2007 Indians Top 35 Prospects

1. Adam Miller (RHP)
2. Trevor Crowe (OF)
3. Chuck Lofgren (LHP)
4. Brian Barton (OF)
5. Scott Lewis (LHP)
6. Tony Sipp (LHP)
7. Brad Snyder (OF)
8. Rafael Perez (LHP)
9. John Drennen (LHP)
10. Asdrubal Cabrera (SS)
11. Wes Hodges (3B)
12. David Huff (LHP)
13. Eddie Mujica (RHP)
14. Matt McBride (C)
15. J.D. Martin (RHP)
16. Max Ramirez (C)
17. Sung-Wei Tseng (RHP)
18. Stephen Head (1B)
19. Steven Wright (RHP)
20. Jensen Lewis (RHP)
21. Ryan Goleski (OF)
22. Robbie Alcombrack (C)
23. Jordan Brown (OF)
24. Cody Bunkelman (RHP)
25. Wyatt Toregas (C)
26. Jose Constanza (OF)
27. Neil Wagner (RHP)
28. Ben Francisco (OF)
29. Josh Rodriguez (SS)
30. Joe Ness (RHP)
31. Michael Aubrey (1B)
32. Sean Smith (RHP)
33. Aaron Laffey (LHP)
34. Ryan Mulhern (1B)
35. Tom Mastny (RHP)

Just Missed:

Chris Archer (RHP)
Adam Davis (2B)
Ryan Morris (LHP)
Nick Pesco (RHP)
Brian Slocum (RHP)

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2007 Indians Top Prospects: #1-5

5. Scott Lewis: Left-handed Pitcher

Age: 23 Height: 6’0” Weight: 185 Bats: Switch Throws: Left

Stats & Stuff: Once again, the Indians gambled on an injured player and drafted Lewis in the 3rd round of the 2004 Draft out of The Ohio State University. At Ohio State, Lewis was a dominant pitcher, as his sophomore season in 2003 he went 9-1 with a 1.61 ERA and struck out 127 batters in just 84 innings pitched, and won Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honors. But, while he has a history of being a dominating pitcher, he also has a history of injury. After his brilliant 2003 season at Ohio State, he was being considered as a first round possibility in the 2004 Draft; however, he later suffered a severe arm injury that resulted in Tommy John surgery and resulted in him missing a lot of the 2004 season. The injury problems have followed him to the minor league circuit, as prior to the 2006 season he had been limited to only a total of 21 IP in 2004 and 2005 at Mahoning Valley, going 0-3 with a 4.71 in 10 games over those two seasons. Finally healthy, last year Lewis went 3-3 with a 1.48 ERA in 27 starts last year at Kinston, and held opponents to a .203 average and struckout 123 in 115.2 IP. With his 1.48 ERA, Lewis won the Minor League ERA Title with the best ERA in all the minors.

The Good: The Indians handled Lewis with kid gloves last year, and it worked as he managed to stay healthy all year. Probably the biggest positive all season was that Lewis was able to take the ball every fifth day and handle his workload. Lewis didn’t figure into very many decisions last year because he was on a strict 70-pitch count all season, which was mandated by the Indians because he was still recovering from the Tommy John surgery in 2003 and bicep tendonitis which had plagued him since 2005. The strict pitch count also helped him build up arm strength. The Indians were most encouraged last year with the progress Lewis made in recovering from Tommy John surgery, specifically the aggressiveness in releasing the ball.

To the casual observer, his high strikeout rate and low walk-hit rate may seem to indicate he throws some serious heat; however, this is not the case with Lewis. Lewis has a fastball that only tops out in the 87-90 MPH range consistently, but it was the tremendous command of his secondary pitches that made his fastball play up and look faster. The power and depth he has added to his nasty 12-6 curveball was a key for him last year, and his curveball is now rated as the best in the system. Lewis also has good arm action, and good deception throughout his delivery. His changeup has developed into a plus pitch, and he gets a lot of action on his pitches in the strike zone.

The Bad: Health. That’s the key word with Lewis, as if he is healthy, he is an amazing pitcher. While he was healthy last year, Lewis needs to prove he can be a durable pitcher and stay on the field for the Indians. Also, Lewis does not throw hard, so he will need to depend on his excellent command and secondary pitches to get more advanced hitters out on a regular basis. Lewis also needs to become better at repeating his delivery and ironing out some flaws in his delivery mechanics.

The Outlook: Last year, Lewis made 27 starts and did not suffer any setbacks. Because of his strict pitch count and a smaller pitching roster at Akron, Lewis was held back at Kinston all year because his 4-5 inning starts would be too taxing on the Akron bullpen. This year, Lewis will move up to Akron and a step closer to the major leagues.

4. Brian Barton: Outfielder

Age: 24 Height: 6’3” Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Stats & Stuff: Barton is an undrafted free agent signed out of the University of Miami in August 2004. With the path he has taken and the strides he has made, he has the potential to become a remarkable success story considering he went undrafted. The Indians are still scratching their heads how he went undrafted. He originally went to Loyola and then transferred to Miami, and the thought was because he had to sit out a year after the transfer to Miami along with the concern that he was not serious about baseball (he majored in aerospace engineering) it plummeted his draft stock and led to him not being selected in the draft. Since debuting in Lake County in 2005, Barton has caught the attention of the Indians and made a lot of teams second guess their decision to not draft him. Combined at Lake County and Kinston in 2005, Barton hit .326/.442/.506 with 7 HRs, 64 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He followed that up with a breakout performance in 2006, hitting a combined .323/.412/.511 with 19 HRs, 83 RBIs and 41 stolen bases for Kinston and Akron last year.

The Good: In radio interviews over the summer, former Indians Farm Director John Farrell compared Barton’s build and ability to major leaguer Mike Cameron. Barton is the best Indians minor leaguer most people have never heard of, and his performance last year vaulted him past several players that the Indians actually took in the draft in 2004. In fact, the only one above him now is Lofgren. He is an extremely versatile player with a speed/power combination that teams dream about. Barton has the physical tools and the athleticism to make an impact, and has outstanding bat speed with power to all fields. His intelligence as a player goes without saying, as he is a heady player with a very good feel for the game. As a runner, he has very good speed and instincts on the bases and in the field. He also is an excellent defensive outfielder, and has no problem playing center-field or right-field. His range and arm strength both grade out as above average.

The Bad: Barton does have a tendency to strikeout a lot, as he whiffed 109 times last year in 446 at bats. Although, the strikeout-rate did drop significantly when he was called up to Akron as he only struckout 26 times in 151 at bats compared to 83 times in 295 at bats at Kinston. If Barton can develop more patience at the plate, it will go a long way at helping him provide even more consistent production with his bat. Barton also needs to work on identifying breaking pitches better, and his swing tends to get long and he is very susceptible to inside pitches.

The Outlook: With Barton, Crowe, Snyder, Goleski, Francisco and Gutierrez all virtually on the major league doorstep or close to it, the Indians have a lot of outfield options to turn to in 2007 and beyond. Even though Barton is on the fast-track, he only has 151 Double-A at bats in his career. With the logjam of outfielders in the system, Barton should repeat at Akron to start 2007 because other players such as Ben Francisco and Franklin Gutierrez most likely will be in Buffalo to start the season. Barton will use the time early in Akron to accrue more Double-A at bats, and like Crowe, could be a mid-season callup to Buffalo depending on his health and performance.

3. Chuck Lofgren: Left-handed Pitcher

Age: 20 Height: 6’3” Weight: 205 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Stats & Stuff: Lofgren is as legit as it gets. He was projected to go much higher in the 2004 Draft, but fell due to signability concerns, and the Indians eventually selected him in the 4th round. The Indians feel they found a gem. After going 5-5 with a 2.81 ERA at Lake County in 2005, Lofgren cemented his standing as one of the Indians top prospects in 2006. Lofgren’s 2006 season was sensational, as he went 17-5 with a 2.32 ERA, held opponents to a .217 BAA, and piled up 125 strikeouts in 139.2 IP. Lofgren set a Kinston modern-day franchise record for victories by a pitcher in a season with 17. The old record was 15, set by Brian Slocum in 2004. The 17 wins by Lofgren are the most since Kinston became affiliated with the Indians in 1987, and the most since Frank Bork won 19 games for Kinston in 1962. His 17 wins tied him with Sacramento’s Jason Windsor for most wins in all of the minors. He was also named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year.

The Good: Lofgren is a physical starting pitcher at 6’3” 220 pounds. As a 20-year old he has great composure on the mound, and has a good three-pitch mix lead by a 91-93 MPH fastball. He possesses the best swing-and-miss fastball statistic in the system and follows that up with a hard curve. That swing-and-miss rate is heavily influenced by Lofgren’s very good fastball command, velocity and deception in his delivery. There was talk during instructional league last year of him changing from a curveball to a slider, but he ended up sticking with the curveball and actually is now in the process of adding a hard slider to his pitch mix. Baseball America also recently tabbed him as the Carolina League’s “Best Pitching Prospect”.

