Spring Blossoms

With less than a week to go before the season gets underway there are plenty of rookies and prospects who have made their mark this spring. Baseball America tracks these with its' daily Prospect Report email for subscribers (and you know you should really subscribe). In today's email we saw the following players who are doing very well along with their results from yesterday:

ORG LVL PLAYERS                        AB  R  H  BI
LAD SPR Loney, James RF .............   4  2  3  0  .444 - 2B (5)
ARI SPR Callaspo, Alberto SS ........   2  1  1  0  .440 - 2B (3)
ARI SPR Barden, Brian 2B ............   4  0  1  0  .409
CIN SPR Hamilton, Josh LF ...........   5  0  1  0  .404 - 3B (2)
KC  SPR Gordon, Alex 3B .............   2  0  1  1  .391
OAK SPR Buck, Travis RF .............   5  1  3  1  .391
TOR SPR Roberts, Ryan SS ............   1  1  1  0  .391 - 2B (3)
CHC SPR Pie, Felix CF ...............   1  0  1  0  .352
TB  SPR Young, Delmon RF ............   5  1  3  2  .345 - 2B (3)
TB  SPR Dukes, Elijah CF ............   4  1  2  0  .327
TEX SPR Botts, Jason DH .............   5  1  2  0  .324

A few notes: James Loney is in a battle for the fourth outfield spot now that Jason Repko has been injury while Alberto Callaspo set for utility role with Brian Barden battling for a final roster spot with the D'Backs. Josh Hamilton most of you know and there's no way he's not making the club and Alex Gordon is one his way to Rookie of the Year. The brash Travis Buck is a long shot to make the opening day roster and will likely start in triple A. Ryan Roberts was reassigned to the minor league camp last week and the same will likely be the case for Felix Pie although struggles by either Jacque Jones or Matt Murton could see him in centerfield at Wrigley before long. The same cannot be said of Delmon Young who will play right field on opening day and probably hit second in the lineup with Elijah Dukes as the fourth outfielder. With the performance of Sammy Sosa Jason Botts is likely headed for Oklahoma City once again.

And the pitchers...

ORG LVL PLAYERS                         IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO  ERA
MIN SPR Garza, Matt  ................   3.0 4  1   1   1   3 1.50
PIT SPR Sharpless, Josh  ............   1.0 2  1   1   1   1 2.08
NYM SPR Pelfrey, Mike (L, 1-1) ......   5.0 6  4   4   1   2 2.84
HOU SPR Albers, Matt  ...............   2.0 0  0   0   1   0 3.21
KC  SPR Soria, Joakim  ..............   1.0 2  2   2   0   2 3.60

And more notes...Despite some mysterious head and neck pain Matt Garza is making a case for the Twins to go with youth in the rotation. Josh Sharpless is still in the running for one of the final two bullpen vacancies. Mike Pelfrey has locked down the number five spot in the rotation while Matt Albers is still in a battle for the fifth spot in Houston along with a cast of several. Finally, Joakim Soria, the rule 5 pick from Mexico, will make the Royals in the bullpen. Could be one of the nicest surprises of the 2007 season.