MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Angels, Sanchez, Orioles, Cubs Invites

• Sam Miller of The Orange County Register cites a Baseball Prospectus article (subscription needed) that breaks down the things that could go wrong with the Angels top prospects.  Miller's article has the quote on Mike Trout, explaining his potential troubles against right-handed pitching, based on his struggles in the majors last season.
• Pirates C prospect Tony Sanchez apparently had another off-the-field incident, occurring during the instructional season in Florida this past fall, reports Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  Sanchez allegedly broke his jaw in a bar fight, although he was not hurt a few weeks later at a team mini-camp.  Sanchez has already had jaw issues, missing much of the 2010 season after breaking his jaw getting hit by pitches.  He also was suspended for three games last season after ripping umpires on his Twitter feed.
• The Orioles have announced their second South Korean high school signing in the past week, inking Seong-Min Kim, a 18-year-old left-handed pitcher, reports Jordan Tuwiner of Orioles-Nation.com.  Just two days ago, the team announced the signing of 17-year-old South Korean lefty Kim Sung-min.
• The Cubs have announced their spring training invites, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  Among the prospects invited are outfielders Brett Jackson and Jae-Hoon Ha, and pitchers Jay Jackson, Trey McNutt, and Dae-Eun Rhee.

Prospect Action - 10/25/11

Arizona Fall League

• A 16-hit barrage led the Saguaros to an 8-6 victory.  The onslaught included a 4-hit night by Rangers SS Leury Garcia, which included his first AFL home run, and two more home runs by fellow Ranger prospect Mike Olt, who hit his league leading fifth and sixth.  The first one by Olt came off of Cubs P Trey McNutt, who allowed three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
• Despite coming in the third inning, a solo home run by Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado proved to be the difference in his Rafters 4-3 victory.  

Dominican Winter League

• Rockies C Wilin Rosario went 0-for-4 with two strike outs, contributing to his Aguilas Cibaenas poor offensive performance and 5-1 loss.
• Rays P Alex Colome gave up a run late and took the loss for his Leones del Escogido, despite a home run by Pirates OF Starling Marte helping the team's cause.

Mexican Pacific League

• Angels SS Austin Romine reached base three times, but it wasn't nearly enough run support for his pitching staff, who gave up nine runs in their loss.
• Yankees P Pat Vinditte threw another scoreless inning in his Aguilas de Mexicali's loss.

Venezuelan League

• Mariners 3B Francisco Martinez added two more hits, bringing his winter batting average to .378.

 

 

 

Prospect Action - 10/19/11

Arizona Fall League

• After going homerless until Tuesday in the AFL, Twins OF Aaron Hicks homered for the second straight game, helping his Solor Sox to a 6-5 victory.  Cubs P Trey McNutt, perhaps distracted by the rumors that he might be heading to Boston as compensation for new GM Theo Epstein, pitched poorly, allowing four runs in an inning and two-thirds.
• Brewers 2B Scooter Gennett had three of the Javelinas 13 hits and scored two of their six runs on Wednesday.  Mariners P Danny Hultzen threw four no-hit innings, allowing just one baserunner, notes Andrew Pentis of MLB.com.
• The Saguaros hammered out 13 hits, including a home run by Rangers OF Leonys Martin, and held the Rafters to just two in their 6-0 victory.

Dominican Winter League

• Pirates OF Starling Marte went 3-for-4 and scored three runs in his Leones del Escogido's 13-3 victory.  Rockies C Wilin Rosario went 0-for-2 with an error and a passed ball in the loss.
• Giants OF Francisco Peguero went 0-for-4 in his Gigantes del Ciabo 6-5 victory.

Mexican Pacific League

• Yankees P Pat Venditte threw another scoreless relief inning for Aguilas de Mexicali, keeping his winter ERA at 0.00.

Venezuelan Winter League

• Mariners 3B Francisco Martinez went 4-for-5 and scored three runs in his Navegantes del Magallanes 13-4 drubbing.
• Fellow Mariners 3B, Alex Liddi, hit a two-run homer for the Cardenales de Lara in their 7-3 victory, while Padres P Adys Portillo threw two scoreless innings in the loss.
• Caleb Gindl's 3-for-5 day helped propel the Leones del Caracas to a 12-3 victory.

