MLB Prospect Watch

Making Moves - September Call-Ups

Teams are really beginning to flood their rosters with young players as the season winds down, most of whom are auditioning prospects for spots on their 2012 rosters.

• The Washington Nationals are calling up pitcher Brad Peacock and 2B Steven Lombardozzi among others, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
• The Toronto Blue Jays have recalled Kyle Drabek and David Cooper, says Tom Dakers of BlueBirdBanter.com.
• The Chicago White Sox have promoted SS Eduardo Escobar and P Addison Reed, notes Dan Santaromita of FutureSox.com.
• The Colorado Rockies are going to bring Drew Pomeranz to the majors, according to Jack Etkin of InsidetheRockies.com.  Pomeranz was thought to be out for the season following an emergency appendectomy, but he has returned to action quicker than expected.
• The Minnesota Twins have called up OF Joe Benson, reports Joe Christiensen of the Minnesota Star-Tribune, who also adds that P Liam Hendriks will take the mound on Tuesday for at least one September start.
• The Seattle Mariners have promoted Alex Liddi, notes Larry Larue of The [Tacoma] News Tribune, making the 3B prospect the first Italian-born-and-raised player in the major leagues.

 

Prospect Performances - Drabek, Britton, Angels, Taillon

• Kyle Drabek gave up just one run in five innings of work in his final spring start before assuming his role as the Blue Jays number two starter, says Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.
• Zach Britton gave up two runs over six innings of work in his last bit of proof that he's ready for the majors, despite the fact that the Orioles will start him in Triple-A, says Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun.
• The Angels young prospects showed they weren't fazed by the big stage, as Mike Trout and Hank Conger led the offensive attack in a comeback win against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, notes Quinn Roberts of MLB.com.
• Jameson Taillon threw three innings on the Pirates back fields against A-ball competition, and was dominant, needing just 31 pitches to get threw his outing, according to Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.  Williams also has a video posted of Taillon's outing.

 

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.

 

 

Position Battles - Arencibia, Drabek, Hosmer, Craig, Mejia

• J.P. Arencibia entered camp with a good chance at winning the Blue Jays starting catcher job, and he has impressed enough thus far in camp to imply that he's heading in that direction, says Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.  The Jays rotation also has two spots up for grabs and Kyle Drabek is an early favorite for one of them, according to J. Weitzel of Beerleaguer.com, while Larry Millson of Baseball America argues that Drabek should win one of the spots.
• Eric Hosmer was impressive in the Royals inter-squad game on Thursday, but manager Ned Yost said the first baseman has virtually no chance of making the team, according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.  Third base prospect Mike Moustakas does have a chance though.
• The Cardinals have a hole at third base to fill and Allen Craig is a prospect with a major league ready bat who moved from third base to the outfield and is now moving back.  He could be the answer to the Cards problems at the hot corner if his defense can catch up to his bat, says Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• And from the "Is it last year again?" department, Jenrry Mejia looks impressive in Mets camp and could crack the Mets rotation, says Steve Popper of the Bergen County Record, but the player development side of manager Terry Collins should prevail and allow Mejia to head to Triple-A to continue his development.

 

 

Position Battles - Drabek, Brackman, Beavan

• We've been hearing about Kyle Drabek since he was a 1st round draft pick back in 2006, and that attention was multiplied when he was the centerpiece of last off-season's Roy Halladay blockbuster deal, but this year could be the year we finally get to see Drabek in a Blue Jays uniform, perhaps for the whole season, suggests Harry Pavlidis of The Hardball Times.
• The Yankees are in need of another starting pitcher, but Steve S. of TYU warns fans that Andrew Brackman is not yet ready to answer that call.  This is despite the significant improvement he's made as a professional, notes George King of Baseball America.
• Blake Beavan may not have a realistic chance of breaking camp with the Mariners this spring, but he is close enough to the majors that a strong spring could put him in line for a mid-season promotion, says John Hickey for Baseball America.