Around the Farm: May 13

M. Goodnight

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.

Michael Goodnight, SP, Lake County: 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 6 K, HR, W (3-3):

Goodnight rebounded from a May 8th fiasco in which he gave up seven runs (four earned) in 1 2/3 of an inning. Goodnight has been struggling slightly with consistency over the first month of the season, alternating good starts with bad ones. Once he evens out and starts putting together better outings back-to-back, he'll move to an elite level in the Tribe's farm system.  Goodnight is one of those pitchers that the Indians will bring along with some care, as they did with Austin Adams last season.

Austin Adams, SP, Akron: 5 IP, 1 H, 5 BB, 6 K, W (4-2):

Adams was one of the best pitchers in the Tribe system last year, going 8-5 with a 2.49 ERA at Lake County and Kinston. Adams scuffled a bit to start of the 2011 season in Akron, culminating with a bad outing at the end of April that saw him give up three hits, three runs and three walks in 2/3 of an inning. Since then, he's been simply outstanding. He's gone 3-0 in his three starts, giving up only two earned runs. Welcome back to the elite.  Adams has been developed nicely by the organization, and is ultimately where the organization wants Goodnight in another season.

Paulo Espino, RP, Akron: 4 IP, 2 H, 6 K, S (1):

You can't talk about Adams tonight, without talking about Espino, who may have pitched better than the starter. Espino isn't necessarily an elite player in the system, but he does litter his stat line with the occasional big game. Tonight was one of those appearances.  He'll likely disappear for a few days, but he's the type of pitcher that helps add depth to a system.

• Lonnie Chisenhall-DH, Columbus: 2-4, 2B, K: Chisenhall's .308/.386/.487 line in his last ten games has the Tribe's top positional prospect ready for the big leagues. I know the world is enamored with Jack Hannahan, but folks, it's time to bring up the "Chiz."
• Chad Huffman-1B, Columbus: 2-5, R, K, SB (2): Huffman will definitely see time with the Tribe this season.  He's played too good this season not to. He's found his way on base in nine straight games.
• Travis Buck-RF, Columbus: 2-5, 2 R, HR (3), 3 RBI, K: Buck is off the charts with Columbus right now.  If this were the Indians organization of the past couple of seasons, he'd be with the big league club, and likely in the mix for a starting job.  His line is .357/.457/.625.  For those counting at home, his OPS is 1.082. There may be some teams knocking on Buck's door if he keeps this up.
• Jason Kipnis-2B, Columbus: 1-5: Kipnis is currently riding a six-game hit streak, and has hit safely in nine-of-ten games.  While his season has been fairly successful, it's interesting to note that he's had big, multi-hit games that have padded his stats a bit.  Of course, if hitting .281 is this kid's slump, he should be good to go.
• Luke Carlin-C, Columbus: 0-1, 1 R, 3 BB: I love Carlin in the role of Crash Davis.  He does whatever it takes to win games.  Tonight, he walked three times and managed to score a run. 
• David Huff-SP, Columbus: 4 2/3 IP, 12 H, 7 R/4 ER, BB, 3 K: Huff has been rocked two starts in a row, and three of the past four.  I'm sure he's none-to-pleased to have been passed by for promotion in the wake of the Carrasco and Talbot injuries, but this is no way to react to it.
• Jordan Henry-CF, Akron: 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SB (14): Henry continues to terrorize pitchers from the lead-off position.  He stole his 13th and 14th bases tonight, and is nearly halfway to his career high of 29.  He's only been caught once.
• Juan Diaz-SS, Akron: 3-5, 2B, RBI, K: Diaz has quietly hit in four of his past five games, and eight of his last ten.
• Jared Goedert-LF, Akron: 2-5, 1 R, 2B, RBI, K: Goedert's only hitting .250 in his four games since returning from injury, but has a four-game hit streak, and tonight was his first multi-hit game.  I'm not sure who he bumps if he starts playing well, with Columbus loaded for bear in the outfield.
• Tyler Holt-DH, Kinston: 2-5, K: Don't look now, but Holt is leading the K-Tribe with a .297 average. Holt is riding a six-game hit streak, and has a very interesting .323/.475/.387 line over his past ten. No, this kid isn't a slugger by any stretch.  Even more interesting is that Holt hasn't stolen a base in that time either.
• Casey Frawley-SS, Kinston: 1-3, R, HR (2), RBI: Frawley needed the hit tonight to stay over the Mendoza line.  Doesn't it say a lot about Kinston that a guy hitting .209 is batting second?
• Bo Greenwell-LF, Kinston: 0-4, R: The stink of this offense is starting to rub off on their best hitting player. He's only two for his last 17 AB, and batting .233 over his last ten games.
• Tyler Cannon-2B, Kinston: 1-2, 2 BB: Cannon is batting .500 for Kinston.  So, this was his first game with the team.  Still, Cannon brings what appears to be much needed average to Kinston.  He was hitting .366 at Lake County.
• Clayton Cook-SP, Kinston: 7 IP, 9 H, 3 R/ER, 5 K: Cook deserved better than this for his start.  Since getting lit up like a Christmas tree on April 27 to the tune of nine earned runs in an inning of work, he's been sensational.  He's gone 18 innings, giving up only three earned runs, in three starts, while striking out 14 and walking only two.
• Travis Turek-RP, Kinston: 1 IP, K: Turek seems to be off the roller coaster with another outstanding outing.
• Kyle Smith-1B, Lake County: 2-2, 2B: Smith made his first appearance back with Lake County after a brief stint in Kinston.  Funny that he didn't stick with the K-Tribe, since they can't hit a lick, and he seems to be able to hit a bit.  Maybe there's some sort of Kinston curse.
• Anthony Gallas-RF, Lake County: 1-2, R, 2B, BB: Gallas can't stop hitting.  His line is .432/.488/.676 over his past ten games, and he has hits in nine of his last ten, and multi-hit games in five of his last ten.  Seriously, a .488 OBP?  That's absolute insanity.  The Cleveland native should be prepping for some time in high A.
• Brian Heere-LF, Lake County: 2-3, 2 RBI: Heere isn't a known commodity in the organization, and his 2011 average of .209 won't exactly make him known.  Good to see a two-hit game from the Captains' leftfielder.
• Clayton Ehlert-Closer, Lake County: 1 IP, 1 H, K, S (8): Ehlert's given up two earned runs all season, and both in the same game.

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,Austin Adams,Michael Goodnight,Paulo Espino