MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action - 5/16/13

Triple-A

• Johnny Hellweg earned his second win of the season thanks to six shutout innings despite walking six batters in the outing.  It was the first time since his initial start of the season that the Brewers flame-thrower allowed zero runs and he's now walked 31 batters in 38 2/3 innings.
• In his return to Triple-A, Martin Perez allowed four runs in five innings but struck out four to take a loss.  The Rangers left-hander hasn't truly been effective at any level since a half-season stint in Double-A in 2011, yet because of his talented left arm, he continues to be a focal point of prospect followers.
• Sonny Gray allowed just one run in his first six innings of work, but the A's right-hander failed to get out of the seventh inning and allowed four runs (three earned) when it was all said and done in the loss.
• Michael Wacha tossed his Cardinals teammates on his back on Thursday and led them to a victory behind seven dominant innings of one-run baseball during which the 2012 first-rounder struck out eight and walked just one.

Double-A

• The Marlins got a nice glimpse into their future on Thursday as Christian Yelich continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run in support of left-hander Adam Conley, who has been inconsistent this season but allowed 3 runs (two earned) in five innings on this night.
• Trevor May has generally been strong in his initial season in the Twins organization, but on Thursday he allowed more runs than innings pitched for the second time this season, allowing five runs and nine hits in four innings.
• Royals starter Yordano Ventura was a hard-luck loser after he struck out nine batters in six innings while allowing just three hits but two runs.

High-A

• Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco hit his fifth home run of the season on Thursday, but Phillies third base prospect Maikel Franco was not to be outdone, hitting a pair of his own home runs, giving him eight on the season.
• Kyle Zimmer struggled on Thursday, allowing five runs in four innings to drop to 0-3 on the season.
• Addison Russell took a big step back from his rough start to the season, going 2-for-4 with a home run and reaching base four times.

Low-A

• Gloskar Amaya had a three-hit day to pick up fellow Cubs prospect Rock Shoulders, who went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in the game.
• Jesse Winkler, the Reds supplemental first-rounder from 2012, went 2-for-4 with his fifth home run of the season.

Prospect Action - 5/13/13

Triple-A

• Jonathan Schoop's three-hit day, which included his third home run of the season, was just a part of the offensive onslaught put forth by his Orioles teammates in their 14-1 drubbing on Sunday.  Schoop is now hitting .349 over his past 10 games, but still just .268 on the season.
• Nick Franklin hit a go-ahead home run in the 13th inning to seal the deal for his Mariners teammates on Sunday.  For Franklin it was part of a 3.for-6 day that saw his batting average rise to .349 as he continues to make his case for a call-up.
• On a home run-filled afternoon, A's outfielder Michael Choice hit his eighth blast of the year while Brewers outfielder Khris Davis hit a pair of bombs.

Double-A

• Anthony Rendon had a perfect game at the plate, one which included his fourth home run of the season, and the Nationals prospect is now hitting .452 (14-for-31) since his return to the minors.
• Jesus Aguilar hit his fourth home run of the season as part of a day in which he reached base three times.  The Indians first base prospect has struggled to carry his 2012 success over into the Double-A level this year and is slugging just .381 on the season.
• Anthony Ranaudo advanced to 5-1 on the season as the Red Sox prospect tossed six shutout innings while striking out five.  The outing lowered his ERA to 1.38 on the season.
• On-base magician Mike O'Neill reached safely three more times on Sunday, collecting a pair of hits and a walk.  The Cardinals outfielder is now hitting .340 on the season with a .489 on-base percentage.

High-A

• Clayton Blackburn struggled for the third straight start as the Giants prospect allowed five runs (four earned) in four innings.  Blackburn has now allowed at least four runs in three consecutive outings after not allowing more than two in any of his first four starts.
• Tyler Naquin hit his third home run of the season.  The Indians outfielder is now hitting .291/.346/.454 on the season.
• After struggling in Triple-A this season and Double-A last season, Angels prospect Orangel Arenas is back in the California League and turned in a dominant start in his first outing, allowing just one run in seven innings.

