Indians preparing for another (successful) draft

(Photo: Dan Mendlik)

We are just a little over two months from the 2011 First-Year Player Draft which commences on June 6^th in Secaucus, NJ.

While organizations are busy finalizing their 25-man rosters for the start of the regular season, area scouts for every team have been dispatched all across the country and are working behind the scenes to find talent for their teams.  The hope is to find talent that will allow teams to sustain success or to build for a brighter future.

With the draft drawing closer and closer, the draft shopping season has certainly kicked into high gear.

"This is kind of our busiest time from now until June,” said Indians Amateur Scouting Director Brad Grant in an interview with the IPI last week.  “All of the high schools are starting to get going now and the colleges are about a quarter of their way into their season. We kind of prioritized the college players at the beginning and now that the high schools have started up we are starting to add those guys into the mix as well."

The draft process for the Indians starts immediately after the conclusion of the previous draft.  When the Indians were done making their selections in last year’s draft, they reconvened after a short break and started to formulate their process for this year’s draft and got to work scouting players in summer ball.

"Our process really begins the summer before,” said Grant.  “We use the summer to kind of start to build our list and prioritize who the top players are coming into the draft, and once we get into the spring we work off that list."

At the moment the Indians have already cast a wide net on the college scene and have seen just about every college player at least once.  Now they are going back for second and third looks while at the same time getting first looks at the high school action which just recently kicked up.

"Since February our crosscheckers and area guys have all been out scouting,” said Grant.  “We have probably already gone through the crop one time and we will continue to go back.  Our goal is to get as many looks as possible at all players, so we will keep going back to see as many players as possible and if new guys pop up we will be ready to react to those guys as well.  Because the college season starts so early in February we were able to get through that once and we are heading back for second looks now."

Prioritizing the right guys can be tricky, especially after the first round.  But it is part of the process in preparing for the first pick and setting up the draft board for the rest of the draft.

"It is a larger list to begin with and we will go one time through it and whittle it down and start to go back for second and third looks just to make sure that we prioritize guys the right way,” said Grant.  “But at the same time players get better over the course of the spring, so our goal is to make sure that we don't eliminate anybody and scout everything as thoroughly as we possibly can and get as many looks as possible."

The Indians have the 8^th overall pick in the first round of the draft this year.  They actually tied with the Washington Nationals for the 6^th pick, but since both clubs finished 69-93 last season the tiebreaker awarded the 6^th pick to the team (Washington) with the worse record the previous year.

Also, because the Arizona Diamondbacks did not sign 2010 1^st round pick pitcher Barrett Loux they were compensated with a pick in the exact some spot in this year’s draft, so this slid the Indians down another spot to the 8^th pick.

In any case, Grant feels that the Indians will be able to get an impact caliber player in the 8^th spot in what he feels is a deeper draft this year, especially with high end impact caliber players in the first round.

"This year it seems like it is pretty high end, especially at the top of the draft,” said Grant.  “There is some depth to the very good players [available] and there is a chance for a lot of impact players.  Last year was a good draft, but not the depth on the impact side of things.  On paper it looks very good right now because there are impact players up top and there is more depth further down below as well."

The Indians will not go into the draft with any specific area of need to focus in on.  They have taken pitchers in the first round in each of the last two drafts, but previous selections or team need at the big league level will not factor into the equation for most of the picks, especially the first pick.  They will go with the approach to take the best player available in just about every round.

“Especially at the top we are going to look to take the best player as you never know what is going to happen on the Major League side of things,” said Grant.  “With the way baseball is set up it is not like football or basketball where the player has to make an immediate impact, so we always look to take the best player available with that first pick and actually all the way through [the draft].  You are always going to balance things out in the draft as you go through it depending on what you have taken."

The burning question for most Tribe fans is if the organization’s aggressive approach from last year will carry over into the 2011 Draft.  The Indians understand that just about the only place they can compete toe to toe financially with the big market teams is in the draft, so it would be a surprise if they really pulled the reigns back this year.

While Grant says that they plan to be aggressive, he is also quick to note that they have not yet finalized their plan or budget for the draft.

"We will see how things play out as we get closer to the draft,” said Grant.  “We plan to have an aggressive draft again this year and plan to take the best player available again just as we have done in the past.  We will wait and see how it plays out and it is still yet to be determined.  We just have to go about it that we are going to scout everybody and keep everyone in play right now and make sure we are prepared to make the best decision possible when we get into the draft room [in June]."

The Indians had a highly touted draft last year when they spent close to $10 million in signing bonuses and picked up a lot of good talent, but they arguably had just as good of a draft the previous year in 2009 with almost half the budget.  So being aggressive is not always about spending a lot of money.

It all comes down to scouting, and so far things look good since Grant officially took lead amateur draft responsibilities from Scouting Director John Mirabelli in 2008.  The three first rounds picks under Grant since 2008 are third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (2008), right-handed pitcher Alex White (2009), and left-hander Drew Pomeranz (2010), and all three are arguably the top three prospects in the Indians system.

When you go beyond the first round and consider second baseman Cord Phelps (2008, 3^rd round), right-handed reliever Zach Putnam (2008, 5^th round), right-handed reliever Bryce Stowell (2008, 22^nd round), and second baseman Jason Kipnis (2009, 2^nd round), that’s a lot of talent that has a chance to play in the big leagues this year that has been drafted and developed by the organization.  For the Indians to have any chance at success in the future this is exactly the blueprint they need to keep following.

That’s why Grant and his staff are hard at work looking at players of all shapes, sizes, and abilities in the hopes of finding talented players to help the Indians achieve success.

"A lot can change with the draft, so you don't want to assume anything,” said Grant.  “You want to be ready to react."

Notebook:

Wolters on the draft:  Speaking of the draft, Indians shortstop Tony Wolters is happy that whole process is in his rearview mirror.  He was not a big fan of all the showcases and how teams pick players apart and measure so many intangibles.  “All the showcases, I hated them,” said Wolters.  “I hated the 60 as I would cry the night before because I did not want to do that.  I just went out there and played baseball, but I did not like the stuff to see how hard you throw, how far you can hit it…that’s just not me.  So I did not like all that stuff, but I know you have to do it.  I am excited it is all over, and I am excited I had the privilege to be picked up by a team like the Indians and just play baseball.”

