Jenkins heads to Erie as DSL23 roster takes shape

By Tony Mazzanti · Prospects & farm system writer for The Motor City Dispatch · Monday, April 3, 2051

The most significant roster movement heading into Opening Day belongs to first baseman Elijah Jenkins. The organization officially promoted Jenkins from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie. Moving a first baseman to Double-A means the bat has to carry the profile. There is nowhere to hide at the cold corner, and the promotion signals the club’s intent to test his offensive ceiling against more advanced pitching. We will see how his approach plays when the competition level ticks up in Erie.

Down in the Dominican Republic, the complex is turning over and the raw tools are arriving. The club signed international amateur third baseman Alfredo Perez out of the Dominican Republic to a minor league contract. Perez brings the kind of raw, unrefined physicality you look for in a teenage infielder. Alongside him, the organization promoted a player from the international complex directly to Rookie League 23 Detroit. Getting live reps in the DSL is the first real test for these young bats.

On the mound, projectable arm Mel Camunez earned his own promotion from the international complex to Rookie League 23 Detroit. Camunez is a starting pitcher, and getting him into DSL games to build up his workload is the immediate priority. The system also got a bit of external validation this week, with a player officially named the No. 96 prospect in the LOTP. Hype is cheap and list rankings are just ink on a page, but a top-100 tag puts a target on a player’s back. The real evaluation starts when the pitches are actually thrown and the swings are actually taken.

Notebook

2051-03-23

[G]Released by the Texas organization.
Placed LF Willie Figueroa on the active roster.
Activated LF Willie Figueroa from the injured list.
Optioned RF Matt Gray to Triple A Toledo.
Optioned RP Sergio Arellano to Triple A Toledo.
Placed LF Willie Figueroa on the active roster.
Activated LF Willie Figueroa from the injured list.
Optioned RF Matt Gray to Triple A Toledo.
Optioned RP Sergio Arellano to Triple A Toledo.
Placed RP Sergio Arellano on the International League 7-day injured list, retroactive to 03/20/2051.

2051-03-24

[I]Injured (dizziness and nausea),day-to-day for 3 days.
[G]Signed a 1-year minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

2051-03-25

[G]Signed a minor league contract out of Dominican Republic with the Detroit Tigers organization.

2051-03-29

[I]Injured (viral infection),day-to-day for 2 days.

2051-03-30

[G]Was claimed off waivers by San Diego while with Chicago.
[I]Injured (fractured finger),out for 6 weeks.

2051-04-03

[G]Signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization.