Each month, The Dynasty Guru will provide a prospect update, including notable performances (good and bad), assignments, promotions, trades, injuries, and suspensions. Most importantly, the monthly update will examine prospects with increasing and decreasing fantasy value, from the elite to the obscure.

On Monday, we briefly touched upon notable prospects breaking camp. Today, we focus upon early assignments, injuries, and notable rankings movement for the 2019 Top 500 Fantasy Prospects and other noteworthy prospects.

2019 Catcher Prospect Assignments

Catcher Prospect Notes

• Last year, Ronaldo Hernandez, M.J. Melendez, William Contreras, Miguel Amaya, and Luis Campusano impressed in Low-A. This year, the next batch of potential Low-A breakout catcher prospects include Bo Naylor, Andy Yerzy, Alejandro Kirk, Ivan Herrera, Will Banfield, Blake Hunt, Israel Pineda, and Rafael Marchan. Notably, Pineda turns 19 years old today, and Herrera is still 18 years old until June.
• Notable March rankings movement: Danny Jansen, Toronto Blue Jays (56 to 32); Ronaldo Hernandez, Tampa Bay Rays (113 to 93); M.J. Melendez, Kansas City Royals (149 to 129)
• Notable injuries: Brett Cumberland, Baltimore Orioles
• No assignment: Anthony Seigler, New York Yankees

2019 First Base Prospect Assignments

First Base Prospect Notes

• Grant Lavigne will enjoy the hitter-friendly confines of McCormick Park this year. Not only is the park located at a higher elevation in Asheville, but its dimensions are tiny (left field: 326 ft; left-center: 370 ft; center field: 373 ft; right-center: 320 ft; and right field: 297 ft). Expect a big year from Lavigne!
• Nick Pratto is among an impressive group of Royals hitting prospects in Wilmington, including Seuly Matias, M.J. Melendez, Kyle Isbel, and Brewer Hicklen.
• Notable March rankings movement: Nathaniel Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays (39 to 29); Tyler Nevin, Colorado Rockies (157 to 87); Grant Lavigne, Colorado Rockies (120 to 95); Brent Rooker, Minnesota Twins (130 to 150)
• Notable injuries: none
• No assignment: Zack Shannon, Arizona Diamondbacks; Heriberto Hernandez, Texas Rangers

2019 Second Base Prospect Assignments

Second Base Prospect Notes

• Following the trade to the Dodgers, Jeter Downs will immediately enjoy a move from the Florida State League to the California League, where he will play at hitter-friendly Rancho Cucamonga. Last year, the team hit .274/.351/.474!
• Notable March rankings movement: Garrett Hampson, Colorado Rockies (38 to 28); Luis Urias, San Diego Padres (47 to 37); Tucupita Marcano, San Diego Padres (281 to 196)
• Notable injuries: Nick Senzel, Cincinnati Reds (right ankle sprain); Richard Palacios, Cleveland Indians (torn labrum)
• No assignment: Luis Santana, Houston Astros; Jayce Easley, Texas Rangers

2019 Third Base Prospect Assignments

Third Base Prospect Notes

• This year, the wealth of talent at third base is in Low-A, where you can find Nolan Gorman, Alec Bohm, Mark Vientos, Triston Casas, Sherten Apostel, Miguel Vargas, Jonathan Ornelas, and Brandon Howlett.
• In addition, several top third base prospect likely will debut this year, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Austin Riley, Ryan Mountcastle, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Michael Chavis.
• Notable March rankings movement: Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates (101 to 76); Mark Vientos, New York Mets (148 to 113)
• Notable injuries: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (strained left oblique); Josh Fuentes, Colorado Rockies (left hamate surgery)
• No assignment: Malcom Nunez, St. Louis Cardinals; Luis Toribio, Arizona Diamondbacks

2019 Shortstop Prospect Assignments

Shortstop Prospect Notes

• Shortstop boasts several of the youngest assignments, including Ronny Mauricio in the South Atlantic League (turning 18 years old tomorrow!); Wander Franco in the Midwest League; Gabriel Arias in the California League; and Luis Garcia (WAS) in the Eastern League (still just 18 years old).
• Notable March rankings movement: Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals (65 to 45); Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers (77 to 47); Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates (87 to 67); Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs (98 to 83); Isaac Paredes, Detroit Tigers (109 to 89); Luis Garcia, Philadelphia Phillies (145 to 105); Ronny Mauricio, New York Mets (150 to 110); Wander Javier, Minnesota Twins (195 to 163); Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks (363 to 198); Noelvi Marte, Seattle Mariners (249 to 199)
• Notable injuries: Nick Gordon, Minnesota Twins (acute gastritis); Osiris Johnson, Miami Marlins (out for 5-6 months due to a tibial stress fracture in his right leg); Yasel Antuna, Washington Nationals (Tommy John surgery)
• No assignment: Wander Javier, Minnesota Twins; Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Indians; Freudis Nova, Houston Astros; Antoni Flores, Boston Red Sox; Blaze Alexander, Arizona Diamondbacks

Jesse Roche's 2019 Prospect Series

Please feel free to post comments, questions, or your own observations!

Tomorrow, I will detail assignments and injuries for outfield prospects

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