With the first month of the MLB season in the books, and some of the baseball’s best prospects now suiting up for their respective big league squads, it’s time to reflect on the performances of our Top 50 Prospects.  Today we look at 39-35, which includes: Casey Kelly, Jennry Meija, Jonathan Singleton, Derek Norris and Jake Odorizzi.

39. Casey Kelly, RHP, San Diego Padres

Double-A: 3-1, 3.38 ERA, 45.1 IP, 14 BB, 33 K, 1.301 WHIP

38. Jennry Mejia, RHP, New York Mets

Triple-A: 1-2, 2.86 ERA, 28.1 IP, 14 BB, 21 K, 1.059 WHIP

37. Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

High-A: .276/.394/.333, 2 2B, HR, 10 RBI, 16 BB, 31 K

36. Derek Norris, C, Washington Nationals

Double-A: .194/.354/.323, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 14 BB, 24 K, 4-for-5 SB

35. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals

High-A: 3-0, 1.97 ERA, 32 IP, 8 BB, 51 K, 0.938 WHIP

With the first month of the MLB season in the books, and some of the baseball’s best prospects now suiting up for their respective big league squads, it’s time to reflect on the performances of our Top 50 Prospects.  Today we look at 44-40, which include: Nolan Arenado, Brett Jackson, Matt Dominguez, Zach Lee and Grant Green.

44. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

High-A: .248/.280/.316, 8 2B, 12 RBI, 5 BB, 16 K, 2 SB

43. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs

Double-A: .295/.420/.518, 7 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 24 BB, 30 K, 13-for-15 SB

42. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Florida Marlins

N/A; Injured

41. Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Class-A: 3-0, 1.17 ERA, 30.2 IP, 11 BB, 28 K, 1.272 WHIP,

40. Grant Green, SS, Oakland Athletics

Double-A: .293/.364/.421, 9 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 14 BB, 30 K, SB

Conger off to solid start for Angels

With the first month of the MLB season in the books, and some of the baseball’s best prospects now suiting up for their respective big league squads, it’s time to reflect on the performances of our Top 50 Prospects.  Today we look at 45-50, which include: Chris Dwyer, J.P. Arencibia, Aaron Hicks, Jose Iglesias, Nick Castellanos and Hank Conger.

50. Chris Dwyer, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Double-A: 1-3, 6.35 ERA, 6 GS, CG, 28.1 IP, 27 H, 17 BB, 21 K, 1.553 WHIP, 1.24 K/BB

49. J.P. Arencibia, C, Toronto Blue Jays

MLB: .247(21-for-85)/.304/.482, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 20 K

48. Aaron Hicks, OF, Minnesota Twins

High-A: .206(20-for-97)/.322/.309, 3 2B, 2 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 2-for-5 SB, 18 BB, 23 K

47. Jose Iglesias, SS, Boston Red Sox

Triple-A: .253(22-for-87)/.278/.253, 0 XBH, 4 RBI, 2-for-4 SB, 2 BB, 17 K

46. Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Single-A: .208(20-96)/.260/.281, 4 2B, HR, 13 RBI, 7 BB, 28 K

45. Hank Conger, C, Los Angeles Angels

MLB: .300(18-for-60)/.354/.500, 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 BB, 11 K

Two of the American League’s top pitching prospects were on display in the first week of the 2011 season, and suffice it to say, they both lived up to their respective hype.

First up was the Blue Jays’ Kyle Drabek, who used his 89-91 mph cutter to befuddle the Minnesota Twins’ offense on Saturday.  He allowed one run in seven innings, while walking three and striking out seven.  Oh yeah, the Sombrero’s No. 33 prospect took a no-hit bid into the sixth.  In his “10 Rookie Predictions” piece, John Sickels even predicts that Drabek will toss a no-no in early May – a bit bold, but definitely not unimaginable.

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• After surviving another round of the cuts this past week, Baltimore Orioles’ left-hander Zach Britton will likely get one more Spring Training start before he is either sent to Triple-A or chosen as the O’s fifth starter.  The 22-year-old, our No. 25 prospect, has been ridiculous this spring, giving up only one earned run in 14 innings of work while walking four and fanning nine.  But just like with any high-profile prospect, the organization has a decision to make: have him begin the 2011 season in Triple-A and control his contract for an extra year, or immediately put him to work.  For everyone over at Birds Watcher it’s a no-brainer: keep this promising left-hander in the organization as long as possible.

• The Giants’ Brandon Belt is in the same boat as Britton – he is yet to be assigned to Triple-A and is being considered (perhaps even favored) for an Opening Day roster spot.  Compared to other prospects, Belt has received an inordinate amount of playing time this spring – kind of like a big league crash course – and has played well enough (.292 BA, 5 doubles, 3 home runs, and 13 RBI) to keep himself in mix.  Our friends at Splashing Pumpkins weigh in on the situation in a piece called, ‘The Brandon Belt Conundrum,’ and establish a set of criteria that, if met, would justify the first baseman’s spot on the Opening Day roster.

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