Feb 27, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco (62) smiles after he hit a solo home run during the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
We hope that this becomes a regular series for our readers where we help you keep tab on some of baseballs top prospects throughout the Spring Training schedule. To kick things off, here’s a look at the results from the Grapefruit League yesterday.
The Miami Marlins started a prospect-heavy lineup and the big name of the day was Austin Barnes, a fringe-top-10 prospect who launched a home run off MLB vet Kyle Farnsworth. Jake Marisnick went one for two with a walk and a stolen base while Christian Yelich went oh for two with a walk and was caught stealing.
The Toronto Blue Jays sent several prospects on the road to Sarasota to play the Orioles. Only Kevin Pillar was in the starting lineup playing center field and he went oh for two, looking fairly overmatched at the plate. 2013 Arizona Fall League veterans Kenny Wilson, Andy Burns and Derrick Chung all got into the game. Only Burns had a hit, going one for one. 23-year-old Anthony Gose, technically not a prospect, had a great day, going two for two with two stolen bases and making his first solid contact of the spring.
The Blue Jays also sent out Marcus Stroman to pitch. He went two innings, giving up two runs on four hits but also struck out three in a mixed appearance for the 22 year old.
For the Orioles, Kelvin De La Cruz had a clean inning.
In Bradenton, the Tampa Bay Rays had 1B Vince Belnome and Mikie Mahtook go oh for two while Kevin Kiermaier went one for two with a stolen base. On the mound, Alex Colome threw a scoreless innings, giving up a hit while striking out one, while Matt Andriese and Enny Romero did the same. Mike Montgomery had a clean inning (no strikeouts) and Victor Mateo gave up a hit and struck out two.
For the hosting Pirates, the big name was Gregory Polanco who went oh for two with a strikeout while Alen Hanson also went oh for two. 25-year-old right Zack Thornton gave up a hit in his inning but struck out two.
Mar 1, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The rest of Miami’s split squad traveled to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Avery Romero, coming in at second base to relieve Rafael Furcal, went one for three with an RBI while J.T. Realmuto went one for two and scored. Danny Black went oh for one.
One of the Marlins’ top prospects, Andrew Heaney, threw two scoreless innings with just a walk and a hit against and two strikeouts while Carter Capps got lit up, giving up two runs on two hits. Adam Conley made it through his inning without giving up a run despite surrendering two hits.
For the Cardinals, second baseman Kolten Wong didn’t get much action, pinch running and coming to the plate once. Stephen Piscotty went one for two with an RBI and Randal Grichuk went one for three. Pitchers Sam Gaviglio and Lee Stoppelman each had run-free innings.
Playing in Tampa, the Philadelphia Philles sent David Buchanan to the mound and he struck out three Yankees in his two innings of work, giving up just one hit. Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, the Cuban import, underwhelmed fans by throwing one and two-thirds innings, walking four and giving up a run on two hits but he did strike out two batters. Ken Giles, 23, threw a scoreless innings striking out one and giving up a hit.
For the Yankees, the biggest “prospect” on people’s minds was Masahiro Tanaka who went two scoreless innings, striking out three and giving up two hits. Peter O’Brien, Zoilo Almonte, Corban Joseph and J.R. Murphy all got into the game but none got a hit.
The Astros went to Lakeland, Florida to take on the Tigers and the club’s top prospect, shortstop Carlos Correa hit a double and scored a run in a one-for-two day. Another top prospect, Max Stassi, went one for two, as did George Springer who played center field. Michael Foltynewicz threw two scoreless innings to close the game, giving up one hit.
For the Tigers, third baseman Francisco Martinez, spelling starter Nick Castellanos (who went oh for one with a sac fly) went one for two while Hernan Perez, starting at second base, drove in a run with a sac fly and Devon Travis (relieving Perez) went one for one. Pitcher Drew VerHagen picked up the win, going two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk while Ian Krol gave up a hit and a walk but struck out one in his scoreless inning.
Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Garin Cecchini against the East during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
For the Red Sox, on the road in Fort Myers to face the Twins, catching prospect Christian Vazquez went oh for one but showed off his defense by throwing out a runner on the bases. One of the club’s top prospects, third baseman Garin Cecchini went two for three with a double. Another top prospect, Allen Webster got rocked a bit on the mound, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in an inning and two-thirds.
The Twins had much of their Opening Day lineup on display but 6-foot-7 Michael Tonkin threw an inning, giving up just one walk while Deolis Guerra threw a clean inning.
The Atlanta Braves visited the Washington Nationals in Viera. Tommy La Stella, DHing for the day, had a monster game, going three for six with a double and two singles while 21-year-old Matt Lipka, who hasn’t played above A-ball, went three for six with four RBI. Joey Terdoslavich had a double in two at bats and Elmer Reyes, relieving Andrelton Simmons at shortstop had a single and double in two at bats. Prospect Shae Simmons gave up a run on two hits in an inning and two-thirds with one strikeout toeing the rubber for the Braves.
For the host Nationals, one of the club’s top prospects, Brian Goodwin walked twice and scored three runs, driving in another. Steven Souza, playing right field, went one for two with a double and an RBI while Matt Skole went one for one. 2011 third-round draft pick Matt Purke threw an inning and a third for the Nats, giving up four runs on four hits and two walks with a strikeout. Blake Treinen, who had strong numbers from Double-A last year, gave up another six runs (four earned) on six hits. Felipe Rivero, just acquired from the Rays, gave up a run on three hits.