MLB Prospect Watch

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.

Prospect Performances - 3/9

More and more prospects are seeing game action as Spring Training gets into full swing...

• Brian Matusz bounced back from a rough first inning to strike out 6 in 2 2/3 IP, reports Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.  The 5th spot in the Orioles' rotation is Matusz's to lose.
• Casey Kelly threw two solid innings for the Red Sox in his last appearance, but as Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald notes, it's is poise as much as anything which is most impressive.
• J.P Arencibia is having a solid spring reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.  After a rough 2009 campaign that began with so much hype, the 24-year-old catcher is starting over and learning from the veterans in Blue Jays' camp, adds Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.
• When you think of left-handed pitchers competing for the 5th spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation, you don't immediately think of Matt Maloney, but he's pitching well too, says John Fay of the Cinncinnati Enquirer.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates expect to be led by young players, but they have to be pleased when they get performances like this from Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata, as noted by Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  Brad Lincoln also threw two innings in the game, and has an outside shot at making the Pirates rotation.
• The Detroit Tigers' leadoff spot is Austin Jackson's to lose, but as John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reports, Jackson is doing nothing to lose it.

Phillies News

Prospect happenings for the two-time defending National League champs...

• The Phillies have their work cut out for them with Phillippe Aumont, as they try to return his mechanics to their pre-draft form and try to undo the arm-slot change the Mariners enforced when they tried to move Aumont to the bullpen, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  They also have to get his arm stretched back out so that he can return to being a starting pitcher, notes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
• Gelb also discusses the road traveled by B.J. Rosenberg to get to Double-A last year, and his chances of making the big league club.
• Domonic Brown is having a great spring, going 7 for his first 15 and also throwing three guys out on the bases thus far, reports David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Brewers Send Down Two Prospects

The Milwaukee Brewers sent Eric Arnett and Kyle Heckathorn down to minor league camp on Monday, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  The move was not unexpected, as the two players were only in big league camp as part of their initial contracts after signing.  The two right-handers were the team's top two draft picks in 2009.  Neither appeared in a game this spring.

Another Strong Outing for Mejia

Jenrry Mejia was back on the mound today for the New York Mets, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out four, and giving up only two singles, reports Marty Noble of MLB.com.  The 20-year old right-hander is scheduled to have a 4-inning appearance on Thursday, which is an indication that the Mets are still preparing him to start.  Any starting assignment for Mejia would be in the minor leagues.

That hasn't stopped manager Jerry Manuel from hinting that he would like to keep Mejia in his big league bullpen.  In fact, Manuel has given up on hinting and is now just coming out and announcing his wishes in an attempt to convince the front office to let him keep the budding prospect in the majors.