Mills hobbled:  First baseman Beau Mills has not participated in any games this spring in minor league camp.  Before departing last week I saw him in a walking boot on what I believe was his left foot.  According to another report the Indians are assessing his availability for the start of the season, which does not sound good.  It looks like he will open the season on the disabled list, which if that does happen it would leave a big hole at first base at Double-A Akron.  The Indians have a logjam at first base and the outfield in Triple-A Columbus, so it would not surprise me to see either Jared Head or Matt McBride open as the Akron first baseman for a few weeks.

Clippers trying to stay sharp:  Now that the exhibition game with Cleveland has come and gone in Columbus they now have a whole week to sit around and wait until they start play a week from today.  To keep them game ready and give the pitchers regular work they will play in three exhibition games next week.  On Monday they will play Double-A Akron on the road, come home Tuesday and play the Ohio State University at Huntington Park, and then host Akron on Wednesday night.  The Ohio State game costs $5 to attend and the Akron game in Columbus is free.

Columbus recap: Columbus was snowed out in their game against the big league team yesterday with the game being cancelled in the bottom of the third inning.

Akron recap: Akron beat the Dodger 4-3. Outfielder Grady Sizemore played center field and went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout. Shortstop Juan Diaz (2-for-3, R, 2B, 3B, K) and third baseman Kyle Bellow (2-for-2, R, RBI) paced the offense. Left-hander Matt Packer got the start and went 4.0 innings (5 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 K). In relief righty C.C. Lee went 2.0 innings (1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K), righty Connor Graham went 2.0 innings (3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K), and righty Matt Langwell went 1.0 inning (0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K).

Kinston recap: The K-Tribe lost to the Dodgers 2-1. It was a quiet day for the offense with third baseman Adam Abraham (2-for-3, R, 2B) and second baseman Ronald Rivas (1-for-3, 2B, RBI) doing almost all of the damage. On the mound lefty T.J. House went 3.0 innings (4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 K), righty Travis Turek went 2.0 innings (0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K), and righty Tyler Sturdevant went 2.0 innings (3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K).

Lake County recap: The Captains beat the Dodgers 8-7. Catcher Alex Monsalve had a big day (3-for-4, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI, K), and outfielder Brian Heere (2-for-4, R, 2 B) and Anthony Gallas (2-for-3, BB, K) as well as catcher Alex Lavisky (1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, BB, K) assisted with solid games. Lefty James Reichenbach got the start and went 3.0 excellent innings (0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K). Righty Jordan Cooper went 2.0 innings (4 H, 4 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 K), righty Owen Dew went 2.0 innings (2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K), and sidearming righty Dale Dickerson went 1.0 inning (2 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 0 K).

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Minor League Notebook: 3/29

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Young Brown is gaining confidence 

Indians minor league outfielder Mark Brown is still learning the ropes of professional ball.  Fresh out of high school as a 19^th round pick last year out Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Michigan, he is enjoying life in the Arizona sun during his first spring training and excited for the upcoming season.

“Spring training is going well,” said Brown in a recent interview for IPI.  “There are a ton of dudes out here.  Of course everybody is good, but the main thing is just finding a way to separate yourself.”

At 5’9” and 160 pounds, the smallish Brown separates himself from other players with his speed and athleticism.  He is very raw and needs some work, but the Indians believe he has the tools to be an impact defensive centerfielder down the road.

Brown, 19, was committed to attend the University of Kansas and play baseball for them, but he ended up signing shortly before the August 16^th signing deadline last year.  Upon signing with the Indians he immediately went out to Goodyear, Arizona to play with the rookie level Arizona team and then participated in Instructional League in September and October.

“I felt like I did pretty well,” said Brown about his performance in rookie ball and Instructs.  “I am getting adjusted to the hitting and the main thing for me is getting stronger and more comfortable.  For me it is just seeing more pitching and getting adjusted to the speed of the game.”

Brown played against limited competition in high school, so it may take awhile for him to make some adjustments in his approach and really settle in and become comfortable.  Smoothing out his hitting mechanics will be one early area of focus as he has a little bit of a funky hitch with his front leg kick as he begins his swing.

“At the plate I just need to practice relaxing more and being smoother,” said Brown.  “I guess that just comes with seeing more pitching and getting used to that velocity.  [The hitch] was a bad habit that I developed, and me and [Hitting Coordinator] Bruce [Fields] have been working on it in the offseason to try and fix it.  With fielding I can always work on going back on the ball as that is probably my weakest point.”

We are in the final days of spring training where a lot of players are getting ready to break camp for full season destinations in Lake County, Kinston, Akron and Columbus.  Due to Brown’s youth and inexperience he will likely remain in Arizona in extended spring training in order to continue to work on his game and get ready for short-season league action which kicks up in mid-June.  However, if things go well the next few months there is a chance he could see a call late in the season to short season Single-A Mahoning Valley or Low-A Lake County.

“My personal goal this year is to hit for average, be a gap to gap hitter, and stay up above .300 all year,” said Brown.  “Hopefully I am up to Lake County by the end of the year.  That’s my ultimate goal, to be up in Ohio by the end of the season.”

Phelps ready for role change

Infielder Cord Phelps looks to be in store for an interesting season.

Interesting because even after a nice year last season where he hit .308 with 8 HR, 54 RBI and had a .825 OPS in 119 combined games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, at the outset of the season Phelps looks to be a man without a position.

“I am not really sure,” said Phelps in a recent interview for the IPI about his plan for this season.  “I would imagine I’ll play some second base, but I don’t know.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out.”

Interesting indeed.

Phelps, 24, has had to give way to highly regarded prospect Jason Kipnis as the every day second baseman in Columbus.  Since being drafted in the 3^rd round of the 2008 out of Stanford University he has done nothing but play second base in his two and a half years as an Indian, but that will surely change this year because of the presence of Kipnis.

