Prospects: Prospect Bulletin
Yelich Boosts Stock With Early FSL Power Surge
May. 24, 2012
Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich returned from an elbow injury in short order to put on a power display with high Class A Jupiter. [...] Continue Reading »
Marlins' Jose Fernandez Embraces The Struggles
May. 17, 2012
Jose Fernandez had the worst inning of his season on Wednesday. It also may have been his best.
[...] Continue Reading »
AL/NL East Potential Relief Aces
May. 16, 2012
Could these pitchers be relief aces in the making? The reality for many minor league pitchers—even starters—is that they'll make most of their big league appearances in relief. Teams always need fresh arms for the ever-expanding major league bullpen. [...] Continue Reading »
Phillippe Aumont Can See Finish Line In Phillies Bullpen
May. 16, 2012
Triple-A Lehigh Valley righthander Phillippe Aumont has the best fastball-curveball combo in the Phillies system, but will he throw enough strikes for it to matter? [...] Continue Reading »
Reds' Billy Hamilton Thrills Cal League With Feats Of Speed
May. 15, 2012
It usually starts with a chuckle. Scouts, coaches and managers generally love to talk baseball—after all, they spend their lives working in the game. And there's nothing they like talking about more than the unexpected. When Reds high Class A Bakersfield shortstop Billy Hamilton is on the field, a lot of unexpected things happen. [...] Continue Reading »
Yankees' Betances Turns In Top Performance Of Season
May. 10, 2012
Yankees Triple-A righthander Dellin Betances delivered a season-best eight innings and seven strikeouts in his May 9 start versus Columbus. Is he on the verge of getting back on track? [...] Continue Reading »
Rangers' Buckel Follows In Bauer's Footsteps
May. 10, 2012
If watching Cody Buckel on the mound for the first time brings a sense of deja vu, that may not be a coincidence. Diamondbacks top prospect and former UCLA star righthander Trevor Bauer became well known during his college career for his unconventional approach to pitching. But years before Bauer got to UCLA, he found a kindred spirit in Buckel. [...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Myers May Be Playing Way To Triple-A
May. 9, 2012
Wil Myers' home-run binge eventually is going to earn him a spot in Triple-A Omaha, and it appears that time may be sooner than later. [...] Continue Reading »
Two Padres Power Arms Gather Momentum In Class A
May. 7, 2012
The volume of pitching prospects at the upper levels of the Padres system obscures the fact that San Diego has a pair of interesting power arms percolating in the low minors. [...] Continue Reading »
Casey Weathers' Struggles Add To Rough Record Of First-Round Relievers
May. 3, 2012
Casey Weathers doesn't want to be the proof that not all Tommy John surgery's work out. If everything goes the way Weathers hopes, he'll be pitching meaningful innings for the Chicago Cubs before long, proving once again that given time and innings, elbow ligament replacement allows a pitcher to get back to where he was before the injury. [...] Continue Reading »
Hembree Powers Way Toward San Francisco
May. 3, 2012
In some ways, it's easy to picture Heath Hembree closing games for the San Francisco Giants. Hembree possesses the requisite mid-90s fastball with explosive, late movement. He's got the vanishing slider. On the mound he looks calm and composed. In other ways, though, the image of Hembree as Giants closer doesn't quite fit. [...] Continue Reading »
Young Savannah Staff Mixes Control With Power Stuff
Apr. 23, 2012
Youth, power and control are ingredients that seldom mix well together in the low levels of the minors, but this year's low Class A Savannah pitching staff is shaping up to be an exception. [...] Continue Reading »
Brewers' Thornburg Builds Momentum In Double-A
Apr. 19, 2012
Tyler Thornburg was already off to a fine start with Double-A Huntsville after his first two outings. The righthander had allowed just one earned run in 11 innings in his first two career Double-A starts, striking out 13 and allowing just seven hits. Then his third start was even better. [...] Continue Reading »
Game Report: Gerrit Cole's Pro Debut
Apr. 11, 2012
Like any player would, Gerrit Cole felt some butterflies before his first start of the season Monday night for high Class A Bradenton. Then again, other players don't face the pressure of having been a No. 1 overall pick whose franchise committed to an $8 million bonus to sign him. [...] Continue Reading »
Rockies' Juan Nicasio Continues Road To Recovery
Feb. 20, 2012
Juan Nicasio, coming back from a fractured neck, has had several strong workouts in the Dominican Republic heading into spring training. [...] Continue Reading »
