MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Miller, Mets, Westmoreland, Pimentel

• Everyone in St. Louis wants to know when top prospect Shelby Miller will make it to the majors, and the writers from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch do their best to answer that question.
• The Mets have been in numerous talks during the winter meetings, which puts their top prospects on alert, but Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com wonders what the value really is of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, and Jenrry Mejia.
• Excellent news for Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland, who has finally been cleared for game action after a full year away, and is slated to face live pitching soon, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com.
• The Oakland A's have signed 17-year-old OF Sanber Pimentel, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• Padres SS prospect Drew Cumberland, whose career was thought to be over after sitting out all of 2011, is going to try to play again this season, says Corey Brock of MLB.com.

Prospect Potent Potables - Hamilton, Westmoreland, Lawrie

• The Reds believe Billy Hamilton is their second baseman of the future (if not their shortstop), and plan to let him move as fast as his performance dictates, says Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
• Ryan Westmoreland, the Red Sox OF prospect who missed the entire 2010 season after undergoing brain surgery in march, is pushing himself as hard as he can in his rehab efforts, participating in all work outs but withholding from game action thus far, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com, who also cites prospects Ryan Lavarnway and Stolmy Pimental as having a chance at making the big league club.
• Brett Lawrie has been getting some work in at third base, the new Blue Jay prospect tells Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.

 

 

Prospect Potent Potables - 6/24

• The Reds used Aroldis Chapman out of the bullpen in Triple-A Wednesday night, in what could be a sign of things to come, notes Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.  His control may be an issue, says Alex Pedicini of The Hardball Times.
• Christian Colon, the 4th overall pick in this year's draft, has reportedly signed with the Royals and will report to Class A Wilmington, reports Michael Engel of Kings of Kauffman.
• Ryan Westmoreland remains in good spirits on his road to recovery at home in New England, notes Ian Browne of MLB.com.
• Michael Pineda was impressive in his Triple-A debut.
• Fernando Abad is back in action, reports Farmstros.com.
• Tony Sanchez will "be out for a while," according to Pirates' GM Neal Huntington, thanks to surgery to fix a the fractured bones in his face after being struck by a pitch, reports Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• A couple of Indians' prospects have run into some trouble with the law, including former first-rounder Beau Mills, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Making Moves - 4/28

Today's moves would like to wish the best of luck and continued recovery to Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland, who was released from the hospital yesterday after undergoing brain surgery earlier this year, according to Larry Millson of MLB.com.  He will continue his recovery at home and we look forward to reporting on his return to the field down the road.

• With the Giants reportedly facing the tough decision of whether or not they should recall top prospect Buster Posey to help jolt the club's lineup, Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle offers a suggestion for how the team should make their decision.
• In Rockies news, pitching prospect Jhoulys Chacin was promoted to the majors and will get the start on Sunday, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.  Chacin was with the team yesterday, and got an inning of mop-up work, recording 2 strikeouts in the process.  Also in the lineup yesterday was recently recalled 2B/OF Eric Young, Jr. in what Steve Foster of Inside the Rockies called "a very different lineup."  The shake-up worked, as Young went 2-for-4 and the Rockies scored 12 runs.
• New York Mets' prospect Fernando Martinez is banged up again, this time with a lower back strain, according to Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com.  Martinez is day-to-day.
• Drew Storen is back from a bout with strep throat, but Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com explains why the Nationals will still be waiting before they call him up.  Here's a hint:  it has to do with money.
• The St. Louis Cardinals have sent C Bryan Anderson back down to Triple-A.  Anderson was 2-for-7 with a double in his brief stint with the team.

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.