MLB Prospect Watch

Roster Cuts - Cards, Reds, Giants, Montgomery

• The Cardinals optioned Tony Cruz to Triple-A and re-assigned Lance Lynn to minor league camp, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but as Goold wrote in Baseball America, Lynn could be back in St. Louis at the first sign of trouble.
• The Reds have optioned Yonder Alonso, Todd Frazier and Zack Cosart to Triple-A, says Mark Bowman of MLB.com.  Last week they also optioned Yasmani Grandal to High-A and Phillippe Valiquette to Double-A.
• The Giants optioned Darren Ford to Triple-A and re-assigned Jackson Williams to minor league camp, says Chris Haft of MLB.com.  Last week they optioned Thomas Neal and Conor Gillaspie to Triple-A and Ehire Adrianza and Francisco Peguero to Double-A.
• Mike Montgomery was re-assigned to minor league camp, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com, and will start the season in Triple-A.  Last week, the Royals re-assigned fellow top prospects Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Danny Duffy and catching prospect Salvador Perez.
• The White Sox optioned Tyler Flowers to Triple-A and re-assigned Jordan Danks to minor league camp, says Tom Singer of MLB.com.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/13

• Chris Nelson has gone from highly touted prospect within the Rockies' organization to a player labeled as injury-prone on the verge of being a bust, but the 2004 first-round pick.  Finally healthy again, Nelson is back on the Rockies' radar and is having a bounce back season that has seen him improve his patience at the plate, reports Chris Jackson of MLB.com.
• Justin Smoak was undoubtedly the key piece received by the Mariners in return for Cliff Lee.  But given the reports that the Yankees had offered top prospect Jesus Montero, Bryan Smith of FanGraphs.com explains why the Mariners chose Smoak instead.
• Also mentioned among the Lee rumors was Brett Lawrie, who was drafted by Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik when he ran the Brewers' drafts.  The Brewers managed to hold on to their future second baseman who is elevating his prospect status despite being among the youngest players in the Southern League, says Guy Curtright for MLB.com.
• Despite the small sample sizes from the Futures Game, Harry Pavlidis of The Hardball Times couldn't help but take advantage of a rare chance to see prospects through the Pitch f/x microscope.  Pavlidis begins his analysis with the left-handed pitchers who participated in the game, including Christian Friedrich, Zach Britton, Mike Minor, Alexander Torres, and Phillippe Valiquette.
• Trevor Reckling is back in Double-A after a horrid start in Salt Lake City this season, and the Angels' hope is that being back in a pitchers' park will help the young lefty get back to pitching rather than throwing, reports Todd Traub of MLB.com.
• There are prospects galore on display at minor league all-star games, but Marlins' 3B prospect Matt Dominguez shined the brightest at the Southern League All-Star Game, says Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

Prospect Potent Potables - 5/29

• Major League Baseball cleared Yorman Rodriguez's name and any controversy surrounding his correct identity, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.  Rodriguez is in extended spring training with the Reds.
• Pat Venditte is still in the Florida State League, but Jack Moore of FanGraphs.com makes a case for the Yankees' promoting the switch-pitcher to Double-A.
• Brewers' prospect Cutter Dykstra is attempting to learn how to play second base while also dealing with the off-the-field distractions surrounding his father, notes Tom Haudricourt for Baseball America.
• Ian Krol is trying to make a name for himself in the A's organization with his ability to change speeds and despite an underwhelming arsenal of pitches, reports Matthew Linder of MLB.com.
• Phillippe Valiquette can throw 100-mph with his left arm, reports Dave Cameron of FanGraphs.com, but can't do much else at this point.
• Hector Noesi is one of the few legitimate pitching prospects in the Yankees' organization, and Josh Norris of The Trentonian has a frame-by-frame look at Noesi's mechanics on his blog, which is pretty cool if you scroll down at the right speed.  Noesi is a rare power pitcher with superb control, reports George King for Baseball America.
• Kyle Skipworth still has yet to produce like the Marlins had hoped, but he's improving after a dismal 2009 campaign, and learning how to be a professional hitter and catcher is a difficult task, Bill Ballew reminds us on MLB.com.
• Josh Donaldson is not satisfied with his brief stint in the majors earlier this season and is out to prove he has the defensive chops to be an every day catcher, says Casey Tefertiller for Baseball America.