Several comparisons have been made of Lofgren to a young Al Leiter as his stuff, presence and approach are nearly identical. Lofgren also has a knack for kicking it into a second gear on the mound when he has to pitch with runners in scoring position. Pressure just does not phase him, and he is just comfortable on the mound in any situation. The Indians have been most impressed with Lofgren’s consistency from start to start, and feel this is a direct result of Lofgren’s commitment to routine and being very mature for his age. He is a student of the game in that he understands and appreciates the history of the game. He also is grounded ego-wise where he understands he's in a special place, and that he is talented and is going to make the most of it.

The Bad: He came into the system with basically a fastball/curveball mix, and while his curveball was his out pitch in high school, at times he leaves it up and it isn’t nearly as good as it was when he was an amateur. Lofgren sharpened it up during instructional league in the fall of 2005, and the results showed last year. Lofgren still needs some refinement with his delivery, and he needs to work on being more efficient with his pitches since his pitch counts get high by the middle innings of games. Also, he needs to work more on finishing off hitters. His changeup is the biggest key for him and he has worked on developing it. If he develops it look out.

The Outlook: Lofgren’s aptitude is off the charts, which is why he could move through the Indians system quickly. Lofgren easily could have been promoted mid-season last year to Akron, but the Indians held him back so he could work on refining his delivery and learn to finish off hitters. In 2007, Lofgren will anchor the staff at Akron. Lofgren is on the fast-track to the major leagues, and could debut sometime in 2008 before he gets strong consideration for the starting rotation going into 2009.

2. Trevor Crowe: Outfielder

Age: 23 Height: 6’0” Weight: 190 Bats: Switch Throws: Right

Stats & Stuff: After taking him with the 1st pick in the 2005 draft out of the University of Arizona, Crowe has been as advertised. After a somewhat disappointing debut in 2005 when he hit .251/.322/.331 at Lake County, Crowe started off with a bang in 2006. At Kinston last year, Crowe hit .329/.449/.470 and had 29 stolen bases in 60 games before he was called up to Akron mid-season. At Akron, Crowe continued his torrid hitting. Crowe was sidelined a few weeks after being called up with an ankle injury, and it slowed him down offensively. The Indians also experimented with him at second-base, which was another reason he struggled last in the year. The position switch and injury hindered Crowe the last month of the season, and his final numbers at Akron dipped to .234/.318/.325. Overall in 2006, Crowe hit .286/.393/.405 with 5 HRs, 44 RBIs and 45 stolen bases in 101 games.

The Good: Crowe’s bat and above average speed on the bases play right now in the majors, and he not only hits for average with some pop, but he has excellent plate discipline and pitch recognition skills. His patience at the plate and ability to work counts very well was shown with his 68 walks and only 71 strikeouts, and his approach makes him a potential leadoff or 2-hole hitter for the Indians down the road. Baseball America ranked him #1 in the Carolina League as the league’s “Best Batting Prospect”, the player with the “Best Strike Zone Judgment”, and as the league’s “Most Exciting Player”.

Crowe has a very advanced bat, which will allow him to be moved quickly through the farm system. Defensively, Crowe grades out as an above average center-fielder with an above average arm. Crowe has a contagious swagger, and is a very high energy and explosive player who has an engine that never stops. The Indians feel he will hit for more power in the future, and prior to nixing the second-base move felt his best comp as a major leaguer was Brian Roberts of the Orioles. Even as an outfielder, Roberts is exactly the offensive player the Indians envision Crowe being.

The Bad: While he has good speed, he really doesn't have the quickness or range to play center-field in the big leagues which will push him to left-field. Crowe also has had trouble staying away from the injury bug in his two years as a pro. In 2005, he was hampered with a few nagging injuries, and in 2006 he missed parts of the season on the disabled list for a strained oblique and ankle sprain. Also, the Indians this off-season decided to nix the second-base experiment for Crowe. The general feeling was that it would take at least two years for him to become adequate at the position defensively, and when weighing this with where he is at currently as an offensive player, they just did not want to slow down Crowe’s progress.

The Outlook: Crowe will play center-field next year in the minors, but with Grady Sizemore firmly planted in center-field for the Indians, when Crowe does make the Indians roster it is likely he will play left-field. Crowe is ahead of the curve somewhat, and is on the fast track to the major leagues. While it looks like he will start 2007 in Buffalo, he actually may return to Akron to start the 2007 season before moving up to Buffalo mid-season. With Franklin Gutierrez and Ben Francisco likely to return to Buffalo, and the Indians likely to push Brad Snyder and maybe Ryan Goleski up to Buffalo first, Crowe presumably will remain in Akron the first month or so and play center-field full-time. With Crowe back in the outfield for good, depending on his performance and injuries/performance issues with players at the major league level, Crowe could figure into the outfield mix and be a mid-season call-up in 2007.

1. Adam Miller: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 22 Height: 6’4” Weight: 175 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Stats & Stuff: Miller was drafted out of high school in the 1st round of the 2003 Draft. After a very lackluster 2005 season, in 2006 Miller reaffirmed his status as the Indians #1 prospect. Miller finished the 2005 season with a 2-4 record and 4.86 ERA in 15 starts at Mahoning Valley and Kinston, and struggled to regain his confidence all year after a strained elbow ligament shelved him for the first few months of the season. But, in 2006 Miller returned 100% healthy in mind and body, and ended the season with a 15-6 record and 2.75 ERA as well as tallying up 161 strikeouts in 158.1 IP. In addition, Miller’s 15 wins set an Akron franchise record, passing Paul Byrd's 1992 franchise record of 14 wins in a season. His 161 strikeouts e also crushed the single-season team record of 149, which was set by Travis Driskill in 1996. Miller was named the Pitcher of the Year in the Eastern League, and won the Indians Bob Feller Award as the organization’s top pitcher in the minors.

The Good: The confidence is flowing once again with this kid, and the difference has been his fastball command and the confidence in his secondary pitches (slider and changeup). Early on in 2006, Miller was on a strict 85 pitch count in order to keep him healthy and fresh, but the pitch count actually helped force Miller to learn how to be more efficient as a pitcher. According to the Indians, two things Miller did in 2006 showed that he is progressing rapidly as a pitcher: 1.) he used all three of his pitches effectively, and 2.) his maturity as a pitcher began to show as he depended more on location with those three pitches rather than just sheer velocity. In other words, Miller no longer is just firing the ball in there, he is pitching.

The Indians were also impressed with the aggressiveness Miller displayed in attacking every hitter. While his velocity is down a little, he still was able to consistently touch 96 MPH in the 7th inning. One can only wonder if this “attack” mentality and the adjustments he made in becoming a pitcher were a direct result of his meeting with Roger Clemens last spring. Clemens came to Winter Haven during the spring last year and sat down with Miller to personally talk about his routine and provided some invaluable insight on pitching. The sit down apparently worked, and it energized Miller.

While he started the season slow, the second half of the season he was dominating. In a stretch of seven starts from early July to early August, Miller was 6-0 with a ridiculous 0.40 ERA (2 ER in 45.2 IP), and only allowed 29 hits while piling up 52 strikeouts. Miller was unbelievable the final two months of the season as he posted a 0.29 ERA in July and a 1.59 ERA in August. The reason for Miller’s resurgence is the development of his changeup, which is making his 95-97 MPH fastball and hard-biting 87 MPH slider practically un-hittable.

The Bad: Not much. Miller did struggle early last season because of inconsistent location of his fastball and his secondary pitches still being a work in progress. Also, he was unable to harness his emotions and adrenaline on a consistent basis in order to allow better command of his fastball and secondary pitches when behind in the count. But, by the end of the season these problems were gone and Miller’s game jumped to another level. His changeup is still a work in progress, but his slider currently grades out as an above average major league pitch.

The Outlook: For the Indians ever to become a serious post-season threat, they will need to find a right-handed front of the rotation starter to pair with lefty ace CC Sabathia. The likelihood of that happening via free agency is pretty much a pipedream, so such a pitcher will have to come from the farm system. The 21-year old Texan fire-baller might be the guy, and he is on the major league doorstep. With the changes to Rule 5 Draft eligibility, Miller no longer needs to be put on the 40-man roster for the 2007 season. With this change, unless the Indians have a desperate need for a starter, Miller likely pitches most of 2007 at Buffalo and could be in line for a rotation spot in Cleveland to start the 2008 season. He could essentially slide in and replace Jake Westbrook if he is not re-signed (or traded), or even Paul Byrd if his team option is not picked up.

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2007 Indians Top Prospects: #6-10

10. Asdrubal Cabrera: Shortstop

Age: 21 Height: 6’0” Weight: 170 Bats: Switch Throws: Right

Stats & Stuff: The Indians obtained Cabrera from the Seattle Mariners in a late-June trade last year in exchange for Eduardo Perez. In 2005, Cabrera hit a combined .295 at three stops in the Mariners organization. Last year, he hit a combined .249/.310/.349 with 4 HRs, 36 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 112 games in the Mariners and Indians system.

