MLB Prospect Watch

Blogs Track Teams - 5/10/11

• RaysHighlights.com mentions a multi-hit day for Tim Beckham and other notable Rays happenings.
• Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com breaks down the Bucco action, including the second homer of the year for Andrew Lambo.
• IndiansProspectInsider.com discusses Zach McAllister's victory and other Indians action.
• Josh Norris of MinorMatters.com mentions a three-hit day for Melky Mesa and other Yankees news.
• PineTarPress.com recaps the Royals results, including Mike Moustakas heating up.
• FutureRedbirds.net has all the Cardinals highlights, including another good start for Shelby Miller.
• Jared Massey of LAdodgertalk.com discusses the Dodgers farm system, including a multi-hit day for Trayvon Robinson.
• Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com talks about the Reds prospects in action, including a rough extra-inning affair for Devin Mesoraco.
• TalkingChop.com breaks down the Braves prospects, including a solid start by Carlos Perez.

 

Trout, Chisenhall, Turner Among Victims on Roster Cutdown Day

• The Pirates sent ten players away from major league camp on Monday, including prospects Daniel Moskos and Gorkys Hernandez who were optioned to Triple-A, prospect Jeff Locke who was optioned to Double-A, and Andrew Lambo and Chase D'Arnaud who were not on the 40-man roster and were re-assigned to minor league camp, but both of whom will also begin the season in Triple-A, according to Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com.
• The Angels made a round of cuts on Monday that included top prospect Mike Trout and pitchers Trevor Reckling and Loek Van Mil, reports Owen Perkins of MLB.com.
• Greg Halman was optioned to Triple-A by the Mariners on Monday, notes Greg Johns of MLB.com.
• The Royals optioned both second base prospect Jeff Bianchi and outfield prospect Derrick Robinson to Double-A, says Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
• The Indians re-assigned Lonnie Chisenhall, Alex White, and Jason Kipnis to minor league camp, as well as optioned Nick Weglarz and Zach McAllister to Triple-A, reports Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.
• The Astros re-assigned Koby Clemens, Jiovanni Mier, Doug Arguello, Jon Gaston and J.D. Martinez, to minor league camp on Monday, says Farmstros.com.
• The Tigers have re-assigned catchers Patrick Leyland and Bryan Holaday to minor league camp, and have optioned Cale Iorg, Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner to Double-A, says DetroitTigerTales.com.
• The Orioles optioned first base prospect Joe Mahoney to Triple-A, says Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.

 

Position Battles - Montero, Harper, Trout, Montgomery

• Despite the presence of Jorge Posada and Russell Martin, as well as backup Francisco Cervelli, the Yankees insist that Jesus Montero has a good chance to make the Yankees roster, says Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.  The claim does seem plausible when you consider Martin's recent injury history and Posada's advancing age and move to designated hitter.  The team should be able to find at-bats for Montero 2-3 games per week.  Meanwhile, Andrew Brackman has been listed as one of the dark horse candidates to grab a spot at the back of the Yankees rotation, says Hoch, but the team insists it would prefer to send its young pitchers back to the minors for now.
• You have to love the kid's desire.  Despite the announcement that he would likely be spending the entire season in the minors and had no chance of making the Nationals Opening Day roster, Bryce Harper says that that is his goal anyway, according to Bill Ladson.  The comments were not made in defiance or with any negative connotation, but rather demonstrate the high standards to which Harper holds himself.
• Entering his first full season with the Indians, LHP Zach McAllister is likely ticketed for Triple-A, especially after having struggled at Columbus after being traded by the Yankees in August, reports Jordan Bastain of MLB.com.  Also heading to Columbus are top prospect Alex White and Lonnie Chisenhall, regardless of their performances this spring, says Stephanie Storm for Baseball America.
• Despite the absurdity of the speculation, the Angels have had to continually reject the idea of Mike Trout making their major league team this season, insisting instead that he will head to Double-A, at least to start the season, says Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
• Aaron Crow is likely headed to to Double-A, but given the Royals incredibly inexperienced rotation, he is battling with an outside chance at making it, says Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.  Mike Montgomery is an even longer shot to make the Royals rotation after missing part of last year due to injury, but if he stays healthy this year, he could be in Kansas City before season's end. 
• Josh Donaldson got a taste of the majors last season, and he enters this spring trying to win the A's backup role behind Kurt Suzuki, according to Jane Lee of MLB.com.
• Last year's season-long slump lowered the White Sox confidence in catching prospect Tyler Flowers, causing them to re-sign veteran A.J. Pierzynski, and essentially punched Flowers' ticket back to Triple-A this spring, notes Scott Merkin of MLB.com.

 

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Montero, McAllister, Lorenzo

A brief batch of links while the city of Philadelphia revels in its Cliffmas miracle...

• The Yankees have signed catcher Russell Martin, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, which, combined with Jorge Posada's presence in the DH spot, leave very few potential at-bats for Jesus Montero.
• Former Yankees prospect Zach McAllister, who went to the Indians in the Austin Kearns trade last summer, is excited about the opportunity to compete for a rotation spot with his new team, says IndiansProspectInsider.com.
• Arquimedes Lorenzo, a Pirates prospect in the Dominican Summer League, has been suspended for 50 games for violating the Minor League drug policy, tweets Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.  Tim Williams of PiratesProspects.com has more on Lorenzo.

 

 

Prospects in Action - 9/16

• Matt Dominguez is showing off his first-round talent in the Southern League championship series, as the Marlins prospect homered and fueled the Jacksonville offense to victory on Wednesday night, reports Robert Emrich of MLB.com.
• Jeff Locke's strong performance carried the Altoona Curve to victory on Wednesday night, evening the Eastern League championship series at a game a piece, reports Danny Wild of MLB.com.  Locke came over to the Pirates organization in June of 2009 in the Nate McLouth trade and split this season between High-A and Double-A.  Saving the game for Locke was Daniel Moskos, who has settled in nicely this year as a closer.
• Jenrry Mejia is likely done for the season after straining a muscle in the back of his throwing shoulder, says Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.  I can't believe he got hurt after how careful the Mets have been with him all season.*
• Zach McAllister, who the Indians acquired late this season in exchange for Austin Kearns, led his Triple-A Clippers team to victory on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the International League finals.
• Kyle Drabek had a successful major league debut, whether he got the win or not, says Pete Kerzel of MLB.com.
• See what can happen when you let the rookies play?  The Angels finally did, and Hank Conger showed off his skills both at the plate and behind it, says Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.
• Chris Carter is back in Oakland, and he's hoping this time around goes better than the first, according to Robert Falkoff of MLB.com.  No offense to Chris, but at 0-for-19 last time around, this time almost has to go better.
• Darwin Barney may not have been the biggest name in the Cubs farm system, but he's proving his worth on a team that will have a lot of open spots come next season, says Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
• Cito Gaston is trying to get J.P. Arencibia into the Blue Jays lineup, but he's waiting until current catcher John Buck hits his 20th homer first.
• Getting into the lineup hasn't been a problem for Wilson Ramos, as the Nationals are alternating every other game with him and Ivan Rodriguez, says Guy Curtright of MLB.com, who also notes that Bryce Harper will begin his pro career this weekend at the Nats instructional league facility in Florida.
• Danny Duffy got the win on Wednesday, despite giving up 8 hits over 5 innings of work.  The Royals have to be pleased to get Duffy extra game action in the playoffs after his absence from the first part of the season.

*Sarcasm is so hard to get across successfully in writing.