MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Tigers, Spruill, Yankees

• Jacob Turner may be the front-runner for the last spot in the Tigers rotation this spring, but Jason Beck of MLB.com reports that there are "five or six" others that will be competing for that same spot, including fellow prospects, Drew Smyly, Casey Crosby, and Andy Oliver.
• Zeke Spruill doesn't have a chance to make the Braves rotation this spring despite a strong bounce back season in 2011, but TalkingChop.com points out that Spruill seems to have put his maturity issues behind him, and should start the season just a step away from the majors.
• The Yankees have announced their non-roster invites to spring training, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.  Prospects include pitchers Manny Banuelos and Graham Stoneburner and catcher Gary Sanchez, among others.

Prospect Potent Potables - Castro, Familia, Lake, Yankees, Royals

• The White Sox hope that newly acquired prospect Simon Castro proves to be a manageable reclamation project, notes Mark Gonzales of BaseballAmerica.com, who also notes that the Sox have made a $250,000 investment in 17-year-old RHP Luis Martinez out of Venezuela.
• Joe Wieland and Robbie Erlin were acquired together by the Padres at last year's trade deadline, and Corey Brock of MLB.com suggests that both could make it to the majors this season.
• After a long 2011 season and a trip to the DL, the Mets didn't let Jeurys Familia pitch a lot in the Dominican Winter League this off-season, but as Andy McCullough points out for Baseball America, they still let him pitch a few innings to get him some experience coming out of the bullpen.
• Junior Lake may have tore up the Arizona Fall Leauge, but the Cubs' prospect's game is still largely hit or miss, says Mike Newman for FanGraphs.com.
• George King of Baseball America points out how Yankees pitching prospects Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos are actually further away from the majors than they were this time last season, despite positive development since that time.
• The Royals have an array of prospects and veterans attending camp as non-roster invitees, and Paul Thompson of KingsofKauffman.com breaks down the chances all of them have of making the team's Opening Day roster, giving pitching prospect Mike Montgomery the best chance of all.

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.

 

Prospect Action - Machado, Banuelos, Tate, Franklin

• Manny Machado homered on Thursday night in his first game since the Orioles had promoted the young shortstop to High-A ball, reports Steve Gould of The Baltimore Sun.
• Rays pitching prospect Alex Torres tossed seven scoreless innings on Thursday night, notes BisonsBlog.com.
• Yankees prospect Manny Banuelos threw five strong innings, says Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball.com.
• Cubs prospect Trey McNutt struggled on Thursday night, facing just five batters and walking four of them before being removed from the game, reports Daniel Paulling of The Birmingham News.
• Colton Cain allowed just three baserunners in six innings of work, as the Pirates prospect was part of a three-pitcher shutout for the West Virginia Power, notes Mark Parker of the Hickory Daily Record.
• The San Diego Padres third-round pick from this month's draft, RHP Matt Andriese, allowed just one run in six innings of work, reports John Parker of MiLB.com, and was helped out offensively by fellow 2011 draftee, first-rounder Cory Spangenberg, who went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, and a stolen base, and 2009 first-rounder Donavan Tate, who had a triple, single and two runs scored, 
• Blake Beavan threw seven strong innings to earn a win, notes Larry Larue of The News Tribune.  Fellow Mariners prospect, SS Nick Franklin, made his Double-A debut on Thursday, collecting two hits and taking part in turning a triple play, says Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.

 

Prospect Action - Banuelos, Ackley, Lawrie, Brentz

• Manny Banuelos battled his command on Sunday, leading to four walks in just 4 2/3 innings, but the Yankees prospect managed to be wildly effective, striking out seven batters over that span and giving up just two hits, says Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• Dustin Ackley hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning on Sunday, reports The Seattle Times, giving the Mariners prospect seven bombs now on the season.
• Brett Lawrie hit two more home runs on Sunday, giving him eleven on the season, notes John Parker of MiLB.com, and making it harder and harder for the Blue Jays not to bring him to the majors.
• Anthony Rizzo continues to drive in runs, as the Padres first base prospect hit a two-run homer on Sunday, giving him 11 on the season, reports Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• After his teammates had already blown a five run lead, Jhan Marinez came on to pitch the ninth inning for the Marlins Double-A affiliate in Jacksonville and allowed two more earned runs to take the loss, reports Jeff Elliott of the Florida Times-Union.
• Bryce Brentz was promoted to the High-A Carolina League over the weekend after tearing up the South Atlantic League, and the Red Sox prospect promptly homered in his first two games, says Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.  Back in Greenville, fellow prospect Brandon Workman gave up no runs in his second strait start but again failed to get a victory, notes Pentis.