Welcome to the March 27th installment of The Daily Farm Report! We rake the news for each organization’s top farmhands and give you a digest with some commentary for you greedy prospectors to enjoy. Here are some recent news and highlights:
Fernando Tatis Jr.
Padres #1 by MLB Pipeline
Fernando Tatis Jr. Makes Opening Day Roster
Fernando Tatis Jr. will be 20 years, 85 days old on Opening Day.
The last player that young to play on Opening Day was Adrian Beltre in 1999, at age 19 years, 363 days old.
Tatis was born in January 1999.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 27, 2019
Padres GM A.J. Preller cares not for your service time manipulations. The club determined that playing Fernando Tatis Jr. at SS every day gave them the best chance to win games this year, so that’s what they are doing. Chris Paddack is up too. They threw the necessary money at Manny Machado. They might not get to the playoffs this year, but I love what this team is doing, and I’ll be watching the Padres as often as I can.
In related news, I will be muting the word ‘Shields’ on Twitter until the end of time.
Nick Senzel
Reds #1 by MLB Pipeline
UPDATE: Senzel In Boot For A Couple Weeks
OF Nick Senzel left yesterday’s minor league game in Goodyear with a right ankle sprain and will be in a boot for 7-14 days. #Reds
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) March 26, 2019
After spraining his ankle in a minor league contest yesterday, the Reds have announced that Senzel is expected to be in a walking boot for the next 7-14 days. I’d expect him to have some complex time to test the ankle out after getting the boot off before he reports to AAA Louisville. The team wants Senzel to play CF this year, so they have to make sure that he can handle playing as an everyday OF. The timetable doesn’t hurt their service time shenanigans either. Senzel might not be up with the big club until June this year.
Daz Cameron
Tigers #7 by Baseball Farm
Daz Cameron Makes Strong Impression This Spring
Daz Cameron did not make Tigers roster and wasn't a consideration after JaCoby Jones injury, but he left an impression on his way out:https://t.co/AjmpmnMEFb
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) March 26, 2019
While the team wasn’t prepared to call Daz Cameron up to be a fill-in while JaCoby Jones is out with injury, the kid really left a great impression with the organization this spring. Cameron batted .357 and played great OF defense for the club this spring. He will report to AAA Toledo to start 2019, but I would not be surprised in the slightest if he forces the issue and is manning CF in Comerica Park this summer.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Blue Jays #1 by MLB Pipeline
Vlad Jr. Progressing Well In Recovery From Oblique Injury
Blue Jays manager says Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will report to Bisons after work in extended spring https://t.co/8cUwnSXZiJ
— Buffalo News Sports (@TBNSports) March 26, 2019
It sounds like Toronto’s wunderkid Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is ahead of schedule in his recovery from the oblique injury he suffered this spring. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo noted that Vlad is already hitting in the cage again. Vlad will stay in Florida and work his way back into baseball shape in extended spring training camp before reporting to AAA Buffalo (for some reason) to start his season.
Franklin PerezTigers #3 by Baseball Farm
Franklin Perez Looking Healthy
Reports are also good on Franklin Perez, who Avila says has been hitting 96 and pitching efficiently in backfields outings. The plan for him might be similar to what the Tigers have in mind for Mize (start in Lakeland, move to Erie).
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) March 21, 2019
There have been a couple good reports coming out of Tigers’ camp this past week regarding Franklin Perez, which is great to hear as this top pitching prospect works his way back from injury. Perez, 21, has topped his fastball out in the 94-96 mph band this spring without any negative side effects. Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic notes that Perez might start out with A+ Lakeland of the Florida State League if he keeps feeling good over the next couple weeks.
