MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect News: Pirates, Lake, Almonte, Cozens

• Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com takes a look at whether or not the Pirates have a true "two-way catcher" in their farm system, meaning a catcher who will be a strong offensive player but also be able to stay at the position.  He looks at Tony Sanchez, who is the closest to the majors but has significant questions about his bat and looks more like a backup, Wyatt Mathisen, who has plenty of offensive potential but may outgrow the position and has yet to reach full-season ball, and Jin-De Jhang, can hit but may not be able to stay behind the plate and can't play anywhere else.  As usual, Tim has great coverage of all three players.
• Junior Lake has tons of tools but just as much inconsistency, and John Sickels has a full breakdown on the Cubs shortstop prospect, who could be a star or a complete bust, and even though he's almost 23 and heading to Triple-A, it's still too early to tell which.
• Despite plenty of production there last season, Zoilo Almonte could be heading back to Trenton to start the 2013 season, according to Josh Norris of The Trentonian.  Almonte hit 21 home runs in a full season at Trenton in 2012 after playing 46 games there the year before, but Norris cites Almonte's lack of production as the reason for a possible return.  The Trenton outfield is potentially crowded, so the Yankees could be forced to promote Almonte even if he isn't ready to face Triple-A pitching.
• Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs.com has a report from Phillies camp, including a scouting report on outfield prospect Dylan Cozens, who is a massive human being and has loads of power potential, but also still a long way to go and a lot of questions to answer.

 

Making Moves - Carson, Pettibone, Bell, Kelly

• The New York Mets have promoted left-hander Robert Carson to Triple-A, reports MetsBlog.com.  Carson has spent the entire season at Double-A, his third stint in Binghamton, with the exception of a two-game stint in the Mets big league bullpen.  After starting his entire career, Carson has transitioned into a full-time reliever this season, posting a 4.79 ERA, but seeing his strikeouts go up by almost three strikeouts per nine innings.
• Also making the jump to Triple-A is Phillies right-hander Jonathan Pettibone, according to Beerleaguer.com.  Pettibone was 9-7 with a 3.30 ERA at Double-A Reading this season, on his way to his third straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA.  He's a control pitcher who doesn't miss many bats but walks even fewer.
• Josh Bell entered this season oozing with promise that Pirates fans were daying to finally get to see.  After a late-April knee injury, they've been forced to wait.  But the waiting has extended longer than was to be expected from his injury, and Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com explains why.  He also has an update on 2012 second-round pick Wyatt Mathisen, who will miss the next few weeks with a broken foot.
• Injured Padres prospect Casey Kelly is back in action, throwing in the Arizona Rookie League, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.  Kelly made just two starts in April before going down with a strained elbow ligament.  Also throwing again is fellow prospect Robbie Erlin, who is throwing live batting practice and should see game action before the end of the season.

 

Draft Pick Placements - Correa, Buxton, Stratton, Watson, and more

Picks are signing left and right, but here at MLB Prospect Watch, we're much more interested in where these picks will be playing next.

• As we reported earlier today, the Astros are sending first overall pick Carlos Correa to the Gulf Coast League to start his professional career.
• The Twins plan is to start second overall pick Byron Buxton in the Gulf Coast League, but they team hopes that they will be able to promote him to rookie-level Elixabethtown before the end of the season, says Joe Christensen of The MInnesota Star-Tribune.
• The San Francisco Giants have signed Chris Stratton, the 20th overall pick, and will send the right-hander out of Mississippi State to short-season Salem-Keizer of the Northwest League, notes Jay Lee of MLB.com.
• The Phillies have signed 40th overall pick Shane Watson and will assign the right-hander to the Gulf Coast League, notes Quinn Roberts of MLB.com.  The team has also signed and sent the 54th overall pick Mitch Gueller to the GCL, reports The Philadelphia Daily News.  Gueller is a right-handed prep pitcher out of Washington state.
• The Pirates have come to terms with 69th overall pick Wyatt Mathisen, and have assigned the catcher to the Gulf Coast League, says Tim WIlliams of PiratesProspects.com.
• The Orioles have sent Adrian Marin, the 99th overall pick, to the Gulf Coast League as well, says Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun.