MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Potent Potables - Flores, Diamondbacks, Phillies, Petricka

• Mets SS Wilmer Flores is having a nice winter in the Venezuelan Winter League, notes Toby Hyde of MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com, after having an uninspiring regular season.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks are prepared to enter spring training with an open competition for their final rotation spot, consisting of in-house candidates, according to Jack Magruder of Baseball America.  The candidates for the final spot include Wade Miley, Tyler Skaggs, Pat Corbin, Trevor Bauer, and Charles Brewer.
• The Phillies got nice contributions from rookie pitchers last season, and Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer takes a look at which pitchers could follow the same path this year, including Phillippe Aumont, Justin De Fratus, Jake Diekman, Austin Hyatt, and Tyler Cloyd.
• The key to White Sox pitcher Jacob Petricka's development will be the progress of his off-speed pitches, says Mark Gonzales of Baseball America.

Prospect Action - Arguelles, Martinez, Goldschmidt, Montero

• Royals prospect Noel Arguelles lost a no-hitter in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com.  Fellow Royals prospect Chris Dwyer fanned nine batters over eight innings to defeat Rockies pitching prospect Christian Friedrich, who got shelled to the tune of nine earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.
• Carlos Martinez fanned six batters in as many innings as the Cardinals prospect's fifth start in the Florida State League, notes David Schoenholtz of MiLB.com.
• Paul Goldschmidt hit his minor league-leading 30th home run, reports David Heck of MiLB.com, in support of fellow Diamondbacks prospect Tyler Skaggs, who gave up just one unearned run over six innings of work to earn a victory.
• Yankees C prospect Jesus Montero went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run.
• Phillies prospect Julio Rodriguez turned in another strong outing in High-A ball, striking out seven batters in five innings and allowing just one unearned run.

 

Prospect Action - Skaggs, Biddle, Pomeranz

•   Phillies pitching prospect Jonathan Pettibone, was out-dueled by Rays pitching prospect Alex Koronis, reports ClawDigest.com.  Fellow Phillies prospect Rays pitching prospect Jesse Biddle, however, turned in a gem, fanning eight over seven innings of work, and allowing just three hits, Alex Koronis, according to Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Diamondbacks pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs was inconsistent in his first Double-A start, striking out six in four innings, but allowing five runs in the process notes Danny Wild of MiLB.com.
• Also making his Double-A debut was Indians pitching prospect Drew Pomeranz, who fared better than Skaggs, allowing just one earned run over 4 2/3 innings, notes David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Alex Liddi blasted a 9th inning homer, tying the game for his Mariners teammates, reports The Seattle Times.

 

Prospect Action - Sands, Rogers, Trout, McGuire

Wrapping up the action from around the minors on the day the Jerry Sands Era began in Los Angeles...

• Mark Rogers' command issues continued on Monday night, and this time it cost the Brewers top prospect a win, says Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
• Billy Hamilton stole three more bases, and John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer explains why the tales of the Reds top hitting prospect are growing by the game.
• Angels fans got to see two of their top prospects in action together, as Mike Trout homered in support of Garrett Richards, who threw eight strong innings on Monday, giving up just two runs, notes Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• Blue Jays prospect Deck McGuire got his first professional win on Monday, throwing 5 2/3 innings and striking out four, reports Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• In other prospect action...
  • Marlins OF prospect Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-4 with two homeruns.
  • Nick Franklin went 3-for-5 as the Mariners SS prospect has successfully rebounded from a slow start to the season.
  • Tyler Skaggs had nine baserunners in just 5 2/3 innings of work, but the Diamondbacks prospect did strike out eight batters during that same stretch.
  • Astros top prospect Jordan Lyles gave up six earned runs in as many innings, to raise his ERA on the season to 7.07.

 

Prospect Performances - Belt, Pineda, Kelly

• Brandon Belt continued his assult on a Giants roster spot and Cactus League pitching, blasting a two-run homer as part of a three RBI day, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.  But Giants manager Bruce Bochy recently confirmed that Pat Burrell will be the team's Opening Day left fielder, says Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, leaving no room for Belt in the starting lineup.
• Michael Pineda threw six shutout innings in what should be his last spring start, and virtually cemented his spot in the Mariners starting rotation, says Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• Despite being sent to minor league camp over a week ago, Casey Kelly made a surprise spot start in major league camp for the Padres, allowing three runs in four innings of work on Friday.
• Diamondbacks LHP prospect Tyler Skaggs threw three more scoreless innings on Friday, extending his scoreless innings streak this spring to six, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Even though they are on the back fields now, Shelby Miller and Zack Cox continue to shine in Cardinals minor league spring games, says Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.