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| Photo credit: Lianna Holub |
As a quick reminder, these awards are awarded 100% based on performance as prospect standing is not factored in. So just because a guy is or is not listed does not mean anything from a “prospect” status. These awards are simply for fun to hand out at the end of the year. Also, the Cleveland Indians in no way whatsoever had any input in these awards.
Onto the nominees...
Offensive Player of the Year Nominees:
Chun Chen (C – Lake County/Kinston)
.315 AVG, 58 R, 38 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 69 RBI, 55 BB, 74 K, 5 SB, .924 OPS
Chen had a breakthrough performance this season, which also made him a candidate for the Biggest Breakthrough award later this week. Coming off a poor campaign at short-season
Lonnie Chisenhall (3B -
.278 AVG, 81 R, 22 2B, 3 3B, 17 HR, 84 RBI, 46 BB, 77 K, 3 SB, .801 OPS
Chisenhall battled a sore shoulder all season, an injury which really affected him the first two months of the season where through May 28th in 27 games to start the season he hit .261/.325/.315 with just six doubles and zero home runs in 111 at bats. In his 90 games since then he hit .284/.359/.493 and in 349 at bats had 16 doubles, 3 triples and 17 home runs. He finished tied for 3rd in the organization in home runs (17) and was 1st in RBI (84).
Jose Constanza (Outfielder – Columbus)
.319 AVG, 69 R, 11 2B, 8 3B, 1 HR, 32 RBI, 35 BB, 54 K, 34 SB, .766 OPS
Constanza had an exceptional year and was the most consistent offensive performer all year for the International League champion Columbus Clippers. While the lineup changed almost daily because of callups topside, he was a regular at the top of the lineup all year and did his job getting on base (.373 OBP). He ranked 1st in the organization in batting average (.319) and was 2nd in stolen bases (34).
Jared Goedert (3B – Akron/Columbus)
.283 AVG, 80 R, 37 2B, 1 3B, 27 HR, 83 RBI, 53 BB, 112 K, 4 SB, .890 OPS
Up until about the middle of July, Goedert looked to be a runaway winner of every award imaginable in the Indians organization this year. He got on another one of his hot streaks, sort of like he had at Low-A Lake County in 2007 where in 46 games he hit .364/.475/.715 with 16 HR and 51 RBI, and even though he struggled from mid-July to the end of the season he really had a great year. He finished 1st in the organization in home runs (27) and 2nd in RBI (83).
Jerad Head (OF – Akron/Columbus)
.299 AVG, 59 R, 27 2B, 0 3B, 17 HR, 66 RBI, 23 BB, 66 K, 2 SB, .906 OPS
Even though he turns 28 years old in a month, Head has been one of the most versatile players in the system that has really grown as a hitter the last two years. He has proven to be a clutch performer and valuable fill in player in the upper levels, and his production and performance may have earned him some deeper consideration as a big league option down the road. He tied for 3rd in the organization in home runs (17) and he was 8th in batting average (.299).
Jason Kipnis (2B – Kinston/Akron)
.307 AVG, 96 R, 32 2B, 8 3B, 16 HR, 74 RBI, 55 BB, 107 K, 9 SB, .878 OPS
In his first full season Kipnis showed why the Indians are so high on him as an offensive performer. He responded by breezing right through High-A Kinston and the Carolina League which is traditionally tough on hitters where he hit .300/.387/.478 in 54 games and then did not skip a beat with Double-A Akron in 79 games (.311/.385/.502). He finished tied for 5th in the organization in batting average (.308) and home runs (16).
Matt McBride (OF – Akron/Columbus)
.275 AVG, 70 R, 31 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 35 BB, 79 K, 0 SB, .814 OPS
Coming off a very good 2009 campaign where he hit .287/.340/.489 with 18 HR and 99 RBI in 129 combined games for High-A Kinston and Double-A Akron, McBride had another big season as a run producer. He made it to Triple-A for the first time in his career, and continued to show some versatility playing both first base and left field. He finished the season 2nd in the organization in home runs (21) and 4th in RBI (75).