The Good: The Indians are very excited about Cabrera’s defense. His future in the big leagues will ultimately be decided by how he performs with the bat, but right now all the rave is with his defense. Cabrera is a gold-glove caliber shortstop who has excellent hands, footwork and very good accuracy. An All-Star short-stop in 2003 and 2004, in 2005 he played second-base and was voted the top defensive second-baseman in the Single-A Midwest League. Cabrera is an acrobat in the field, and has very good short-stop instincts. He gets a great read on balls, and his excellent range and instincts allow him to get to balls that most short-stops can’t get to. He has very good body control, and his athleticism is displayed with his showy actions in the field.

The Bad: As is the case with most young defensive short-stops, Cabrera’s bat is his biggest question mark. At 20 years old last year, he was the youngest player in all of Triple-A, so there is still a lot of time to development the bat and his approach at the plate. Cabrera is a switch-hitter with average speed, but he doesn’t have any offensive tools that stand out. He has an inside-out swing from the right-side of the plate, and feels for contact from the left-side. At times he can be overly aggressive at the plate, and he need to work on becoming a more disciplined hitter and drawing more walks. His throwing arm is also only average, but his plus accuracy makes up for it.

The Outlook: When the Indians traded for Cabrera last June, what the Indians got in return in Cabrera was a defensive wizard. Clearly, the reason Cabrera was picked up was for his defense, which is considered major league ready. There is no question that the defensive struggles Indians starting shortstop Jhonny Peralta had in 2006 paved the way for Shapiro to look for more defensive help, namely in the middle of the diamond. Cabrera provides depth at a position of need in the farm system, and is looked at as an eventual everyday player at the major league level. In 2007, he will be back at Buffalo and work on his offense. Depending on what happens with Peralta, Cabrera could see time with the Indians in 2007 and should push for a job as a starter or utility player in Spring Training in 2008.

9. John Drennen: Outfielder

Age: 20 Height: 6’0” Weight: 190 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Stats & Stuff: The Indians snatched Drennen up with their supplemental pick in the 1st round of the 2005 Draft out of Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego, which has produced a ton of elite high school prospects of late. Knowing Drennen had a scholarship in hand to attend and play at UCLA, the Indians quickly signed Drennen for $1 million. He also made national headlines last June when he hit a tape measure home run off Roger Clemens. In Drennen’s professional debut at Burlington in 2005 he hit .238/.325/.435 with 8 HRs, 29 RBIs and 6 stolen bases in 51 games. Last year, Drennen combined to hit .295/.384/.425 with 6 HRs, 38 RBIs and 8 stolen bases in 98 games as Lake County and Kinston. Drennen’s numbers dipped at Kinston as he was overmatched and wore down some, but earlier at Lake County he was very good as he hit .321/.409/.471 with 6 HRs and 30 RBIs.

The Good: The Indians selected Drennen because they loved his advanced bat and polished approach to hitting. Drennen has a compact build with good power, and also creates a nice smooth bat path with his swing. Although he is somewhat undersized, he packs a lot of punch in his swing and has good pop and a dynamite bat. Right now, he is more a gap hitter, but as he matures he is expected to develop more power. At the plate, he has a good inside out swing and he uses the entire field, especially against lefties. He is an extremely hard worker and is very aggressive at the plate, on the bases and in the field. He is also a smart hitter, and is an energy player with a motor that does not stop. His playing style, build and ability often has been compared to Jeremy Reed, and some have compared him to former Indian Brian Giles.

The Bad: While Drennen is an outstanding hitter, he leaves a lot to be desired as a defender and base-runner. He has good instincts as a runner, but only has slightly above average speed. His biggest weakness is his defense, as his arm is below average and his range in the outfield is limited, which will eventually play him out of center-field. He wore down the second half of last season, but that is to be expected with him being in a full-season league while only a year removed from high school. Drennen also had a minor injury setback early in the year when he dislocated the end joint to his thumb, and ended up missing several weeks of action.

The Outlook: The Indians are loaded in the organization with good outfield prospects. Due to his age and the players in front of him, Drennen is a few years away from making an impact at the major league level. He should start the 2007 season by repeating at Kinston, and likely will play there the entire year because he is roadblocked by so many outfielders above him at Akron and Buffalo.

8. Rafael Perez: Left-handed Pitcher

Age: 24 Height: 6’3” Weight: 185 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Stats & Stuff: Perez is a product of the Indians scouting efforts in the Latin American countries, as he signed as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2002. In his first season in the Indians system in 2003, Perez was named the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 9-3 record with a 1.70 ERA and .220 BAA for short-season rookie level Burlington. He moved up a notch in 2004 to Lake County and went 7-6 with a 4.85 ERA in 22 starts, and then really broke through in 2005 going a combined 12-8 with a 2.62 ERA at Kinston and Akron. Last year, he went a combined 4-8 with a 2.76 ERA and held opposing batters to a .213 BAA in 25 appearances (12 starts) at Akron and Buffalo. In brief action with Cleveland, Perez was 0-0 with a 4.38 ERA in the 12.1 innings he pitched, and he held batters to a .204 BAA.

The Good: Perez throws a powerful 92-94 MPH live fastball with great action. As he grows into his body more and fills out his frame the Indians feel he could add more velocity to his fastball. His slider is rated as the best in the entire system, and many scouts feel it will be a devastating pitch in a major league bullpen. Last year at Buffalo, Perez continued to gain confidence in the bullpen and improved his fastball command. In his brief stint with the Indians in 2006, the organization loved what he showed at Baltimore when he was first called up.

Perez’s arm slot and 3/4 delivery creates uneasiness for left-handed hitters where they can’t dig in against him. Late in 2005, for the first time in his career Perez was used out of the bullpen and he was dominant. In his seven relief appearances he posted a 1.26 ERA in 14.1 IP, and allowed only 11 hits and struck out 11. Situation-wise, Perez has owned left-handers. At Akron in 2005, left-handers hit only .133 (8 for 60) off of him, and last year combined at Akron and Buffalo left-handers only hit .122 off of him (12 for 98). In addition, lefties only had a .210 SLG% against him at Akron, and a .115 SLG% at Buffalo. Those numbers against left-handers are what make Perez such an exciting relief prospect.

The Bad: Perez is still transitioning to the relief role. Last year, the Indians worked with him in developing a more regimented routine in getting prepared for game action coming out of the bullpen so he warms up quicker. Things were speeding up on him some during his brief stay in Cleveland, and some of his problems in Cleveland were a result of mechanical breakdowns, and a lack of getting proper leverage on hitters with his pitches. Also, his ball was not on the required downhill plane and was being left out arm side.

The Outlook: When the Indians first signed Perez, they viewed his future in the major leagues as a left-handed reliever in the bullpen. Even though the Indians projected him as a reliever, last year the Indians continued to start him in order to stretch him out and keep starting pitching options open for the organization. While the door is not closed on him being a starter in the major leagues, the Indians have a great need for left-handed relief pitching this year and beyond. With how dominant he has been against lefties the past few seasons, for now his need is in the bullpen. Perez should compete with Tony Sipp and Juan Lara for a job as the Indians second left-hander in the bullpen, and is a heavy favorite to win the job.

7. Brad Snyder: Outfielder

Age: 24 Height: 6’3” Weight: 200 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Stats & Stuff: The Indians drafted Snyder in the 1st round (31st overall) of the 2003 Draft out of Ball State University. Although they dipped slightly, his 2006 numbers were pretty much a carbon copy of his 2005 numbers. In 2005, Snyder hit a combined .279/.354/.495 with 22 HRs and 82 RBIs combined at Kinston and Akron. Last year, Snyder hit .270/.351/.446 with 18 HRs and 72 RBIs in a return trip to Akron. Also, last year Snyder walked 62 times and struckout 158 times in 523 at bats, compared to walking 49 times and striking out 158 times in 513 at bats in 2005. The 158 strikeouts at Akron last year set a club record. Prior to being drafted, he was the 2003 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.

The Good: Snyder’s stock fell somewhat last year, but the power and physical abilities are there. He comes in ranked above John Drennen mainly because of his power bat as well as his superior defense and base-running. Snyder’s compact stroke generates excellent bat speed, and he has very good power to all fields. His swing is geared for pitches in the zone, and when he stays within himself he hits almost everything hard. Snyder has good speed, which plays up due to his very good instincts on the basepaths. Snyder has mostly played center-field during his time with the Indians, but his power bat and plus arm project him as a major league right-fielder.

With special attention placed on his two-strike approach last season, Snyder consistently hit balls hard the other way. He also was shortening up on his swing, and taking what he was being given and going with pitches, which is something he hardly ever had done in the past. Around mid-season last year, the Indians decided to move Snyder up in the lineup to the leadoff spot from his normal 3-4 spot in the order. The idea behind the move was to get him to see more fastballs and protect him for the time being from seeing multiple pitch types each at bat. The shift in the lineup helped Snyder with his two-strike approach, and the results after the shift were favorable. It was definitely a grind for Snyder last season to work and develop his two strike approach, but like a lot of things in baseball there were good things happening last year with Snyder beyond the numbers.

