Tonight at 7:00 PM EST the Indians' four full season affiliates Triple-A Columbus, Double-A Akron, High-A Kinston and Low-A Lake County all spring into action and kick off their 142-game seasons.
With the start of the 2010 season officially here, there will also be several new features this year at the Indians Prospect Insider (IPI). I will continue to post daily updates with any breaking news up and down the system, player feature articles, and as always my big weekly farm system rundown "Minor Happenings". But in addition to that several writers have come on board to assist in following and writing about each of the Indians six affiliates in more detail.
Today we unveil some of these new writers to the readers of the site with a roundtable discussion talking about some of the key topics going into the 2010 season. This year Charlie Adams will be focusing his efforts on Columbus, Nino Colleta on Akron, Jim Pete on Kinston, Terry Evitts on Lake County, Andrew Zajac on Mahoning Valley, and Joe Baab on the rookie level teams in Arizona and the Dominican Republic. Also, veteran site writers Al Ciammaichella and Jeff Ellis will continue to provide regular columns all year, and new columnist Dennis Kovatch will also be providing some of his thoughts throughout the year.
To introduce some of the new writers and address some of the current topics going into the season we sat down and had a group roundtable discussion with me serving as the moderator. Here are their thoughts:
Q: With the current roster setup to start the season, what affiliate are you most excited to follow at least in the early part of the season?
Joe Baab: Kinston. The Indians of Kinston, NC have a team loaded with high ceiling talent, most notably in their starting pitching staff. Cleveland’s 2009 #1 draft pick Alex White returns to his hometown as a college-tested player who most scouts believe can move up the system fast. Kelvin De La Cruz, Nick Hagadone, Alexander Perez, and TJ House join White, in what should comprise one of the most promising young staffs in all of minor league baseball. Along with a talented staff, right fielder Abner Abreu is a superior outfield prospect, and the 20 year old could be in line for a breakout season.
Jim Pete: Well the most intriguing roster entering 2010 is most definitely the Advanced Single A Kinston Indians. The K-Tribe may just be the poster boys for what Mark Shapiro and company have spent the better part of the past two years doing, acquiring hard-throwing, quality arms. The starting rotation in Kinston may be the best in the system, boasting Tribe top-prospects Nick Hagadone, T.J. House, Alex White, Kelvin De La Cruz and Alexander Perez. The only real question is how long is it going to take for guys like Hagadone to move up. Offensively, 2B Jason Kipnis may be the best middle-infield prospect in the system, and Abner Abreu could be the darkhorse prospect of the organization. Jordan Henry, Donnie Webb and Kyle Bellows could also put themselves squarely on the Tribe radar. It's going to be a fun year in Kinston for sure.
Dennis Kovatch: The Akron Aeros and Joel Skinner's return to manager. Coming off their triumphant Eastern League Championship in 2009, the Aeros start off with a completely new coaching staff. Skinner will lead his young charges against some of the more noted prospects in MLB (Steven Strasburg, Aroldis Chapman, et al).
Al Ciammaichella: Definitely Kinston. All five of the guys in the starting rotation are potential major league arms, and Hagadone, De La Cruz and White are probably 3 of the top 6 arms in the system. Abner Abreu gets to start the season in warm weather, we get to see how Jason Kipins looks at 2B...and if that isn't enough, Knapp will be in the rotation when he gets healthy. Very fired up for the K-Tribe this year.
Nino Colla: Kinston is loaded with talent, from top to bottom. They've got a few higher end guys in Jason Kipnis and Abner Abreu in the lineup, as well as great complementary pieces like Jordan Henry, Donnie Webb, and Kyle Bellows. But their pitching is going to blow people away to start the season. Even if they end up losing De La Cruz and Hagadone at some point, guys like Alex White, T.J. House, and Alexander Perez will keep them strong.
Jeff Ellis: The affiliate that interests me the most to start the year is Kinston. The reason for that is the sheer amount of question marks for Kinston. Will Kipnis prove he can play 2B? How will Abreu bounce back from injury? How soon will De La Cruz get back into form and force his way to Akron? Alex White making his professional debut, Hagadone’s first full season in 3 years, and the continued growth of two prospects that are a bit under the radar to the typical fan in TJ House and Alexander Perez all add in to make for a very interesting team to follow in Kinston.
