MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/26

• The Cubs farm system may be taking a hit as prospects like Andrew Cashner and Jay Jackson join the big league team, but Chris Archer is doing his best to take their place among the top pitching prospects in the Cubs system by continuing to impress in Double-A.
• Brad Lincoln's minor league success didn't translate into productivity at the major league level, and the Pirates right-hander has been optioned back to Triple-A, reports Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• J.J. Cooper of Baseball America takes a look back at some of the more impressive performances from the weekend, including Eric Hosmer, Michael Pineda, Peter Bourjos, Adrian Salcedo, and Jeremy Hellickson.
• Speaking of Hellickson, Rays' manager Joe Maddon said over the weekend that the team may use the team's top pitching prospect in a relief role similar to the way they used David Price in the 2008 playoffs, according to Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.
• J.P. Arencibia is heating up again, and is showing off the power that has put him on the prospect map in the first place, says Chris Jackson of MiLB.com.  Arencibia may never be an all-star catcher due to his free-swinging ways and fluctuating batting average, but there is a place for a solid defensive catcher with plus power in the major leagues, and that place may soon be Toronto.
• Michael Kirkman has re-established himself as a prospect thanks to refined control that was at one point bad enough to threaten his career, says Jeff Wilson for Baseball America.  While Kirkman may never be a control artist, he has refined his command enough to be effective, and could see time in the Rangers' bullpen later this year.
• Orioles' pitching prospect Nathan Moreau tossed a no-hitter in his first start after a promotion to High-A Frederick, reports Roch Kubatko for Baseball America.  The 11th round pick in 2008 has has success against younger competition to this point, but has had success in 3 starts in the Carolina League, his highest level of competition yet.

Making Moves - 7/21

• Anthony Slama may not be the youngest prospect to come along, but he has been among the most productive at what the Twins have asked him to do, and they've finally asked him to do it in Minnesota, reports Jocelyn Syrstad of MLB.com.
• After destroying the Sally League, the Astros decided to jump J.D. Martinez all the way to Double-A, says Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.
• Tanner Scheppers is back in the bullpen in Triple-A after an unimpressive performance as a starter, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  The move, however, has nothing to do with being roughed up as a starter, but is simply to prep him for a bullpen role in Texas later this season.
• Andrew Carpenter was promoted to the majors to replace the struggling Kyle Kendrick, says Phuture Phillies.com, and was forced into action immediately on Tuesday night when Phillies' starter Jamie Moyer had to leave the game after one inning.
• We have an official timetable for Drew Cumberland's knee injury - 6-to-8 weeks, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com, for what is officially being called a severe knee laceration.

Futures Game Reactions

The Futures Game always elicits attention from around the baseball world, and this year is was no different as each team's fans try to catch a glimpse into their future.

• The game itself was dominated by prospects from the home-town Angels, as C Hank Conger took home MVP honors and OF Mike Trout was among the more impressive players in the game, reports Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.  Trout, whose prospect stock has been skyrocketing this season, was the player who stood out more than any other, noted Keith Law of ESPN.com.
• The only player who seems to rank higher than Trout these days is Domonic Brown, but fans and scouts got only a brief glimpse of the Phillies' OF prospect before he was removed from the game with hamstring tightness.  The move was precautionary, reports Robyn Norwood of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Even more brief of an appearance was made by Cardinals' RHP prospect Shelby Miller, who faced only two batters.  As a 2009 prep draft pick, however, Miller was just thrilled to be in a big league atmosphere, says Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• While the future is still distant for prospects like Miller, the future could be sometime this summer for prospects like Rangers' P Tanner Scheppers, reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.  Also on the fast track to the majors is Brewers' 2B prospect Brett Lawrie, despite being the second-youngest player in the Southern League (Double-A), says Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Royals need the future to come quickly, but they had two of the more impressive prospects on display at the Futures Game in Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, reports Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

Prospect Potent Potables - 7/6

• Jeremy Jeffress is determined to stay clean, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, and is on the comeback trail as a reliever, a role that ultimately suits his arsenal of pitches better than starting ever did.  He's also been added to the Brewers' 40-man roster, which means he no longer receive a lifetime ban if he's caught with marijuana again.
• Blake Beavan has transformed from a fire-balling Texan into a strike-throwing innings-eater the Rangers may be able to rely on in their rotation very soon, reports Drew Davison of the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram.
• Michael Pineda has made the transition to Triple-A without issues thus far, and according to Mike McCall of MLB.com, could be in Seattle before too long.  Speculating further, it does seem that Pineda has little left to prove in the minors and is at the very least a realistic candidate to assume the open rotation spot that will eventually be vacated when Cliff Lee moves on.
• If the Yankees' farm system suddenly seems to be rich with pitching prospects, it's due in large part to the resurgence of prospects Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances, says Bubba Brown for Baseball America.
• Freddie Freeman has rebounded from a horrible month of April that left many questioning the Braves' decision to have their future 1B make the jump to Triple-A despite just 41 games at the previous level, notes John Wagner for MLB.com.
• Kyle Drabek feels like he's ready to move up from Double-A, reports Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star, and cites his recent no-hitter as verification.  He's probably right, and despite the Blue Jays' logjam of arms at the higher levels, he's logged plenty of innings in Double-A and needs to be pushed further.
• Mike Moustakas is making his case for minor league player of the year, but it's nights like he had on Monday that make the argument for him, to which Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star and John Parker of MLB.com can both attest.

Notable Prospect Performances - 6/29

• Cubs' OF prospect Brett Jackson is taking nicely to Double-A so far, turning in his second 2-for-5 night with a home run in as many games.
• Thomas Neal isn't showing the same massive power that move him up the Giants' prospect radar last season, but he did follow up his 3-homer game two nights ago with a home run and a double on Monday night as part of a 4-hit evening.
• Desmond Jennings continues to show that he is close to being ready for a move to Tampa, and given that B.J. Upton may be digging himself into the doghouse, the Rays could be in line for a move.  More likely, however, is a call-up later this summer, a role for Jennings as a defensive replacement/pinch-runner if the Rays make the post-season, and a full-time opportunity next season when Carl Crawford likely moves on.
• Julio Teheran hit his first bump in the road since the Braves moved him to the High-A Carolina League, as the Columbian righty was touched up for 3 home runs and 8 earned runs in 5 1/3 IP on Monday night.
• As if the Rangers needed another impressive pitching prospect, Wilfredo Boscan struck out a personal season-high 11 batters in 8 shutout innings of work.  Boscan, not normally a big strike out pitcher, has now fanned 18 hitters in his last 13 innings of work.