The Bad: The reason Snyder returned to Akron in 2006 was to work on his two-strike approach and plate discipline. While there were some positives mentioned above with the advancement of his two-strike approach, the progress shown was limited and the strikeout total is still a huge concern. With his lack of discipline, he is still very susceptible to high and outside pitches and pitches in the dirt. In addition to his two-strike approach, the Indians worked extensively with Snyder last year on controlling his front hip and shoulder since he has a habit of pulling it too soon, which results in an incorrect bat path.

The Outlook: When Dave Hudgens came on board as the Minor League Hitting Coordinator last year, he implemented an organization-wide philosophy of drawing walks 10 percent of the time. With the addition of this new hitting philosophy, the idea was for hitters to develop a more patient hitting approach and work counts. One of the players targeted with this new philosophy was Brad Snyder, and while he struggled at times last year he did show some improvement with his 62 walks. The last thing missing in Snyder’s game is the two-strike approach and plate discipline, and it is something he will continue to work on at Buffalo in 2007.

6. Tony Sipp: Left-handed Pitcher

Age: 23 Height: 6’0” Weight: 190 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Stats & Stuff: The Indians gambled when they selected Sipp in the 45th round of the 2004 Draft. Coming out of Clemson, Sipp had only pitched in 22 career games and many felt he would be too costly to sign. But, the Indians found a diamond in the rough and after he impressed the Indians in the Cape Cod League they gladly paid him an unheard of $130,000 (for a 45th rounder) to sign. It didn’t take long for Sipp to impress. In his professional debut in 2004 at short-season Mahoning Valley Sipp went 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA, but more impressive were his 74 strikeouts in only 42.2 IP. In 2005, Sipp went 6-3 with a 2.40 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 116.1 IP in 35 combined appearances (17 starts) at Lake County and Kinston. Last year, Sipp went 4-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 29 appearances (4 starts) with 80 strikeouts in 60.1 IP with Akron. In his minor league career, Sipp has 343 strikeouts in 266.1 IP, good for an outstanding 11.60 strikeouts per nine innings average and also has a low 6.49 hits per nine innings average. Sipp also held batters to a .202 BAA in 2006, and while he did well against left-handers (.226 BAA), he dominated right-handed hitters in holding them to a .191 BAA.

The Good: Sipp is a power-armed pitcher who has an impressive three-pitch arsenal. His stuff is big-time, fronted by a fastball and slider that both grade out as plus pitches, with the slider being a plus-plus pitch. Both the fastball and slider are considered out pitches. His fastball has good movement and consistently sits in the 91-94 MPH range, although his quick arm action and excellent deception makes it look a lot faster.

He is still developing a changeup and has a good feel for it, but even after only over a year of using it, Indians Scouting Director John Mirabelli commented that the changeup is Sipp’s best pitch. With the changeup, hitters can’t sit on his slider and fastball. The development of his changeup has jumped him into an elite level of relief prospects, so much so, that Baseball America ranked him as the #2 closer prospect in all the minors. With three very good pitches, a player of Sipp’s caliber would normally project as a reliever. But, the Indians love his potential as a dominant late-inning reliever. Sipp is also extremely athletic, and his athleticism allows him to consistently repeat his delivery well. He is a very aggressive on the mound, and has prodigious aptitude.

The Bad: While he has made great strides with the changeup, he still is working on maintaining consistent command with it. He also is a little undersized, and lacks pinpoint control. Sipp also missed some time due to injury last year, going on the disabled list for two months first with an oblique injury and then later with left elbow inflammation.

The Outlook: Sipp could be a candidate for the closer’s job in Cleveland in 2008 and beyond. For now, Sipp is a candidate to fill the left-handed pitching void in the Indians bullpen in 2007. But, unlike Rafael Perez, he has yet to pitch any innings at Triple-A or in the majors, so he probably won’t be a bullpen option until mid-season. If he is lights out and impressive in Spring Training, it is possible the Indians may go with him, but considering how conservative the Indians tend to be with their prospects, he’ll likely open the year as the Buffalo closer.

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2007 Indians Top Prospects: #11-25

25. Wyatt Toregas: Catcher

Age: 23 Height: 5’11” Weight: 200 Bats: Right Throws: Right

After a disappointing 2005 season at Lake County where he hit .231/.302/.321 with 5 HRs and 42 RBIs, Toregas bounced back in 2006 and established himself as one of the Indians top catching prospects. In 2006, Toregas combined to hit .294/.366/.450 at Kinston and Akron in 309 at bats. Toregas is a player on the rise in the Indians farm system, and improved physically between the 2005 and 2006 seasons. There is no question about Toregas’ offensive abilities, but his defense is what has Tribe officials excited. Simply put, Toregas is a very good defensive catcher that can control a running game. Last year, he averaged 1.85 seconds on throws to 2B, which is much better than the major league average of 2.0 seconds. Toregas is the best defensive catcher in the Indians system, and he was ranked by Baseball America as the best defensive catcher in the Carolina League last year. Toregas was up with the Indians this past September to get a firsthand look at the atmosphere and how players prep for games, and actually sat behind home plate charting games. Toregas most likely will start the 2007 season at Akron.

24. Cody Bunkelman: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 21 Height: 6’3” Weight: 225 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Bunkelman was dominant in 24 games at Lake County last year where he went 1-2 with a 2.82 ERA, held batters to a .169 BAA and struckout 48 batters in 44.2 IP. He struggled with his first taste of advanced Single-A at Kinston going 3-1 with a 6.65 ERA and struckout 23 hitters in 23 IP. Bunkelman was moved to the bullpen in 2006, and the results were mostly positive. He has a raw power arm, which features a mid 90’s fastball and a nasty slider. His changeup is still a work in progress, but it won’t be needed if he sticks in the bullpen. Bunkelman’s strong lower half of his body provides a launching pad for additional velocity on his pitches, and his mechanics in his delivery are smooth and provide deception. Bunkelman should start the 2007 season at Kinston and help anchor the bullpen.

23. Jordan Brown: Outfielder

Age: 22 Height: 6’0” Weight: 205 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Brown gets a lot less pub than his former University of Arizona Wildcat teammate Trevor Crowe, but he put up one of the quietest, good seasons in the Indians system last year. While Crowe was drafted in the 1st round of the 2005 Draft, Brown was selected a few rounds later in the 4th round of the same draft. After a very slow start where he hit .232 with 0 HRs and 9 RBIs in 28 Kinston’s first 28 games, Brown settled in to finish the season hitting .290/.362/.469 with 15 HRs and 87 RBIs. Brown also won the Carolina League MVP award, and was the first Kinston player to win the MVP award since Victor Martinez won it in 2001. Brown has a powerful left-handed bat, and his approach and offensive abilities have been compared to former major leaguer Wally Joyner. Brown is not particularly athletic, but is a hard-worker. Given the depth the Indians farm system has in the outfield Brown could move back to 1B, which is a position he played in college. Brown should start 2007 in Akron.

22. Robbie Alcombrack: Catcher

Age: 18 Height: 6’0” Weight: 205 Bats: Right Throws: Right

The Indians took Alcombrack out of high school in the 7th round of the 2006 Draft, and were able to convince him to sign and not enroll at Arizona State University. Alcombrack was one of the most sought after high school catching prospects, and was ranked #52 in Baseball America’s Pre-season Top 50 high school draft prospects, and the 4th overall catcher. Alcombrack is young (18), but solidly built at 6’0” 205 lbs and has strong hands. His fundamentals behind the plate are excellent at such a young age, and he also has a good arm with pinpoint accuracy. As a hitter, he is a line-drive hitter with gap power, but as he matures he is expected to fill-out and showcase more power. Last year, Alcombrack played briefly with the Indians of the Gulf Coast League and in Burlington, and managed to hit a combined .204/.235/.250 with 0 HRs and 9 RBIs in 108 at bats. In 2007, Alcombrack will be with one of the short-season squads and will likely return to the Gulf Coast League Indians or move up to Mahoning Valley.

21. Ryan Goleski: Outfielder

Age: 24 Height: 6’3” Weight: 225 Bats: Right Throws: Right

If the Indians are looking for a prototypical right-fielder, Goleski is the guy. Not only does Goleski bring power to the plate, but he also has a cannon for an arm. The question with Goleski is whether he can stay consistent, as he put up good numbers in 2004 at Lake County (.295/28/104) but then followed that up with a lost season in 2005 at Kinston (.212/17/67). Goleski bounced back from his disappointing 2005 campaign, and hit .306/.391/.557 with 27 HRs and 106 RBIs in 445 combined at bats between Kinston and Akron in 2006. Goleski was one of the biggest turnarounds in the system last year, with strikeout improvement a big key behind his success. He has become more disciplined and has developed a better two strike approach at the plate. His resurgence last season has put him back on the prospect map for the Indians, and Goleski should fight for an outfield spot in Buffalo next year.

