Prospect Notes, March 14, 2012

**Colorado Rockies pitching prospect Drew Pomeranz left yesterday's game against the Dodgers early with "hip tightness." He's looked very good so far this spring, pitching seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts, two walks, and three hits allowed. He's still in the picture for a rotation spot in Colorado, but my guess is that he'll begin April pitching for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

**Lefty Matt Moore of the Tampa Bay Rays, the best pitching prospect in baseball, finally got his first spring game under his belt yesterday, throwing one and two-thirds innings against the Orioles, fanning three. He was slowed by an abdominal strain early in the spring but is still expected to be ready in time for the beginning of the regular season.

**He's not going to be around on Opening Day, but an intriguing player to watch this year is outfielder Zoilo Almonte of the New York Yankees. He is 4-for-10 in major league camp, and word from New York is that manager Joe Girardi has taken notice of him as a possible call-up for later in the season. Almonte is a 22-year-old switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic, signed in 2005. He had a fine season last year for High-A Tampa (.293/.368/.514 in 259 at-bats) but was less effective after moving up to Double-A Trenton (.251/.309/.377). However, he has a broad-based mixture of power and speed, hustles, and is clearly making an impression with the people who count. Keep an eye on him.

**Drew Cumberland of the San Diego Padres has seen a resurgence of his neurological condition and is retiring again. I don't know what else to say here, other than it is very unfortunate and I hope he's able to find a way to stay active in baseball. He was hampered by constant injuries even before being struck down by "bilateral vestibulopathy," but his makeup and hustle were always well-regarded.