MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 5/4

Today's links circled their calendar last night as the Red Sox turned their season around...

• Freddie Freeman and Cody Johnson both struggled mightily to begin the 2010 season, but both of the Braves' top hitting prospects have begun to make adjustments to their advanced levels of competition, reports Bill Ballew of Baseball America.com.
• The Nationals still haven't decided if they are going to promote Stephen Strasburg before his next start, or at least they're not telling anybody, says Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
• Madison Bumgarner's velocity problems have been well documented, but Andrew Baggarly of Baseball America says that Bumgarner's arm is regaining its strength, and that the Giants' top pitching prospect could be on the rebound.
• Ted Berg of SNY.tv has a little background information on how Mets' INF prospect Wilmer Flores is progressing in the minors.
• Mike Stutes is getting used to his new role as a reliever, a move the Phillies made during Spring Training, according to Jim Salisbury for Baseball America.  The Phillies also sent two pitchers to the DL, including Mike Cisco, reports PhuturePhillies.com.
• It's tough to hit while looking over your shoulder, but Indians' C Lou Marson is figuring it out, says Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com.  Marson has the job for now, but has top prospect Carlos Santana right behind him on the depth chart.
• The Red Sox are still hopeful for prospect Michael Almanzar after some mechanical adjustments to his batting stance, reports Alex Speier of Baseball America.com.
• Brendon Desrochers of MiLB.com has his minor league hitters and pitchers of the week, lists which include Mike Stanton, Bobby Borchering, and Kyle Gibson.
• Chris Heisey was promoted to Cincinnati to replaced the injured Chris Dickerson and got his first start last night, reports Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer.  Heisey struggled, going 0-for-5 in the game, but got to celebrate walk-off style with his Reds' teammates anyway.
• Andrew Cashner has been dominant as a starter this season, but his background as a relief pitcher (in college) may be too much temptation for the Cubs to avoid, says Jeff Vorva of Baseball America.

Carrasco Making Adjustments

Carlos Carrasco got rocked in the majors last season.  There's really no other way to describe an 8.87 ERA and a .400 batting average against.  But Carrasco is a better pitcher than that (the Indians certainly hope), and he's trying to learn and make the necessary adjustments to be a successful big league pitcher, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Carrasco has repeatedly struggled in his first experience at a new level, but his track record suggests that he will make the adjustments necessary to have big league success.  Progress was demonstrated on Wednesday when he threw 4 scoreless innings against the Rockies' major league lineup on, giving up only one hit on a windy day in Arizona.

Carrasco was one of four players acquired by the Indians from the Philadelphia Phillies in return for Cliff Lee last summer (along with Jason Donald, Lou Marson, and Jason Knapp).  Despite his strong spring, Carrasco will likely begin the season in Triple-A, but could be one of the first players recalled if a starting pitcher is needed in the majors.

Prospect Potent Potables - 3/5

Some prospect links for your weekend enjoyment...

• Noel Arguelles threw off of a mound for the first time in Royals' camp, and everyone of importance made the trip to see it, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
• The Oakland A's went above slot to sign Max Stassi in last-year's draft, but his combination of talent and bloodlines should make him worth the investment, notes Jane Lee for MLB.com.
• Sandy Alomar, Jr., who is in Indians' camp as an instructor, praises the defensive work being done by Lou Marson behind the plate, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Add Cubs' bench coach Alan Trammell to the Starlin Castro fan club, notes Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.  Castro, in his first camp, is taking some of the heat off of Andrew Cashner, Muskat says.
• Thank you Pat Andriola of The Hardball Times for finally having some perspective on Jenrry Mejia.
• Bryan Augenstein is in competition for the 5th spot in the Diamondbacks rotation, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.

Position Battles Ensue Among Prospects

There are a number of prospects who have a legitimate shot of grasping a spot on their team's 25-man roster.  Some we expected.  Others are coming as a surprise...

• Brad Lincoln isn't the front-runner for the Pirates #5 starter position, but he's probably the most talented pitcher in consideration.  The Buccos would like to send Lincoln down to the minors to start the season, but the former first-round draft pick is trying to make that a difficult decision, notes Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• The White Sox say they are taking their best 12 pitchers with them at the end of camp, regardless of role or experience.  Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times discusses whether or not Dan Hudson may be one of those twelve.
• Aroldis Chapman may be getting all the publicity in Reds' camp, but Travis Wood has a much better chance of making their rotation, reports Mark Sheldon on MLB.com.  Spending the off-season with Cliff Lee certainly helps.
• The Cleveland Indians are having an open competition for their starting catcher, but Carlos Santana isn't among those in the running.  Instead, it looks like Lou Marson has the early lead, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Speaking of competing catchers, the Houston Astros have a couple in former prospect J.R. Towles and current top prospect Jason Castro, who are neck and neck for the 'Stros starting job, notes Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle.
• The Giants rotation is virtually set, but their bullpen is still wide-open.  That's where prospect Dan Runzler is looking to land, as the hard-throwing lefty with the power slider is opening eyes in Giants camp, reports Chris Haft of MLB.com.

Tribe Holding Back Santana Despite Opening

The Cleveland Indians have a number of holes on their roster, but perhaps the most gaping among them is at catcher.  After jettisoning their starter, Victor Martinez, last season and their quality back-up, Kelly Shoppach, during the off-season, the Tribe left themselves without an obvious answer behind the plate.  As luck would have it, however, their top prospect just happens to be a catcher, Carlos Santana, and he just happens to be one of the most highly regarded prospects in the game.

But he won't be the Indians starting catcher on Opening Day, at least not in 2010, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, despite playing a full season at Double-A in 2009 .  That's what the Indians are saying anyway, as they begin Spring Training.  But it's not like the Indians will be scrambling to fill the vacancy.  They do have another prospect ready to take over the reigns, Lou Marson, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in last season's Cliff Lee blockbuster.  Marson may not be as highly touted as Santana, but he is major league ready. 

Scouts differ on whether Marson will be an average starter as a catcher or a quality backup, and the Indians intend to use the first part of the 2010 season to find out.  Regardless, it's likely that he's just keeping the position warm until Carlos Santana is ready to take over.