20. Jensen Lewis: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 22 Height: 6’3” Weight: 195 Bats: Right Throws: Right

If at first you don’t succeed, try again. That’s what the Indians did with Lewis, as they drafted him out of high school in the 33rd round of the 2002 Draft, but Lewis elected to go to college. The Indians once again took Lewis in the 3rd round of the 2005 Draft out of Vanderbilt University, and he signed. In 2006, Lewis went a combined 8-8 with a 3.96 ERA in Kinston and Akron. Like his predecessor at Vanderbilt, Jeremy Sowers, Lewis has a very strong mental approach to the game and has excellent command. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, and he also is still developing a slider. While he throws in the 90-92 MPH range, many scouts feel he could add more velocity as he matures or if he is shifted to the bullpen. Lewis has experience in the bullpen in his days at Vanderbilt, and the Indians like his athletic ability and stuff so much that they supposedly have decided to move him to the bullpen next year. Lewis should start the 2007 season in Akron.

19. Steven Wright: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 22 Height: 6’2” Weight: 205 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Wright was the first of four 2nd round picks for the Indians in the 2006 Amateur Draft, but he did not pitch for the Indians in 2006 since he signed a 2007 contract. Last year, with the University of Hawaii, Wright went 11-2 with a 2.30 ERA, and in 109.2 innings only allowed 19 walks while striking out 123. He also was tabbed the WAC Pitcher of the Year in 2006, and also received the Russ Ford Award as the Cape Cod Baseball League’s best relief pitcher in 2005. Wright has very good makeup and a fastball that hovers in the low 90s, but the best pitch in his arsenal is a slider that grades as a plus pitch. He’ll be a starter early in his professional career, but as he climbs up the minor league ladder many feel he will eventually end up in the bullpen. He will probably start at Lake County in 2007.

18. Stephen Head: First-Baseman

Age: 22 Height: 6’3” Weight: 220 Bats: Left Throws: Left

After a very good debut in 2005 where he hit .308/.349/.513 with 10 HRs and 50 RBIs in 57 combined games at Mahoning Valley and Kinston, Head had a horrible 2006 campaign at Kinston hitting only .235/.319/.377 with 14 HRs and 73 RBIs. But, for as much as Head struggled last year, he still profiles as a good major league first-baseman. He is a smooth defender, has above average power, and even with his struggles last year still had a healthy 54:73 walk to strikeout ratio in 477 at bats. His numbers suffered mostly as a byproduct of his swing mechanics getting overhauled. With the new revamped approach to hitting, Head was slow to adapt to the adjustments and at times was overly aggressive by trying to do too much too soon. Head should bounce back in 2007, and open the season by repeating at Kinston, but he will see significant time in Akron next season.

17. Sung-Wei Tseng: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 21 Height: 5’11” Weight: 180 Bats: Right Throws: Right

The Indians signed Tseng out of Taiwan last year. Last Spring, the 21-year old Tseng went 7-0 with a 0.36 ERA for the National Taiwan College of Physical Education, pitching 73.2 innings and only allowing 3 earned runs and 29 hits, while walking only 8 batters but striking out 73. Shortly after signing Tseng, Indians Scouting Director John Mirabelli commented that had Tseng been in the draft, he would have been taken late in the 2nd round and that he physically resembles major league pitcher Tom Gordon. Tseng has a compact build with above average velocity and good movement on his fastball which consistently clocks in the 91-94 MPH range. His best pitch is a splitter which bottoms out well and is considered a swing-and-miss pitch at the major league level. Tseng is a very refined pitcher, and he also has very good control. He is also not afraid to come inside on hitters, and has very clean arm action on his fastball. The Indians plan on starting Tseng’s professional career at Kinston in 2007. Tseng will be given the opportunity to start, but he currently projects as an exciting arm at the backend of the bullpen.

16. Maximiliano “Max” Ramirez: Catcher

Age: 22 Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 Bats: Right Throws: Right

The Indians obtained Ramirez last year when they traded closer Bob Wickman to Atlanta. In 117 combined games at Rome and Lake County, Ramirez hit .292/.417/.454 with 13 HRs and 63 RBIs. Ramirez is a disciplined hitter with a very advanced, mature approach at the plate, as evidenced by his 84:99 walk to strikeout ration in 2006. He has an excellent eye, very good bat control, and his power is developing. The questions with Ramirez lie solely on his defense and if a position can be found for him. Ramirez converted from third-base to catcher in 2005, and has adapted well to the new position. Right now, the Indians are focused on developing Ramirez’s receiving skills and game calling, and are evaluating his arm strength and defense behind the plate. While Ramirez is very athletic, he lacks a strong arm and his mechanics behind the plate still need a lot of work. Ramirez is an exciting hitting prospect, but much like they did with Ryan Garko, the organization will likely continue to evaluate Ramirez at catcher and also possibly experiment with him at third-base and first-base to find out what position may suit him best long-term. He should start 2007 in Kinston.

15. JD Martin: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 23 Height: 6’4” Weight: 195 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Martin appeared at several different levels last year on a rehab assignment from Tommy John surgery he underwent the previous year, finishing the year 1-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 14 combined appearances (13 starts) at Mahoning Valley, Lake County and Kinston. He also logged 40 strikeouts in 44.1 IP and held opposing hitters to a .190 average. Martin throws three different fastballs (a cutter, two-seamer and four-seamer), and he also throws a changeup and curveball. His fastball consistently ranges from 88-91 MPH, and he has outstanding control of it and his other pitches. Before the arrival of Scott Lewis, Martin’s true 12-6 curveball was rated as the best curveball in the system. Martin’s development of a cut fastball might now be the best pitch in his arsenal. Martin is now starting to grow into his body more and beginning to fill out, which means he has an improved chance to add some more velocity. Also, the added bulk should allow him to maintain his delivery and arm action better, especially through his lower half. Martin has an outstanding work ethic, which has helped in his rehab from Tommy John surgery and also from a strained ligament in 2003. Martin was sent home early from the Florida Instructional League a month back because of fatigue and soreness, but Martin is pretty much considered healthy now and should be ready to go when camp opens in the spring. This upcoming year will be a big year for him, and he should start the year in the Akron rotation.

14. Matt McBride: Catcher

Age: 21 Height: 6’2” Weight: 215 Bats: Right Throws: Right

The Indians selected McBride with the last of their four second round picks in the 2006 Draft. McBride signed quickly, and was assigned to Mahoning Valley where he showcased the talent that had scouts excited about him going into the draft. McBride finished the year hitting .272/.355/.402 with 4 HRs, 31 RBIs and 5 stolen bases in 52 games. McBride provides a rare combination of defense and offense at the catching position, and he was so impressive that Baseball America tabbed him the 3rd best prospect in the NY-Penn League last year. While he is a big and strong catcher, McBride is also athletic and runs very well for a catcher. His strengths as a player are his catch-and-throw skills, especially his plus arm. But, he also has a very cerebral approach behind the plate, and has shown good leadership qualities. McBride is a very patient hitter with good power potential, and has a very good eye and bat-to-ball ability. McBride’s potential as an offensive and defensive catcher lead many to believe he was the top catcher available in the 2006 Draft, and to date he has backed that up. With the sudden depth at catcher in the organization, McBride could start the season next year at Lake County.

13. Eddie Mujica: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 22 Height: 6’2” Weight: 220 Bats: Right Throws: Right

In the spring of 2005, the Indians made a role change for Mujica that since then has jumpstarted his career. Mujica went from an unknown and struggling pitcher, to one of the best bullpen prospects in the Indians system in just over a year’s time. The decision to move him to a bullpen role worked out well, as in 2005 Mujica pitched exclusively out of the bullpen and racked up a combined 24 saves and 2.54 ERA at Kinston and Akron. Mujica followed that up in 2006 by going 4-1 with 13 saves and a 1.57 ERA in 34 combined appearances at Akron and Buffalo. Mujica features a mid 90s fastball and locates it well, and also has a good mid-to-high 80s slider. With the development of a nasty split-finger fastball last spring, he now has a pitch in his repertoire to consistently get out left-handed batters. Mujica has excellent physical and mental makeup, and outstanding durability to handle multiple appearances. The Indians love Mujica’s fearless approach, and his attitude and competitiveness thrive late in games. He believes there is not a player that is going to beat him, and when he gives up a hit he bears down and goes right after the next hitter. His confidence and short-memory, to go along with his fearless mentality and pitching abilities, make him a natural fit for a backend bullpen role. He will battle for a spot in the Indians bullpen this spring, and if he is optioned out he will be assigned to Buffalo.

