Minor League Prospect Watch - Update

Three of the four minor league prospects I've profiled so far are coming off of big weeks, courtesy of Baseball America:

Matt Wieters:

Last Week: .450/.593/.900 (9-for-20), 6 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBIs, 7 BB (2 IBB), 2 SO

He didn't slip that far in the draft last year. After the Rays landed longtime consensus top pick David Price with the No. 1 overall selection, three teams decided to pass on picking and spending way over slot for Wieters, the top hitting prospect in the draft and the best prospect available after Price. The Royals decided to spend the second pick in the draft on high school shortstop Mike Moustakas, who has struggled in a tough place for hitters in the low Class A Midwest League. The Cubs decided to draft high school third baseman Josh Vitters, who is still in short-season ball. And the Pirates passed on Wieters to take Clemson lefthander Daniel Moskos, whose 6.30 ERA in 95 2/3 innings mesh with his disappointing peripherals and scouting reports. While the teams that passed on Wieters last year may have spent less money in the short term, the Orioles are poised to cash in on the cost-controlled success of Wieters, who is now batting .365/.463/.625 in 104 at-bats since his promotion to Double-A.

Previously: Minor League Prospect Watch - Matt Wieters

Travis Snider:

Last Week: .391/.533/.783 (9-for-23), 8 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 7 BB, 5 SO

Snider is 20 years old and already tapping on Triple-A's door after smashing his way to .266/.357/.471 in 346 Double-A at-bats. He could make his big league debut next year and become a big league regular at 21, and the list of those who have done that includes a pretty sweet group of hitters. The caveat with Snider is always the strikeouts, but that comes with the power-hitting territory, and remember that Snider is well ahead of the normal prospect developmental curve.

Previously: Minor League Prospect Watch - Travis Snider

Elvis Andrus:

Last Week: .360/.433/.600 (9-for-25), 4 R, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 SO, 5-for-7 SB

The beginning of the season was not too kind to Andrus, who headed into the Texas League all-star break hitting .277/.335/.335 in 242 at-bats. Since the break, however, Andrus hasn't just been good for his age, he's been flat-out one of the best players in the league, batting .327/.385/.416 in 113 at-bats. Andrus hit two of his three home runs this week, but he is more notable for his short stroke to the ball and what scouts project as his future ability to hit for a high batting average. His season line now sits at .293/.351/.361, and those first two averages are promising signs for his future.

Previously: Minor League Prospect Watch - Elvis Andrus