To add to his versatility and create some additional value, the Indians had Phelps play third base in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) last October and November.  The reports from the limited game action he had out in the AFL were enough for the Indians to decide to continue with the third base experiment this season.

“It was the first time I played third in three or four years,” said Phelps.  “It is a very different position, but I felt like I improved over the course of the fall with getting better at reads and stuff like that.  I am just willing to do whatever they need me to do, and if third is the position they need me to play I will play there.”

With another hot shot prospect in Lonnie Chisenhall also in Columbus as the everyday third baseman, Phelps would probably only play third once or twice a week to give Chisenhall a breather.  In fact, it looks like he will be moving all around the diamond where he will mostly play second base and third base, but potentially also see time in left field and shortstop.  Since being sent down to minor league camp on Saturday, he has done nothing else but work out at shortstop and has played there in games the past two days.

Beyond his role on the field, Phelps will also look to continue to apply his more aggressive approach at the plate this year, a change in his approach that he made going into last season.  In 2009 at High-A Kinston he was one of the league leaders in walks and on-base percentage, but last year he really honed in on being less selective and being more aggressive which helped him become a more productive hitter and have what some would call a breakout season.

“I tried to be more aggressive last year and not let hittable pitches go by and I think that showed,” said Phelps.  “In Kinston I was maybe being too selective, so I tried to improve on that last year to be more aggressive and I think it worked out for me.  The main thing for me at the plate this spring has been to try and feel comfortable, see pitches, and just try to get my timing because a lot of times you feel like you are not seeing certain pitches well.  I think that is important for a hitter, so I have tried to focus on that.”

The Columbus and Cleveland players broke camp on Tuesday and travelled to Columbus, Ohio for an exhibition game in Columbus today.  The start of the season is right around the corner, and Phelps is ready.

“I just want to try and build on the things I learned last year,” said Phelps.  “Just try to have a good attitude everyday and try to be consistent mentally and hopefully that will lead to consistent results.”

Notebook:

Goedert returns: Infielder Jared Goedert is working his way back from his oblique injury which has sidelined him the past few weeks.  On Tuesday he played third base in an inter-squad game between Columbus and Akron and went 1-for-2 with an RBI.  It was his first game action since he suffered the injury back in early March.  If he does not have any setbacks the last few days before the start of the season it looks like he has a good chance to open the season on time with Columbus.

Lavisky is en fuego:  Ho hum, catcher Alex Lavisky hit another home run yesterday.  He is now unofficially up to about five or six homers this spring, which is very impressive for a player fresh out of high school and in his first spring training.  I think he is leaving very little doubt – at least in the early going – that so far he is worth everything the Indians have invested in him and that he deserves to open the season at Low-A Lake County.

Kluber back on the hill:  Right-hander Corey Kluber made his return to the mound on Tuesday and went 3.0 innings and allowed one hit, no runs, one walk and had three strikeouts.  It was his first game back since being hit in the head with a line drive last Monday.

More short for Phelps:  For the second straight day infielder Cord Phelps played shortstop for Columbus.  He went 1-for-3 at the plate and split the game between third base and designated hitter.

Columbus vs. Akron recap:  Columbus and Akron played to a 2-2 tie in a seven inning inter-squad game on Tuesday.  Columbus right-handed pitcher Jeanmar Gomez went 5.0 innings (4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and righty Cory Burns pitched the final 2.0 innings in relief (0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K).  Right-hander Bryan Price went 2.0 innings for Akron (1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K) and righty Joey Mahalic finished it off with 2.0 innings (2 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 K).  The only player of note who did anything for both sides was outfielder Abner Abreu (1-for-3, 2 RBI).

Kinston vs. Lake County recap:  Kinston beat Lake County 4-2 in a seven and a half inning inter-squad game.  For Kinston, right-hander Adam Miller continues to plug away and pitched 1.0 inning (1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K) and righty Tony Dischler went 4.0 innings (5 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 K).  For Lake County, right-hander Felix Sterling went 3.0 strong innings (2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K) and righty Luis Encarnacion went 2.0 innings (0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K).  The only thing noteworthy for either team at the plate was Lavisky’s homer for Kinston (1-for-2, R, HR, 2 RBI, K).

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Minor League Notebook: 3/28

(Photo: Ken Carr)

Harris ready to lead Lake County staff

New Lake County Captains Pitching Coach Jeff Harris brings with him a lot of experience.  He played 14 years in the minor leagues and appeared in 430 games (85-53, 3.60 ERA) and even made it to the big leagues where he pitched in 14 games (2-5, 4.26 ERA).

In addition to all of that experience and knowledge that he has learned playing on the minor league circuit from 1995-2008, Harris has also learned how to relate to players from many countries because he has played all over the world.

“I played in a lot of difference places, some places people don’t even realize pro baseball exists,” said Harris.  “Because of that I feel like I can relate to all types of players and it helps me build a relationship with them.  I think I am pretty easy to get along with, and hopefully the guys trust that I have their best interest at heart and that I can help them.”

Harris was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 28^th round of the 1995 Draft and spent six seasons playing for them before being released before the start of the 2001 season.  In order to extend his playing career he pitched in leagues all over the world in Taiwan, China, Canada, Mexico and Venezuela.

“At that point I was trying different avenues to extend my career and earn a living,” said Harris.  “There are a lot of different markets out there.  I was just trying to make some money and keep playing.  I already had eight years in before I really started traveling and doing different things, but I just wanted to play.”

Harris and his Indians’ marriage started back in the 2006 winter ball season where they saw him pitch in Venezuela and signed him to a minor league contract for the 2007 season.  He ended up pitching in 27 games (22 starts) for Triple-A Buffalo and went 6-9 with a 4.68 ERA.  He was resigned for the 2008 season, but his playing time that season dwindled because of injuries and innings going to players with higher priority.

It was during that 2008 season at Buffalo that the Indians approached Harris about maybe making a transition into coaching once his playing career ended.

"I finished the last two years in Buffalo with the Indians, and apparently they saw something they liked with my work habits or personality or whatever and they just started asking me if I would be interested in coaching when I was done playing,” recalled Harris.

