MLB Prospect Watch

Odds and Ends: Matusz, Castro, Perry

• Dan Connelly of the Baltimore Sun reports that Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Brian Matusz is on the "Wieters Plan" as far as moving through the minors, meaning that he will continue on the fast track until derailed.
• Jason Castro, the Houston Astros top draft pick in 2008, has been promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi, reports Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.  He will make his debut on Wednesday.
• As a victim of a roster squeeze, Detroit Tigers fireballer Ryan Perry was sent down to the minor leagues to make room for Jeremy Bondreman, notes John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.

Prospects in the Majors 4/8

• Brett Gardner (NYY) - 0-4, R, batting .143
• Ryan Perry (DET) - 1 IP, K
• Travis Snider (TOR) - 0-3, 2 K, batting .200
• Jordan Schafer (ATL) - 1-4, HR, R, BB, batting .300 with 2 HR
• J.A. Happ (PHI) - 2 IP, 2 ER, H, 2 K/1 BB, HR (Schafer)
• Dexter Fowler (COL) - 1-4, HR (off D. Davis), 2 R, BB, K, started in CF and led off
• Chris Dickerson (CIN) - 0-3, R, RBI, BB, K
• Elvis Andrus (TEX) - 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K, E, batting .375
• Taylor Teagarden (TEX) - 0-1
• Chris Getz (CWS) - 0-4, batting .250
• Colby Rasums (STL) - 0-3, 2 BB, started in LF and led off
• Nick Adenhart (LAA) - 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 5 K/3 BB
• Travis Ishikawa (SF) - 1-4, R, batting .333

Link: Larish Makes Tigers' Opening Day Roster

Jeff Larish, who has spent time this spring at first base, third base, and the outfield, has claimed the last open roster spot on the Detroit Tigers, according to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free-Press.  Larish's versatility had to play a large part in his selection, as did the Tigers' recent release of Gary Sheffield.

Larish beat out fellow prospect Brent Clevlen for the final roster spot.  He joins fellow prospects Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry on the Tigers' roster.

Links: Coke, Samardzija, Perry, and Decker

• Bill Madden of the NY Daily News comments on a possible role for prospect Phil Coke in the Yankees bullpen.
• Jeff Samardzija got rocked on Monday which, as Colin Fly of the Associated Press reports, should eliminate any possibility of him making the Cubs' rotation out of Spring Training.
• Detroit Tigers' first-round pick from 2008, Ryan Perry, has opened some eyes this spring while competing for a spot in the Tigers' bullpen, but as Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free-Press reports, he demonstrated something on Monday that he had not shown in previous outings - movement on his 98-mph fastball.
• Tom Krasovic of the San-Diego Union Tribune compares Padres prospect Jaff Decker to Tony Gwynn and John Kruk, simply because of their trio of comparable traits:  left-handedness, hitting ability, and girth.

2008 1st Round Draft Picks see a lot of Action on Wednesday

Thanks to the World Baseball Classic's theft of star players from Spring Training facilities in Florida and Arizona, many players with less than a year of professional experience are getting more than usual playing time this spring.

• Brett Lawrie (MIL via team Canada) - 0-1
• Anthony Hewitt (PHI) - 0-1, K
• Ryan Perry (DET) - 1 IP, 1 K/1 BB
• Jason Castro (HOU) - 0-2
• Gordon Beckham (CWS) - 0-2
• Jemile Weeks (OAK) - 0-1
• Justin Smoak (TEX) - 1-1, HR, 3 RBI
• Buster Posey (SF) - 2-2
• Yonder Alonso (CIN) - 0-1
• Tim Beckham (TB) - 0-1