Clubs Use Instructs As Lab
Oct. 28, 2011
When the minor league season ends, the tinkering begins. Major league organizations use instructional league as a laboratory to get players to try new roles, pitchers to try new pitches and to give coaches more time to work individually with players. [...] Continue Reading »
2011 Big League Debuts And Their Signing Scouts
Sep. 27, 2011
Behind every player who makes his big league debut this season, a scout and/or a scouting director at one point recommended that player. To give credit where credit is due, we'll track those scouts and those directors for each player to make the big leagues for the first time in 2011. [...] Continue Reading »
A Galaxy Far, Far Away: What Performance In Rookie Ball Might Mean For Future Big Leaguers
Aug. 31, 2011
What can we learn from the omissions of top National League rookies Paul Goldschmidt and Jose Altuve from our 2009 league top prospects lists? [...] Continue Reading »
Dayton's Billy Hamilton Sets Sights On 100 Steals
Aug. 25, 2011
Billy Hamilton is in a race to 100 stolen bases. And If the Reds shortstop prospect has proven anything this year, it's that you should never bet against him in a race. [...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Edwin Carl's Numbers Are Too Good To Be Believed
Aug. 25, 2011
Just a little more than a year ago, Edwin Carl was on a family trip with baseball in his rearview mirror. [...] Continue Reading »
Jenkins Impresses In No-Decision
Aug. 24, 2011
It's not hard to see why Cardinals righthander Tyrell Jenkins was a supplemental first-rounder in 2010. . . it's hard to figure out how he even lasted that long. [...] Continue Reading »
Top Triple-A Performers Since The All-Star Break
Aug. 22, 2011
In an effort to recognize those players who kept up the pace late into summer, we take a look at the most dominant performers in Triple-A since the July 13 all-star game. Front office execs weigh in on those who've boosted their stock the most. [...] Continue Reading »
Marlins' Yelich, Perio Showing Promise In Low Class A
Aug. 11, 2011
Though they may have been relegated to the role of Stephen Strasburg's faceless opponents on Sunday, low Class A Greensboro boasts a couple of young hitters who've been worth watching in their own right in Christian Yelich and Noah Perio. [...] Continue Reading »
IL Updates: Viciedo, Teheran, Moore, McAllister, Montero
Aug. 9, 2011
Tallying votes for our annual Best Tools feature reveals a lot about which players make the biggest impression with opposing managers. Here we check in on the progress of International Leaguers Dayan Viciedo, Julio Teheran, Matt Moore, Zach McAllister and Jesus Montero. [...] Continue Reading »
New Royal Kendal Volz Now Knows What It's Like To Be Traded
Aug. 4, 2011
Kendal Volz's experience of being traded is one that several prospects have recently experienced. [...] Continue Reading »
Astros' Future Takes Shape Through Deadline Deals
Aug. 3, 2011
Prospects offer few certainties, but Astros general manager Ed Wade (as well as the GMs for the Rockies, Mets, Padres, Mariners and Nationals) deserves credit for turning his club's veterans into young players who might power the next competitive team, even if those prospects don't develop in time to stave off his firing. [...] Continue Reading »
Few Minor Leaguers In Deadline Deals Pan Out
Aug. 1, 2011
[...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Robinson Yambati Searches For Fastball Consistency
Jul. 28, 2011
Robinson Yambati was one of the Royals' breakthrough prospects in 2010, this year's he hasn't been the same pitcher. [...] Continue Reading »
Phillies' Biddle Settles In With Lakewood
Jul. 28, 2011
Jesse Biddle may not have been getting the acclaim of some of his fellow Phillies pitching prospects or some of his peers in the South Atlantic League, but for the last three months, few have pitched better than the 19-year-old lefthander. [...] Continue Reading »
Five Low Class A Pitchers On The Upswing
Jul. 27, 2011
Rays low Class A lefty Enny Romero has maintained his forward momentum during his full-season debut, while remaining injury-free, and, remarkably, so have the other top four pitching prospects from the 2010 Appalachian League. [...] Continue Reading »
Yelich Boosts Stock With Early FSL Power Surge
May. 24, 2012
Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich returned from an elbow injury in short order to put on a power display with high Class A Jupiter. [...] Continue Reading »
Marlins' Jose Fernandez Embraces The Struggles
May. 17, 2012
Jose Fernandez had the worst inning of his season on Wednesday. It also may have been his best.