 

 

Prospect Action - 10/13/11

Arizona Fall League

• In a prospect match-up that featured Trey McNutt of the Cubs facing off against Danny Hultzen of the Mariners, the Solar Sox came out victorious despite a better start from Hultzen.  The second overall pick in this year's draft threw three innings, giving up just one run despite scattering six hits.  McNutt gave up two runs in as many innings (only one was earned) while walking three batters.
  • Pirates OF Robbie Grossman went 3-for-5 in the game for the Solar Sox, notes Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• A rough day at the plate for Rangers 3B Mike Olt (0-5 with four K's) didn't hold back the Saguaros, as they took care of the Desert Dogs 6-2.
  • Rays OF Mike Mahtook went 2-for-4 with two RBI's in the victory, notes David Heck of MLB.com, making up for teammate Tim Beckham's 0-for-4 day at the plate.
• Diamondbacks OF Adam Eaton went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI's to lead his Rafters to a 3-1 victory over the Scorpions.  Nationals OF Bryce Harper went 1-for-4, raising his batting average for the AFL season to .087.

 

Venezuelan Winter League

• The Tiburones de La Guaira held squeaked out a 4-3 victory over the Caribes de Anzoategui, thanks in part to an RBi single by Giants SS Ehire Adrianza.  Pirates OF Gorkys Hernandez went 1-for-4 with a double in the loss.
  • Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com has more on Hernandez's performance.
• Mariners 3B Alex Liddi went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts in his Cardenales de Lara's 4-3 loss to Leones del Caracas.  Brewers OF Caleb Gindl went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts in the victory.
• Padres P Adys Portillo gave up 2 of the Aguilad de Zuila's 13 earned runs in their loss to the Navegantes del Magallanes.  Phillies SS Freddy Galvis went 0-for-2 in the loss, while Twins P Deolis Guerra threw two innings in the win, giving up an earned run.
• Joe Benson's RBI double helped his Tigres de Aragua to a 5-1 victory over the Bravos de Margarita.  Red Sox C Ryan Lavarnway went 1-for-2 with two walks in the loss.

 

USA Baseball

• Tigers pitching prospect Drew Smyly threw five scoreless innings, fanning six in the process, leading Team USA over Canada in the IBAF Baseball World Cup, reports David heck of MiLB.com.

 

The Dominican Winter League starts play today.  MLB Prospect Watch will keep you covered.

 

 

Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced

The rosters for the 2011 Arizona Fall League season were announced yesterday, and as usual, the rosters included a plethora of big name prospects.  Below are the prospects you need to know, broken down by team:

Mesa Solar Sox

Cubs - Trey McNutt, Chris Carpenter

Orioles - Chorye Spoone, Joe Mahoney, Xavier Avery

Twins - Aaron Hicks

Pirates - Robbie Grossman

 

Peoria Javelinas

Padres - Jedd Gyorko, James Darnell

Brewers - Jed Bradley, Cody Scarpetta, Kentrail Davis, Logan Schafer

Cardinals - Oscar Taveras

Mariners - Danny Hultzen, Nick Franklin, Chih-Hsien Chiang

Mets - Reese Havens, Jefry Marte

 

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Indians - T.J. McFarland

Reds - Brad Boxberger, Yasmani Grandal

Blue Jays - Adeiny Hechavarria, Anthony Gose

A's - Michael Choice, Grant Green

Yankees - Corban Joseph, David Phelps

 

Salt River Rafters

Dodgers - Jake Lemmerman

Diamondbacks - Eric Smith, Ryan Wheeler

Tigers - Casey Crosby

Astros - Jay Austin

Rockies - Nolan Arenado, Tim Wheeler

 

Scottsdale Scorpions

Angels - Mike Trout, Hank Conger

Phillies - Tyson Gillies, B.J. Rosenberg

Red Sox - Brock Huntzinger, Will Middlebrooks

Nationals - Sammy Solis, Derek Norris, Bryce Harper

Giants - Brandon Crawford

 

Surprise Saguaros

Royals - Nathan Adcock, Wil Myers, Jeremy Jeffress, Christian Colon

Braves - Erik Cordier, Sean Gilmartin, J.J Hoover, Christian Bethancourt, Phil Gosslein, Todd Cunningham

Rangers - Neil Ramirez, Michael Olt

Rays - Tim Beckham

Marlins - Kyle Skipworth, Dan Jennings, Matt Dominguez