MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Lavarnway, Borchering, Mets, Giants

• Ryan Lavarnway is trying to win a roster spot in Red Sox camp this spring despite the presence of Kelly Shoppach and Jared Saltalamacchia on the roster, and despite losing 20 pounds this off-season after contracting a virus while playing winter ball, notes Ian Browne of MLB.com.
• Former third base prospect Bobby Borchering is now an outfield prospect, as the Diamondbacks moved the former first round pick to left field during the instructional season this fall in order to fit third basemen Matt Davidson and Ryan Wheeler and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt all into their future plans, says Jack Magruder for Baseball America.
• The New York Mets have invited P Matt Harvey and OF Matt den Dekker to Spring Training, according to MetsBlog.com, but have not invited Zack Wheeler, who was acquired this past season in exchange for Carlos Beltran.
• The San Francisco Giants announced a number of prospect invites to Spring Training, including their last two first-round picks, OF Gary Brown and SS Joe Panik, and many more, reports Chris Haft of MLB.com.

Prospect Action - Miller, D-Backs, Schoop, Foltynewicz

• In his first start of the 2011 season, Dodgers pitching prospect Aaron Miller struck out nine batters in six innings of work, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Phillies prospect Brody Colvin threw six innings and gave up just one earned run, but didn't factor into the decision in what turned into a 23-inning affair, reports Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Press.
• Also on the mound for the Phillies farm system was Jesse Biddle, who gave up three runs over five innings of work, says Joe Berkery of Philly.com.
• Orioles prospect Jonathan Schoop recorded the first 4-RBI night of his career, reports theshorebirds.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Diamondbacks prospects had a big night in Visalia, as Matt Davidson and Bobby Borchering each knocked three doubles, and Chris Owings hit his 5th home run of the season.
  • Gary Brown knocked two doubles and stole two bases, and Brandon Crawford added a double and scored two runs in support of fellow Giants prospect Zack Wheeler, who struggled on the mound on Monday, giving up giving up four earned runs in four innings, and walking six batters in the process.
  • Both Trey McNutt and Wade Miley struggled facing off against one another, as the Cubs prospect McNutt gave up a home run to Diamondbacks OF prospect Marc Krauss, two of his four runs allowed, while Miley allowed four runs of his own.
  • Astros prospect Mike Foltynewicz earned his second win of the season, giving up just one earned run over seven innings of work.

 

 

Prospect Action - Kipnis, Hosmer, Davidson

• Nationals pitching prospect Brad Peacock struck out eight batters in seven innings of work in his latest start, notes Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Jason Kipnis drove in three runs to help the Indians Triple-A affiliate in Columbus to an extra-inning victory, reports David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Royals 1B prospect Eric Hosmer went 2-for-3 with a home run on Tuesday, says John Parker of MiLB.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Fellow Diamondbacks prospect  Matt Davidson hit two home runs, giving him three in his last two games.
  • Marlins pitching prospect Elih Villanueva gave up four unearned runs, but still managed to out duel Cardinals prospect Lance Lynn on Tuesday.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Harper, Royals, Davidson

And now, for your daily Bryce Harper-hit-a-home-run update, Bryce Harper homered yesterday as part of a 3-for-4 day in the instructional league.  This is already getting repetitive.  It appears the guy does have power after all (whew knew?).  Sometimes, not often, but sometimes scouting is really easy.

Now on to the real information...

• The USA Pan-Am qualifier team is having no problem rolling through international competition like a hot knife through butter even though it seems at times like it's really just the Royals prospects vs. the world.  They're getting help both on the mound and at the plate from the likes of Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Danny Duffy, Tim Collins, and Mike Montgomery.  But it's not all Royals prospects.  the team has also had valuable contributions from Angels prospect Mike Trout, and Cubs prospects Brett Jackson and Chris Archer, the latter of whom pitched the team to victory earlier in the week.
• Brent Morel had a strong September audition with the White Sox and Phil Rogers of Baseball America discusses the third baseman's chances of making the team to start next season.
• Matt Davidson has separated himself from the rest of the Diamondbacks large 2009 draft class, and as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Diamondbacks explains, it's his work ethic that has helped him stand out.
• Jordan Walden is another prospect who had a strong major league debut this season, and he may have pitched himself into the Angels closer role at some point in 2010, according to Bill Shaikin of Baseball America.
• Speaking of young pitchers, John Sickles offers up his thoughts on the development of young arms and what teams should and shouldn't do.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Harper, Ramos, Trumbo

• Despite the disdain that many observers seem to have for Bryce Harper, everything written about him, including this piece last week by Amy Shipley of the Washington Post, seems to suggest that his teammates love playing with the teenager.  Nationals manager Jim Riggleman also announced that catcher Wilson Ramos will enter next season in a platoon with Ivan Rodriguez with the hopes that Ramos can take over the position full-time by mid-season, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
• Mark Trumbo made his first major league start in the outfield, perhaps giving Angels manager Mike Scioscia a chance to evaluate all of his options for next season, reports Evan Drellich of MLB.com.  Trumbo is a natural first baseman, but the return of Kendry Morales will block the rookie's path to the majors unless he can find another position in the field.
• Not only do Royals' fans have a lot of talent to be excited about, but it appears that team chemistry won't be an issue, especially with players like Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, who are as good of friends as they are baseball players, says Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
• The Mariners decision to let Dan Cortes' move to the bullpen has been a saving grace for the young righty's career, says Jim Street of MLB.com.  The real question, however, is why it took so long for a big, hard-throwing kid with major control issues, two good pitches and a nasty reputation, to move to the bullpen in the first place.
• Mat Gamel had what Brewers' manager Ken Macha is calling a "lost season," according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, but Gamel remains in the team's plans for next season.  He has seen time at third base, first base, and left field, and could be relied on to fill a void in any of the three depending on whether the Brewers deal any of their big bats this off-season.
• John Sickles compares the two third base prospects currently developing together in the Diamondbacks farm system - Matt Davidson and Bobby Borchering.