12. David Huff: Left-handed Pitcher

Age: 22 Height: 6’2” Weight: 190 Bats: Switch Throws: Left

Huff was a supplemental 1st round pick and the first player the Indians selected in the 2006 Draft. After signing, Huff reported to Mahoning Valley, but since he logged so many innings at UCLA earlier in the year he only made four appearances going 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in 7.2 IP. At UCLA, Huff compiled a 7-4 record and a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts, while striking out 100 in 129.2 IP. Huff often is compared to Tom Glavine, Barry Zito and Jeremy Sowers. The comparisons to Zito not only come from his approach and repertoire, but Huff’s coach at UCLA (John Savage) was also Zito’s pitching coach at USC. Huff is a strike-thrower who has excellent command of his pitches. His fastball consistently clocks in at 87-90 MPH, and his changeup is a plus pitch and ranked one of the best in the country last year. The key to Huff’s future will be the development of an effective breaking ball as a third pitch to use against left-handers. He does throw a curveball, but it still needs a lot of work. The Indians feel Huff has a chance to advance through the farm system rapidly like Jeremy Sowers did, and is expected to start the year at Kinston in 2007.

11. Wes Hodges: Third-Baseman

Age: 22 Height: 6’2” Weight: 180 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Hodges has the potential to be the biggest impact player from the Indians 2006 Draft, and would have ranked in the Top 10 of this list if he didn’t have some injury concerns. Going into 2006, Hodges was ranked as a preseason Top 10 college draft prospect and sure fire 1st round pick, but that ranking took a hit when he came down with a stress fracture in his left leg. Hodges initially thought he had a calf strain when the pain surfaced in March, but because the pain continued to get worse as the season wore on he was evaluated further and the stress fracture was found. Hodges fell on draft day, and the Indians gambled and selected Hodges with their third of four second round picks. The Indians signed him for $1 million and to a 2007 contract to hold him out of action the rest of the season and give him more time to mend from the injury. Even though he basically played on one leg almost all of the season, Hodges still hit .329 with 11 HRs and 68 RBIs in 219 at bats at Georgia Tech. Hodges is a very disciplined hitter with great bat-to-ball ability, and has a nice line drive stroke with good power potential. As a defender, Hodges does it all with good hands, a strong arm and very good range at 3B. Hodges could start at Lake County in 2007.

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2007 Indians Top Prospects: #26-35

This is my first foray in the land of top prospect lists, and I must admit it is a lot harder to come up with these rankings than I thought it would be.

It wasn’t for a lack of content, as a full year of covering the Indians minor league system with my “Minor Happenings” piece provided more than enough material for just about every player considered for this list. The hard part was whittling down a list of 50-60 players down to a Top 35 because the Indians system is so deep with talent. I can’t count how many times I revised this list, moving guys up and down several times before settling on a final version.

Originally, this was supposed to be just a “Top 10 Prospects” list that was to provide a short paragraph blurb on each player, but as I contemplated who should make that Top 10 list I found myself leaving off some very good players, so the list grew to 20, 30 and then to 35. And, those short paragraph blurbs evolved into page long reports for each player in the Top 10.

Some players missed the list for various reasons, while others that made the list may be a surprise to some. With the exodus of so much talent from the farm system last year because the Indians were able to provide a lot of prospects significant playing time, the list was really wide open for newcomers. My general rule of thumb when compiling this list was that players with a good minor league track record usually got the benefit of the doubt over younger prospects or recent draft picks. Most of the recent draft picks or younger players which made this list had to have some very good projectable talent.

Anyway, out of the 35 prospects that made this list, 6 were recent draft picks from the 2006 Amateur Draft. Also, the positional breakdown was 11 right-handed pitchers, 8 outfielders, 6 left-handed pitchers, 4 catchers, 3 first-basemen, 1 second-baseman, 1 short-stop, and 1 third-basemen. Clearly, the Indians have a ton of depth in their farm system with pitching and outfielders. Also, with some good draft picks and key trades, the Indians now have a stable full of very good catching prospects they did not have at this time last year.

35. Tom Mastny: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 25 Height: 6’6” Weight: 220 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Mastny has done nothing but win and put up consistent numbers at every stop on the minor league ladder over the course of his career. In his 4-year minor league career Mastny has been impressive, going 28-9 with a 2.20 ERA in 111 career games. But, 2006 was his first season as a full-time reliever and he blossomed in the role going a combined 2-2 with a 2.01 ERA in 36 games at Akron and Buffalo, and later was called up to Cleveland and pitched impressively. While he lacks an over-powering fastball, Mastny generates a lot of swing and misses with his fastball because of the good deception he creates with his delivery and arm action. He has somewhat of an unorthodox delivery, but is a strike thrower and is very mature on the mound. His length (6’6”) allows him to get good leverage on hitters, and his pitch selection is very good. Mastny will get a long look at one of the bullpen spots in Cleveland this spring.

34. Ryan Mulhern: First-Baseman

Age: 26 Height: 6’2” Weight: 205 Bats: Right Throws: Right

After a sensational 2005 campaign where he won the Lou Boudreau Award as the organization’s top hitter, Mulhern took a step back in 2006. And the Indians were very open in stating that Mulhern’s 2006 season was not very successful. While he was productive, it pales in comparison to the numbers he put up in 2005. After he hit .315/.390/.640 with 32 HRs and 94 RBIs in 112 combined games at Kinston and Akron in 2005, Mulhern struggled at Akron in 2006 hitting .268/.335/.438 with 15 HRs and 69 RBIs in 121 games. Mulhern has very good power, but lacks good plate discipline. Much of his problem in 2006 was a lack of aggressiveness early in the count in not attacking fastballs, and then late in the count being over-aggressive when the pitchers were throwing more breaking balls. He tended to over-think his at bats and just did not have a good plan of attack when he stepped into the batters box. Mulhern can play first-base or the outfield, so it remains to be seen where Mulhern may play in 2007. Most likely, he will open at Buffalo and play first-base.

33. Aaron Laffey: Left-handed Pitcher

Age: 21 Height: 6’0” Weight: 170 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Since his dominant debut at Burlington in 2003 where he went 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA, Laffey has been sort of a disappointment. He went through a tough season in 2004 at Lake County, and put up a solid year in 2005 splitting time in Lake County and Kinston. Laffey jumped back onto the prospect scene last year after he combined to go 12-4 with a 3.16 ERA in 29 appearances (23 starts) at Kinston and Akron in 2006. Laffey’s fastball tops out at 87-88 MPH, and he also throws an above average slider and a changeup. Laffey has had problems improving his mechanics and developing a changeup, which have held him back and may make him a lefty specialist down the road. He should start the 2007 season in Akron.

32. Sean Smith: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 23 Height: 6’4” Weight: 195 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Smith is a highly touted draft-and-follow player who emerged last year. Smith has always had the talent, but a bunch of minor injuries the last few years held him back. Finally healthy, in 2006 Smith put up arguably his most impressive season in the minors going 11-7 with a 3.83 ERA in 29 combined starts at Kinston and Akron. Smith showed he was on the rise with an outstanding performance in the Carolina League Finals series in 2005. Smith has had command problems in the past, but his emergence last year was tied to more efficient use of his pitches, increased velocity in his fastball, and not shying away from contact. Plus, he pitched with a lot of confidence last year. His fastball consistently checks in at 88-91 MPH, and he also throws a 12-6 curveball, slider and changeup. Smith could end up along the same lines of Brian Slocum based on pure stuff, and might be a middle reliever or a swing guy as he moves along in the Indians farm system. Smith should be in Buffalo in 2007, but may start the season at Akron.

31. Michael Aubrey: First-Baseman

Age: 24 Height: 6’0” Weight: 195 Bats: Left Throws: Left

When Aubrey plays, he performs. In 238 career minor league games, he has hit .318/.403/.520 with 37 HRs and 193 RBIs. But, staying on the field to put up those numbers has been his problem, as he has endured many long spells on the disabled list and those 238 games played have come over 3 ½ seasons (roughly 460 possible games). In 2006, for the second straight year, he was lost early in the season when he injured himself sliding into 2B and suffered a surface fracture on his right knee joint. With his latest injury, his days as an impact prospect are all but over, which is unfortunate. When healthy, Aubrey is a superior defender and good hitter with gap power. But, the injury bug seems to have stalled his career. The man has been a china doll since being drafted by the Indians in the 1st round of the 2003 draft, and 2007 might be Aubrey’s last chance in the organization. If healthy, he probably will open the season in Akron.

30. Joe Ness: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 23 Height: 6’5” Weight: 230 Bats: Right Throws: Right

The Indians took Ness in the 6th Round of the 2005 Draft out of Ball State University. In Ness’s first full season with the Indians last year, Ness went 9-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 26 starts at Kinston. At 6’5” and 230 lbs, Ness is a big, physical pitcher with a strong arm that gets his fastball in the low to mid 90s. Ness also throws a slider and changeup. While Ness is a strike-thrower, his pitches tend to lack variation in speed because his changeup is still a work in progress. If Ness is unable to change speeds, it could spell trouble down the road against more advanced hitters. The Indians feel Ness has the potential to be an innings eater because of his durability and strong mechanics, and he should start the 2007 campaign in Akron.

