Minor League Update: Games of March 29-30

Prospect of the Day for March 29: Jedd Gyorko, 2B, Padres (will start at second base for the Padres on Opening Day): 1-2, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB. Gyorko has made the move from third to second, and has won the starting job for the Padres, putting himself on track to shift full time once Chase Headley is healthy; .257/.286/.486 with four home runs and five doubles in 74 spring at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances from March 29:

• Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Indians (anticipated to start the season in Double-A Akron): 1-3, 2 K. Aguilar, a 2012 Futures Game representative, has plus raw power but major swing-and-miss problems; 4-for-10 in spring training.
• Bryce Brentz, RF, Red Sox (anticipated to start the season in Triple-A Pawtucket): 0-1. Brentz suffered an accidental gunshot wound this offseason, but he is back on the field and showing his plus power; 3-for-9 with a home run this spring.
• Collin Cowgill, CF, Mets (will start in center field for the Mets on Opening Day): 1-1, HR, R, 2 RBI. Cowgill, a regular in the spring training Minor-League Update, produced enough in Florida for the Mets to start him in an awfully barren outfield; .303/.378/.591 with five home runs and 12 runs scored in 66 spring at-bats.
• Josh Fields, RHP, Astros (earned a job in the Astros bullpen): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. Fields, a Rule Five selection by the Astros, offers a big-league fastball with an above-average curveball; 11 strikeouts and only three earned runs in 11 2/3 spring innings.
• Brian Fletcher, 1B/OF, Royals (anticipated to start the season in Double-A NW Arkansas): 1-2, R. The son of former major leaguer Steve Fletcher, Brian shows real bat speed, but lacks plate discipline and is a well-below-average defender in the outfield; 2-for-4 with two runs scored this spring.
• Brandon Nimmo, OF, Mets (anticipated to start the season in Low-A Savannah): 0-1. Nimmo, a first-round selection in 2011, did not play high-school baseball (Wyoming does not offer organized high-school baseball), and while he has five-tool potential, he is still a long-term project.
• Nick Noonan, 3B, Giants (will start the season on the Giants’ bench): 2-3, 3B, R, RBI. Noonan, a former supplemental first-round selection in 2007, utilizes good hand-eye coordination, but has struggled to be an offensive threat against quality pitching; .265/.296/.500 in 68 spring at-bats.
• Blake Swihart, C, Red Sox (anticipated to start the season in High-A Salem): 1-1, 2B, RBI. A switch-hitting catcher, Swihart has a solid offensive-profile, buthe may lack the necessary frame to stay behind the plate; two doubles in three spring at-bats.

Prospect of the Day for March 30: Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Astros (anticipated to start the season in High-A Lancaster or Double-A Corpus Christi): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Foltynewicz, a former first-round selection, was forced to repeat Low-A after struggling there in 2011. He features a plus fastball, a curveball with depth, and a changeup with fade. The Astros will have to decide whether they would like him to go to the hitter-friendly California League or face more advanced hitters in the Texas League; eight strikeouts in five spring innings pitched.

Other notable prospect performances from March 30:

• Carlos Correa, SS, Astros (anticipated to start the season in Low-A Quad Cities): 3-4, RBI, K. Correa, the number-one overall selection in 2012, has an advanced hitting approach and the work ethic to become a star; 5-for-11 this spring.
• Delino DeShields Jr., 2B, Astros (anticipated to start the season in High-A Lancaster): 2-4, R, RBI, K. DeShields is at least a plus-plus runner and could torch the Cal League in a way similar to what Billy Hamilton did last year; 7-for-17 in spring training.
• Leury Garcia, UT, Rangers (will start the season on the Rangers’ bench): 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI. Garcia is a plus-plus runner with a plus-plus arm, but he is still working to improve his plate discipline; .250/.342/.500 in 32 spring at-bats.
• Billy Hamilton, CF, Reds (anticipated to start the season in Triple-A Louisville): 1-3, R, SB. The 2012 darling speedster has transitioned to center field and will look to get on base so he can wreak havoc; .171/.256/.286 with six stolen bases in 35 spring at-bats.
• Aaron Hicks, CF, Twins (will be the Opening Day center fielder for the Twins): 1-3. Hicks, a switch-hitter, has a plus-plus arm, plus raw power, and plus speed; .349/.398/.614 in 83 spring at-bats.
• Jose Iglesias, SS, Red Sox (will be the opening day shortstop for the Red Sox): 1-3. With Stephen Drew still suffering from concussion symptoms, the defensive wizard will start the seasy as an everyday major leaguer; .294/.324/.441 in 68 spring at-bats.
• Dorssys Paulino, 2B/3B, Indians (anticipated to start the season in Low-A Lake County): 2-3, 2 R. Paulino profiles to have at least a plus hit tool with major-league average power, and he’s also a plus runner. Thinking about a Francisco Lindor/Dorssys Paulino middle infield in 2015 has to bring smiles to Indians fans’ faces.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (anticipated to start the season in Triple-A Round Rock): 0-3, BB, K, SB. Rumors are swirling that the Rangers will give Elvis Andrus an eight-year extension. Does that mean that mega-prospect Jurickson Profar will be the odd man out in Texas’ middle infield?
• Domingo Santana, OF, Astros (anticipated to start the season in Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-4, 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI, K. Santana, acquired in the Hunter Pence trade, has serious raw power and profiles as a prototypical right fielder; 3-for-6 with two runs scored in spring training.