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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Chad Bettis, RHP, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K; potential plus-plus fastball; can vary the hard stuff (two-seam, four-seam, cut); easy plus slider; could be a monster setup guy with closer potential; 21.2 IP, 21 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 26 K.

Position Prospect of the Day: Nick Castellanos, OF, Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 3-3, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB; hit tool could reach plus-plus level; plus power potential; fringy reads on balls in the outfield; developing pitch recognition; arm is easy plus; great makeup.

Other notable prospect performances from April 24:

“The Good”

  • Aaron Altherr, OF, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 4-5, 2B, 3B, R, RBI, K, SB; glider; plus raw power; swing has length; will need to make significant adjustments to his swing to creep onto the prospect radar.
  • Matt Andriese, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; three-pitch arsenal (fastball/curveball/split), all with average-to-slightly-above-average potential; mild crossfire delivery; potential back-end starter or seventh-inning guy; 21.0 IP, 13 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 21 K so far.
  • Chun-Hsiu Chen, C/1B, Indians (Double-A Akron): 2-4, 2 2B, R, 4 RBI, K; mistake hitter; will be overmatched against quality pitching; tough profile at first base.
  • Brandon Drury, 3B, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 3-4, 2 R, 3 2B, RBI; acquired in Justin Upton trade; aggressive hitter; below-average defensive profile at third; solid-average power potential.
  • Edwin Escobar, LHP, Giants (High-A San Jose): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; great strikeout numbers thus far; uses fastball-changeup combination; 29 K in 19.0 IP to date.
  • Nolan Fontana, SS, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 3 BB; grinder type; solid-average hit tool; highly polished; physically mature; high baseball IQ; at worst, will be a strong utility option.
  • Marcell Ozuna, OF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K; plus-plus raw power; plus-plus arm; swing can show length; good baseball instincts; hit tool will determine ultimate major-league role.
  • Danry Vasquez, OF, Tigers (Low-A West Michigan): 4-5, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB; plus hit tool; plus raw power; average arm; good bat speed; still has room to develop body; ability to hit breaking balls is still a work in progress; fringy runner.
  • Andy Wilkins, 1B, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K; tough profile; tends to sell out for power; bat wrap; good makeup; solid-average power to his pull side.
  • Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 2-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K; sweetest swing in the minors; easy plus-plus hit tool; solid-average power potential; will have to move to left field or first base defensively; very nice fantasy option who will have a very high batting average.
  • Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 11 K; ultra-smooth delivery; plus-plus fastball; potential plus-plus curveball; usable changeup; could reach the majors in 2013.

“The Bad”

Zoilo Almonte, OF, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre): 0-4, R, BB, 3 K; profiles best as an extra outfielder; hit tool will ultimately decide the length of his big-league career.

“The Uneasy”

Jose Campos, RHP, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K; had an injury-laden 2012 season, and his stuff hasn’t bounced back all the way yet; 12.0 IP, 13 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 9 K in four starts.

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delatopia
4/25
Does Correa at SS and Fontana at 2B down the road seem a likely, viable or realistic outcome? I see Fontana hasn't spent any time at 2B yet in the minors. Or might Correa be the one more likely to move, presumably to 3B? I know it's super early on both, just wondering what your crystal ball says.

Also, thanks very much for listing the blemishes and the likely hurdles for some of these guys. It's too easy to view prospects and focus only on the bright spots, so it's good to have a governor on the optimism that naturally surrounds these players. That's a welcome change.
mort10
4/25
Thanks, I try to be as realistic as I can when it comes to prospect analysis. When it comes to the Astros, I think Correa is the SS of the future. I look at Fontana as more of a utility option.