Spring Training Roundup: Cards On Table For Garcia, Diaz

Baseball is back and at Baseball America, that means it’s time again to track the progress of prospects. We’ll update you each day on how some of the game’s most prominent prospects fared at spring training.

Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta could miss two to three months with a torn ligament in his left thumb and will have a second opinion to assess his condition.

The potential long-term loss of Peralta opens the door for prospects Greg Garcia and Aledmys Diaz, as well as trade acquisition Jedd Gyorko.

“The outcome of the second opinion will dictate whether we have to look outside (the organization),” Mozeliak told reporters. “Right now it would be all hands on deck unless there was an outside solution we would consider.”

Garcia fits more as a utility player and has the experience edge over Diaz as he got into 49 games for the Cardinals in 2015. Kolten Wong’s teammate at Hawaii, Garcia is a steady defender with a fringe-average arm. At the plate, he has a quick lefthanded stroke with below average power.

Diaz, who had mixed results in his first season in the States in 2014 after leaving Cuba and signing a four-year, $8 million deal, opened eyes in 2015, playing with more energy and showing more power. That came, however, after he was removed from the 40-man roster and available to the other 29 teams, who all passed. Diaz was particularly good in the second half, hitting .328 with 10 homers from July on. Diaz is a steady defender at short with average arm strength and range.

Both prospects more likely fit in reserve roles, meaning the Cardinals might have to turn to Gyorko or go outside the organization, particularly should Peralta be out until June or longer.

THE LINEUP

Nine newsmakers from Monday’s action.

1. Michael Feliz, rhp, Astros: There might not be a clear path to the majors for the hard-throwing righthander, but he’s certainly making the Astros take notice. Feliz has the physicality, the mature body and plus fastball to be a back-end reliever now, but the addition of Ken Giles allows the Astros to continue to develop Feliz as a starter, and one evaluator said he believes Feliz has the pitch mix to succeed in the rotation.

2. Aaron Blair, rhp, Braves: An underrated part of the Braves’ haul for Shelby Miller, Blair pitched two scoreless innings and struck out three Monday against the Blue Jays. Blair is making a push to reach the majors this season, and is impressing the Braves with his big curveball and heavy fastball that induces grounders.

3. Kyle Zimmer, rhp, Royals: Health has been the big issue for the big righthander, who one evaluator worried was too “frail” to make it through even 100 innings. But the stuff (double-plus curveball and fastball that touches 97) and pitch mix is so tantalizing that the Royals remain intrigued. He struck out two in three innings Monday against Oakland.

4. Jose Peraza, ss, Reds: Peraza, the Reds’ No. 4 prospect after their offseason of deals, got the start at short on Monday and put on the kind of display that had Cincinnati trying to trade Brandon Phillips to make room. Peraza had two hits, scored a run, stole two bases and made a sparkling defensive play. Evaluators are concerned whether Peraza will impact the baseball on a consistent basis, but his overall game is an interesting mix of above-average defense and speed.

5. Jabari Blash, lf, Padres: Blash, a Rule 5 pick by Oakland from the Mariners after a 32-homer season at Triple-A Tacoma, was traded to the Padres, who are intrigued by his righthanded power, which plays better at Petco Park. Blash’s game has warts—streakiness, gets beat trying to cheat on the fastball—but the Padres took a low-risk shot. He hit a homer Monday against Milwaukee.

6. Dae-Ho Lee, 1b; Mariners: Lee, a star at the Premier 12 tournament, the 2015 Japan Series MVP and in the Korean Baseball Organization, is on a minor league deal trying to crack the Mariners’ roster. The large-framed (6-foot-5, 285 pounds) Korean showed big power in the KBO, but it isn’t clear how that will translate against MLB velocity. On Monday, he cracked his first spring homer, a solo shot off Diamondbacks lefthander Matt Reynolds.

7. Adam Duvall, lf, Reds: Duvall is 27, long past prime prospect status. But Duvall’s power potential, especially from the right side on a team that has Jay Bruce and Joey Votto, is enticing. Duvall’s not a starter, but offers the kind of off-the-bench sock that teams can use. He had a homer and triple on Monday.

8. Tyler Anderson, lhp, Rockies: After a fantastic—and largely healthy—2014, Anderson’s season ended that September because of a stress fracture in his pitching elbow and then he missed the entire 2015 season. Still, Anderson’s command and solid, three-pitch mix keep the Rockies engaged, despite health issues. On Monday, he got back on a mound and struck out three in two innings. Anderson might be overshadowed by pitching prospects such as Jon Gray, Jeff Hoffman, Kyle Freeland, Miguel Castro and Antonio Senzatela, but if healthy, he could be close to helping the big club.

9. Hunter Harvey, rhp, Orioles: Harvey, who hasn’t pitched in a regular season game since July 2014 because of a strained flexor tendor in his right forearm and elbow stiffness, made his second appearance this spring. Harvey, the Orioles’ No. 2 prospect, got four outs and gave up a hit and two walks, but is so far healthy.