Cubs pitching prospect Sean Gallagher struck out 12 Oklahoma RedHawks on Tuesday, while allowing only one run on three hits over 7 2/3 innings.

“The fact that this game came against the RedHawks made it even better, because that team is stacked with players who have spent time in the Majors,” said Gallagher. “When you face a team like that, it serves as a real test of your abilities.”

Cubs prospect Jeff Samardzija beat out Dodgers prospect Clayton Kershaw for the win Thursday night.  Samardzija allowed four hits and a walk while striking out five in seven scoreless innings, leading his Tennessee Smokies to a 2-0 win over Kershaw’s Jacksonville Suns.  Kershaw pitched well but allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings.  He struck out a season-high eight, including Samardzija twice.

“He got me a couple times,” Samardzija laughed. “It was good to get a chance to see him throw from the batter’s box. He’s got some pop on his fastball.”

Despite the 2 earned runs, Kershaw’s eight K performance is encouraging and he definitely has a chance to make it to the Majors this year.

Earlier this week we listed the top prospects getting cut from the Rays, Indians, Pirates, Nationals, Rockies, Rangers, Red Sox, Twins, Angels, and Orioles.  We’ve listed below a handful of prospects who have been cut since then.

• Beau Mills, 3B/1B, Indians
• Trevor Crowe, OF, Indians
• Matt LaPorta, OF, Brewers
• Phillipe Aumont, RHP, Mariners
• Robinzon Diaz, C, Blue Jays
• Charlie Morton, RHP, Braves
• Tyler Flowers, C/1B, Braves
• Brett Sinkbeil, RHP, Marlins
• Lance Broadway, RHP, White Sox
• Rick Porcello, RHP, Tigers
• Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies
• Chris Nelson, SS, Rockies
• Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Cubs
• John Bowker, OF, Giants

• After hitting two long balls yesterday, Cameron Maybin came through with another home run today.  Looks like the youngster is making a push for that CF job.  Maybin had come into the game as a pinch runner earlier in the game.
• Kosuke Fukudome wowed fans with his defense today, making a spinning acrobatic catch to save an extra base hit.  Piniella also batted Fukudome in the 5 hole today, wanting to put a solid bat behind Aramis Ramirez.
• As we reported a few days ago, David Price has been cut from the big league squad.  It was announced today that Price will be starting the season at Class A.  This is pretty standard for first year players, but Price proved this spring that he isn’t a standard prospect.  It had been speculated that Price might start a little higher than Single-A ball.  Regardless of where he starts, Price should end up at the big show in no time.
• Jonathan Mayo of MiLB.com released his list of the top five farm systems.  Mayo had the Rays at #1 (no surprise there), the A’s at #2 (okay, that’s surprising), the Rangers at #3, the Reds at #4, and the Red Sox rounding it up at #5.
• The Giants are trying speedster Eugenio Velez at 3B.  Two weeks into March and the Giants still don’t really have a leading candidate for the 3B spot, so Velez definitely has a shot.  The Giants have been reported to be surveying the trade market for a third basemen, but if Velez wins this job, look out.  With a little bit of playing time Velez is definitely a fantasy sleeper to watch for his SB totals.
• Twins RHP Nick Blackburn finally gave up a run.  The youngster hadn’t given up a run this spring, until surrendering 3 ER in 3 IP today.

Pitcher Jeff Samardzija, the former Notre Dame wide receiver, was optioned to Double-A Tennessee Tuesday.  The dwindling roster now includes 42 players; 11 infielders, 7 outfielders, 3 catchers, and 21 pitchers. About Samardzija, Manager Lou Piniella had this to say:

“Last year, he threw hard and overpowered hitters here in camp, but this year he pitched more. He had a better sinker, tighter slider. He worked on a changeup. He was starting to develop a split-finger, which he didn’t use in these games, but he’s getting better with.”

Samardzija still has a chance to be brought up from the minors if the Cubs are having pitching trouble and Piniella thinks he is worthwhile. Don’t hold your breath.

After struggling at the 3rd spot in the batting order for the first 4 games, rookie outfielder Kosuke Fukudome was beginning to look like a total bust for the Cubs.  Fukudome was batting 1-for-7 when manager Lou Piniella decided to change things up a bit:

”We need for him to swing it,” Piniella said. ”Maybe the 3-hole might be asking a little bit too much too soon. We might drop him down to the 2-hole, and he might be more comfortable there.”

Piniella’s instincts have so far turned out to be right.  In his first game batting 2nd, Fukudome went 3-for-3 with a home run and RBI single.  Now through 7 games this spring his line looks like this: .333 AVG (5-for-15), 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBI, and 5 walks, for an on base percentage of .545.  As a starting outfielder for the Cubs he should provide fantasy owners with some good production.

