Prospect Transactions: Aug. 17-23

Taillon moves to Altoona, Skaggs and Turner meet in Arizona

By Danny Wild and Andrew Pentis

August 24, 2012

Readers: "Prospect Transactions" updates you weekly on the most notable moves involving prospects in the Minor Leagues. All comings and goings of MLB.com's top prospects are included and are ordered by organization.

Player	Org	Move
Tyler Skaggs	ARI	Promoted from Triple-A Reno to Arizona
Notes: Skaggs made his Major League debut, allowing two runs and three hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 D-backs victory over Miami in the opener of the first home doubleheader in D-backs history. "It was phenomenal," he said. "I mean, the greatest feeling I've had so far in my life."
A.J. Pollock	ARI	Promoted from Triple-A Reno to Arizona
Tommy La Stella	ATL	Began rehab assignment with GCL Braves
Glynn Davis	BAL	Promoted from Class A Delmarva to Class A Adv. Frederick
Tyler Townsend	BAL	Placed on Class A Adv. Frederick DL (wrist)
Joe Mahoney	BAL	Promoted to Orioles, optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk
Ben Wells	CHC	Began rehab assignment with AZL Cubs
LeVon Washington	CLE	Assigned to Arizona League (rehabbing hip)
Dorssys Paulino	CLE	Promoted from AZL to Class A Short-Season Mahoning Valley
Charlie Blackmon	COL	Promoted from Triple-A Colorado Springs to Rockies
Tyler Saladino	CWS	Demoted from Triple-A Charlotte to Double-A Birmingham
Brandon Short	CWS	Promoted from Class A Adv. Winston-Salem to Double-A Birmingham
Jarred Cosart	HOU	Promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City
Yordano Ventura	KC	Assigned to Arizona League (rehab: hand)
Bryan Brickhouse	KC	Placed on Class A Kane County inactive list
Jorge Bonifacio	KC	Placed on Class A Kane County DL (wrist)
Chris Withrow	LAD	Placed on Double-A Chattanooga DL
Juan Rodriguez	LAD	Reassigned from Class A Great Lakes to Ext. Spring Training
Jacob Turner	MIA	Promoted from Triple-A New Orleans to Miami
Notes: Turner allowed three runs and four hits in six innings in his first Major League start in the Miami organization, falling to Arizona and fellow rookie Skaggs. Miami manager Ozzie Guillen said Turner "was relaxed on the mound, very nice and loose. He was throwing a lot of strikes. He made one bad pitch but I like what I see."
Dan Jennings	MIA	Optioned from Miami to Triple-A New Orleans
Charlie Lowell	MIA	Activated from Class A Greensboro DL
Darrell Cecilliani	NYM	Activated from Class A Adv. St. Lucie DL
Collin McHugh	NYM	Promoted from Triple-A Buffalo to New York
Austin Romine	NYY	Optioned from New York to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
A.J. Griffin	OAK	Promoted from Triple-A Sacramento to Oakland
Phillippe Aumont	PHI	Promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to Phillies
Aaron Altherr	PHI	Activated off Class A Lakewood DL (hip)
Ethan Stewart	PHI	Activated off Class A Lakewood DL (blisters)
Ryan O'Sullivan	PHI	Traded from Dodgers; assigned to Class A Adv. Clearwater
Jameson Taillon	PIT	Promoted from Class A Adv. Bradenton to Double-A Altoona
Notes: MLB.com's fifth-ranked prospect made his Double-A debut on 8/21, pitching five scoreless innings. In 23 Florida State League starts -- where he met a familiar foe -- Taillon, 20, went 6-8 and fashioned a 3.82 ERA to go with a 98-to-37 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He re-joins fellow heralded right-hander Gerrit Cole in the Curve rotation. Taillon, the second overall pick in 2010, has been solid through 46 pro stats. His repertoire -- mid-90-mph fastball, hammer curveball and improved changeup -- gives him a chance to be spectacular at the higher levels.
Kyle McPherson	PIT	Promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to Pirates
Justin Wislon	PIT	Promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to Pirates
Justin Wilson	PIT	Demoted from Pittsburgh to Triple-A Indianapolis
Kyle McPherson	PIT	Demoted from Pittsburgh to Triple-A Indianapolis
Robbie Erlin	SD	Activated off Double-A San Antonio DL (elbow strain)
Brad Boxberger	SD	Optioned from San Diego to Triple-A Tucson
Jedd Gyorko	SD	Activated off Triple-A Tucson DL (left ankle)
Notes: Gyorko has homered in each of his last four games. I guess he's feeling OK.
Brandon Maurer	SEA	Placed on Double-A Jackson's temporary inactive list
Heath Hembree	SF	Assigned to Triple-A Fresno (finished rehab: elbow)
Josh Osich	SF	Activated off Class A Adv. San Jose DL (shoulder)
John Gast	STL	Activated off Triple-A Memphis DL (shoulder soreness)
Trevor Rosenthal	STL	Demoted from Cardinals to Triple-A Memphis
Jordan Shipers	SEA	Placed on Class A Clinton's temporary inactive list
Hak-Ju Lee	TB	Placed on Double-A Montgomery DL (oblique)
Notes: MLB.com's 35th-ranked prospect left in the third inning of the Biscuits' 8/11 game after attempting to relay a throw to home plate. Lee had been struggling with the bat -- 3-for-his-last-30 at the plate -- but has played a pretty complete season in his first try at the Southern League. The 21-year-old shortstop has racked up 15 doubles, 10 triples, four homers and 37 steals in 116 games; he reached base safely in 46 straight, a streak that ended on 8/3.
Leonys Martin	TEX	Promoted to Rangers; optioned to Triple-A Round Rock
Daniel Norris	TOR	Promoted from Rookie-level Bluefield to Short-Season Vancouver
Christian Lopes	TOR	Promoted from Rookie-level Bluefield to Short-Season Vancouver
Nathan Karns	WAS	Placed on Class A Adv. Potomac DL
Michael Taylor	WAS	Placed on Class A Adv. Potomac DL

Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com. Andrew Pentis is a contributor to MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at AndrewMiLB.