Prospect Buzz: Jesus Montero, Mike Trout, Strasburg, Harper, Friedrich, and more…

• Jesus Montero has been training with Joe Girardi and Tony Pena at the Yankees’ Spring Training complex since the end of January, and has apparently shed a few pounds in the process.  Although 28-year-old Russell Martin will likely serve as the Yankees’ primary catcher, Montero will have a shot to win the back up role during Spring Training.  Sliding Into Home dissects some comments made this week by the confident 21-year-old, who is preparing to make a strong impression in the coming weeks.

• It should come as no surprise that the Los Angeles Angels are planning to take their sweet-ass time grooming their prized-prospect, Mike Trout.  This week, Angels GM Tony Reagins announced that the 19-year-old outfielder will begin the season in Double-A, and that it’s “unlikely” we will see him in the Major Leagues until 2012.  This offseason, Trout was crowned baseball’s top prospect headed into the 2011 season, ahead of the immaculate Bryce Harper.

• This week we learned that Stephen Strasburg threw a baseball for the first time since injuring his elbow on August 21.  Although the news really makes no difference considering that he won’t step on a Big League mound until 2012, it’s good to see that the Stras is on the road to recovery.  I just hope that his attempt to quit dipping doesn’t hinder his rehab.

• Will we see Bryce Harper in the Major Leagues before the season’s end? Only time will tell.  But for the time being, it sure is fun to speculate.  This week Harper did a phone interview with MLB.com, and like always, said all of the right things — I know, classic Bryce.  The folks over at Teddy Never Wins break down the highlights of the 18-year-old’s interview, including his willingness to shift to center field.

• After battling a troublesome elbow injury for part of 2009 and most of 2010, many believe that LHP Christian Friedrich will finally crack the Colorado Rockies’ starting rotation in 2011.  Friedrich, the 25th pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, was one of two players that the Rockies invited to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.  Rox Pile does a nice job recapping the left-hander’s ridiculous career at Eastern Kentucky, and also his ascent through the Minor Leagues.  Considering that I grew up in the same area as Friedrich and that we only differed in age by a year, I had the opportunity to see him throw a few bullpens here and there; without question, one of the nastiest hammers that I’ve ever seen.

• As part of Baseball America’s on-going College Preview, Teddy Cahill wrote an interesting article about Indiana outfielder, Alex Dickerson.  As a sophomore in 2010, Dickerson was named the Big Ten player of the year after he hit .419/.472/.805 with 24 home runs and 75 RBI.  Despite his reputation as a “pure hitter,” many scouts believe that his defense (or lack thereof) will ultimately prevent him from being a corner outfielder in the Major Leagues.

Prospect Buzz is the new, prospect-related link drop of The Golden Sombrero that will appear every Wednesday and Sunday.  As you may already know, we love prospects here at the Sombrero.  So if you have an article or link that you would like us consider for this segment, feel free to either email us or send it our way on Twitter.