MLB Prospects: #FreeMikeTrout and Other Prospect-Related Twitter Movements

As someone who spends an unhealthy amount of his free time talking prospects and other baseball nonsense on Twitter—I swear I have friends, really—I’ve noticed growing hashtag trends in response to the hot starts of some of baseball’s finest prospects.

Most notable is, of course, the #FreeMikeTrout movement, which has emerged in the face of the Angels’ offensive scuffles and Trout’s dominance at Triple-A Salt Lake.

But Trout isn’t the only player who has fueled a Twitter movement. In fact, there are numerous players whose performances—as well as the lackluster output of a corresponding player at the big league level—have led to outcry from fans for a promotion. 

While some of the uproar is rooted in hasty excitement and unfamiliarity with the organizational depth chart, others may be justified by the prospect’s overwhelming performance at their current minor league level.

Here is a look at some of the prospect movements that have emerged on Twitter and gained steamed in recent weeks.

Travis Snider, Toronto Blue Jays: #FreeTravisSnider

2012 Stats: 74 AB, .405/.476/.703, 14 XBH, 23 RBI, 52 TB, 11 K/10 BB

As he always does, Snider has been assaulting Pacific Coast League pitching, leading the circuit in OPS (1.179) and RBI (23). However, given the Blue Jays’ current outfielder configuration, is there any room for Snider, or is he simply boosting his value as trade bait? 

Only time will tell whether the 24-year-old receives a big league promotion or spends another season uncomfortably bouncing between levels—or, as Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein calls it, "prospect purgatory."

Will Middlebrooks, Boston Red Sox: #FreeWillMiddlebrooks

2012 Stats: 72 AB, .375/.430/.778, 12 XBH, 25 RBI, 56 TB, 10 K/7 BB

Middlebrooks has homered in six of his last 10 games, and is 15-for-37 (.405) with 19 RBI. It may be an unpopular move to promote Middlebrooks and play him over Kevin Youkilis (or even in a platoon), but if their veteran third baseman continues to bat .200/.268/.300, the Red Sox may have no choice but to explore the possibility. 

Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs: #FreeAnthonyRizzo

2012 Stats: 75 AB, .373/.420/.693, 10 XBH, 19 RBI, 16 K/5 BB

Rizzo has five extra-base hits and five multi-hit efforts in his last 10 games. But while he may be raking, Bryan LaHair has been one of the Cubs' hottest hitters to begin the season, currently sporting a 1.180 OPS through 40 at-bats. 

The Cubs won't be calling up Rizzo unless he's guaranteed playing time, so he may have to continue feasting on Pacific Coast League pitching for the time being. Plus, he's only batting .174/.174/.304 with eight strikeouts and no walks in 23 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season. There's still some room for improvement before his Wrigley debut.

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: #FreeMikeTrout

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2012 Stats: 74 AB, .419/.483/.649, 21 R, 10 XBH, 13 RBI, 6 SB

Trout continues to do everything well in the outfield, at the plate and on the basepaths. However, he remains blocked by Torii Hunter (.697 OPS), Vernon Wells (.663 OPS), Bobby Abreu (.561 OPS) and Peter Bourjos (.501 OPS) in Anaheim.

But given the team’s lack of pop and lofty expectations, especially from their core of veteran outfielders, it will be interesting to see how long it takes until Trout is viewed as a permanent solution. 

The Halos are clearly in need of a change (to some extent), and Trout may be the addition needed to jump-start their talented offense.

Trevor Bauer, Arizona Diamondbacks: #FreeTrevorBauer

2012 Stats: 4 GS, 4-0, 22.2 IP, 0.40 ERA, 28 K/14 BB, .158 BAA

With the ongoing struggles of Diamondbacks starter Josh Collmenter and Bauer’s dominance at Double-A, there is growing demand for the right-hander in Arizona. 

To begin the season, the right-hander has been carving up minor league hitters, though his command has remained suspect at times. However, you can’t deny his success and his potential to further it in the major leagues this season. 

He’ll definitely make his big league debut at some point this season—likely after a brief stop at Triple-A. The only question is how soon?

Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles: #FreeDylanBundy

2012 Stats: 13 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 21 K/1 BB

After his fourth start of the season on Tuesday, Bundy has fired 13 no-hit innings to begin his professional career and retired 39 of the 40 hitters he’s faced. Not bad, right?

While it’s certainly fun to speculate that the right-hander could make an appearance in Baltimore before the end of the 2012 season, it’s highly unlikely.

Rather, #FreeDylanBundy is more of a demand for a promotion to either High- or Double-A, which is more than justified at this point. But I beg you, Orioles front office, to hold off until I have a look at him in person on Sunday. Thank you.