Harris ended up retiring after the 2008 season, which was the same time that the Indians were completing their move from Winter Haven, FL to Goodyear, AZ for the start of spring training in 2009.  As a result of the move the Indians had to change their rookie level league from the Gulf Coast League in Florida to the Arizona Summer League in Arizona.

The move ended up being a perfect fit for him and the organization.  Since Harris lived in Arizona, the opportunity to break in as a coach for the Arizona Summer League team was an opportunity that was too good to pass up.

“At the time I lived out here in Arizona and [Farm Director] Ross [Atkins] told me that the job in Arizona was opening up and asked if I would be interested in interviewing for it,” said Harris.  “I had to think about it for a little bit, and then I interviewed for it and they offered me the job.  It was a smooth transition.  It was funny as I finished the one year playing and came back the next spring as a coach."

It did not take long for Harris to make the transition from a player to a coach.  He jumped right into things in 2009 and 2010 as the pitching coach for the Arizona Summer League team and learned a lot about the coaching aspect with teaching, observing, and handling all the different personalities that he comes across.

"I like it,” said Harris about coaching.  “It is a big difference from playing and took some getting used to that first year as there is a lot of administrative work that you did not realize goes into it.  As a player you don't understand what the coaches actually have to do.  I like working in the organization and all the people I am around.  They made it an easy transition for me by taking me under their wing and it has really helped out a lot."

Due to some promotions or coaches going elsewhere after last season the Indians had to reset the pitching coaches at all their affiliates for this coming season.  As a result almost all of their coaches moved up a level.  Harris was the natural choice to move up to Lake County.

“The organization has their ideas and plans for where they want guys, and I had mentioned to Ross when I first got the job that I would like to be in Arizona to be with my family so I was close to home,” said Harris.  “But we have moved back to California, and now I would prefer to move up the levels and be with a full season club.  I am excited to get the opportunity.”

It will certainly be a much more involved coaching process in Lake County than it was in Arizona.  Out in Arizona he spent his time coaching in extended spring training games and then rookie level games from April to the end of August, all of which is really no different from Lake County.  The big difference will be the travel and the actual game settings.

In Arizona the games are played in front of no one, where in Lake County there could be 10,000 fans in the stadium on any given night.  Also, in Arizona all games are in the Phoenix area and you play teams one game at a time, but in Lake County there is a lot of travel with bus rides to Michigan, Indiana and other states and you play teams for many games at a time.

“I look forward to getting to play in series’ again where you get to play the same team for three or four games instead of just one game and you move on to the next team,” said Harris.  “I have been in the [Midwest League] before and it’s a good league.  It will be fun to play a 142 game schedule again too.”

Lake County will look to defend their Midwest League Championship this season and try and repeat.  Harris knows how special of a year it was last year for Lake County and would love the opportunity to win a championship with the club this year.  In 14 seasons playing in leagues all over the world and now his third year coaching, he has won just one ring.

“In 17 years I got one ring and that was in independent ball,” said Harris.  “It is a special thing for the guys who got one in Lake County last year.  It might have been the first year for a lot of the guys and they don’t realize how special it is.  It isn’t easy.”

Notebook:

Kluber update:  As mentioned last week, right-handed pitcher Cory Kluber was hit in the head with a line drive off the bat of Jason Kipnis last Monday.  He is supposedly fine and passed all the tests for a possible concussion.  He has restarted his throwing program and looks like he will be fine to open the season on time, though it is still remains a possibility he could miss the first week or so if he has any setbacks or the Indians choose to be very conservative with him.

No J-Rod return: Reports are coming out of Pittsburgh that the Pirates plan to open the season with infielder Josh Rodriguez on their 25-man roster.  Rodriguez was a Rule 5 pick this past December out of the Indians system, and would have to be returned to the Indians if he is unable to stay on the Pirates 25-man big league roster at any point this season.  Depending on who you talk to he has underwhelmed in Pittsburgh this spring, so it remains to be seen how long they will be able to keep him on their roster.  The Indians would very much like to get him back, so it looks like if he struggles in the early going he could be returned to Cleveland by the end of May, maybe even the end of April.

Phelps at short: One thing people have wondered about is how Cord Phelps will get consistent playing time at Triple-A Columbus this year with Lonnie Chisenhall the everyday guy at third base and Jason Kipnis the everyday guy at second base.  Phelps will play a few times a week at third and second, but apparently he may also see some time at shortstop and left field.  The Indians played him at shortstop in a spring game on Monday, likely to try him out there.  It is not a certainty he plays any shortstop or left field this year, but it looks like they are really considering it.

Columbus vs. Cleveland:  Columbus fans are in for a treat when the Cleveland Indian come to town tomorrow (Wednesday) to play the Indians Triple-A affiliate the Columbus Clippers in an exhibition game.  The game will be at 1:05 PM and shown live on SportsTime Ohio.  Players who played for Columbus last season will also receive their championship rings before the game for winning the 2010 International League Championship.

Columbus recap: Columbus beat the White Sox 7-1. At the plate DH/3B Jared Head (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K), DH/SS Juan Diaz (2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI), SS/DH Cord Phelps (1-for-3, R, 2B, SB), and 2B Jason Kipnis (1-for-3, R, RBI, BB) led the way.  On the mound right-hander Alex White went 5.0 very good innings (2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 5 K), and right-hander Yohan Pino threw 2.0 innings (1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) and right-hander Jensen Lewis threw 1.0 inning (0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K).

Akron recap: Akron beat the White Sox 11-6.  The hot springs continued for outfielder Abner Abreu (3-for-5, 2 2B, RBI), 1B Jeremie Tice (2-for-3, R, 4 RBI, BB), and 2B Ronald Rivas (3-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 6 RBI).  On the pitching front, right-hander Joe Gardner went 4.0 innings (4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K), left-hander T.J. McFarland went 4.0 innings (2 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 K), and right-hander C.C. Lee went 1.0 inning (0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K).