Charlie Adams: Columbus and Akron are going to be amazing teams to watch, because the quality of play will be extremely high, and the prospects are really ‘shiny’. However, having gotten the chance to watch a few of them play in Goodyear, I am most excited about the Kinston team. Kipnis and Abreu are poised for huge breakouts, and I’m talking about national top-100 type breakouts. Then there is the pitching staff; De La Cruz, Hagadone, House, Perez and White. Also, Knapp will make some starts there as well, just some more high-90’s fastballs in Kinston. Each one is a big-time upside guy and any of them could have a huge season and put themselves on track to make the Indians in late 2011, with the exception of Knapp and Perez who will be brought along more slowly. That will be one hell of a rotation.
Terry Evitts: Right off the bat, let me explain that I follow the Captains, so most of my answers will be Captains-ccentric. That said, I'm looking forward to seeing what the K-Tribe does this year. The Captains really started to gel in the second half of 2009 and many of those guys will be playing for Kinston this year. At age 19, lefty TJ House had an outstanding season for Lake County last year, in his first year in pro ball. I really want to see how he develops at the next level. Right-handed closer Steve Smith seemingly came out of nowhere (25th round in 2008) to save 26 games before a late season promotion to Kinston. Will he be able to continue to develop and put himself on more radar screens,? He may be following Josh Judy's path. And of course, how will Alex White do in his first taste of professional ball? On offense, I look forward to seeing the further development of Abner Abreu. Nate Recknagel and especially Donnie Webb came on strong at the end of 2009 and I want to see if they continue to progress.
Andrew Zajac: The Kinston Indians are going to be a fun team to watch this season. They have arguably 5 of our top pitching prospects in the rotation going into the season, while we could see Jason Knapp perhaps towards the end of the season. They also have a number of young guys at the offensive end who will be worth watching: Jason Kipnis, Kyle Bellows, Jordan Henry, and Abner Abreu. Kipnis has had a monster spring and Abreu is a guy on the rise, making this a fun team to watch for the upcoming campaign.
Q: Is there any sort of debut at an affiliate you are very excited about and looking forward to, and why? This could be a pro debut or someone moving up to a new level for the first time, etc.
Joe Baab: Jeanmar Gomez at Columbus. After hurling a perfect game in 2009 at Akron, and then winning the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year award, it will be interesting to see what Gomez can do for an encore. He faces a lofty transition, as he enters the Columbus Clippers starting rotation at Triple-A. The consensus around baseball is that Gomez lacks a true plus pitch, and it will be interesting to see if this catches up to him, or if he will maintain the craftiness he showed in Akron at Columbus.
Jim Pete: You can't be a fan of the Indians and not have Carlos Santana's name listed here. Santana will be making his Triple-A debut in Columbus, for what will likely be a short stay on his way to Cleveland. Offensively, he's the best player in the system, and his developing skills behind the plate are catching up to his cannon-arm. He's not only talented, but hard-working and aggressive. His stay in Columbus will be short, but incredibly sweet. Also keep an eye out on first round pick Alex White, who will be making his system debut with Kinston later this week.
Dennis Kovatch: Players to watch with the Aeros include Lonnie Chisenhall who showed during spring training that he not only can play third base, he has a howitzer for an arm and is particularly adept at charging the ball and firing an aspirin tablet to first with accuracy. His bat is clearly elite as he hits line drives to all parts of the park. Carlos Rivero has a superb glove. He's going to be a joy to watch in the field...if his bat can catch up to his glove, he could become Asdrubal's little bro. Josh Judy is a closer by trade with a bulldog mentality on the mound. He challenges and attacks hitters with his plus fastball and command of both sides of the plate. Nick Weglarz is the Aeros' Canadian import. He's a work in progress in the outfield and Jim Thome like at the plate. This "country strong" slugger has power to spare and he's only a 22 year old kid.
Al Ciammaichella: Probably Kipins at 2B in Kinston. Lots of people questioned this pick at the time, but if he can make the successful transition to 2B, he becomes an impact prospect. Reports are positive early on, and those reports are coming from nationally respected guys outside of the organization. I'm excited to see what he will do both at the plate and in the field this year.
Nino Colla: I can't wait to see how Clayton Cook and Marty Popham progress at Lake County. They both had a great stint with Mahoning Valley in 2009 and it will be interesting to see how they handle the start of a full season.
Jeff Ellis: The affiliate debut that I can’t wait to see is that of Bryan Price at Akron. Price is returning to the role he excelled at in college of a closer. I think he could be the best pen arm in the minors for the Indians. His lack of developing a third pitch led him back to the pen where he has two legit plus pitches. I expect him to establish himself as a top end closer prospect and be a player who is in the majors by mid season 2011.
