MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Orioles, Montero, Frazier

• The Orioles have been linked as possible trade candidates with just about every low-end veteran that's reportedly on the trading block, but as Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun points out, they don't have a lot to trade that they're willing to part with.  Connolly mentions Xavier Avery and L.J. Hoes as the only realistic trade pieces among the Orioles top prospects.  If the team can't get significant return or significant improvement in an area of need (which, for those prospects they probably can't), then I don't see how a trade makes sense.  The Orioles aren't close to competing in the AL East, and giving up a prospect with any kind of upside for a marginal starter or middle reliever isn't the way to build long-term.
• Jesus Montero's power potential is even more valuable now than it would have been a decade ago, which is why the Mariners were willing to part with such a young, talented pitcher in order to get him, says Larry Stone of The Seattle Times.  Stone quotes scouts that even say that young position players are becoming more difficult to develop than young pitching, which, if true, and given the Mariners staple of young pitchers, makes the move a good fit for the Mariners even more.
• Todd Frazier's best chance to make the Reds roster this spring is his versatility, but the team has signed other versatile players Wilson Valdez and Willie Harris, potentially bocking Frazier's path, notes Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.  While Valdez and Harris have veteran experience, Frazier can duplicate all of their versatility in one player, and has more power potential than either one.  At 26, if Frazier isn't ready for the majors, he may never be.
• I wrote a piece for MLB Depth Charts discussing which of the top prospects in the game will make their team's Opening Day roster, including Montero, Matt Moore, Bryce Harper, Jacob Turner, Shelby Miller, Mike Trout, and Trevor Bauer.

Prospect Action - McPherson, Carter, Parker

• Chris Carter had a monster day at the plate, as the A's prospect went 5-for-5 at the plate with a home run and 6 RBI's reports The Sacramento Bee .
• Drew Hutchison fanned eight hitters over five innings of work as the Blue Jays prospect advanced to 3-0 since being promoted to Double-A, writes David Heck of MiLB.com .
• Pirates pitching prospect Kyle McPherson tossed five shutout innings, capping off a great season, says Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• Joe Mahoney drove in three runs and L.J. Hoes added three hits as the Orioles Double-A affiliate in Bowie unleashed an offensive attack on Sunday, says The Erie Times-News. .
• Kyle Parker's RBI single was the difference for the Rockies A-ball affiliate in Ashville, reports The Post and Courier.

 

Prospect Action - Gindl, Skole, Friedrich

• Acting as the DH on Sunday, Red Sox catching prospect Ryan Lavarnway slugged a pair of home runs, reports WPRI.com.
• Caleb Gindl, an OF prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers, hit for the cycle, notes Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• L.J. Hoes and Joe Mahoney both enjoyed 3-for-5 days at the plate for the Orioles Double-A affiliate in Bowie, according to Jeff Seidel of BowiePatch.com.
• Rangers prospect Jake Skole had a big day on Sunday, recording four RBI's and hitting a home run, reports The Hickory Daily Record.
• Christian Friedrich went a career-high eight innings in his latest start, as the Rockies LHP prospect allowed just one run, says David Heck of MiLB.com.

 

Prospect Action - Brentz, Hoes, Profar

• Washington Nationals 2B prospect Steve Lombardozzi knocked a pair of doubles on Sunday night, says BisonsBlog.com.
• Padres pitching prospect Keyvius Sampson got off to a shaky start but rebounded to retire 12 straight hitters, reports The Grand Rapids Press.
• Jurickson Profar and Jake Skole helped lead a comeback for their that the Texas Rangers Low-A affiliate in Hickory, notes the Hickory Daily Record.
• Diamondbacks pitching prospect David Holmberg struck out nine batters but gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings to bring his scoreless innings streak to an end, reports Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Orioles 1B prospect Brandon Snyder hit two home runs as part of a three-hit day says Jocelyn Syrstad of The Virginian Pilot. In Orioles Double-A action, L.J. Hoes stayed hot with another 3-hit day of his own, reports Jeff Seidel of BowiePatch.com.
• Rex Sox OF and former first-rounder Bryce Brentz went 2-for-3 with a home run on Sunday night notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Jay Jackson threw 8 1/3 strong innings and allowed just one run as the Cubs prospect earned his fourth win of the season, reports Tim Grubbs of NOLA.com.

 

Prospect Action - Biddle, Banuelos, Holmberg, Wong

• Phillies LHP prospect Jesse Biddle fanned 8 batters over 5 2/3 innings of work, says John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Yankees LHP prospect Manny Banuelos ended an up-and-down month with a positive start, allowing just one run over five innings on Tuesday, striking out seven during that time, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Orioles middle-infield prospects L.J. Hoes and Greg Miclat each had RBI singles in their loss, according to Jeff Seidel of the BowiePatch.com.
• A dropped ball by Brewers 2B prospect Eric Farris ended up being the difference between Nashville and New Orleans on Tuesday, notes Tim Grubbs of NOLA.com.  Down in A-ball, his fellow Brewers prospect Kyle Heckathorn was back in action after a month off, and responded with six scoreless innings, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Diamondbacks pitching prospect David Holmberg extended his scoreless innings streak to 35 straight with seven more Tuesday night, reports Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids Press.
• Cardinals 2011 first-round draft pick Kolten Wong went 2-for-2 in his professional debut, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.