Cord Phelps (2B – Akron/Columbus)
.308 AVG, 66 R, 28 2B, 7 3B, 8 HR, 54 RBI, 39 BB, 68 K, 4 SB, .825 OPS
Phelps saw his stock skyrocket as he went from a player viewed as a high on-base singles hitter after his year in
Josh Rodriguez (SS – Akron/Columbus)
.297 AVG, 60 R, 30 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 51 BB, 85 K, 6 SB, .862 OPS
After a rough year in 2008 at Double-A Akron (.241/.335/.359) and a frustrating year in 2009 where he missed 101 games due to injury, Rodriguez had been given up by many coming into the 2010 season. He responded with his best season as a pro and put himself back on the prospect map and is a legit big league option going forward. His .297 batting average was good for 9th in the organization this year.
Jeremie Tice (1B – Lake County/Kinston)
.282 AVG, 57 R, 34 2B, 3 3B, 14 HR, 79 RBI, 31 BB, 106 K, 1 SB, .810 OPS
One of the more overlooked performances of the season was the year that Tice had. After battling all sorts of injuries in 2009 which limited him to a .266/.350/.373 line in 69 games at Low-A Lake County, he returned to
And the 2010 Tony Award goes to...Jason Kipnis
This award ultimately came down to the trio of Jared Goedert, Chun Chen and Jason Kipnis, and the difference between the performances of the three was barely noticeable if you ask me. Chen showed excellent plate discipline and some good gap power and Goedert had the best year from a power and production standpoint, but neither could match Kipnis’ ability to stuff a stat sheet and his consistency all year. Even though he was making a transition to a new defensive position at second base, but his offense never suffered as he hit for average, piled up extra base hits, and ran the bases well.
Most impressively, Kipnis’ performance improved with each promotion he had. After hitting .300/.387/.478 with High-A Kinston in 54 games, he was promoted to Double-A Akron and even though a majority of his games were in the cavernous
What a year for Kipnis, and hopefully just the start to a very successful pro career that continues at the big league level. The Indians can certainly use his potent bat at the big league level, and hopefully it translates and does not disappoint like so many others have recently. If things continue to go well and he avoids injury, he should get his first big league opportunity sometime next season.
Up Next: Pitcher of the Year
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11 comments:
What does it say about the hitters in the org. that 5 or 6 of the 10 hitters listed by Tony aren't going to be on the 40 man roster and subject to Rule 5?
Constanza
Head
Goedert
J. Rod
McBride
Tice (next year's Rule 5)
Counting Chen, Chisenhall, Phelps and Kipnis as being added to 40 man when the time comes.
96 runs scored by Kipnis? Hot damn that is a lot.
I don't know what it shows, but it shows that most of the top performances came at AAA/AA and that the performances at the A-ball level were not all too great. There's a real dropoff right now with the bats after Akron, though this is somewhat deceiving since a lot of the new bats from the draft this year did not play until late and are raw. Same with the Latin guys. Need to see some growth though from these guys next year at KIN/LC/MV.
Chengy, yeah, the 96 runs are another reason he was my OPOTY though did not mention that. Lots of runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, some stolen bases, and a high AVG and good OBP/SLG....just an awesome year for a 2B prospect. Most balanced year of any hitter in the system.
It is so refreshing to see a good-great 2b prospect. 2b just seems to have the least talent across the league. Getting a great 2b is an advantage that most teams cannot do.
Most definitely, a 2B with the skills that Kipnis has is great. Of course, we'll see in time, as a lot of guys looked to be the next good thing only to not make that transition to Cleveland all too well.
Tony,
When do you see Kipnis getting the call to come up to Cleveland. I'm guessing that midseason around the time Santana joined the team would be the earliest. Is that wishful thinking? Will he be ready defensively with just a season and a half under him at 2nd to play in the ML?
Ryan, I would have to think he is on the Santana time clock, where he would be an option no sooner than early June but certainly an option next year if things continue to go well. Will be interesting if he stays healthy and keeps performing, what happens with Donald and Phelps. I think Donald ultimately transitions to a super utility role...Phelps, I dunno. Good problem to have.
You might find this interesting. Tevor Crowe was interviewed on espn's Baseball Today podcast...He claims his number one goal is to be a consistent defender... You may want to check it out.
Any chance we trade some of these guys for either pitching or lower level prospects? If there is no room for Costanza, Head, J-Rod, even Phelps, why not trade them instead of lose them to Rule 5?
I don't think any of these go Rule 5 though. (Phelps is not eligible). Maybe J-Rod, but I am getting the impression from other scouts I talk to he is not viewed very well by other teams.
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