Low-A

• In a crazy offensive day, the Twins got impressive performances at the plate from two of their top picks from last year's draft.  Byron Buxton, the second overall pick, went 4-for-7 to raise his batting average to .352 on the year, but he was outdone by third-rounder Adam Brett Walker, who went 4-for-6 with two doubles and two home runs.
• Cubs first baseman Rock Shoulders continues to display his power, hitting a grand slam on Sunday, his eighth home run of the season.

 

Prospect Action - 5/5/13

Triple-A

• Zack Wheeler put together the best start of his season, throwing six shutout innings and walking just one, according to Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.  Wheeler has now put together back-to-back solid starts after struggling to begin the year.
• Dellin Betances threw five no-hit innings on Sunday, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com, but true to form for the Yankees right-hander, he walked four in the outing.  It was a season-high in walks for Betances, who has given out 16 free passes in 24 innings.
• A two-run double for Mike Zunino proved to be the difference on Sunday, notes The Seattle Times.  The Mariners catcher got off to a hot start at the beginning of the season, but is just 3-for-30 over his past eight games.
• Jake Odorizzi and his Rays teammates combined on a no-hitter on Sunday, says Jake Seiner of MiLB.com.  Odorizzi struck out three and walked four in the outing, lowering his ERA to 2.65 on the season.

Double-A

• Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, often times over-shadowed within his own organization, broke out of a early-season slump on Sunday with a 4-for-6 day at the plate that included a home run, notes Raymond.
• Aaron Northcraft lowered his ERA to 3.46 on Sunday with five scoreless innings and six strike outs.  The Braves prospect broke out last season in the Carolina League, but has alternated good starts with poor ones so far in the Southern League.
• Kevin Gausman dropped to 1-4 on the season despite allowing just two runs in seven innings of work.  The Orioles 2012 first-rounder has now allowed two earned runs or less in his last three starts.

High-A

• Domingo Tapia threw six innings of two-hit ball, reports Seiner,  lowering the Mets right-hander's ERA to 2.23 on the season. Tapia has been strong this season in his second year in full-season ball, striking out 28 batters in 32 1/3 innings.
• Giants slugger Angel Villalona hit his sixth home run of the season and now has his batting average up to .214 thanks to 11 hits in his last 10 games.
• Gregory Polanco raised his batting average to .321 on the year with a 3-for-5 day at the plate that included a double and a home run.  The Pirates outfielder is now slugging .486 on the season and also has 10 steals.

Low-A

• Twins prospect Jose Berrios advanced to 3-0 on the season after striking out eight batters in six innings of work.   The 2012 first-round pick now sports a 2.55 ERA on the season with 21 strike outs in 17 2/3 innings.
• Tyrell Jenkins threw a complete game shutout on Sunday, lowering his ERA to 4.97 on the season.  The Cardinals prospect needed just 97 pitches to complete the outing.

Prospect Action - 5/3/12

Triple-A

• Allen Webster, back in the minors after a major league spot start, earned his first win of the season, as the Red Sox prospect struck out nine over six innings of work, says Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.
• James Paxton struck out nine batters in five innings and the Mariners left-hander retired the first 13 batters he faced, reports T.J. Cotterill of The Tacoma News Tribune.
• Michael Kickham struck out eight over 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball on Friday, notes Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.  The Giants left-hander entered the game having allowed at least five runs in each of his previous three starts.
• Kyle Gibson's inconsistencies continued on Friday as the Twins prospect continued to alternate strong starts with poor ones, allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings in his latest outing.
• Joey Terdoslavich continued his hot hitting this season, as the Braves prospect, playing right field on Friday, went 3-for-4 with a home run.