29. Josh Rodriguez: Second-Baseman

Age: 21 Height: 6’0” Weight: 175 Bats: Right Throws: Right

The Indians took Rodriguez with their second of four picks in the second round of the 2006 Draft. In pre-season college draft prospect rankings, Rodriguez was considered the top shortstop available. Like Wes Hodges (more on him later), however, Rodriguez’s draft stock plummeted somewhat when an elbow injury limited him to DH duty at Rice University early in 2006 and he was eventually moved to third-base. Once signed, the Indians assigned him to Mahoning Valley where he hit .268/.337/.465 with 4 HRs and 24 RBIs in 45 games. Rodriguez is a patient hitter with gap power. While Rodriguez lacks speed he does have an excellent throwing arm, and is versatile enough to play third-base, shortstop or second-base. With the need in the lower minors for second-basemen, Rodriguez most likely could end up at that position full-time. He should start the 2007 season at Lake County.

28. Ben Francisco: Outfielder

Age: 25 Height: 6’1” Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Francisco had a very good year at Buffalo last year, hitting .278/.345/.454 with 17 HRs, 59 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. The Indians love his bat, and feel he would be further along if not for several trips to the disabled list over the past few years. Francisco's bat provides very good extra base hit production, and he is a versatile defender who can play all three outfield positions well. His speed is average, but he is an excellent base-runner as his instincts on the base-paths lead to many of his stolen bases. The Indians feel he is capable of a major league opportunity right now, and he may initially break in as a 4th outfielder. With Francisco now on the 40-man roster, he’ll join Franklin Gutierrez and Shin-Soo Choo in the battle for the 4th outfielder role with Cleveland in 2007. If he doesn’t win the job, he’ll return to Buffalo and anchor the lineup.

27. Neil Wagner: Right-handed Pitcher

Age: 22 Height: 6’0” Weight: 195 Bats: Right Throws: Right

Wagner might be a sleeper, and someone to keep an eye on. Last year at Mahoning Valley, Wagner went 0-0 with 17 saves and posted a 1.39 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .143 average and struckout 50 hitters in 32 innings. Wagner closed in college, and at this point it appears the Indians intend to develop him as a closer. Outside of Adam Miller, Wagner arguably has the most explosive fastball in the system that touches 96-98MPH consistently. He controls his fastball well, but the key to him becoming a bonafide relief prospect will be the development of at least one secondary pitches, which he has struggled with. Wagner most likely will start the 2007 season as the closer at Lake County.

26. Jose Constanza: Outfielder

Age: 23 Height: 5’9” Weight: 150 Bats: Switch Throws: Left

Constanza had a breakout season in 2006, hitting .309/.410/.410 with 2 HRs, 36 RBIs and 39 stolen bases in 120 games combined at Lake County and Kinston. Constanza has outstanding bat control and bat-to-ball ability, and very good baseball instincts. He put himself on the radar screen back in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) in 2004 when he hit .444 and lead the league in just about every offensive category except home runs. The Indians were so impressed with Constanza’s showing in the DSL in 2004, that they started him in Lake County in 2005, which is unheard of for players in the Indians academy in the Dominican Republic to start with a full-season squad in their state-side debut. The last player to do so was Jhonny Peralta. Constanza projects as a left fielder because of his speed and defense and limited pop in his bat, and may eventually break in with the Indians as a 4th outfielder down the road. Because of the crowded outfield situation in Akron and Buffalo he will most likely return to Kinston in 2007, but at some point in the season he will be in Akron.

Honorable Mentions:

Ryan Morris (LHP): Only 18 years old, he is a bulldog on the mound and has excellent makeup. His fastball sits in the high 80s, but since he is only 18 he projects well and velocity should increase. Throws a very good slider.

Chris Archer (RHP): A live arm and a confident pitcher. Just turned 18, and someone to watch develop in 2007.

Nick Pesco (RHP): Injuries have held him back, and he at times struggles with command. Before Huff came on board, he had the best changeup in the system.

Adam Davis (SS): Potential top of the order hitter with plus speed and switch-hits. Needs a lot of work on plate discipline and making consistent contact.

Brian Slocum (RHP): A low-to-mid 90s fastball and above average changeup make him effective. He’ll be the 6th or 7th starter for the Indians in 2007.

Graduated:

These players are no longer considered rookies, and thus prospects, because they have compiled 50 or more innings pitched or 130 or more at bats: Fernando Cabrera (RHP), Fausto Carmona (RHP), Shin-Soo Choo (OF), Ryan Garko (1B), Franklin Gutierrez (OF), Joe Inglett (IF), Andy Marte (3B), Kelly Shoppach (C), and Jeremy Sowers (LHP).

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Minor Happenings: 2006 Tony Awards

In his final regular season installment of this superb column, Tony Lastoria hands out his "Tony Awards", recognizing the top players in the Indians farm system in 2006. Lastoria hands out awards to the top batter, pitcher, and team in the Tribe minor league system, and also identifies his comeback, breakthrough, and most disappointing players. Big ups to Lastoria for his work this year ... as this was one of the most read columns we featured in 2006.

The Indians minor league baseball season has wrapped up, so it is time wrap the season up in the final edition of Minor Happenings with the first annual SwerbsBlurbs.com Minor League “Tony” Awards. Minor Happenings will return in late October or early November with an update on what is “happening” in the winter leagues, the Indians 40-man roster, the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, as well as many other things.

(Of note, for those that are not familiar, when listing the stats the numbers between the slashes are: batting average/ on-base percentage/ slugging percentage. For example: .310/.367/.534)

Offensive Player of the Year

The Candidates: 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, OF Ryan Goleski, OF Brian Barton

The Skinny: Barton had a breakthrough season, hitting .323/.412/.511 with 19 HRs and 83 RBIs in 446 combined at bats between Kinston and Akron, and he also stole 41 bases. Goleski bounced back from a disappointing 2005 campaign, and hit .306/.391/.557 with 27 HRs and 106 RBIs in 445 combined at bats between Kinston and Akron. Kouzmanoff solidified himself as a top 3B prospect in all the minors, hitting .379/.437/.656 with 22 HRs and 75 RBIs in 346 combined at bats between Akron and Buffalo.

And the Tony Award goes to: Kevin Kouzmanoff

The Verdict: While Barton and Goleski put together two outstanding seasons, Kouzmanoff was simply off the charts in 2006. Kouzmanoff did have about 100 less at bats than Barton and Goleski, but the man had a 1.093 OPS for the season, which is Hafner-esque. While he did not walk much (33), he also did not strikeout a lot either (46), and he was simply an extra base hit machine with 28 2Bs, 1 3B and 22 HRs for a total of 51 extra base hits in only 346 at bats. To put this in proper perspective, Grady Sizemore leads the majors with 88 extra base hits in 616 at bats (through 9/21)...which is 1 extra base hit every 7 at bats, whereas Kouzmanoff got an extra base hit in roughly 1 out of every 6.8 at bats. Kouzmanoff's ability to hit for average and power, as well as showing an advanced two-strike approach (1 K every 8 ABs) has put him in the Indians immediate plans at 3B or 1B, and possibly even LF.

Pitcher of the Year

The Candidates: Jeremy Sowers, Adam Miller, Chuck Lofgren, Scott Lewis

The Skinny: In roughly half a season, Sowers was sensational in 15 starts at Buffalo going 9-1 with a 1.39 ERA, and in 97.1 IP held opponents to a .224 average and struckout 54. Lewis went 3-3 with a 1.48 ERA in 27 starts and held opponents to a .203 average and struckout 123 in 115.2 IP. Miller started slow, but was dominating down the stretch finishing 15-6 with a 2.75 ERA at Akron, while holding batters to a .226 average and struckout 157 in 153.2 IP. Lofgren finished 17-5 with a 2.32 ERA, and held opposing batters to a .217 average and struckout 125 batters in 139.2 IP.

And the Tony Award goes to: Adam Miller

The Verdict: This was really a two-horse race between Miller and Lofgren since Sowers really only pitched two months at Buffalo, and Lewis somewhat handicapped because of his strict pitch count of 60-70 pitches every start. Miller reaffirmed his status as the Indians #1 prospect, and Lofgren clearly established himself as the Indians #2 prospect. The duo went on to set franchise records for wins at Kinston and Akron, both were tabbed the Pitcher of the Year in their respective league, both established themselves as potential future front of the rotation starters, and both were simply dominant almost all season.

So how do you separate them? Based on numbers and performance, you really can't. In reality, the two should probably share this award, but I hate ties. So, breaking it down as far as I could to find separation, I gave the edge to Adam Miller for two reasons: 1.) He pitched at AA, is closer to the big leagues, and could see time with the Indians sometime in 2007 and 2.) more importantly Miller was simply dominant the final two months of the season. Lofgren's best two months ERA-wise were April (1.33) and June (1.80), but he seemed to fade somewhat down the stretch (3.15 in July, 3.42 in August). Miller, on the other hand, was unbelievable down the stretch and the final two months were his best months (0.29 ERA in July, 1.59 ERA in August).