Kinston recap: Kinston beat the White Sox 4-1. Right fielder Tyler Cannon has been playing all around the diamond and continues to have a good spring (3-for-4, 3 R, 2 2B, K).  DH Casey Frawley (2-for-3, BB) and SS Kevin Fontanez (2-for-2, 3B, RBI, BB, SB) chipped in.  Right-hander Brett Brach went 3.0 innings (5 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 4 K), left-hander Chris Jones went 2.0 innings (2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K), and right-hander Jose Flores (welcome back) went 1.0 inning (0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K).

Lake County recap: Lake County beat the White Sox 11-7.  Catcher Alex Lavisky continues to swing the lumber (2-for-4, R, HR, 5 RBI, K), and LF Preston Mattingly (2-for-2, SB), 3B Dan DeGeorge (3-for-3, R, 2 RBI), and C/DH Alex Monsalve (1-for-2, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) also paced the offense.  On the mound right-hander Cole Cook went 4.0 innings (5 H, 2 R/ER, 4 BB, 2 K), right-hander Nick Sarianides went 2.0 innings (2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K), and right-hander Nate Striz went 1.0 inning (2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K).

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Smoke Signals 3/28: Opening Day Edition

Paul Cousineau and I are back on the cyberwaves tonight for some Cleveland Indians baseball talk in another edition of "Smoke Signals" from 11:00 - 11:30 p.m. EST.  Tonight we will discuss the happenings in spring training as camp is in its final days and lots of last minute decisions are being made.

Paul and I will go through all the decisions over the last three days with respects to the opening day roster, and there have probably been more decisions than originally anticipated going into camp because of some injuries and some surprise performances.  We will run down all the moves which are official, and provide some speculation on how the Indians make room for all these players and just how long they all may be in Cleveland.

Feel free to call us at 1-949-203-4752 or email us at smokesignals@indiansprospectinsider.com to talk about anything on your mind.

Thanks again for listening!  No matter how good or bad the Indians play this year we look forward to another fun year talking Tribe!

You can listen to the show live or download it and listen to it later here:

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Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Minor League Notebook: 3/27

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Here are a few, quick notes from out of minor league camp...

DSL gets ready: While the final week of spring training is in progress for the big league and minor league players, things will soon get underway in the Dominican Republic as players there will begin to get ready for their season which starts at the end of May. Spring training for players in the Dominican Summer League will start with a preseason camp on May 1st. A few players who came stateside for spring training this March will return to the Dominican Republic to participate in spring training and then play there. Regular camp will start up around the end of the first week of May and then exhibition games will kick in around the middle of May. When the regular season opens up for the Dominican Summer League at the end of May, the Indians will need to have their roster down to 35 players.

DSL catching trio: The Indians have three catchers in the DSL that could get a lot of playing time this year: Jose Alamon, Juan De La Cruz, and Kevin Calderon. None of the three are considered to be on the prospect level of Alex Monsalve when he came into the system over two years ago, but they all have promise. Calderon (5'11" 170 pounds) turns 17 years old next month and is very athletic and a good runner for a catcher. He shows good agility and flexibility, can throw, and has good hands. He is much more of a defensive catcher right now, but has a good frame where he should see strength gains down the road. Alamon (6'1" 170 pounds) is from Venezuela and does not turn 17 years old until August. He throws the ball well and has some potential as a receiver. De La Cruz is a switch-hitter and the most physical of the bunch (6'1" 190 pounds).

Keep an eye on Boscan: Infielder Manuel Boscan was suspended 50 games last year for performance enhancing drugs, but he is a young 17-year old switch-hitting shortstop prospect to keep tabs on. He is supposedly a lot like Asdrubal Cabrera where he will not wow anyone with any plus tools, but is a player who plays above his abilities. He has a plus arm and is an average runner, and more importantly is not as raw as a lot of young DSL players usually tend to be.

Releases: The Indians released eleven players from their minor league system on Saturday: right-handed pitcher Omar Aguilar, right-handed pitcher Jeremy Johnson, right-handed pitcher Dave Roberts, right-handed pitcher Julio Ramirez, catcher Juan Aponte, outfielder Kevin Rucker, outfielder Joel Torres, outfielder Trent Baker, left-handed pitcher Vidal Nuno, right-handed pitcher Casey Gaynor, and right-handed pitcher Taka Nakamura.

Columbus recap:  Columbus beat Lousiville 10-7 on Sunday.  At the plate they were led by outfielder John Drennen (1-for-4, 2 runs, HR, RBI, K), third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI), and right-fielder Tim Fedroff (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 BB).  On the mound left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz went 4.0 innings (2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) and left-hander Nick Hagadone who went 3.2 innings (3 H, 3 R/ER, 0 BB, 7 K).

Akron recap:  Akron beat the Reds 7-2.  At the plate third baseman Kyle Bellows continued his strong spring (2-for-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB).  Outfielder Abner Abreu (1-for-3, R, HR, RBI) and DH Justin Toole (3-for-4, R, 2B, 2 3B) also chipped in.  On the mound lefty Drew Pomeranz went 4.0 strong innings (2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 9 K).  Righty Marty Popham went 3.0 innings (1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K) and righty Conor Graham went 1.0 inning (1 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 K).

Kinston recap:  Kinston lost to the Reds 6-1.  It was a quiet day offensively as young catcher Ryan Battaglia provided all the offense (1-for-1, R, HR, RBI).  No one else had more than one hit (they had seven hits total) and the K-Tribe combined to strikeout 13 times.  Right-hander Steven Wright went 3.0 innings (2 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 K), right-hander Clayton Cook went 4.0 innings (6 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 K), and right-handed sidearmer Toru Murata went 2.0 innings (1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K).

Lake County recap:  Lake County lose 7-4 to the Reds.  DH Jesus Aguilar keeps showing the muscle this spring with another power display (2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K).  First baseman Preston Mattingly (2-for-4) was the only other player to do anything offensively as Lake County combined for an amazing 18 strikeouts on the day.  Right-hander Kyler Blair went 4.0 innings (3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K), left-hander Mike Rayl went 3.0 innings (8 H, 4 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 K), and right-hander Alex Kaminsky went 2.0 innings (1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K).

