MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action - 7/16/12

Triple-A

• In what may turn out to have been an audition for a spot in the Mets rotation, Matt Harvey was solid, allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings, but walking four, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Charlie Leesman took the loss on Monday, allowing four runs (three earned) in just three innings, to fall to 7-8 on the season despite an ERA that rose to just 2.82 after the poor outing, notes The Charlotte Observer.
• Rudy Owens earned his 8th win of the season thanks to run support from fellow Pirates prospects Starling Marte and Tony Sanchez, both of whom homered, according to Nancy Zinni of PiratesProspects.com.

Double-A

• Kyle Skipworth's home run was the difference for the Marlins Double-A affiliate on Monday, notes The Florida Times-Union.
• Nick Castellanos went 2-for-5, but the Tigers prospect looked "shaky" in right field, according to Mike Copper of The Erie Times-News.
• Jake Marisnick hit his first home run since the Blue Jays promoted him to Double-A 10 games ago as part of a 4-for-8 double header, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Red Sox lefty Drake Britton gave up eight runs without getting out of the fourth inning, writes Kevin Thomas of The Portland Press Herald.

High-A

• White Sox starter Jacob Petricka got tagged for four runs in six innings of work while striking out six, writes The Winston-Salem Journal.
• Jose Fernandez took a loss despite allowing just one run over five strong innings while striking out eight.

Low-A

• Orioles 3B prospect Jason Esposito turned in a career-high four hit night, reports Tucker Blair of Orioles-Nation.com.
• Justin Nicolino earned his fifth win of the season despite giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Short-Season

• Mariners fourth overall pick Mike Zunino hit his first home run as a professional, notes The Seattle Times.

 

Making Moves - Castellanos, Hamilton, Marte

• No matter how many Future's Game MVP's Nick Castellanos wins, he's not going to unseat Miguel Cabrera at third base in Detroit.  With the Tigers seeing the obvious roadblock ahead of their top hitting prospect, the team has begin to transition Castellanos to left field, reports John Lowe of The Detroit Free Press.  Castellanos sped up his time table by hitting .405 in a 55-game stint in Lakeland forcing a promotion to Double-A.  Since the move, he's hit .307/.311/.482, showing good power but a complete lack of plate discipline.
• Speedster Billy Hamilton is taking his quest for the minor league stolen base record to Double-A Pensacola, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.  The Reds top prospect has established himself as more than just a base stealer this season, hitting .323 in the California League this season, but more importantly, improving his walk rate from 8.5% to 12.8%.  The real test will come in Lancaster, where Hamilton will see if he can keep up his newfound offensive production in the less hitter-friendly environment of Pensacola.
• The Pirates have an obvious need for a bat and a hole in left field, and Starling Marte is the in-house option that has been tearing up Triple-A, and should be up in the majors at some point during the second half of the season, points out PiratesProspects.com.  The Pirates are shopping around for an outfield bat, but regardless of any additions, Marte should be joining the major league team within the next month or two.

 

Blogs Track Teams - 7/2/12

• AthleticsFarm.com has all of the A's action, including another rough start for 2011 first-rounder Sonny Gray, who has been disappointing all season.
• Luke Erickson of NationalsProspects.com discusses the night in on the Nationals farm, including a poor outing from Paul Demny, who can't seem to keep the baseball in the park this season.
• FutureRedBirds.net catches us up on the Cardinals organization, including a three-hit day for Kolten Wong, and a losing battle with his control for Shelby Miller.
• Tim WIlliams of PiratesProspects.com breaks down the Buccos organization, including a three-hit day for Starling Marte, as he prepares for his impending call-up.  Marte has regained the hot stroke at the plate he had in spring training and has hit .457 over his last 10 games.
• PineTarPress.com recaps the Royals system, including another good, but short, start from Jake Oorizzi, who can't keep his pitch count low enough to go deep into games.  Despite his low (2.83) ERA, Odorizzi hasn't finished the seventh inning in any of his last ten starts.
• Tucker Blair of Orioles-Nation.com brushes us up on the Birds organization, including a solid offensive day by Manny Machado, who is starting to figure out Double-A pitching, and has now had two hits in five of his last seven games.

 

Prospect Action - 7/1/12

Triple-A

• Starling Marte continued his torrid pace at the plate, turning in a multi-hit game for the seventh-straight game, says Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.
• Tyler Skaggs earned his first California League victory despite giving up five runs in seven innings, according to Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.  Skaggs was promoted on Sunday after going 5-4 with a 2.83 ERA in Double-A.

Double-A

• The Phillies sent new acquisition Kyle Simon to Double-A and into a relief role, where he debuted on Sunday with three innings of just a unearned run and two stikeouts.
• The A's got home runs from Michael Choice and Miles Head as part of a 6-2 victory for their affiliate in Midland.  For Head, it was his first home run since being promoted to Double-A eight games ago after hitting 18 in the California League.

High-A

• In his first start since being promoted to the California League, Astros right-hander Nick Tropeano threw eight innings, allowing just an unearned run and striking out nine, says Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.
• Joc Pederson turned in a career day on Sunday, hitting three home runs, which doubled the season total for the Dodgers outfielder, notes Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.
• Alex Burgos turned in a solid start, as the Tigers prospect struck out eight batters in five innings of work, according to The Lakeland Ledger.

Low-A

• Aaron Sanchez threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk and striking out six, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com, as the Blue Jays right-hander outdueled Diamondbacks 2011 first-rounder Archie Bradley, who walked five batters in three innings.
• Parker Bridwell's struggles continued on Sunday, allowing seven runs over five innings, as his ERA rose to 6.25 on the season, writes Tucker Blair of Orioles-Nation.com.

Short-Season

• Roderick Bernadina went 3-for-4 with a triple in support of fellow Orioles prospect Jaime Esquivel, who fanned eight batters in five innings of work, writes Tucker Blair of Orioles-Nation.com.

Rookie

• Cubs 2011 third-rounder Dan Vogelbach is tearing up the Arizona Rookie league, and the first baseman added to his numbers on Sunday by going 4-for-5 with a triple and a homer, saysTheCubReporter.com.
• Pirates right-hander Luis Heredia continued his dominance of the Gulf Coast League, throwing five more shutout innings and lowering his ERA on the season to 0.64, reports John Eshleman of PiratesProspects.com. 

 

Blogs Track Teams - 6/25/12

• PineTarPress.com recaps the Royals farm system, including a solid outing for Yordano Ventura.
• Joey Terdoslavich is hitting again now that he's down in Double-A, points out TalkingChop.com, who breaks down the entire Braves system, including a rough outing for Sean Gilmartin.
• Grant Green doubled and tripled while getting a start at second base, notes AthleticsFarm.com, who has all of the A's action.
• Jimmy Nelson battled severe control problems, walking seven batters in 3 1/3 innings, says BrewCrewBall.com, who briefs us on the entire Brewers farm system.
• Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com runs through the Reds farm system, including a bout of wildness for J.C. Sulbaran, who walked eight batters in five innings.
• Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com has all of the Pirates results, including multi-hit days by Starling Marte and Alen Hanson.
• FutureRedBirds.net catches us up on the Cardinals farm system, including a solid outing by Carlos Martinez.