MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 4/6

Today's links can't believe that half-court shot for Butler almost went in...

• Tyson Ross earning a spot in the bullpen was one of a number of surprises that came out of the end of Oakland A's camp, explains Casey Tefertiller for Baseball America.
• The Texas Rangers announced that Neftali Feliz would (not surprisingly) be the primary set-up man for closer Frank Francisco, reports T.R. Sullivan for MLB.com.  The team stuck to their word on Opening Day, calling on the rookie to start the 8th inning in a tie game, but Feliz rewarded the team for their confidence with a rough third of an inning, giving up two hits and walking two batters while only recording one out.
• Mark Hulet of FanGraphs.com has a game report from one of Mike Leake's spring starts for the Cincinnati Reds, with some less-than-stellar reviews about the most recent pitcher slated to skip the minor leagues altogether.
• The Milwaukee Brewers have announced a number of their 2010 assignments for prospects, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Reid Brignac is this year's winner of the Al Lopez award, given by the Tampa Bay Rays to their top rookie in Spring Training, says Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  Brignac earned a spot on the 25-man roster and a platoon spot in the lineup thanks to his strong play this March.
• Great news for Boston Red Sox' OF prospect Ryan Westmoreland as he recovers from brain surgery.  Westmoreland is back in the Boston area and has made "significant gains" towards recovers, reports Ian Browne of MLB.com.

Brignac Makes Rays

Despite being blocked at shortstop by Jason Bartlett, the Tampa Bay Rays have found enough playing time for prospect Reid Brignac to justify keeping him on the major league roster, according to Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  Brignac will not be playing shortstop regularly, but instead will be the team's second baseman against right-handed pitching, which should give him regular playing time.

According to Chastain, the Rays will continue to use Ben Zobrist as the 2B against left-handed pitching, but against righties the switch-hitting Zobrist will play right field and the left-handed Brignac will play second base.  Brignac has shown only a slight decline in his production against left-handed pitchers during his minor league career (.735 OPS vs. .799 against righties), but it appears the Rays will make Brignac prove he can handle big-league lefties before they give him full-time duty.  Instead, he will essentially be in a platoon with any of a number of right-handed options the Rays have to play right field when Zobrist moves to the infield, which include Gabe Kapler, Sean Rodriguez, Pat Burrell (who has never played RF but the Rays are considering the option), and Matt Joyce (once he returns from injury).

Link: Brignac Ready for Utility Role?

With Jason Bartlett ahead of him, the Tampa Bay Rays are working to find ways to incorporate shortstop prospect Reid Brignac into their 2010 plans, reports Marc Topkin for Baseball America (subscription needed).  Brignac has been the Rays top shortstop prospect for the past few years, but is blocked at the major league level.  The Rays also spent their top pick (and the top pick in the draft) in 2008 on shortstop Tim Beckham.  Brignac has worked to get comfortable at second base as well as in right field as a way to maximize his value to the Rays, a tactic that worked well for former shortstop prospect Ben Zobrist in 2009.

Best and Worst from 6/29

BEST

• Derrik Gibson (BOS) - 3-3, 2B, 2 SB, batting .471
• Delvi Cid (CLE) - 3-5, 2B, 2 SB, batting .312
• Caleb Gindl (MIL) - 4-4, 2 2B, HR, batting .284
• Cutter Dykstra (MIL) - 2-4, HR, batting .200
• Austin Romaine (NYY) - 2-5, 2B, HR, batting .288
• Michael Taylor (PHI) - 4-5, 2 2B, batting .351
• Reid Brignac (TB) - 3-4, 3 2B, batting .302
• Michael Burgess (WAS) - 2-4, 2B, HR, batting .241
• Chris Marrerro (WAS) - 3-5, 2B, HR, batting .288
• Jarrod Parker (ARI) - 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 K/2 BB, 2.87 ERA
• Dylan Owen (NYM) - 7 2/3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 7 K/1 BB, 6.00 ERA

WORST

• Michael Bowden (BOS) - 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 3 K/2 BB, 3.39 ERA
• Chris Withrow (LAD) - 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 K/1 BB, 5.22 ERA
• Phillip Humber (MIN) - 6 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 4 K/0 BB, 6.03 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Austin Jackson (NYY) - 1-3, HR, batting .320
• Anthony Hewitt (PHI) - 1-3, 3B, batting .171
• Joe Savery (PHI) - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 K/4 BB, 3.08 ERA
• Tim Alderson (SF) - 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 K/2 BB, 2.36 ERA
• Wade Davis (TB) - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 K/2 BB, 2.90 ERA

Best and Worst from 6/28

BEST

• Hank Conger (LAA) - 2-5, HR, batting .283
• Andrew Lambo (LAD) - 3-4, 2B, batting .267
• Brett Lawrie (MIL) - 2-4, 2 2B, SB, batting .268
• Jemile Weeks (OAK) - 3-6, 2B, 3B, batting .400
• James Darnell (SD) - 4-7, 2 2B, HR, batting .364
• Reid Brignac (TB) - 3-7, 2B, batting .292
• Casey Crosby (DET) - 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 6 K/1 BB, 3.39 ERA
• Mike Montgomery (KC) - 5 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 7 K/1 BB, 1.93 ERA

WORST

• Chris Tillman (BAL) - 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 5 K/3 BB, 2.97 ERA
• Deolis Guerra (MIN) - 5 2/3 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 K/2 BB, 5.13 ERA
• Nathan Adcock (SEA) - 2/3 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 2 K/2 BB, 4.54 ERA

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Dayan Viciedo (CWS) - 2-3, 2 2B, batting .278 in Double-A
• Neftali Feliz (TEX) - 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K/1 BB, 3.78 ERA