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Spring Update: 3/26

Here is a quick rundown of all the noteworthy action from the minor league games on Saturday March 26th:

Columbus vs. Brewers

Hitting: 2B Jason Kipnis (2-for-5, 2 R, K, 2 SB), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (2-for-3, R, RBI), SS Ronald Rivas (2-for-3, R, 2B, RBI), 1B Wes Hodges (1-for-4, R, BB, 3 K).

Pitching: RHP Joe Martinez (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 K), RHP Zach Putnam (1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 K), RHP Carlton Smith (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 K).

Akron vs. Brewers

Hitting: CF Bo Greenwell (2-for-5, 2 R), RF Abner Abreu (2-for-5, 2 R, RBI), 1B Jeremie Tice (2-for-3, R, 2 RBI), 3B Kyle Bellows (3-for-3, 2 R, 2 2B, 4 RBI), LF Jason Smit (3-for-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB).

Pitching: RHP Austin Adams (4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 K), RHP Matt Langwell (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K), RHP Tyler Sturdevant (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K).

Kinston vs. Brewers

Hitting: CF Delvi Cid (1-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 SB), 1B Chase Burnette (2-for-3, R, 3B, BB), 2B Tyler Cannon (2-for-4, R, 2 K), DH/3B Kevin Fontanez (1-for-2, 2 BB).

Pitching: RHP Trey Haley (3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K), RHP Owen Dew (2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K), RHP Preston Guilmet (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K).

Lake County vs. Brewers

Hitting: SS Nick Bartolone (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, K), DH Jesus Aguilar (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI), 1B Preston Mattingly (1-for-4, R, 2 K), DH Aaron Fields (2-for-3, R, 2B, 3B, K).

Pitching: LHP Giovanni Soto (2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 3 K), RHP Michael Goodnight (3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, 4 BB, 4 K), RHP Daniel Jimenez (2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K).

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Tribe Happenings: Indians make roster decisions

Tomlin won a rotation spot with a strong

showing this spring. (Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Some news, notes, and thoughts from my Tribe notebook…

Tomlin wins rotation spot

The Indians made several opening day roster decisions on Friday, and the big one was naming right-handed pitcher Josh Tomlin as the winner in the competition for the final spot in the rotation.  The other pitchers in the mix for the final spot were left-hander David Huff, right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, and right-hander Anthony Reyes.  All three of them were sent to minor league camp and should open the season in the Triple-A Columbus rotation.

Tomlin, 26, will actually be slotted fourth in the rotation ahead of right-hander Mitch Talbot who will begin the season as the fifth starter.  Tomlin pitched very well this spring, and if you base the winner of the competition strictly off numbers he no doubt won the job where he compiled a 1.13 ERA in 8.0 innings of work allowing nine hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.  Due to the presence of so many arms in camp needing innings he has been forced to pitch in three minor league game (or B-games) and has not allowed an earned run in 13 innings.

Huff, 26, pitched in six big league spring training games and went 2-1 with a 5.82 ERA (17 IP, 21 H, 3 BB, 8 K).  He only started two of his six appearances, and in both starts combined to throw eight shutout innings.  Five those shutout innings came in his best outing of the spring on Thursday night when he went five scoreless innings against the Giants.

Gomez, 23, pitched in six big league spring training games and went 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA (18 IP, 17 H, 7 BB, 14 K).  While he was in the mix for the final spot, from the start of spring training he was almost certain to open the season in Columbus because of his youth and some development opportunities still considered left in him.

Other roster decisions

In addition to naming the final starter in their five man rotation the Indians also announced that Jack Hannahan would be the opening day third baseman and that Shelley Duncan and Travis Buck would make the team.

Hannahan, 31, won the third base job because of a strong spring hitting .386 (17-for-44) and also because infielder Jason Donald has been slow to recover from a hand injury which will force him to open the season on the 15-day disabled list.  Even had Donald not been injured, Hannahan is a pretty good defender and has some versatility so probably would have still made the team as a bench option.

Buck, 27, will be the club’s fourth outfielder in the early going though should get a lot of time in left field in a platoon with Austin Kearns.  He has been one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball this spring where in 17 games he is hitting .420 (21-for-50) with four homers, 12 RBI and a 1.213 OPS.  He is a former high profile prospect with the Oakland A’s (ranked #1 in 2007) who has struggled with injuries the past several years, so if he can stay healthy the Indians may have found a bargain with a lot of upside.

Duncan, 31, will be the primary right-handed bat off the bench and play first base, left field and designated hitter.  In 16 games this spring he is hitting .275 with one homer, eight RBI and a .735 OPS.  He adds some veteran leadership to an otherwise very young lineup and bench.  The Indians also like his ability to hit left-handed pitching which is where he will get most of his playing time.

More decisions coming

The Indians still have to make decisions on who fills the final three spots of the bullpen, the backup catcher, and the utility infielder.

At the moment only four spots in the Indians seven man bullpen are locked up with right-hander Chad Durbin, left-hander Tony Sipp, left-hander Rafael Perez, and right-hander Chris Perez.  The main candidates for the final three spots are right-handers Frank Herrmann, Vinnie Pestano, Jess Todd, and Justin Germano.  Herrmann and Pestano look to have a great shot at landing two of the three spots, and the final spot probably will come down to Todd or Germano.

The backup catcher role is between Lou Marson, Paul Phillips and Luke Carlin.  Marson is the most valuable of the three and considered a long term part of the organization, but he is also just 24 years old and needs to play everyday in order to finish off his development as a hitter.  With that in mind, the Indians are still strongly considering having him open the season as the everyday catcher in Columbus and having one of Phillips or Carlin as Carlos Santana’s caddy in Cleveland.  It is also possible that they pick up a veteran catcher in a waiver claim or minor trade just before the roster deadline on Thursday.

The utility role is between Jayson Nix, Luis Valbuena, and Adam Everett. Of the three Valbuena may be the one with the most upside and versatility, but he hits left-handed which may be a poor fit for the bench since Hannahan also hits left-handed.  The right-handed hitting Nix may have a leg up on Valbuena for the utility role since he can complement Hannahan’s left-handed bat better, and he can also be an option for second base and left field.  Everett is a non-rostered player and appears to have little to no chance to make the club.