Charlie Adams: Hands down, the debut I am most looking forward to is Lonnie Chisenhall at AA. I know he got some late time there and crushed the ball in the playoffs, but 100 PA is not enough of a litmus test. The jump to AA is often cited as the most difficult to make and as a top prospect, at a position with some questions regarding what to do at the big league level, Chisenhall’s performance at AA will go a long way to determining what management does.
Terry Evitts: As I said earlier, I really want to see how TJ House and Alex White do in Kinston. House, as a 19 year old in his first pro season, really handled the Sally League well. Will he abe able to adjust to the higher level? Alex White will be starting his pro career at Advanced-A Kinston and I think everyone wants to see how he develops. I also am looking forward to seeing how Josh Judy handles Class AAA at Columbus. In 2008 in Lake County, he pitched his way onto several radar screens and continued to do well last year at Kinston and Akron. I know he's on the DL, but he should be back in action shortly.
Andrew Zajac: I'm particularly interested in seeing how catcher Carlos Santana handles his first splash at Triple-A, as well as 3B Lonnie Chisenhall with his first full year in Akron. As a team, it's always fun watching the Mahoning Valley Scrappers debut because you have a mix of talent from guys who are injured, just drafted out college or high school, and also guys coming from extended spring training and the Arizona League.
Q: Looking at all of the preseason rosters, are there any specific roster issues you are looking forward to see work their way out over the course of the season?
Joe Baab: The bullpen situation in Akron. Because of the depth of the farm system, numerous pitchers who had nice seasons during Akron’s championship run in 2009 are being asked to start out the 2010 season with the Aeros once again. Erik Stiller, Neil Wagner, and Ryan Edell all probably did enough to deserve consideration to go to Columbus. It is going to be “make or break” time for a lot of these older prospects, and the cream is going to have to pitch their way to the top. An interesting side story to this will be to see if last year's closer Vinnie Pestano can return to form coming off injury.
Jim Pete: There are just some mystery positions on this club that I can never quite figure out. You have LaPorta at first, holding down the fort until Branyan can get out of bed without a conveyer-belt. You have Hodges returning to offensive form at first in Columbus, with Jordan Brown slated to play some there, and now Shelley Duncan. You have Mr. Inconsistent in Beau Mills lined up at first in Akron for the second year in a row. Nick Weglarz is also a likely candidate to move out of the outfield, and into a first base role at some point. I'm not sure if the Indians are loaded, or overrated at first base, but I hope there's some clarity at some point, because there doesn't seem to be a lot of space for any of them at the big league level.
Dennis Kovatch: The number one issue with the Indians minor league rosters, in general, is a dearth of catching talent after Carlos Santana. There is nobody that you can point to that has "major leaguer" written all over him.
Al Ciammaichella: Looking at the rosters from all of the affiliates, the lack of any sort of impact catching in the system behind Santana is a concern. I know we have two talented young catchers in Marson and Santana, but catchers have a way of getting hurt and it would be nice to have at least one depth option behind them in case something bad happens. Once Toregas gets dealt and Santana gets called up, there won't be a whole lot to rely on at the minor league level.
Nino Colla: Just the entire rotation from Columbus down to Kinston. Obviously what happens with Cleveland could impact what happens at Columbus, and that could set off a chain reaction from there on down, but there looks to be an abundance of starting pitching. How quickly do Kelvin De La Cruz and Nick Hagadone get to Akron? Can Jason Knapp get back and put himself in the mix? Will Trey Haley make a jump to Kinston if he can pitch well for the Captains? A lot of interesting storylines with the rotation.
Jeff Ellis: The roster situation that I find the most interesting is the starting pitching in AAA. Every pitcher on that staff should see time in the majors this year and with the fact that at least 3 of the spots in the MLB rotation should be locked down for most of the year it is interesting to see who gets the call and when. Carrasco had a great spring and his repertoire of pitches might be the best of any pitcher in the system. Rondon was the break out pitcher last year and made most top 100 prospect lists. Gomez did the most of any pitcher last year to improve his stock. Lewis was the 5th starter for the team last year when it was expected to contend. Last is Pino who has pitched well at every level and could be a solid long option out of the pen for this team as soon as this year.
