In the second huge call-up this week for the Tampa Rays, top pitching prospect Jeff Niemann was recalled from Triple-A Durham
to replace the injured Matt Garza.  He allowed 1 run on 6 hits and 1 BB in 6 innings pitched, while striking out 5 and earning his first career W.  The 6′9″ right hander, ranked 99th overall by BaseballAmerica, will more than likely be sent back down upon Garza’s return.  Regardless, with skills like this and the new and improved Rays offense, Niemann is definitely someone to watch as a fantasy sleeper this year.

Garza is scheduled for a bullpen session on Tuesday, and if all goes well he’ll go on to make a rehab tune-up in the Minors prior to rejoining the big league club.

Astros stud rookie catcher J.R. Towles got a big scare on Sunday, when a pitch from Marlins closer Kevin Gregg plunked him on the top of his hand.  Initial x-rays came back negative, a diagnosis that was confirmed today by team physician Tom Mehlhoff.  While this is a big relief to both the Astros and fantasy owners, Towles is still too sore to play.  Evidence of this was the ‘Stros decision today to recall C Humberto Quintero from Triple-A Round Rock as insurance while J.R. sits.

Tampa Bay Rays prospect Evan Longoria will make his Major League debut today against the Baltimore Orioles.  Opportunity knocked for Longoria when Willy Aybar was placed on the disabled list Friday after missing his second straight game with a sore left hamstring.  Time to pick him up in fantasy leagues if he’s available because of the tremendous upside; if he plays well enough during this stint he could keep the job for good.

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.

• Marlins pitching prospect Chris Volstad had a great start on Wednesday, giving up one run on five hits in six innings.  He is now 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in Double-A Carolina.  The 6-foot-7 right hander has a great chance at being fantasy-significant if he keeps pitching well, as the Marlins have already brought up Burke Badenhop from Double-A this year to replace the struggling Rick VandenHurk, and wouldn’t be afraid to promote another young pitcher if necessary.  According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, Volstad’s experience in Double-A last has made him slightly ahead of other pitching prospects in the Marlins organization.

• The Marlin’s center fielder of the future, Cameron Maybin, is off to a fast start in Double-A Carolina.  He’s batting .474 (9-for-19) with two homers and seven walks.  Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest says:

“It’s great. It’s good for his confidence,” Beinfest said. “Spring Training was a little rough for him. Not being on field the whole time, and then he struggled a little bit at the end. It’s good for him to get off to a good start. He just needs to work on getting the experience and getting ready.”

Reds rookie starting pitcher Edinson Volquez received a standing ovation from 26,566 fans after allowing only one run to the Phillies while striking out 7 in 5 1/3 innings pitched on Sunday.  If you missed the boat on picking up Johnny Cueto for your fantasy squad, Volquez is your man.  He had the most K’s of any pitcher in spring training and looks to continue that trend into the regular season.  Johnny Cueto is one of his best friends and the two have a friendly rivalry going which should motivate them both this season. When asked about Cueto’s slightly better 10K performance last week, Volquez took a light-hearted jab:

“Cueto cheated, because I didn’t pitch seven innings like him,” Volquez said smiling. “No, I don’t feel like we’re in competition. We’re all teammates. I just feel really excited to get my first win in Cincinnati.”

That’s “Johnny 10K” Cueto, of course.

In his debut on Thursday, Cueto got the win for the Reds against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Faithful readers of MLBPN would have (hopefully) already owned him on their fantasy teams and had him in the lineup for his overwhelming performance. If not, now is the time to try to claim him off the waiver wire if he isn’t gone already, which he probably is.

Through 7 innings Cueto struck out 10 batters, something no Reds pitcher has done in a major league debut - ever. Cueto had a perfect game going until the sixth inning when he allowed his only hit of the game, a home run by Justin Upton. There was already a major fantasy buzz about Johnny 10K after his strong spring showing, but now that buzz has reached a fever pitch. Even Manager Dusty Baker can’t help but be impressed:

“He was hitting that low and away fastball and mixing in his slider and an occasional changeup,” said Baker. “He threw the ball as well as anybody can throw the ball. The way he threw the ball today has no age to it.”

Sure its only his first start, but Johnny 10K is looking like the real deal. Did we mention he’s only 22 years old?

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News writes that Rockies 2B Jayson Nix already has the awareness of a veteran after making his major league debut this week. Nix drew a two-out, bases loaded walk in the eighth inning to force in the go-ahead run in Colorado’s 2-1 victory over St. Louis. A one-time organizational top-prospect and the Rockies’ first pick in the 2001 draft, Nix finally got his chance to play this year after seven years in the minors. Once considered a bit suspect, Nix is well on his way to solidifying his starting role at 2B. Although there is an uncharacteristically large amount of depth at 2B in fantasy leagues this season, owners in NL-only and deeper mixed leagues should keep Nix on their radars as he may be part of that great depth by the end of the season.

It looks like Twins new starting CF Carlos Gomez isn’t have any more problems with his hamstring.  It was reported that manager Ron Gardenhire was miffed with Gomez for his reluctance to take it easy after experiencing tightness in his hamstring.  Gomez told fellow outfielder Michael Cuddyer that his leg was getting stiff.  Cuddyer promptly told Gomez to take himself out of the game.  Gomez refused and in the next inning was unable to run down a ball hit to deep center.  Gardenhire quickly pulled Gomez as a precaution against further injury.  Apparently Gomez attributes his leg stiffness to having too little body fat, and really doesn’t see it as a big deal.

After his performance in Minnesota’s home opener, Gomez proved he was right.  Gomez impressed everyone by going 2-3 with a walk, 2 stolen-bases and 2 runs scored.  In what was supposed to be a night about Torii Hunter returning to Minnesota, most fans walked away talking about the new Twins CF.

Fox Sports columnist Ken Rosenthal writes that while many fans may be shocked that the Rays demoted Evan Longoria to Class AAA even after posting a 1.002 OPS this spring, it may turn out for the better.  The Rays say they want to give Longoria a little more time to develop, a strategy that every fantasy owner can agree worked well with the Brewers and last season’s ROY Ryan Braun.  So, rather than starting Longoria in the Majors with the possibility of him having an Alex Gordon-like slow start, the Rays will keep Longoria in the minors for at least three weeks to make sure he is ready (which he is) and more importantly to ensure that they get an extra year out of him before he becomes a free agent.  Keep an eye on him if he’s available on your waiver wire.