MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Reckling, Pastornicky, Flores

• With his prospect status being a fraction of what it once was, it's easy to overlook the strong half-season Trevor Reckling had in Double-A in 2011 before going on the shelf with a sore elbow.  But as Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com points out, Reckling did show improvement, and is spending this off-season working with former Angels lefty Mark Langston, in hopes of fully re-gaining his status as a top prospect.
• Tyler Pastornicky is the front-runner to win the Braves starting shortstop job this spring, and as Bill Ballew points out for Baseball America, the Braves tend to have no fear of letting a rookie start on Opening Day.
• Wilmer Flores' bat has become something of a disappointment, and his prospect stock will only drop further when he makes his eventual move off of shortstop, but Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com discusses the posibility of Flores moving to second base, as well as the immense pressure that has been put on him since the Mets signed him and the borderline ridiculous comparisons to Miguel Cabrera that Flores has had to endure.

Prospect Potent Potables - Trout, Harper, Cubs, Braves Invites

• We know Mike Trout is one of the Angels best three outfielders heading into the 2012 season, but Chris Cwik of FanGraphs.com outlines why that may not matter when it comes down to whether or not Trout makes the Opening Day roster.
• Another top-5 prospect battling for a potential starting outfield gig is Bryce Harper in Washington, and while unlike Trout, an argument could be made for Harper getting a little more seasoning in the minors, Nats manager has already come out and said he wants Harper to make the team, points out Dave Cameron of FanGraphs.com, who lays out the potential costs of making such a move.
• The Cubs have announced that they will be opening up a new facility in the Dominican Republic, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  It will be the largest facility in the D.R.  Despite current contributions from players like Starlin Castro and Carlos Marmol, the Cubs have not been huge players in Latin America in the past decade, choosing to spend the majority of their international budget in the Pacific Rim, especially Taiwan.
• The Atlanta Braves have announced the rest of their spring training non-roster invites, with Sean Gilmartin and Zeke Spruill leading the way for the pitchers, and catcher Christian Bethancourt, third baseman Joey Terdoslavich, and shortstop Andrelton Simmons rounding out the hitters, reports TalkingChop.com.

Prospect Potent Potables - Angels, Sanchez, Orioles, Cubs Invites

• Sam Miller of The Orange County Register cites a Baseball Prospectus article (subscription needed) that breaks down the things that could go wrong with the Angels top prospects.  Miller's article has the quote on Mike Trout, explaining his potential troubles against right-handed pitching, based on his struggles in the majors last season.
• Pirates C prospect Tony Sanchez apparently had another off-the-field incident, occurring during the instructional season in Florida this past fall, reports Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  Sanchez allegedly broke his jaw in a bar fight, although he was not hurt a few weeks later at a team mini-camp.  Sanchez has already had jaw issues, missing much of the 2010 season after breaking his jaw getting hit by pitches.  He also was suspended for three games last season after ripping umpires on his Twitter feed.
• The Orioles have announced their second South Korean high school signing in the past week, inking Seong-Min Kim, a 18-year-old left-handed pitcher, reports Jordan Tuwiner of Orioles-Nation.com.  Just two days ago, the team announced the signing of 17-year-old South Korean lefty Kim Sung-min.
• The Cubs have announced their spring training invites, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  Among the prospects invited are outfielders Brett Jackson and Jae-Hoon Ha, and pitchers Jay Jackson, Trey McNutt, and Dae-Eun Rhee.

Prospect Potent Potables - Cron, Pomeranz, Orioles

• C.J. Cron tore it up at the plate in his professional debut before his season ended due to a knee injury, but as Bill Plunkett reports for Baseball America, the Angels prospect is back on track to be ready for the season.
• Unlike last spring with the Indians, this year Drew Pomeranz is entering Rockies spring training with a chance to win a spot in a big league rotation, notes Thomas Harding of MLB.com.  Pomeranz will be competing with a crowded field for a spot, but may be the most talented pitcher in the field.
• The Orioles have made their first venture into the international market under new GM Dan Duquette, signing 17-year-old LHP Kim Sung-min, reports Eduardo Encina of The Baltimore Sun.

Scouting Reports on Rule V Draft Picks

The annual Rule V draft took place this morning, with 12 teams making selections.  Players taken in the Rule V draft must stay in the majors with their drafting team for the entire season, or be offered back to their original organization.

1 - Astros - Rhiner Cruz, RHP (drafted from NYM)

2 - Twins - Terry Doyle, rhp (CWS)

3 - Mariners - Lucas Luetge, lhp (MIL)

4 - Orioles - Ryan Flaherty, util - (CHC)

5 - Yankees - Cesar Cabral, lhp (BOS)

6 - Cubs - Lendy Castillo, rhp (PHI)

8 - Pirates - Gustavo Nunez, ss (DET)

21- Braves - Robert Fish, lhp (LAA)

22 - Cardinals - Eric Komatsu, of (WAS)

23 - Astros - Marwin Gonzalez, 3b (CHC)

25 - Diamondbacks - Brett Lorin, rhp (PIT)

29 - Yankees - Brad Meyers, rhp (WAS)

 

Of the position players, Komatsu and Flaherty have the best chance to stick with their teams for the duration of the season.  Komatsu has had offensive success in the minors (albeit none higher than Double-A), and if he can play center defensively, even in a back-up role, he could make a nice 5th or perhaps even 4th outfielder this year.  Flaherty doesn't really have a defensive position, but his best option is probably third base, where the Orioles have a void.  He has also seen time at short, second, and corner outfield throughout the minors, and he's a left-handed stick with a little pop, so his versatility and pinch-hitting ability should enable him to stick, even if he can't win a regular job.

The pitchers fall into three categories:  hard-throwers who could stick or flame out (Cruz); potential LOOGYs (Luetge, Cabral, and Fish); and finesse rightys with good control (Doyle, Lorin, Meyers) who could stick an entire year the way Nathan Adcock did with the Royals last year, depending mostly on how roster shuffling plays out throughout the season.