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Roto Arcade - Fantasy

Prospecting: Jennings broken, Lawrie takes BP, Moore hits 100

Someday, Tampa Bay outfield prospect Desmond Jennings(notes) will return to the majors and there will be much rejoicing ... but this is not that day.

Jennings suffered "a slight fracture in his right index finger" earlier this week, so he figures to miss perhaps 2-3 weeks of playing time. Crushing news. And yes, the injury was originally reported as a contusion, just like every other broken bone this season.

Brandon Guyer(notes) is visiting the Rays' big league roster for the second time this year while Jennings remains in Durham. Desmond is of course having another fine season for the Bulls (not his first), posting an on-base percentage of .370, homering 12 times, stealing 17 bags in 18 attempts. He's also struck out 73 times, so he's not without flaws. But this is still a prospect of interest, on the verge of being a bit too old for prospect status. He'll turn 25 in October. Let's hope we see him in Tampa by August.

Finally, there's something positive to report regarding Brett Lawrie(notes): He took batting practice on Sunday, following a week spent hitting off a tee and fielding grounders. You'll recall that Lawrie (hand) was basically hours away from a call-up when he was injured on May 31. He projects as an all-category contributor with eligibility at talent-scarce roster spots, so that's why we've updated every step in his brutally long rehab.

Rays left-hander Matt Moore(notes) hit triple-digits on the Chase Field radar during a scoreless inning in the XM All-Stars Futures Game on Sunday. (Other reports had him at 98-99, but c'mon, let's round up. It's an all-star game). We've discussed Moore a time or two around here, because the 22-year-old's Double-A stats have been obscene: 2.14 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 96.2 IP, 125 Ks, 26 BB. He's allowed just nine hits over his last 28.0 innings for Montgomery, striking out 33 hitters during that stretch. And he piled up 208 Ks in 144.2 innings last season in the Florida State League.

For additional details, check out this piece by Ben Badler over at Baseball America. Badler refers to Moore as "the player scouts came away buzzing about the most."

San Diego Padres third base prospect James Darnell has been getting a look at other positions, as the N.L.'s saddest offense searches for help. This from the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"I had a great conversation with [Padres General Manager] Jed Hoyer about three or four weeks ago," Darnell said before Sunday's All-Star Futures Game. "He told me that he loves everything I'm doing at third base, it's not a knock on me at third base, it's just that they want to make me a little more versatile, see if they can get my bat in the lineup."

[...]

If the Padres have a logjam anywhere in their system, it is at third base. Chase Headley(notes) reached the All-Star break hitting .299, with a .390 on-base percentage and still three-plus years short of free agency. Though it's conceivable Headley could be traded to make room for Darnell, the Padres' need for productive corner outfielders is already acute and might soon be desperate.

Darnell, 24, has homered in each of his last three games at Triple-A Tucson. For the year, he's hitting .334/.431/.623 with 20 home runs and 26 doubles across two minor league levels. He's walked as often as he's struck out, too (53 BB, 52 Ks). File away the name.

Cleveland infield prospect Jason Kipnis(notes) has delivered an excellent first half at Triple-A Columbus, hitting .297/.380/.506 with 11 homers, nine triples, and 11 stolen bases. He took Julio Teheran(notes) deep in the first inning of the Futures Game, too, further evidence that there's little left for him to prove in the minors. We refer you to this recent post by John Sickels, for additional scouting info.

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Photo via US Presswire

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