MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Orioles, Montero, Frazier

• The Orioles have been linked as possible trade candidates with just about every low-end veteran that's reportedly on the trading block, but as Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun points out, they don't have a lot to trade that they're willing to part with.  Connolly mentions Xavier Avery and L.J. Hoes as the only realistic trade pieces among the Orioles top prospects.  If the team can't get significant return or significant improvement in an area of need (which, for those prospects they probably can't), then I don't see how a trade makes sense.  The Orioles aren't close to competing in the AL East, and giving up a prospect with any kind of upside for a marginal starter or middle reliever isn't the way to build long-term.
• Jesus Montero's power potential is even more valuable now than it would have been a decade ago, which is why the Mariners were willing to part with such a young, talented pitcher in order to get him, says Larry Stone of The Seattle Times.  Stone quotes scouts that even say that young position players are becoming more difficult to develop than young pitching, which, if true, and given the Mariners staple of young pitchers, makes the move a good fit for the Mariners even more.
• Todd Frazier's best chance to make the Reds roster this spring is his versatility, but the team has signed other versatile players Wilson Valdez and Willie Harris, potentially bocking Frazier's path, notes Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.  While Valdez and Harris have veteran experience, Frazier can duplicate all of their versatility in one player, and has more power potential than either one.  At 26, if Frazier isn't ready for the majors, he may never be.
• I wrote a piece for MLB Depth Charts discussing which of the top prospects in the game will make their team's Opening Day roster, including Montero, Matt Moore, Bryce Harper, Jacob Turner, Shelby Miller, Mike Trout, and Trevor Bauer.

Potent Potables - A's, Moore, Pirates, Cubs, Peacock

• A's prospects Josh Donaldson, Grant Green and Adrian Cardenas each drove in three runs en route to a birth in the PCL Championship Series, reports the Sacramento Bee.
• Matt Moore is heading to the majors, where he will join the Rays roster on Monday, says Daren Smith of MiLB.com.
• Kolten Wong's two hits helped lead his Cardinals teammates to a birth in the Midwest League Championship Series, notes FutureRedbirds.net.
• Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com compares highly regarded prospect Stetson Allie with lesser-known Nick Kingham, and who should rate higher within the Pirates system.
• The Daytona Cubs clinched the Florida State League title behind the pitching of Dae-Eun Rhee and the bat of Matt Szczur, reports David Heck of MiLB.com.
• The Nationals are going to give Brad Peacock a start, likely to come on Wednesday, says Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

 

 

Prospect Action - Moore, Deglan, Wheeler

• Mariners 3B prospect Alex Liddi blasted his 25th home run of the season, says Mike Curto of the [Tacoma] News Tribune.
• Matt Moore struck out 10 batters over 6 2/3 innings to lead his Rays teammates to victory, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• New Nationals prospect Eric Komatsu went 2-for-4 and scored two runs, notes Victor Fernandes of the Erie Times-News.
• Rangers prospect Kellin Deglan broke out with a 4-for-6 day, including two home runs, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Nick Weglarz blasted a homer to help lead his Indians teammates to victory on Sunday, according to The Hartford Courant.
• After a rough first start with the Mets, Zack Wheeler bounced back in his second outing, fanning seven over six scoreless innings, reports David Schoenholtz of MiLB.com.
• Yankees pitching prospect Dellin Betances gave up two runs over five innings of work, notes Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball.com.

 

Prospect Action - Bonilla, Giavotella, Harper, Pomeranz, Corbin

• Lisalberto Bonilla threw nine shutout innings and fanned 12 on Thursday, both of which were career high's for the Phillies prospect, despite him not getting the win, notes Danny Wild of MiLB.com.  Bonilla's Lakewood teammates got an extra-inning victory over Hagerstown in the game, wasting a solid outing by Nationals prospect Robbie Ray, who went six scoreless innings and fanned seven.
• A head's up play by Johnny Giavotella helped his lead his fellow Royals prospects to a victory, says Bob Fortus of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
• Diamondbacks LHP prospect Pat Corbin threw a complete game shutout, reports The Alabama Press-Register.
• A's OF prospect and 2010 first-round draft pick Michael Choice homered for the 5th straight game, notes Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Bryce Harper isn't having much trouble with Double-A, as shown by his 3-for-3 night on Wednesday, and is now 5-for-10 at his new level, reports John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Tigers 3B prospect Nick Castellanos extended his hitting streak to seven games, notes The Grand Rapids Press.
• Drew Pomeranz turned in one of the best starts of his career, and as Danny Wild of MiLB.com points out, it could force the Indians to promote him soon.
• Rays prospect Matt Moore struck out 10 in his latest start, and went 6 2/3 innings before giving up a hit, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Orioles, Havens, Liddi

The Orioles system has been depleted recently thanks to graduations to the majors, but there are still some intriguing names in their system and Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun has an update on how their top ten is performing so far this season.

Reese Havens has yet to play this season while recovering from off-season rib surgery, but Toby Hyde of MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com reports that Havens is at the Mets spring traning facility in Port St. Lucie where he is taking ground balls but has yet to swing a bat.

John Sickles of MinorLeagueBlog.com checks in with updates on some specific prospects, including Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Marc Krauss, Alex Liddi, and Matt Moore.