Around the Farm: April 29

Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday's performances by Indians prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday's game.

Brett Brach-SP, Kinston: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K, W (2-1):

Brach has been nothing short of outstanding since his move back into the starting rotation with Akron a couple of weeks ago. In his three starts (one in Akron, then two in Kinston) Brach has gone 16 1/3 innings, giving up 11 hits, one run (0.55 ERA) and five walks, while striking out 13. A case really could be made that Brach has clearly been a top five organizational starter since making the move, so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks. Will Brach quickly return to Akron, or will they keep him in Kinston for the time being. If he keeps pitching this good, they may not have a choice.

• Ezequiel Carrera-CF, Columbus: 2-for-4, RBI, BB, K: Carrerra continues his fine spring with his first mult-hit game since April 16th.  Still, he's hit in six of the past nine games since then.
• Cord Phelps-DH, Columbus: 0-for-5, 4 K: Phelps has arguably been the Clippers best player all season.  My guess is that this isn't the stat line he was hoping for.
• Jason Kipnis-2B, Columbus: 2-for-4, 3 R, HR, RBI, BB, K: Kipnis has been a bit up-and-down this year, but these are the kinds of games we'll see more of as the season warms up.
• Jerad Head-LF, Columbus: 2-for-5, 2 K: This wasn't a major impact game for Head, but he continues to keep the average up, batting .339 on the season.
• Luke Carlin-C, Columbus: 2-for-5, R, 2B, 3 RBI, K: Carlin is one of those players that you really wish the big league club could find room for.  He's done nothing but put up numbers in Columbus this year.
• Luis Valbuena-SS, Columbus: 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K: This might not be the time to take Valbuena off the 40-man roster for Alex White.  He's currently riding a five-game hit streak (three multi-hit games) in which he's hitting .444, with two doubles and two home runs.
• Josh Judy-Closer, Columbus: 1 IP, BB, S (4): Judy has four saves in his last four appearances, all within the past six games.
• Chun-Hsiu Chen- C, Akron: 2-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI, K: Chen is heating up.  He's on a three-game hit streak, but has hits in eight of his past nine games.  He's also got back-to-back games with home runs.
• John Drennen-RF, Akron: 0-for-3, BB: Drennen is really cooling off.  He has only one hit in the last five games.
• Kyle Bellows-3B, Akron: 2-for-4, R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, BB: Bellows is coming out of a slump with his latest three-game hit streak.
• Kelvin De La Cruz-SP, Akron: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 6 BB, 5 K: De La Cruz has been solid this season, but there has always been something keeping him from the dominant numbers of the past.  Tonight, it's the six walks.
• Kyle Landis-RP, Akron: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 K: If you need a player to root for this year, how about Kyle Landis. Landis missed the entire 2010 season after being a steady climber as a relief pitcher prior.  He's overcome back issues, and a mysterious nerve issue that left his arm numb for much of last season.  Based on this performance, his second of the season (one in Lake County), he's back, and hopefully just another arm to add to the stable of big-time bullpen arms.
• Adam Abraham-DH, Kinston: 0-4: Abraham has scuffled a bit after a hot start.
• Abner Abreu-RF, Kinston: 1-4: Abreu continues to struggle, and was picked off second base to top it all off.
• Casey Frawley-SS, Kinston: 2-for-4, R, 3B, 2 R: Frawley is scorching with his current five game hitting streak.  He's hitting .444 (three multi-hit games), with two doubles, one triple and one homer.  He still strikes too much.
• Chase Burnette-1B, Kinston: 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI: Burnette's ridden a bit of a roller coaster this year.
• Tyler Sturdevant-RP, Kinston: 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, H (2): Sturdevant has done a nice job in long relief this season, with a 1.54 ERA.
• Preston Guilmet-Closer, Kinston: 1 IP, H, S (2): Sometimes it's easy to forget that the K-Tribe even has a closer.  Guilmet hasn't given up a run yet.
• Tyler Cannon-SS, Lake County: 2-for-5, RBI, K: Back-to-back multi-hit games has Cannon batting .359.
• Mike Rayl-SP, Lake County: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 4 K: This was a solid, if short outing for Rayl, who continues a solid April.

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).

Posted in: Around the Farm,Brett Brach