with the major league club, even though he's not yet ready.  Infielders Nick Franklin and Brad Miller will also be in camp, even though neither has a legitimate shot to make the major league roster out of spring training.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels system isn't real deep, but top prospect Kaleb Cowart will be in spring training, as will Randal Grichuk, who has the dubious honor of being the guy taken a pick before Mike Trout.

 

Minor League Updates: Hamilton, Cowart, Buxton

• Perhaps no player has learned how to use his talent better than Billy Hamilton, and Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com breaks down the changes the Reds outfield prospect made from 2011 to 2012.  Hamilton increased his walk rate for the third straight season while also hitting for more power and stealing more bases than ever, and Gray has film on the changes he's made in his development.
• Despite playing just a half-season each at Low and High-A ball in 2012, it appears the Angels are planning to start top prospect Kaleb Cowart in Double-A to begin the 2013 season, reports Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com.  Cowart had a strong season in the Midwest League, but struggled hitting after his mid-season promotion despite moving to the hitter-friendly California League.  Despite his struggles, however, he doubled his walk rate and and posted a .366 on-base percentage, so there's no concern about his approach.  Still, a jump directly to Double-A after just 316 plate appearances in High-A could lead to some early season issues.
• A major part of the Twins rebuilding process is the development of Byron Buxton, and Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs.com has a full scouting report on the 2nd overall pick from last year's draft.  Buxton is pure tools at this point, although he did hold his own in the Appalachian League as an 18-year-old after being drafted this year but not before struggling in the Gulf Coast League first.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Franklin, AFL Scouting Reports, Bogaerts

• Nick Franklin is playing more and more second base every year, and that includes in the Arizona Fall League this fall, and Mike Newman of FanGraphs.com offers a scouting report on the Seattle Mariners infield prospect and where he might end up in their plans for the future.  Franklin hit well in Double-A in 2012 before getting a mid-season promotion, but struggled in Triple-A, mainly with contact.  After being primarily a shortstop in his professional career, Franklin played 69 games there in 2012 but saw 48 games at second base as well.
• Keith Law of ESPN.com is out in the desert scouting the Arizona Fall League, and has scouting reports on the impressive play of Angels prospect Kaleb Cowart as well as notes on Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos, Cubs shortstop Javier Baez, and many others.  Cowart broke out this season in his first full year as a professional, hitting .276/.358/.452 between Low and High-A ball.
• There are questions about where Xander Bogaerts will end up playing in the field, both because of his development and the current makeup of the Boston Red Sox roster, but Jeff Louderback of BoSoxBanter.com believes that he can stay at shortstop, at least for the first few years of his career.  If he does stay at shortstop, it will be with subpar defense, which will be acceptable give the power production that is expected out of him, but still makes him a risk.

 

Arizona Fall League Recap: 10/10/12

• The overwhelming star of the Arizona Fall League's second day of action was Rangers first baseman Chris McGuiness, who went 4-for-5 with a double and a home run in his Saguaros 8-4 victory. McGuiness is a fringe prospect who at age 24 put up a nice season at Double-A in 2012. Another borderline prospect, Phillies third baseman Cody Asche, Had a pair of doubles in the loss for the Peoria Javelinas.
• The Salt River Rafters advanced to 2-0 on Wednesday with the kind of offensive outburst expected in the AFL. Rafters hitters combined to score 11 runs and four home runs, including blasts by Nationals prospects Brian Goodwin and Matt Skole and Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Davidson. Houston Astros first base prospect Jonathan Singleton put on a show for the Solar Sox in the loss, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a home run. Detroit Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos collected a pair of hits as well.
• Multi-hit days by Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Matt Curry, New York Yankees prospect Slade Heathcott and Los Angeles Angels prospect Kaleb Cowart helped propel the Scottsdale Scorpions to a 6-5 victory on Wednesday.

Daily Notes

• On the opening day of the AFL, Cubs shortstop prospect Javier Baez put on a show with a mammoth home run.  On Wednesday, Baez played third base for the Mesa Solar Sox, a position he has yet to play as a professional, but a spot where many scouts believe he will end up.  It wasn't pretty, as Baez made two errors on the day, and according to The Cub Reporter, displayed terrible body language and looked disinterested in playing the new position.  Baez has had attitide problems in the past and appeared to take his pouting to the plate, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the game.

 

Arizona Fall League Preview: Scottsdale Scorpions

The Scottsdale Scorpions have one of the least prospect-laden teams on paper, representing three of the weaker farm systems in baseball (Cleveland, San Francisco, and Anaheim) and two others who elected not to send their top prospects (Pittsburgh and the Yankees).

 

Kaleb Cowart (LAA)

Cowart, a 2010 first-rounder, put together a nice first full season. Splitting time between the Midwest and California Leagues, Cowart hit .276/.358/.452 with 31 doubles and 16 home runs. The third baseman is thoughts player on the Scorpions roster, but also one of its most talented.

Joe Panik (SF)

After dominating the short-season Northwest League last season, big things were expected out of Panik in his first full year, especially since he was heading to the California League. That's the only context in which a .298/..368/.402 season might be considered disappointing. Panik displayed less power and plate discipline than many thought he had, but still had an ok all-around season. He'll head to Double-A next season.

Ronny Rodriguez (CLE)

Another one of the AFL's youngest players, Rodriguez oozes potential but is still very raw. He hit 19 home runs in the Carolina League as a 19-year-old this season, but also walked just 19 times against 88 strikeouts. Signed as a shortstop out of the Dominican, he also saw time as second base, where he is much more consistent as a defender.

Gary Brown (SF)

The Giants top prospect rebounded from a rough first half to put up decent numbers in Double-A in 2012, hitting .279/.347/.385, but his lack of power is concerning. It should be noted that his home park in Richmond is known for greatly limiting power, but Brown's OPS was over 100 points lower on the road, so it's difficult to gauge how much effect that had. Brown is still exceptionally fast, but he'll need to rebound with a strong season next year to prove he's more than just a fourth outfielder.

Other Notable Hitters

Slade Heathcott has had trouble staying on the field, but when he was out there this season, he finally displayed the tools the Yankees knew he had when they made him a first runs pick in 2009. Randal Grichuk will always be the guy the Angels selected one pick ahead of Mike Trout, but he finally displayed his power this season. He still doesn't walk enough, though.

 

Arsenal of Arms

Dellin Betances (NYY)

Instead of helping the Yankees when they needed extra pitching this season, Betances took a step back, finishing the season back in Double-A. His control escaped him completely in Triple-A, and after his demotion he just got lit up. The AFL isn't the best place to send a struggling pitcher, but it's his last chance to get the bad taste of the 2012 season out of his mouth.

Victor Black (PIT)

It's not out of the question to envision Victor Black setting up Joel Hanrahan in Pittsburgh by the end of next season. The hardest thrower in the Pirates farm system put it all together this year, posting a 1.65 ERA as the closer for Double-A Altoona and striking out 85 batters in 60 innings. What will determine if Black becomes a closer in the majors or a middle reliever will be his control, which has been questionable at times.

Other Notable Arms

Ryan Chaffee really took to his new role as a reliever this year and struck out more batters than ever. Heath Hembree still projects as a mid-to-late inning reliever for the Giants despite a rough introduction to the Pacific Coast League this year.