Indians Top 50: #37 Kyle Bellows

Kyle Bellows - Third Baseman
Born: 08/19/1988 - Height: 6'3" - Weight: 210 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	Avg	Obp	Slg	Ops
2009	21	Mahoning Vy	A-	54	200	29	48	4	4	7	32	20	30	8	.240	.311	.405	.716
		Totals		54	200	29	48	4	4	7	32	20	30	8	.240	.311	.405	.716

History:  Bellows was selected by the Indians in the 4th round of the 2009 Draft out of San Jose State.  He began his freshman season at first base with San Jose State and ended up finishing the season at shortstop where he earned freshman All-America honors after hitting .343 with 6 HR, 47 RBI, and an .897 OPS in 60 games.  That summer he played in the New England Collegiate League and was rated as the second best prospect in the whole league (Steven Strasburg was first).  As a sophomore at San Jose State and playing in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2008, he split his time between first base, third base, and shortstop.  The constant shuffling affected his numbers as he only hit .276 with 4 HR, 42 RBI, and an .828 OPS in 56 games.  In his junior season - his draft year- he spent the entire season at shortstop and he once again was comfortable at the plate hitting .389 with 10 HR, 57 RBI, and a 1.051 OPS.  His professional debut at short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley ended prematurely in the middle of August when he broke a bone in his hand and dislocated a finger sliding back into a base.

Strengths & Opportunities:  Bellows has a very good bat and is just starting to come into his power.  As a 20-year old at Mahoning Valley he impressed by exhibiting some good bat-to-ball ability and became much more consistent with making contact as the season wore on.  He is not expected to be someone who hits for a high average as he moves up the professional ranks, but he has shown an ability to limit strikeouts and has an improving approach where he could become more patient with drawing more walks.  His biggest tool though is some very nice raw power that makes him a potential middle of the lineup run producing bat.  He is very strong and athletic, and with his 6'3" 210 pound frame is an impressive physical specimen that should continue to grow as he fills out the next year or two.  He also has a high aptitude with a drive to improve.

Bellows played shortstop, first base, and third base in college, though was primarily a shortstop.  Upon drafting and signing him, the Indians immediately moved him from shortstop to third base.  His manager at Mahoning Valley - Travis Fryman - made the same transition as a professional, so he helped immensely with the transition.  Fryman really liked what he saw out of Bellows and spoke of him in the same light as his former pupil the previous year Lonnie Chisenhall.  The move to third base looks like it suits him well as he not only has the frame and body to get bigger there, but he also has the athleticism and bat to be an everyday player there.  He showed an ease to his game and made all the routine plays and showed an ability to make the exceptional one.  He shows excellent instincts and agility, and comes in on balls well.  He has great arm strength with very good accuracy, even on balls hit deep down the line.  While he only has average speed, he showed some very good athleticism be it running the bases or moving around defensively at third base.

Even though the position change from playing shortstop in college to now third base in the pros looks like a great fit for Bellows, with his athleticism and versatility he has the ability to play anywhere in the field except maybe catcher.  There is always the possibility depending on his development or the need of the Indians that he ends up as a right fielder.  On the offensive side, one of the big concerns with him is he had a long swing coming out of college.  Shortening up his swing while not taking away from his power will be a challenge for him and the Indians player development staff, but they believe it can be done.  He is still adjusting to wood bats, so once he adjusts and his swing becomes more consistent the expected power surge could come.

Outlook:  The Indians were excited to get Bellows in the 4th round, and believe he is a player who has the ability to continue to grow as a hitter and continue to develop power.  He really impressed team officials and scouts for other teams with his glove work, arm, and power at the plate during Instructional League this past September/October.  His solid professional debut, draft pedigree, and impressive play in the offseason make him someone to keep an eye on and someone who could shoot up the rankings next year.  He likely will skip Low-A Lake County, and instead begin his first full season with a bigger challenge as the starting third baseman at advanced Single-A Kinston.

Photo courtesy of Tony Lastoria

Kyle Bellows MinorLeagueBaseball.com page

Kyle Bellows Baseball-Reference page

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