Roster management

With so many non-rostered players making the team, the Indians have to make some tough decisions with regard to the 40-man roster this week.

Already non-rostered players Hannahan and Buck have made the team, and both will need to be added to the 40-man roster by Thursday.  In addition to them, the Indians may also need to add non-rostered players in the bullpen (Germano), catcher, and possibly even utility infielder (Everett).  That’s as many as three to five spots on the 40-man they will need to clear to add these players.

The Indians roster was at the maximum of 40 players, but on Tuesday they designated right-handed pitcher Jensen Lewis for assignment to clear one spot.  He cleared waivers and has been reassigned to Triple-A Columbus.

They still need to create two to four more spots on the 40-man roster.  One solution may be to put outfielder Trevor Crowe on the 60-day disabled list as he has been slow to return from right shoulder soreness (rotator cuff).  With the Indians desperate for 40-man spots they may opt to shut him down for awhile and use his roster spot to add a player that is needed in the short term.

The cold hard reality though is the Indians may have to designate another player or two for assignment to clear room for the remaining players they want to add. The loser in the competition for the utility role (Nix/Valbuena) will probably be removed from the roster, and assuming Pestano and Herrmann make the team there is a chance Todd could be removed to add Germano.

Do not rule out a minor trade or two as the Indians have done this in the past at the end of camp.  They may trade some of their depth to clear roster space, or may also look to pick up a player in a trade or on waivers to fill any of those needs at catcher, the bullpen, or utility.

Indians getting social

The Indians announced this week that they are diving headfirst into the realm of social media.  They are the first organization in Major League Baseball to have front office members join Twitter with President Mark Shapiro (@MarkShapiro) and General Manager Chris Antonetti (@IndiansGM) making their debuts earlier this week.  Their new social strategy is an attempt to better connect with their fans.

“Social media affords us the ability to create deeper connections with our fans and span generations,” said Indians President Mark Shapiro in a statement released by the club.  “Its popularity – 600 million Facebook users overall worldwide and 300,000 new Twitter users per day – represents a fundamental shift in the way people interact and acquire information. We are incredibly cognizant of social media’s growth and have developed a comprehensive social media strategy to address it.”

In addition to the Facebook and Twitter initiative, the club also announced a new Indians Social Suite which as an entire suite at Progressive Field catering to social media users.  The new Indians Social Suite replaces the Tribe Social Deck from last year, and invitations to the new suite are distributed on a game-by-game basis.  Fans may apply online at www.indians.com/connect.

Some ticket discounts will also be exclusive to Twitter and Facebook users.

Honoring Feller

The Indians will hold a special Bob Feller Tribute during the pregame ceremony on opening day April 1^st.  The tribute will include a special video and banner presentation, Anne Feller will present the “Silent” Ceremonial First Pitch, players will all wear #19 jerseys during pregame introductions, and the #19 will be on the back of the pitcher’s mound.

The Indians will continue to honor Feller throughout the 2011 season with a special uniform patch commemorating his famous leg kick windup and #19 on all game uniforms, a #19 patch on batting practice jerseys, a July 4th celebration including a replica bronze Feller statue giveaway, as well as special signage at Gate C near the Bob Feller statue and throughout the ballpark.

Roster cuts

On Friday the Indians made some roster cuts as they optioned Huff, Gomez, and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera to Triple-A Columbus and re-assigned Reyes, right-handed pitcher Doug Mathis, and infielder Cord Phelps to minor league camp.

The spring roster now stands at 37 players, and must be trimmed down to the 25-man limit by Thursday March 31^st.

Parting Shots

Right-handed reliever Joe Smith has been slow to recover from a strained abdominal muscle and is expected to open the season on the 15-day disabled list. … Right-handed pitcher Jose Flores was returned to the Indians by the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.  The Mariners had selected Flores in the Rule 5 Draft this past December, but because he did not make their opening day roster he had to be offered back to the Indians. … On Thursday the Indians signed left-handed pitcher Jesse English to a minor league contract.  He made seven appearances with the Washington Nationals last year (7.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 4 K), and also made 16 appearances at Triple-A Syracuse going 2-1 with a 5.03 ERA (19.2 IP, 18 H, 11 R/ER, 10 BB, 14 K). … The Indians announced this week that the home opener at Progressive Field against the White Sox on Friday April 1^st is sold out.  It is the 18^th straight home opener sellout since the ballpark opened in 1994.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Spring Update: 3/25

Here is a quick rundown of all the noteworthy action during intrasquad minor league games on Friday March 25th:

Columbus vs. Akron

Columbus Hitting: 3B Jerad Head (1-for-3, R, 2B, K), LF Matt McBride (1-for-1, 2B), LF Tim Fedroff (1-for-2, R), SS Juan Diaz (1-for-2, 2 CS).

Columbus Pitching: LHP Eric Berger (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K), RHP C.C. Lee (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K), RHP Bryan Price (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K).

Akron Hitting: RF Abner Abreu (2-for-2, 2 R, 3B, RBI), 3B Kyle Bellows (2-for-2, RBI, CS), C Juan Apodaca (1-for-2, R, 2B), DH Doug Pickens (1-for-3, 2B).

Akron Pitching: LHP Matt Packer (3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R/ER, 0 BB, 4 K), RHP Brian Grening (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 K), LHP Francisco Jimenez (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K).

Kinston vs. Lake County

Kinston Hitting: 2B Kevin Fontanez (2-for-3, R), 3B Giovanny Urshela (1-for-2, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SB), CF Brian Heere (1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB), RF Carlos Moncrief (1-for-1, R, RBI, 2 BB).

Kinston Pitching: LHP T.J. House (3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 4 BB, 2 K), RHP Adam Miller (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K), LHP Vidal Nuno (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K).

Lake County Hitting: 1B Jesus Aguilar (1-for-3, R, HR, RBI), DH Nick Bartolone (1-for-3, K), 3B Juan Romero (1-for-3, K), RF Anthony Gallas (0-for-1, 2 BB).

