Prospect Scoutlook

The face of a franchise can emerge at any point in the season, but the future of a franchise can disappear just as quickly. In a development coming out of the Dominican Republic, it appears San Francisco Giants prized prospect Angel Villalona has turned himself in for a crime that will put him in jail for up to 20 years. He is the suspected killer of 25 year old Mario Felix de Jesus Velete, who was shot and killed Saturday night at a Dominican bar.

Villalona, 19, had received a $2.1 million signing bonus as a teenager in 2006, the most by any Giant prospect at that point in time. His 2009 campaign fell a bit short of expectations this year (.267 avg, 9 HR), though his statistics seem merely an afterthought with this developing story.

Despite having turned himself in, Villalona has pleaded innocent in court on Monday. The Giants organization will have to wait a minimum two months while Villalona serves a court-ordered jail sentence during the police investigation.

Scouting Notes

• With the team’s suspension of Milton Bradley for the remainder of the season, the Chicago Cubs have opened the door to outfield prospect Tyler Colvin. On Monday, Colvin debuted at centerfield as the Cubs hosted Milwaukee. In his major league debut, Colvin went 1-for-3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly.
• On Saturday, baseball’s top catching prospect Buster Posey of the Giants got his first major league hit, a single off Dodgers pitcher Jeff Weaver. In 35 AAA games, Posey hit .321 with 5 HR, and the expiring contract of Bengie Molina could lead to a full time role with the big league club.
• Atlanta Braves have a pair of young sluggers in Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, but it was Heyward who really came into his own this year between high Class-A Myrtle Beach and AA-Mississippi, to go along with a 3-game stint with AAA Gwinnett. In his 2009 season, he batted .314 with 17 HR en route to the 2009 Minor League Player award. Donning the Braves uniform will bring spitting-image comparisons to the great Fred McGriff. As for Freeman, the 20 year old took a step back upon his promotion to AA-Mississippi where he only hit .248 in 41 games. Though Freeman’s development may not be on pace with that of Heyward, these two will be nestled in the heart of the Braves order come 2012.
• This past week, the Nationals’$15.1 million draftee Stephen Strasburg reported to Viera, FL to prepare for the Florida Instructional League. Based on his performance here and also in the Arizona Fall League, Washington could see instant returns on their investment if they choose to bypass the minors and propel Strasburg straight to the majors in April.
• Cleveland Indians’minor league catcher Carlos Santana has a bat that’s ready to emerge at the major league level.  He spent the entire year at AA-Akron batting. 290 with 22 HR and 97 RBI, where he won the Eastern League’s MVP award. The only flaw in the Indians’future backstop is his game-calling skills, a problem stemming from a language barrier.