[...] Continue Reading »
AL/NL East Potential Relief Aces
May. 16, 2012
Could these pitchers be relief aces in the making? The reality for many minor league pitchers—even starters—is that they'll make most of their big league appearances in relief. Teams always need fresh arms for the ever-expanding major league bullpen. [...] Continue Reading »
Phillippe Aumont Can See Finish Line In Phillies Bullpen
May. 16, 2012
Triple-A Lehigh Valley righthander Phillippe Aumont has the best fastball-curveball combo in the Phillies system, but will he throw enough strikes for it to matter? [...] Continue Reading »
Reds' Billy Hamilton Thrills Cal League With Feats Of Speed
May. 15, 2012
It usually starts with a chuckle. Scouts, coaches and managers generally love to talk baseball—after all, they spend their lives working in the game. And there's nothing they like talking about more than the unexpected. When Reds high Class A Bakersfield shortstop Billy Hamilton is on the field, a lot of unexpected things happen. [...] Continue Reading »
Yankees' Betances Turns In Top Performance Of Season
May. 10, 2012
Yankees Triple-A righthander Dellin Betances delivered a season-best eight innings and seven strikeouts in his May 9 start versus Columbus. Is he on the verge of getting back on track? [...] Continue Reading »
Rangers' Buckel Follows In Bauer's Footsteps
May. 10, 2012
If watching Cody Buckel on the mound for the first time brings a sense of deja vu, that may not be a coincidence. Diamondbacks top prospect and former UCLA star righthander Trevor Bauer became well known during his college career for his unconventional approach to pitching. But years before Bauer got to UCLA, he found a kindred spirit in Buckel. [...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Myers May Be Playing Way To Triple-A
May. 9, 2012
Wil Myers' home-run binge eventually is going to earn him a spot in Triple-A Omaha, and it appears that time may be sooner than later. [...] Continue Reading »
Two Padres Power Arms Gather Momentum In Class A
May. 7, 2012
The volume of pitching prospects at the upper levels of the Padres system obscures the fact that San Diego has a pair of interesting power arms percolating in the low minors. [...] Continue Reading »
Casey Weathers' Struggles Add To Rough Record Of First-Round Relievers
May. 3, 2012
Casey Weathers doesn't want to be the proof that not all Tommy John surgery's work out. If everything goes the way Weathers hopes, he'll be pitching meaningful innings for the Chicago Cubs before long, proving once again that given time and innings, elbow ligament replacement allows a pitcher to get back to where he was before the injury. [...] Continue Reading »
Hembree Powers Way Toward San Francisco
May. 3, 2012
In some ways, it's easy to picture Heath Hembree closing games for the San Francisco Giants. Hembree possesses the requisite mid-90s fastball with explosive, late movement. He's got the vanishing slider. On the mound he looks calm and composed. In other ways, though, the image of Hembree as Giants closer doesn't quite fit. [...] Continue Reading »
Young Savannah Staff Mixes Control With Power Stuff
Apr. 23, 2012
Youth, power and control are ingredients that seldom mix well together in the low levels of the minors, but this year's low Class A Savannah pitching staff is shaping up to be an exception. [...] Continue Reading »
Brewers' Thornburg Builds Momentum In Double-A
Apr. 19, 2012
Tyler Thornburg was already off to a fine start with Double-A Huntsville after his first two outings. The righthander had allowed just one earned run in 11 innings in his first two career Double-A starts, striking out 13 and allowing just seven hits. Then his third start was even better. [...] Continue Reading »
Game Report: Gerrit Cole's Pro Debut
Apr. 11, 2012
Like any player would, Gerrit Cole felt some butterflies before his first start of the season Monday night for high Class A Bradenton. Then again, other players don't face the pressure of having been a No. 1 overall pick whose franchise committed to an $8 million bonus to sign him. [...] Continue Reading »
Rockies' Juan Nicasio Continues Road To Recovery
Feb. 20, 2012
Juan Nicasio, coming back from a fractured neck, has had several strong workouts in the Dominican Republic heading into spring training. [...] Continue Reading »
