MLB Prospect Watch

Blogs Track Teams - 4/21/12

• TalkingChop.com breaks down the Braves system, including yet another hot day at the plate for Joey Terdoslavich, who is now hitting .324 with 11 doubles in his first 18 games of the season.  Terdoslavich has played primarily right field this season in Triple-A, with Freddie Freeman blocking his path to the majors at first base.
• PineTarPress.com runs through the Royals organization, including a solid start for Chris Dwyer, who now has a 2.55 ERA through four starts despite dwindling strike out numbers.
• Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com recaps the Reds farm system, including two more stolen bases for Billy Hamilton.  The minor league stolen base king has 13 steals in 16 games despite hitting just .230 on the season with a .299 on-base percentage.
• BlessYouBoys.com takes us through the Tigers system, including a three-hit day for first base prospect Aaron Westlake.
• Luke Erickson of NationalsProspects.com notes about the Nats organization, including another multi-hit day for Jeff Kobernus.  The Tigers returned Kobernus to the Nationals after selecting him in the Rule V draft this off-season, and the second baseman/outfielder is hitting .453 on the season.
• BrewCrewBall.com brushes us up on the Brewers system, including a home run in the professional debut of 2012 first-rounder Victor Roache.

Draft Pick Signings - Correa, Rogers, Zimmer, Roache, Sims

Here at MLB Prospect Watch, we haven't yet expanded far into the growing world of draft coverage.  There's so much good information out there that this one-man show couldn't possibly compete.  We also hate the negotiation process, and the way, at least in the past, that Major League Baseball forces teams to wait until the last minute to sign their prospects in order to not mess up the signing process for other picks.

But once players sign, we take over.  As players begin to sign with their teams, we'll have you covered, and when they being playing, we'll let you know.  With the new slotting rules in place, players are expected to be signing earlier than ever this year, and even though the draft just ended yesterday, some of Monday's first round picks already have deals in place.

• Top pick Carlos Correa has already reached a verbal agreement with the Astros, with the only hold up being his physical, which he is scheduled to take in Houston today, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.  The plan for Correa after he signs is to head to the team's extended spring training facility in Kissimmee, Florida until the Gulf Coast League begins in two weeks.  The team has also already come to terms with their third round pick, right-hander Brady Rogers out of Arizona State, says Clark Goble of MLB.com.  Rogers will head to extended spring training as well before heading to Tri-City of the New York-Penn League when that season begins on June 18th.
• The Kansas City Royals believe they will have 5th overall pick Kyle Zimmer signed by the weekend, and possibly today, report Rustin Dodd and Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.  Once signed, Zimmer will head to extended spring training in Surprise, Arizona to rehab a hamstring injury suffered towards the end of his college season.  If healthy, he is expected to head to the Pioneer League, but could possibly jump to the full-season Midwest League.
• The Brewers are on the verge of signing their top pick, outfielder Victor Roache, says Jaymes Langrehr of Disciples of Uecker.com.  Roache says he will be in Milwaukee to sign his contract, but due to a wrist injury he suffered this year, he likely won't be playing during the remainder of this season.  Instead, he will head to the team's facility in Arizona to rehab the injury.
• The Braves have agreed to terms with their first six picks, including first-rounder Lucas Sims, according to Carroll Rogers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  All of the signed picks will head to Orlando to the team's extended spring training facility, but the Braves have not yet announced where any will head once the short-season leagues begin.