Rosenblatt Calls Up Hedges (#13) & Castillo (#69)!(66.01)

[niles08]

Looks like the kids are running the daycare now. Rosenblatt announced today that top prospects Austin Hedges (#13) and Pablo Castillo (#69) will join the big-league squad in Las Vegasand both are immediately stepping into starting roles.

Castillo slots into LF, pushing Mark Busse to CF and leaving Sonny Bigelow likely headed to the benchor possibly another team. Chris Walker shifts back to RF after a brief stint in left. Castillo will bat leadoff.

Hedges, despite defensive questions at 3B, will take over the hot corner. Jesus Llado (2.4 WAR as a rookie last season) moves into a super-utility role, covering all over the diamond. Rumors suggest he's also being shopped.

This move makes the roster very young: 6 of 9 starters are 23 or younger. Only Bin Mazin (36) at 1B and Badr Isam (37) in the middle infield break the youth movement, with Derek Hopkins turning 25 this year.

The odd man out? Likely Nagai (#97), still stuck in AAA despite a monster 158 OPS+. Unless an injury opens a dooror another team comes calling for powerhe stays buried.

On the pitching side, things skew older, but reinforcements are coming:

Jerry Raymond (#52) is already in the rotation.

Lorenzo Salazar (#50), Roy Morin (#118), and Rodney Dudley (#137) are nearly ready for the jump.

The challenge: a crowded rotation featuring Molina, Ploughman, and rookie Esteban Sanchez (1.87 ERA in 5 starts at age 21).

With so much young talent, someone's bound to be squeezed out. It's a good problem for Rosenblattbut a stressful one if prospects are left to waste in the minors.

[Trebro]

Sure seems like you're going to be going places soon of these kids play well

[Dington]

69. Giggity.