MLB Prospect Watch

Position Battles - Pineda, Cousins, Monterop, Adcock, Trumbo, Stutes

• In a long-expected move, the Mariners have officially announced that Michael Pineda will open the season in their starting rotation, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Scott Cousins will open the season as a part of the Marlins bench, says Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.
• Neither Jesus Montero nor Austin Romine were able to secure the Yankees back-up catcher job, as the team optioned the former to Triple-A and the latter to Double-A to start the season, reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
• The Royals have confirmed that Nathan Adcock will begin the season in their major league bullpen, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
• Mark Trumbo will break camp with the Angels, but despite his torrid spring and the team's vacancy at first base, Trumbo will not necessarily play every day, says Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
• Mike Stutes was sent down to minor league camp almost two weeks ago, but he will head north with the Phillies and still has a chance to make their Opening Day roster, reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Harper, Dominguez, Trumbo

• Bryce Harper was carted off the field in a minor league game after rolling his ankle while running up the first base line, reports Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.  The Nationals top prospect will probably miss a few games, but the injury is not thought to be serious.
• Matt Dominguez was heading towards the Marlins starting third base job, but a huge slump has made his chances look dimmer and dimmer, reports Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
• Mark Trumbo is back on the field for the Angels, taking infield practice for the first time since injuring his groin, reports Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.

 

Prospect Performances - Moustakas, Britton, Parker

FRIDAY

• In a possible glimpse of their future, the Angels were led by the bats of catching prospect Hank Conger and first base prospect Mark Trumbo on Friday, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Mike Moustakas made two errors in the 10th inning on Friday, essentially costing the Royals the game, notes Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

SATURDAY

• Zach Britton threw four scoreless innings for the Orioles, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
• Blake Beavan made his first spring start for the Mariners, and gave up just one earned run over three innings of work, notes Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• Both Jacob Turner and Andy Oliver were impressive against one another in a simulated game, reports Jacon Beck of MLB.com.  The Tigers are stretching both out for their roles as starters in the minors this season, but no longer have the innings to go around to do so in major league spring training games.
• Jarrod Parker threw two hitless innings for the Diamondbacks, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.

SUNDAY

• Charlie Furbush gave up one run over three innings of relief work for the Tigers, says Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• Elih Villanueva tossed four scoreless innings in relief for the Marlins, allowing just two hits.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Lyles, McNutt, Dominguez, Pomeranz

• Jordan Lyles is impressing people in Astros camp, not because of his pure stuff, but because of how advanced his knowledge is of how to use it for a player who just turned 20-years-old, says Steve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle.
• Carlos Peguero has had both ups and downs this spring in Mariners camp, but the experience is invaluable for the power-hitting OF prospect, who is likely ticketed for Triple-A to start this season, reports Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• Royals LHP prospect Danny Duffy is working on catching his fastball command up to where his curveball and changeup command are this spring, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
• The Orioles like what Ryan Adams offers with his bat, but are still working to find his best spot in the field, says Roch Kubatko for Baseball America.
• Trey McNutt is learning to do more with less, and he's learning from the master, Cubs special assistant Greg Maddux, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
• Mark Trumbo put up monster numbers last season, but as Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times reports, the Angels first base prospect wants to show everyone that last year wasn't a fluke.  And as Lyle Spencer of MLB.com points out, Trumbo is doing exactly that this spring.
• The Marlins feel that Matt Dominguez has progressed enough with his bat so far this spring to justify keeping him and his gold-glove caliber defense in the majors at the start of the season, says Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
• Drew Pomeranz is making pro ball look easy in Indians camp, and is doing it with only two pitches, notes Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.  The lefty's goal this year is to develop his change-up to the same level as his plus-fastball and plus-curveball.

 

Prospect Performances - Pineda, Harper, Teheran, Britton

• It was a good day to hit for White Sox and Indians prospects, as Stefan Gartrell homered and had an RBI single and Jared Mitchell had an RBI single of his own in the game, reports Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.  For the Indians, second base prospect Cord Phelps drove in a run, and Nick Weglarz hit a two-run bomb.
• Michael Pineda gave up just a hit and a walk in two scoreless of innings of work, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.  Josh Lueke also threw two shutout innings for the Mariners and third base prospect Alex Liddi went 1-for-2 in the contest.
• Bryce Harper went 2-for-2 with two RBI's in his best game yet this spring for the Nationals, despite some heckling from one loud fan, says Bill Ladson of MLB.com.  Jiovanni Mier went 2-for-2 for the Astros in the game, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Jerry Sands homered on Monday and continues to make his case for a promotion to Los Angeles sooner rather than later, notes Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Julio Teheran threw a scoreless inning in his first appearance for the Braves this spring, notes Mark Bowman of MLB.com.  Also appearing for the Braves was fellow prospect Randall Delgado, who threw a perfect ninth, notes Josh Jackson of MiLB.com, while the Marlins saw prospect Tom Koehler blow a save in the ninth but earn the win in extras.  
• Mark Trumbo continued his quest for an Angles roster spot on Monday with a 4-for-4 performance that included his third home run of the spring, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Zach Britton threw three scoreless innings for the Orioles on Monday, says Emrich.

Prospects scheduled to make pitching appearances today are Rubby de la Rosa (LAD), Garrett Richards (LAA), and Alex White (CLE).