Double-A

• George Springer had another hot day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run, the ninth blast of the season for the Astros outfielder.  Springer is now hitting .305/.402/.638 on the season.
• A 1-for-5 day at the plate left Xander Bogaerts still hitting .303 on the season, and the Red Sox shortstop hit his second home run of the year in the game.
• Alex Wood made it just four innings before reaching his 85-pitch limit for the night, but he did strike out seven batters in the process.

High-A

• A.J. Cole tossed a gem on Friday, striking out nine over six innings of shutout baseball for his first win of the season.  Cole is back in the Nationals organization after being traded for Gio Gonzalez, but was returned in the Mike Morse three-team trade.
• Noah Syndergaard was strong again, allowing just a run over six innings while striking out five.  The Mets right-hander now sports a 2.90 ERA on the season.
• Nolan Fontana put together a four-hit night and is now hitting .384 on the season.  The Astros shortstop is hitting .514 over the past ten games and has a .515 on-base percentage on the season. 

Low-A

• Rock Shoulders, America's favorite prospect name, hit his sixth home run of the season.  The Cubs first base prospect is now hitting .366/.449/.656 on the season, his first in full-season ball.
• Joey Gallo hit his 10th home run of the season as part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate.  The Rangers third baseman has now homered in back-to-back games and is now leading the South Atlantic League in home runs.

Prospect Action - 5/2/13

Triple-A

• Sean Gilmartin has been very sharp lately, and the Braves was at it again on Thursday, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings to take his first loss of the season, according to Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.
• Oscar Taveras hit his third home run of the season, as the Cardinals outfielder is how hitting .313 on the season.
• Mike Zunino and Nick Franklin weren't able to join in the offensive party with their Mariners teammates on Thursday, as both went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts each.  Franklin, playing shortstop on this night, has been the subject of promotion rumors given the Mariners offensive struggles this season in the majors and his red-hot start.
• Jonathan Villar had a huge day at the plate, as the Astros shortstop prospect went 4-for-4 with a home run, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.  Villar is now hitting .442 over his past 10 games and is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak.

Double-A

• Jameson Taillon allowed at least three runs for the third straight start, although this time out, just two of them were earned.  Taillon was able to strike out six batters in as many innings, but took the loss in the outing, the third of the year for the Pirates right-hander.
• In a somewhat unlikely pitcher's duel, Yankees lefty Nik Turley struck out eight over six innings of one-run baseball to defeat Blue Jays right-hander Deck McGuire, who allowed just two runs over six innings of his own.  Both pitchers entered the game with ERA's over 5.00.
• It took Anthony Ranaudo 85 pitches to get though 5 1/3 innings before being removed due to the Red Sox pitch limit restrictions, but during his time in the game, he managed to allow just one run while striking out four.
• Archie Bradley appeared to have no trouble making the transition to Double-A, as the Diamondbacks through a six-inning complete game in a shortened contest, striking out seven batters in six innings and allowing just one run.  Bradley, recently promoted to Mobile, has battled control issues last season, but has showed much improvement this year and walked just two in his first start at his new level.
• Yasiel Puig hit his fifth home run of the season, but it wasn't enough run support for fellow Dodgers prospect Chris Reed, who got roughed up in the start, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

High-A

• Aaron Sanchez was dominant on Wednesday, striking out six batters and allowing just one run in 3 2/3 innings. Sanchez has been good again this season and now has a 3.16 ERA and a 2.54 FIP on the year.
• Marlins pitcher Jose Urena got hit around in his latest start, allowing six runs (five earned) in five innings of work, but still managed to earn a win.
• Sam Selman, the Royals second-round pick last year, struggled again, allowing five runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings of work.  The left-hander is walking too many batters, having now allowed 18 free passes in 21 innings.

Low-A

• Byron Buxton hit his fifth home run of the season as the Twins prospect continues to dominate the Midwest League.  The second overall pick from last season is now hitting .388/.509/.694 on the season and could earn himself a promotion in the next month. 
• Joey Gallo hit his ninth home run of the season and fellow Rangers teammate Lewis Brinson hit fifth en route to a 6-3 victory.