Lake County Pitching: LHP James Reichenbach (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K), LHP Elvis Araujo (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K), RHP Kyle Landis (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K).

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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Lavisky has star potential



(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

 If you could look into a crystal ball and see the Cleveland Indians future, one player who may come into focus the most is catcher Alex Lavisky.

Lavisky, 20, is part of the Indians’ hopeful future. He is a young baseball player with all the tools to be a great player, and all the intangibles to be a star.

Of course the future is always unpredictable, especially when you are dealing with a young player who is on the verge of just his first full pro season. At this point his career can go in any direction.

The Indians appear to have something special brewing in Lavisky. He is the complete package. He has all the tools to be an above average receiver someday in the big leagues, and he has the raw power in his bat to one day strike fear into opposing pitchers. In addition to that he has all the intangibles with the looks, charisma, personality, and attitude to be one of the most popular players for the Indians in a long time.

Lavisky was selected by the Indians in the eighth round of the draft last year out of St. Edwards High School. He is a local product who is getting a chance to live his dream by playing for the organization he grew up following as a fan.

With all his potential and playing for his hometown team, Lavisky is no doubt under a lot of pressure coming into his first full season. Add to that a way over slot $1 million signing bonus, and there are certainly a ton of expectations for him to live up to.

"There is a little bit of hype coming in with me being a higher pick guy, so I have come out here to show that I am worth everything the Indians have put in me and to give them the confidence that I am one of their prospects of the future,” said Lavisky. “I just want to go out and play my hardest everyday and take full advantage of the opportunities that this organization has given me. There are 30 teams out there, and I am lucky to be with one of them, so I really have to take advantage of this opportunity and soak everything in and give it everything I got."

For a young man fresh out of high school it can be hard to handle such expectations. But Lavisky is a different kind of player as he is well composed, educated, and just has a sparkling personality that endears him to his teammates and will eventually become adored by fans. That mature approach is a byproduct of his upbringing.

"Initially it was pretty cool with me being 19 years old [to get a big signing bonus], but I think my parents have done a great job with keeping me in line,” said Lavisky. “My parents are awesome as they raised me the right way and I surrounded myself with the right people throughout high school. I am a pretty humble guy and I just like to have fun like everybody else. Everyone is sweating and doing the same drills no matter how much [of a signing bonus] you got."

To prepare himself for his first pro season Lavisky spent most of the offseason living at home and going to Progressive Field almost every day to work out. Living in Lakewood, he is just a hop, skip and a jump from the big league field and was sure to take full advantage of it.

"I got to be home and see my family a lot,” said Lavisky about his offseason. “It was convenient as most of my workouts were down at the stadium. I was able to go down there and stay close and get my work in so it was kind of cool getting to do everything there as I was able to wake up early in the morning and get everything done, and by three or four o'clock I was able to do whatever I wanted to do. Having a resource like the stadium was great. Being in Lakewood I can just hop on the shoreway and be there in five minutes.”

One of the first things Lavisky has already learned is there is certainly a lot of down time when you are a professional baseball player. While growing up baseball was always an extracurricular activity to his school work, but now that baseball is his job he has a lot more time to dedicate to working out and improving his game.

"It was a big change, and it definitely allows you a lot of time to get things done,” said Lavisky. “You are able to get all the stuff you need to get done and still be able to do what you want to do. It's kind of like being in college as you have to manage your time well. You are not obligated to do it, but you have to show up anyway. Also, being at home I was able to keep on track with everything, and if I didn't feel like doing something one morning my mom was up there dragging me out of bed to go do it (laughs)."

Lavisky has now been out in Arizona for about a month and is getting ready for the season. He has been one of the most impressive players in camp so far as he seems to get at least one extra base hit every game and he has shown some amazing light tower power.

Literally.

Last week Lavisky hit a bomb of a home run off of right-hander Clayton Cook to dead left center and hit the steel pole of the light tower about five feet below the lights. It was an impressive blast, and showed the raw power the Indians salivated over when they selected him in the draft.

With his performance in camp to date, there is no question that Lavisky has had little trouble adjusting to his first spring training.

"I think it has been a little easier for me to get adjusted,” said Lavisky. “I was down here a week early [for early camp] and there were only 30 guys so it was kind of like Instructional League and close knit. But once everybody got here it was ridiculous as we have 30 people at each station and we went from three catchers to like thirteen. So far spring training is going well and I think it is doing its purpose to get me and the other guys ready to play wherever we are going to play this season."

Lavisky has some impressive pull side power, as evidenced by his big poke last week. Last fall he really worked hard on getting better hitting with power to all fields, and it has continued to be one of the main things he has worked on at the plate this spring.

"I think the main thing is to just improve my lower half,” said Lavisky. “I have a lot of stuff going on with my swing, so I just need to work on getting my back hip through and allow myself to get power to all fields instead of just to left field. They are really emphasizing to me to be able to drive the ball to the right field gap and down the right field line and over the wall as well. I am always working on getting better at catching with receiving, hands, blocking, throwing, footwork and all that good stuff, but I think right now the main part of my game that needs improvement is taking that outside pitch and hammering it to right field."

New Indians Catching Coordinator Dave Wallace has worked a lot with his catchers this spring on framing techniques. It is one of the tricks of the trade for catchers to get a call for their pitcher on a borderline strike.

"Wallace has been great,” said Lavisky. “We have been working on that ball right on the left knee with the hard sinker from a righty or a lefty slider. It is a tough pitch to hit and we have really been focusing on getting my hand around the ball and being able to stick it there and just do my main job which is make the pitcher look good. Hitting for catchers is a secondary option as if you can hit it is great, but my main focus [in the game] is to make the pitchers look good."

Spring training wraps up next Saturday and most of the players will depart for one of the Indians’ four full season minor league affiliates. At the moment it looks very likely that Lavisky will open the season at Low-A Lake County, which he would obviously welcome as he would be just minutes from home. He knows nothing is for certain and welcomes whatever destination the Indians decide to send him to this year.

"Wherever I end up this year is going to be dictated by how I play,” said Lavisky. “Your play is going to dictate where you belong, so I am just hoping to go out there and do the best I can."

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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