Charlie Adams: Across all levels, I am curious how the “SP’s that might be RP’s” situations will work themselves out. Putnam, White, and Hagadone are at the top of the list. I feel that if one of these guys can stay a SP, then the Indians will be in great shape. I envision a 2011 bullpen with C. Perez, R. Perez, Sipp and two of Putnam, Hagadone, and White. That will be a true power pen. Also, the upside for the whole organization is if they stay starters and we are flush with power pitchers that throw 200 innings a year instead of 60. Wahoo, indeed.
Terry Evitts: Once Carlos Santana gets called up to the Tribe, there's a dearth of top level catching prospects. Will someone step up and become an elite prospect, or will the Indians need to address the problem through the draft or trades? Or, do the Indians have enough confidence in Santana and Lou Marson that they don't think this a problem?
Andrew Zajac: I'm interested to see where Josh Rodriguez fits in Akron. In my opinion, he belongs in Columbus. Being in Akron puts him in a "super utility" role, while Cord Phelps will start at 2B.
Q: Is there a player who maybe had a down year last year due to injury or performance issues that you are hoping makes a strong comeback this year?
Joe Baab: Nick Weglarz. While he still maintained an OPS above .800, Weglarz really saw his batting average plummet in his first season at Akron down to .227. Whether or not he can work out his issues during his second year at Akron remains to be seen, and will go a long way in determining whether he remains in the top tier of Indians prospects. Several other prospects are in a similar boat at Akron such as Beau Mills and Carlos Rivero, but I think Weglarz is the most integral player who really needs to work out the kinks going forward.
Jim Pete: The two players I'm most intrigued with are Beau Mills and Kelvin de la Cruz. Mills is taking a lot of heat right now because his name isn't Heyward, who was drafted right behind him to Atlanta, and is being compared to some ridiculous players. He dropped off the Tribe radar last year with rather pedestrian numbers, and is now caught up in a logjam I mentioned earlier. I'd really like to see Mills shut up the folks that are saying he's a bust, because the kid really has a good make-up. I really thought De La Cruz was going to be the top prospect in the system last year, and move up quickly. He ended up making only two starts, but they were electric, striking out 19 and being named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week.
Dennis Kovatch: Adam Miller and Nick Hagadone: While Adam Miller underwent his fourth operation to repair his injured finger, this "hard luck" Texan has not failed to work his tail off as a professional. He's an inspiration to both younger and older players: Never give up your dream! Nick Hagadone completed the season on the mound after recovery from TJ surgery. The Indians have restricted his throwing to assure he is 100 % healthy. This lefty has the talent to be a top of the rotation starting pitcher at the Major League level. With their talent and hard work ( both possess plus plus fastballs and plus secondary pitches), they should resume their journey through the Indians minor league system.
Al Ciammaichella: Two of my favorite players in the system had a down year (Weglarz) and a short year (Abreu) due to injury. I'm excited to see them both healthy on the field this year, and think both have the potential to really break out. Wegz will be a 22-year old repeating a level that he had success at before he got hurt (1.007 OPS in June), so I really look to him to have a big year. Abreu was really heating up after a cold month of April when he got hurt diving after a ball in the outfield last year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him put up MVP-caliber numbers in the Carolina League this year. He is that good. In fact, here is bold prediction #1 for me this year...Abner Abreu wins the Carolina League MVP Award.
Nino Colla: Out of personal enjoyment, it would be nice to see Jeremie Tice rebound from the injuries in 2009. Two guys I think that will put injury issues from 2009 aside are in Columbus' infield though. I think everyone forgot that Wes Hodges can still hit the baseball because he missed so much time. I also think Jason Donald will impress a lot of people and eventually make it up to Cleveland after a year filled with injuries and a trade.
Jeff Ellis: The player I would like to see make a rebound is Beau Mills. The year before I had him in the top 5 prospects in the Indians system, he had won an MVP award and looked like a solid first base prospect. I hope he bounces back, not just to make the system better, but also because all year he will be hearing about Jason Heyward, a high school player who was taken one pick after him in the draft. Mills was an advanced college power bat, who was viewed as a possible top ten pick. Yet Mills is the one stuck in AA and Heyward who is the big name young player in baseball.
Charlie Adams: Jason Donald is a guy that I really want to see play a lot. He has always had good scouting reports; he can play average to above average defense depending on the position, and he profiles as a Ben Zobrist-lite in my mind. I want to see him get his back straightened out, get a lot of PA’s and see what he is worth. He OPS’ed .889 at AA in 2008, and in 2009 his BB/PA went from 11.4% to 6.4% along with a significant decline in power. I think the injury and the trade affected him greatly, because you typically don’t see that much of a drop-off from AA to AAA. His translated, according to Sean Smith’s minor league calculator (www.minorleaguesplits.com), stat line for 2008 at AAA would’ve been 281/362/452 instead of his 239/305/342 that he recorded in 2009. I will be very curious to see how he does once he gets a fresh start at Columbus and hopefully we will have several years of well-above average play where Donald can get 400 AB’s a year filling in for Chisenhall, Cabrera and Valbuena.