Comeback Player of the Year

The Candidates: Scott Lewis, JD Martin, Ryan Goleski, Jeremy Guthrie

The Skinny: Lewis went 3-3 with a 1.48 ERA in 27 starts this year and held opponents to a .203 average. Martin appeared at several different levels this year on a rehab assignment, finishing the year 1-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 14 combined appearances (13 starts) at Mahoning Valley, Lake County and Kinston. He also logged 40 strikeouts in 44.1 IP and held opposing hitters to a .190 average. Goleski bounced back this year to hit .306 with 27 HRs and 106 RBIs combined at Kinston and Akron. Coming off a disappointing minor league career and 2005 season at Buffalo when he went 12-10 with a 5.08 ERA, Guthrie went 9-5 with a 3.14 ERA at Buffalo this season.

And the Tony Award goes to: Scott Lewis

The Verdict: This was another two-horse race, which came down to Goleski and Lewis. Guthrie put up a good season, but his ship most likely has sailed out of the organization. And, while Martin is probably one of the Indians top 5 pitching prospects, he was limited this year with his innings because of his rehab from Tommy John surgery this past off-season.

Goleski bounced back to All-Star status after a very disappointing 2005 campaign at Kinston where he hit .212 (.276 on-base%) with 17 HRs and 67 RBIs, and had a career high 137 strikeouts. Prior to 2005, he was an All-Star in 2003 at Mahoning Valley (.296, 8 HRs, 37 RBIs in 64 games) and in 2004 at Lake County (.295, 28 HRs, 104 RBIs). Lewis underwent Tommy John surgery a few years ago, and because of various arm issues he only pitched in 10 games and had pitched a total of 21 innings in his two seasons in the Indians organization coming into this season. This season, the Indians kept him on a strict 60-70 pitch count to help build arm strength and keep him healthy, and the results were fantastic as he won the Minor League ERA Title (1.48). Because of the season Lewis put together coming off of injury, his season trumped Goleski’s as the top comeback season in the system.

Biggest Breakthrough

The Candidates: Brian Barton, Jordan Brown, Wyatt Toregas, Jose Constanza

The Skinny: Barton combined to hit .323/.412/.511 with 19 HRs, 83 RBIs and 41 stolen bases at Kinston and Akron. Brown hit .290/.362/.469 with 15 HRs and 87 RBIs at Kinston. Toregas hit .294/.366/.450 with 8 HRs and 52 RBIs in 92 games combined at Kinston and Akron. Constanza hit .309/.410/.410 with 2 HRs, 36 RBIs and 39 stolen bases in 120 games combined at Lake County and Kinston.

And the Tony Award goes to: Brian Barton

The Verdict: Brown had a very good first full season in the organization, winning the Carolina League MVP award, and helped lead the offense when Kinston’s lineup was left decimated when Goleski, Trevor Crowe and Barton were all called up to Akron within a month’s time from May to June. Constanza put himself on the prospect map this year with his fine performance, mainly because of his improved plate discipline and his speed. Last year, he only hit .257/.346/.301 and only drew 43 walks, but this year improved his on-base skills with more walks (70) as well as an improved batting average. Toregas improved his offense this season as he only hit .231/.302/.321 with 5 HRs and 42 RBIs in 104 games at Lake County in 2005. But, the biggest breakthrough for him might be his defense which the Indians rave about, especially his ability to shutdown a running game.

In the end, though, Barton’s numbers were clearly the best breakthrough performance in 2006. Barton came out of nowhere in 2005 to hit .326/.442/.506 with 7 HRs, 64 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 99 combined games at Lake County and Kinston. As an undrafted free agent signing, no one took his numbers seriously as the thought was he was too old for the league he was in last year, and hence didn’t receive much attention in top prospect ratings going into this season. No longer is that the case. Barton has now solidified himself as one of the Indians top outfield prospects with his ability to hit for average and his blend of power and speed.

Biggest Disappointment

The Candidates: Michael Aubrey, Ryan Mulhern, Stephen Head, Brad Snyder

The Skinny: Aubrey only played in 14 combined games at Kinston and Akron this year, hitting .278 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs before being sidelined with yet another injury. After hitting .315/.390/.640 with 32 HRs and 94 RBIs in 2005 and being tabbed the organization’s top hitter last year, Mulhern hit .268/.335/.438 with 15 HRs and 69 RBIs at Akron this season. Head hit .235/.319/.377 with 14 HRs and 73 RBIs this season at Kinston, after he hit a combined .308/.349/.513 with 10 HRs and 50 RBIs at Mahoning Valley and Kinston last year. Snyder hit .270/.351/.446 with 18 HRs and 72 RBIs in a return trip to Akron this year after hitting .279/.354/.495 with 22 HRs and 82 RBIs combined at Kinston and Akron last year.

And the Tony Award goes to: Ryan Mulhern

The Verdict: Snyder’s overall numbers are mostly a carbon copy of 2005’s numbers, but he was disappointment mostly because he returned to Akron to work on his two-strike approach and failed miserably. After striking out 158 times in 2005, he matched that number in 2006 and set an Akron record for most strikeouts in a season. But, the biggest disappointment this season may not have been a specific player, but the 1B position as a whole in the Indians system. Going into the season, second to pitching, 1B arguably was considered the strongest and deepest position in the system. The Indians had four top prospects at 1B, and not just one of them floundered in 2006….but ALL OF THEM (Ryan Garko didn’t exactly light it up in Buffalo).

Aubrey has loads of talent, but just can’t stay on the field as he has only played in a total of only 42 games the last two years. But, considering he was such a big disappointment last year, it is hard to give him top billing this year. Head was very disappointing this year in that he did not build off the good debut he had last year, and all his numbers dropped significantly. Most notably his slugging percentage went from .513 in 2005 to .377 in 2006. But, to me, the biggest disappointment was Mulhern. After having a breakthrough season in 2005 at Kinston and Akron where he hit .315/.390/.640 with 32 HRs and 94 RBIs in 403 at bats, his numbers all dipped significantly this year to .268/.335/.438, 15 HRs and 69 RBIs in 452 at bats. With more at bats, his HR production was cut in half, which is a big reason his slugging percentage dropped 200 points..

Team of the Year

The Candidates: Akron, Kinston

The Skinny: Kinston finished 85-54 on the year, going 47-23 in the first half season to qualify for the playoffs, and went on to win the Carolina League Championship. The 47 wins in the first half season were a team record. Akron finished the season at 87-55, winning the Eastern League Southern Division by 10 ½ games and falling short in the Eastern League Championship Series 3 games to 2.

And the Tony Award goes to: Kinston

The Verdict: Not much of a surprise here, as overall the Indians had a disappointing season team-wise in the system this year. Only two of the seven affiliates made the playoffs in their respective league, and Buffalo was a big disappointment (virtually a carbon copy of the parent club). Kinston and Akron both had outstanding seasons, but the deciding factor here in the end is Kinston won the Carolina League Championship, while the Aeros fell a game short of repeating as Eastern League Champions. In addition, Kinston flat out dominated in the postseason going 5-0 and outscored their opponents 29-13.

All-Minor League Indians

Note, this is not a top prospect listing by position, but a listing based on performance in 2006. A quick glance through, you can see how deep the organization has become in the outfield in one year, and how there is a large void of talent in the middle infield. Also, how much of a disappointment 1B was in the system seeing how I had to place the disappointing Mulhern on the 2nd team:

1st Team:

C Max Ramirez - .292/.417/.454, 13 HRs, 63 RBIs
1B Ryan Garko - .247/.352/.420, 15 HRs, 59 RBIs
2B Eider Torres - .267/.318/.314, 2 HRs, 44 RBIs, 44 steals
SS Brandon Pinckney - .282/.339/.409, 7 HRs, 68 RBIs
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff - .379/.437/.656, 22 HRs, 75 RBIs
OF Brian Barton - .323/.412/.511, 19 HRs, 83 RBIs, 41 steals
OF Trevor Crowe - .286/.393/.405, 5 HRs, 44 RBIs, 45 steals
OF Ryan Goleski - .306/.391/.557, 27 HRs, 106 RBIs
LHP Chuck Lofgren - 17-5, 2.32 ERA, .217 BAA
RHP Adam Miller - 15-6, 2.84 ERA, .227 BAA

2nd Team:

C Wyatt Toregas - .294/.366/.450, 8 HRs, 52 RBIs
1B Ryan Mulhern - .268/.335/.438, 15 HRs, 69 RBIs
2B Rodney Choy Foo - .293/.382/.475, 12 HRs, 60 RBIs, 14 steals
SS Jerad Head - .242/.303/.455, 10 HRs, 52 RBIs
3B Andy Marte - .261/.322/.451, 15 HRs, 46 RBIs
OF Jordan Brown - .290/.362/..469, 15 HRs, 87 RBIs
OF Jose Constanza - .309/.410/.410, 2 HRs, 36 RBIs, 39 steals
OF Jason Dubois - .275/.342/.492, 22 HRs, 87 RBIs
LHP Scott Lewis - 3-3, 1.48 ERA, .203 BAA
RHP Jeremy Guthrie - 9-5, 3.14 ERA, .229 BAA

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