Clubs Use Instructs As Lab
Oct. 28, 2011
When the minor league season ends, the tinkering begins. Major league organizations use instructional league as a laboratory to get players to try new roles, pitchers to try new pitches and to give coaches more time to work individually with players. [...] Continue Reading »
2011 Big League Debuts And Their Signing Scouts
Sep. 27, 2011
Behind every player who makes his big league debut this season, a scout and/or a scouting director at one point recommended that player. To give credit where credit is due, we'll track those scouts and those directors for each player to make the big leagues for the first time in 2011. [...] Continue Reading »
A Galaxy Far, Far Away: What Performance In Rookie Ball Might Mean For Future Big Leaguers
Aug. 31, 2011
What can we learn from the omissions of top National League rookies Paul Goldschmidt and Jose Altuve from our 2009 league top prospects lists? [...] Continue Reading »
Dayton's Billy Hamilton Sets Sights On 100 Steals
Aug. 25, 2011
Billy Hamilton is in a race to 100 stolen bases. And If the Reds shortstop prospect has proven anything this year, it's that you should never bet against him in a race. [...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Edwin Carl's Numbers Are Too Good To Be Believed
Aug. 25, 2011
Just a little more than a year ago, Edwin Carl was on a family trip with baseball in his rearview mirror. [...] Continue Reading »
Jenkins Impresses In No-Decision
Aug. 24, 2011
It's not hard to see why Cardinals righthander Tyrell Jenkins was a supplemental first-rounder in 2010. . . it's hard to figure out how he even lasted that long. [...] Continue Reading »
Top Triple-A Performers Since The All-Star Break
Aug. 22, 2011
In an effort to recognize those players who kept up the pace late into summer, we take a look at the most dominant performers in Triple-A since the July 13 all-star game. Front office execs weigh in on those who've boosted their stock the most. [...] Continue Reading »
Marlins' Yelich, Perio Showing Promise In Low Class A
Aug. 11, 2011
Though they may have been relegated to the role of Stephen Strasburg's faceless opponents on Sunday, low Class A Greensboro boasts a couple of young hitters who've been worth watching in their own right in Christian Yelich and Noah Perio. [...] Continue Reading »
IL Updates: Viciedo, Teheran, Moore, McAllister, Montero
Aug. 9, 2011
Tallying votes for our annual Best Tools feature reveals a lot about which players make the biggest impression with opposing managers. Here we check in on the progress of International Leaguers Dayan Viciedo, Julio Teheran, Matt Moore, Zach McAllister and Jesus Montero. [...] Continue Reading »
New Royal Kendal Volz Now Knows What It's Like To Be Traded
Aug. 4, 2011
Kendal Volz's experience of being traded is one that several prospects have recently experienced. [...] Continue Reading »
Astros' Future Takes Shape Through Deadline Deals
Aug. 3, 2011
Prospects offer few certainties, but Astros general manager Ed Wade (as well as the GMs for the Rockies, Mets, Padres, Mariners and Nationals) deserves credit for turning his club's veterans into young players who might power the next competitive team, even if those prospects don't develop in time to stave off his firing. [...] Continue Reading »
Few Minor Leaguers In Deadline Deals Pan Out
Aug. 1, 2011
[...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Robinson Yambati Searches For Fastball Consistency
Jul. 28, 2011
Robinson Yambati was one of the Royals' breakthrough prospects in 2010, this year's he hasn't been the same pitcher. [...] Continue Reading »
Phillies' Biddle Settles In With Lakewood
Jul. 28, 2011
Jesse Biddle may not have been getting the acclaim of some of his fellow Phillies pitching prospects or some of his peers in the South Atlantic League, but for the last three months, few have pitched better than the 19-year-old lefthander. [...] Continue Reading »
Five Low Class A Pitchers On The Upswing
Jul. 27, 2011
Rays low Class A lefty Enny Romero has maintained his forward momentum during his full-season debut, while remaining injury-free, and, remarkably, so have the other top four pitching prospects from the 2010 Appalachian League. [...] Continue Reading »
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