Terry Evitts: Besides Adam Miller? I saw him pitch for Lake County in 2004 and even then he looked good. Otherwise, I would say Rob Bryson. He seemed to be on his way with the Milwaukee Brewers system, got traded to Cleveland and spent most of the time since on the disabled list. I would love to see how the Brewers front office explains giving up 3 major leaguers in exchange for a quick exit from the playoffs. That brings up a question for another day, what do you give up for a possible trip to the playoffs? I would also like to see Vinnie Pestano make a comeback from his injuries.
Andrew Zajac: Wes Hodges. While he can struggle with the glove from time to time, the guy can flat out hit. Last season, he was hampered by injury and didn't perform to his ability. I expect big things from Hodges this year.
Q: What do you think is the strength of the Indians' farm system and why?
Joe Baab: Pitching depth. It is truly incredible how much pitching talent has been infused into this team with all the recent “rebuilding” trades. This organization I believe has made a breakthrough revelation, that while you want to be solid in all facets of a baseball team, pitching is the great equalizer for a small market club trying to contend. With that being said, it is a lot easier to pursue pitching when you seem to have every position other than 2nd base in Cleveland resolved with either a talented young major leaguer or a can't miss prospect (Santana at C, and Chisenhall at 3B). I am hopeful the Indians add to this depth by taking another top rated pitcher with the #5 pick in the 2010 MLB amatuer draft.
Jim Pete: It really appears to be the organization's starters. I've already mentioned the Big Five in Kinston (Perez, House, De La Cruz, White and Hagadone). In Columbus, you have Carlos Carrasco, Hector Rondon and Jeanmar Gomez. In Akron, you have Zach Putnam, Eric Berger and Scott Barnes. That's 11 starters that are surely in the top fifty overall Tribe prospects, if not higher. Some will likely find themselves in the bullpen, but the Indians are certainly in an enviable position of having an abundance of soon-to-be or already-ready major league pitching prospects.
Dennis Kovatch: Pitching, pitching and more pitching. The trades the Indians made and their last three drafts have strengthened this area of their minor league system. These kids provide the Indians farm system with a slew of power armed youngsters from the depths of the DSL to the Scrappers yard and onward to the AAA Clippers. The talent there is undeniable. The development of that talent is the key to the big club's future.
Al Ciammaichella: Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. They have 15-20 arms that legitimately should pitch at the major league level, whether in the bullpen or the rotation. Most clubs have their top 6 or 7 guys and then a slew of organizational depth behind them, but the Indians really have accumulated a lot of arms that can contribute to the big club.
Nino Colla: Last year it was probably a weakness, but now it is probably the biggest strength. Not just the starting pitching, but the pitching in general. By grabbing high-ceiling prospects like Nick Hagadone and Jason Knapp, all of a sudden guys that were the best in the system, like Hector Rondon, are pushed down in terms of expectations (and maybe even future roles with the big league club), which can only benefit them. I don't think this club would have been willing to risk losing someone like Chuck Lofgren, regardless of "issues" going on, a year ago like they did this past offseason.
Jeff Ellis: The strength of this system is starting pitching. Every starting pitcher spot in the system is filled with a real prospect; they even have had to take legit specs like Price and Popham out of the rotation who would normally be starters so they could just make their reps, but in the system right now there is no place for them. There is also a pitcher like Vidal Nuno who dominated last year in short season ball but is in extended spring training because there wasn’t a spot for him.
Charlie Adams: It’s old-hat to bring it up, but the depth of the system is pretty unbelievable, particularly in the pitching department. De La Cruz, Rondon, Gomez and Carrasco are all going to be starters for sure. The real question will be how Hagadone, Knapp, Putnam, White, Perez, etc etc turn out. Regardless, the system is stocked with arms of all shapes and sizes and most of them have power stuff, which is a big departure from previous Indians farm system iterations.
Terry Evitts: After a few lean years, the Indians did a good job of rebuilding the farm system, both internally through the draft and international signings and by trades. They worked on getting pitching, especially starting pitching. From Akron on down, the Tribe has several top level prospects.