• Jo-Jo Reyes is making a strong case for the #5 spot in the Braves’ rotation. It appears that he has taken the lead for the rotation spot over Braves’ pitching prospect Jair Jurrjens.
• According to the ESPN Spring Training Blog, Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez expects to see Cameron Maybin back in the lineup sometime this week. Good news for Maybin, as he’ll need all the time he can get if he’s going to win that CF job.
• Kosuke Fukudome has been struggling at the plate so far this spring. Cubs new manager Lou Piniella is going to try moving Fukudome from 3rd to 2nd in the lineup, hoping that it will put the Japanese import at ease. Fukudome’s defense has been top notch all spring, however. As long as Fukudome remains at the top of that stacked Cubs order, he’s in line for a great rookie season.
• Very interesting article today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about 3B prospect Neil Walker. Apparently the Pirates organization has issued a challenge to Walker to get in better shape to be able to handle the rigors of a full season at 3B. Walker has encountered injury or late-season fatigue in each of his pro seasons. He’s only 22, though, so hopefully he can turn things around and realize the lofty projections scouts have put on him.
• The former Notre Dame two-sport standout, Jeff Samardzija, pitched two scoreless innings today and got the win. Jeff (way easier to spell) was picked up in the 5th round by the Cubs in the 2006 Draft.
• Astros’ prospect Felipe Paulino continues to impress new Houston manager Cecil Cooper as he battles for a spot on the team’s rotation. Cooper said that Paulino’s outing was the second most impressive all camp, behind only Wandy Rodriguez. If Paulino makes the rotation, he could be a major sleeper this year.
• An injury update today on Orioles’ pitching prospect, Troy Patton, and it isn’t good. Nothing conclusive has been released yet, but all indications are that Patton will miss the 2008 season because of his shoulder. This is a real bummer too, as Patton was practically a shoe-in for a roster spot.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to put Geovany Soto on your list of fantasy sleepers. Soto will be available late in most drafts and has significant upside in the fairly shallow catcher position. Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports that Soto will start opening day and although he is still learning the “ins” and “outs” from veteran Henry Blanco, Lou Piniella is fully on board. By all accounts, Soto is ready to crush the ball this year. The 6-foot-1, 230 lb prospect had a great year offensively in 2007, hitting .353 with 26 HRs and 109 RBIs which earned him Pacific Coast League MVP honors. He’s turned up to camp slimmer and in better shape this year and chances are his Minor League production will translate into solid numbers for a catcher, with HRs in the 15-20 range batting average near .300. Even if you’ve already drafted a catcher by the later rounds he would be worth picking up as a backup or to use as trade-bait later.

Brandon Funston of Yahoo Sports put together his list of the top 10 rookies to make a fantasy impact this year. We’ve summarized the basic information for you. He says he didn’t include Kosuke Fukudome even though he’s technically a rookie, and if he had Fukudome would be in his top 3.

• 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos, OF
  If CoCo Crisp is out of the picture and Ellsbury bats lead off, could have 40 SBs and 100+ runs
• 2. Clay Buchholz, Bos, SP
  Will get babied by BoSox for 125-150 IP, 10 wins, and a k/ip
• 3. Joba Chamberlain, NYY, RP
  Will be starting in the bullpen, limited to 140 IP or less, probably will make the rotation at some point
• 4. Evan Longoria, TB, 3rd Base
  Funston predicts .280/20/75/75/0, if he starts
• 5. Geovany Soto, ChC, Catcher
  Probably won’t be a top 100 fantasy player, but could have good value if drafted late
• 6. Joey Votto, Cin, 1st Base
  Stuck behind 38 year old Scott Hatteberg but could get 20 HR and 10-15 steals with 450 ABs
• 7. Andy LaRoche, LAD, 3B
  It’s between him and Nomar Garciaparra for the starting 3B role, has 20-25 hr power if he gets the job
• 8. Jay Bruce, Cin, OF
  Norris Hopper/Ryan Freel will limit his chances of starting in the majors, but with the talent he has he should be up before the All-Star break
• 9. Colby Rasmus, StL, OF
  Could be a 20/20 guy if he surpasses one of the current outfielders: Chris Duncan, Rick Ankiel, or Ryan Ludwick
• 10. Ian Kennedy, NYY, SP
  Has held hitters to under .190 in 168 minor league innings. With the Yankees bat support he could reach double digit wins.

• Cubs’ OF Kosuke Fukudome reached base three times today against the Giants; a walk, a HBP, and an RBI single.
• The Phillies top pick in 2007, Joe Savery, had a very rough first outing.  But his pitching coach was pleased with his performance because of how he responded to a tough situation.
• Former Orioles’ top pick Scott Moore is learning 2B in anticipation of a potential Brian Roberts trade.  The Baltimore outfield is already pretty well occupied by Luke Scott, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis, so this is probably a good move by Moore.
• Mets’ top prospect Fernando Martinez got one of the team’s only four hits today.  It seems former prospect Anthony Reyes is continuing his great spring.
• In his first game of American baseball, White Sox IF Alexei Ramirez went 4-5 with an RBI and 3 runs scored.  Sleeper alert here if he wins the 2B job.
• Top IF prospect for the Red Sox, Jed Lowrie, would love to man the middle infield with 2007 ROY Dustin Pedroia.  In the same article is word that RHP Michael Bowden would get his first look of the spring against Northeastern.