MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action - Villanueva, Rodriguez, Erlin, Gibson

• San Francisco Giants prospect Zack Wheeler gave up just three hits over seven innings and struck out 12 batters on Sunday, reports Andrew Pentis of MLB.com
• Florida Marlins prospect Elih Villanueva gave up his Pacific Coast League leading 13th home run of the season, reports Bob Fortus of The New Orleans Times-Picayune
• Philadelphia Phillies prospect Julio Rodriguez allowed just one hit in five innings, fanning six, reports Ashley Marshall of MLB.com
• Robbie Erlin earned his first Double-A win after the Texas Rangers recently promoted himreports Ashley Marshall of MLB.com
• Kyle Gibson took a perfect game into the seventh inning as the Minnesota Twins prospect made his latest case for a big league promotionreports Josh Jackson of MLB.com

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Hunter, Gibson, Profar

• The Blue Jays will have to wait and see if their bats come around, but the defense is already there for prospects Anthony Gose and Adeiny Hechavarria, notes Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.
• Cedric Hunter is back on the prospect map, and back on the Padres radar, says Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Already on that map is 6-foot-9 pitching prospect Matt Lollis, who is standing out for more than his height, says Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
• Indians prospect Jason Kipnis is getting results from a unique stance, one that recalls the days of Cal Ripken and Micky Tettleton, notes Jordain Bastain of MLB.com.
• Kyle Gibson may have a three-pitch repoitre, but it's his sinker that will be his ticket to the Twins rotation, according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minnesota Star-Tribune.
• Jurickson Profar isn't even in big-league camp, but the Rangers used him as a fill-in on Monday and the 16-year-old shortstop showed that he's not in awe of his situation, not because of his play, but because of how he handles himself on the field, says T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

 

 

Spring Training Battles - Phillies Bullpen, Belt, Lyles, Twins

• We discussed the chances of Justin De Fratus cracking the Phillies uncertain bullpen yesterday, but as Todd Zolecki of MLB.com points out, there are two spots available in their pen, and Mike Stutes and Michael Schwimer also have a chance to stick with the big league club this spring.
• Despite being the reigning World Champions, the talk of Giants camp this spring could very well be the performance of Brandon Belt, says Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Belt's meteoric rise through the Giants farm system coupled with his ability to share time at first base and both corner outfield positions could make him a possible candidate to hit his way onto the big league roster.  More likely, however, is that he gets the same treatment Buster Posey received last season and returns to the minors until sometime in late May or early June.
• Another fast rising prospect during the 2010 season was Astros pitcher Jordan Lyles, who was skipped over High-A ball, pitched well in Double-A as a teenager, and ended the season in Triple-A, just a stone's throw away from the majors.  Now, Lyles has been invited to big league camp, where Brian McTaggart of MLB.com says the 20-year-old will have a chance to compete for the 5th spot in the Astros rotation.
• The Twins have announced their non-roster invitees to camp, and among the names are Kyle Gibson and Carlos Gutierrez, reports Joe Christensen of the Minnesota Star-Tribune.  Neither player is expected to seriously compete for a roster spot.

 

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Brackman, Mejia, Sale

• If the Eastern League championship series goes to 5 games, Yankees prospect Andrew Brackman will get the ball for the Trenton Thunder, says Josh Norris of The Trentonian.
• Jenrry Mejia wants to pitch winter ball, but there is no report of the Mets' plans for him, notes Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com.  Cerrone also comments on the possibility Reese Havens needing back surgery.
• The White Sox will give rookie pitcher Chris Sale every chance to compete for a spot in their rotation, despite his dominance in their bullpen this season, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com.
• Jameson Tallion and Stetson Allie will see their first professional action as a part of the Pirates instructional league team this fall, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Jeff Sickles takes a look at the transition to Double-A for Dodgers prospect Dee Gordon and Twins prospect Kyle Gibson.
• It's maturity and an incredible desire to play the game (in addition to being really, really good) that led the Orioles to their selection of Manny Machado with the 3rd overall pick in this year's draft, according to Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.

Prospect Potent Potables - 8/15

• For a player who walked away from the game just 5 months ago, Danny Duffy has had a productive season, notes Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star, and has helped add even more depth to an already stacked Royals' farm system.
• Chris Carter may be off to a slow start since joining the A's (0-for-13 in the bigs so far), but it's nothing he hasn't dealt with before, according to Jane Lee of MLB.com.  And if the thought of their top hitting prospect failing to hit in the majors wasn't enough bad news for A's fans to swallow, there's always the news of top international prospect Michael Ynoa's impending Tommy John surgery, which will take place on August 24th, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• Despite two successful starts so far, Jeremy Hellickson is likely to spend more time in the Rays' bullpen than their rotation during the remainder of this season, says Adam Berry of MLB.com.
• Jenrry Mejia had a rough outing for the Binghamton Mets on Saturday, struggling with his command throughout the 5 2/3 inning performance, reports Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com.
• Ivan Nova continues to add to the impressive pitching depth within the Yankees' farm system.
• The Twins have promoted pitcher Kyle Gibson to Triple-A, but as Joe Christensen of the Minnesota Star-Tribune reports, that should be as far as the hard-throwing righty goes this season.
• The White Sox sent Dayan Viciedo back down to Triple-A, both because of the struggles the Cuban 3B was having at the plate, and because of the return of Mark Teahen, says Scott Merkin of MLB.com.