Andrew Zajac: Our depth at each position is something that separates the Tribe's farm system from other clubs. While most clubs have their top ten prospects, the Indians are a difficult club to just simply pick ten players without having to mention ten more. Our greatest depth lies within our pitching.
Q: Is there a player who you think may be in line for a breakout season, and why?
Joe Baab: Kelvin De La Cruz. This may not be a safe pick with him coming off a serious elbow injury, but De La Cruz when healthy has dominant stuff. He owned Lake County in 2008, and was off to a 2-0 start at Kinston in 2009 before suffering a UCL strain, which shut him down for the year. This kid carries with him a devastating curveball and exceptional changeup, to go along with a very good fastball. If he gets back his confidence and the stuff is still intact, there will be a quick ascension to Akron, and he may find himself back on national lists as one of the top prospects in all of the minor leagues.
Jim Pete: There are a lot of players in this organization who might have big years, but it would be expected. The one guy that I think might not only break-out, but become this organizations top prospect is Abner Abreu. He appears to have all the tools to become a superstar. He has good potential size, and really began to show his power early last year with seven homers and 30 RBI before a dislocated shoulder ended his year. Combine that with an above-average arm, and more than solid defense, and you have a special player in the making. This is the year that Abreu leaps up from a question mark, to the #1 prospect.
Dennis Kovatch: Jason Donald and Wes Hodges: Wes Hodges' and Jason Donald's 2009 seasons were ruined by nagging injuries. Both have exhibited what may be described as hunger to succeed, and both could be knocking on the door at the corner of Ontario and Carnegie by season's end.
Al Ciammaichella: This has never happened before, but I'm about to endorse a product from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Zach Putnam will start the season in the Akron rotation, and has a chance to finish it in the bullpen on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. Putnam has a solid 4-pitch mix that can probably get major league hitters out right now (look at his spring training #'s with the big club for evidence of that). Both his splitter and changeup are plus pitches, and hitters just beat the ball into the ground against him. In college, Putnam was an outfielder in addition to pitching, so he was never really able to concentrate on pitching until 2008, when he was drafted and pitched all of 10 innings for the Scrappers. He is already talented and has more room to grow than most pitching prospects his age. So here comes bold prediction #2...Zach Putnam pitches for the Cleveland Indians at some point in 2010. This is especially bold considering the Indians would have to add him to the 40-man roster in order to bring him up.
Nino Colla: Jordan Henry, who is slated to start in the Kinston outfield. I think the attention will be on Abner Abreu, and rightfully so, but Henry could steal a little bit of it. I just love the way he plays. He isn't a big time hitter, but he won't strikeout, he'll get on base, and he's a smart base-runner only getting caught once in 2009. I think people will start taking note of what he brings to the table this season.
Jeff Ellis: The break out candidate most people will mention is Abner Abreu and while I agree, I wanted to pick a different player. I think another major break out candidate is Joe Gardner. His injury made many people forget about him last year, but before the draft he was listed as a top 100 player in the draft by some experts and I think his fastball is going to saw off a ton of bats this year. I think he will dominate at the level he is at now and go from a forgotten player to a top 20 prospect.
Charlie Adams: I think Jason Kipnis is going to find himself in numerous top 100 boards at the end of the season. I saw him in Spring Training at 2B and he looked pretty natural. His bat is fringy for OF, but a true plus for a 2B and if he can keep progressing on the defensive side, I think he has potential to be an absolutely great find in a promising 2009 draft class.
Terry Evitts: Bo Greenwell. Injuries plagued him for the first few years of his career, (he's only 21) but his health returned mid-way last year and he got assigned to Lake County. After a slow start, he took off-ending up with a .290 BA along with 2 HR, 26 RBI and .761 OPS in 60 games with the Captains. He's got some speed with 7 SB and plays his position well. He's got the bloodlines, and the confidence and poise are starting to show. I don't expect him to be in Lake County long.
Andrew Zajac: While I'm not sure he would qualify as a "breakout" candidate, Abner Abreu comes to mind. Many people already know this kid can be something special and before Abreu went down last season, he was just starting to show why people think he can be a star. He has the potential to have plus power when he fully develops, as well as being a great defensive players as well.
Everything on this site is free, but for those interested in making any monetary contributions to help support the stability and growth of this site please click on the "Donate" button below.
1 comments:
Nice roundtable, Tony.
Goes to show: the Tribe has A LOT of talent in the pipeline. Especially pitching.
Can't wait to see the cream rise to the top.
Post a Comment