MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Indians, Royals, Escobar

• In a change from their rich hitting history, the current version of the Indians farm system is instead loaded with arms, says Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Aaron Crow, Tim Collins and Nathan Adcock, all making their major league debuts, threw scoreless innings coming out of the Royals bullpen on Thursday, reports Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.
• Eduardo Escobar made a good impression on White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen this spring, says Mark Gonzales of Baseball America.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Royals, Belt, Dykstra, Tulsa

• Now that the dust has settled, it appears the Royals will support All-Star closer Joakim Soria with four rookie relievers, notes Michael Engel of KingsofKauffman.com.  Tim Collins, Jeremy Jeffress, Nathan Adcock and Aaron Crow will all begin the year in relief, with Crow being the only one of the quartet that may develop into a starter down the road.
• The Giants still have yet to make a decision regarding top prospect Brandon Belt, but are leaning toward making him their starting first baseman, says John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• In a swap of disappointing former prospects, the Padres have sent former first round pick Allan Dykstra to the Mets for former first round pick Eddie Kunz, reports Don Norcross of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Dykstra, a first baseman, has not performed up to his billing and has fallen on the depth chart behind Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Blanks, while Kunz, a reliever, has not progressed into the late-inning pitcher the Mets had hoped and has yet to stay in the major leagues.
• The Rockies will have a prospect-laden team taking the field in Tulsa this year, says Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.  The season-opening roster will include Christian Friedrich, Casey Weathers, Wilin Rosario, Hector Gomez, and Tim Wheeler.
• Matt Harvey is ready to start the season, and the Mets prospect is throwing as hard as ever, says David Lennon of Newsday.com.
• The Diamondbacks plan to move Bobby Borchering along slowly, says Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, and also plan to give him some time at first base this season.
• Dayan Viciedo is progressing as planned in his recovery from a broken thumb suffered when he was hit by a spring training pitch, reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  The White Sox will keep Viciedo in extended spring training for a few extra days at the start of the season.

 

Position Battles - Royals, DeJesus, Francisco, Craig, Minor

• It appears that Tim Collins and Aaron Crow have secured spots in the Royals bullpen, according to Michael Engel of KingsofKauffman.com.  Engel also suggests that Nathan Adcock has an above-average chance of claiming a spot on the staff as well.
• Ivan DeJesus, Jr. is in the lead to be the Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day second baseman, reports Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
• Juan Francisco is battling with Fred Lewis for the last spot in the Cincinnati Reds bench, says John Fay of the Cincinnati Enqurier.
• The only thing keeping Allen Craig off the Cardinals Opening Day roster would be the team's ability to give him enough at-bats, says Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• Mike Minor lost his spring training battle with Brandon Beachy for the final spot in the Braves starting rotation, but if Jair Jurrjens can't make his first scheduled start, it will be Minor that takes his place, says David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

 

Position Battles - Pineda, Emaus, Elbert, Collins

• Michael Pineda appears close to claiming a spot in the Mariners starting rotation, and that has a lot to do with the development of his change-up this spring, according to Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.
• With the demotion of Justin Turner, Rule V draft pick Brad Emaus appears to be in line to be the Mets Opening Day second baseman, reports Andrew McCarron of the New York Daily News.
• Scott Elbert took another step closer to claiming a job in the Dodgers bullpen, pitching on back-to-back days for the first time this spring, says Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
• Tim Collins has been nothing short of impressive this spring, and is one of just two lefties in competition for a spot in the Royals bullpen, notes Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• The Braves will use Craig Kimrbel as a closer, but he will share the role with Johnny Venters, notes TalkingChop.com.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Pirates, Royals, Kimbrel, Trout

• The Pirates top prospects aren't far enough along to be in spring training just yet, but that didn't stop Jameson Taillon, Stetson Allie, and Luis Heredia from sneaking over from minor league camp to catch a glimpse of the big leage action, says Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
• Spring Training is always a time to see young players who may be a few years away, but the Royals are taking that to a whole new level with eight pitchers in camp who are 22-years-old or younger, including prospects John Lamb (20), Noel Arguelles, Mike Montgomery, and Tim Collins (21), and Nathan Adcock, Danny Duffy and Chris Dwyer (22), reports Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• Even if he's not the Braves closer on Opening Day, Craig Kimbrel will be at some point this season, a notion it seems everyone but the team is ready to admit, says Paul Newberry of the Associated Press.   But don't expect him to match his ridiculous strike out totals from last season, says Davie O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  After all, no one ever has.
• For all of the tools that scouts rave about when discussing Mike Trout, it's his makeup that has the Angels really excited to have the game's top prospect in camp, notes Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.
• The Rays farm system is so deep that they have some legitimate pitching prospects that get overlooked, says John Sickles of MinorLeagueBall.com, who mentions Nick Barnese, Alex Cobb and Kyle Lobstein among others.
• The Yankees are hoping to see more contact from Kelvin De Leon to go with his massive power, notes George King of Baseball America.