Around the Farm: May 24

(Photo: Clippers)

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.

Jason Kipnis, 2B, Columbus: 2-3, 2 R, 1 wB, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, SB:

I'm sure if the Durham Bulls had their choice, Jason Kipnis would have been promoted up to the Indians a long, long time ago.  Kipnis was memorably promoted to the Columbus Clippers during the Triple A playoffs last season, when he promptly hit for the cycle, leading the Clippers to the Governor's Cup.  This year, Kipnis broke out of a bit of offensive stagnation to help the Clippers sweep the Bulls.  Kipnis hasn't been playing bad, but he certainly hasn't been that explosive presence early on that many expected after his work during the end of the season last year.  It appears as though Kipnis may be heating up.  He's currently riding a seven-game hit streak, in which he's batting .386 with six runs, two doubles, one triple, two homers, six RBI, two walks and two strikeouts.  While I don't see Kipnis getting promoted into a utility role, nor taking over for Orlando Cabrera as long as the Indians are playing well, he is clearly setting himself up to start the season off in Cleveland in 2012.

• Lonnie Chisenhall-3B, Columbus: 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI: Chiz has the average back up to .283, and seems to be heating up with Kipnis.  He's on a 4-game hit streak, with three of the four games of the two-hit variety.  He's hitting .412 during the streak.
• Jerad Head-CF, Columbus: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI: Head is the Rodney Dangerfield of Columbus outfielders.  He's played all three outfield positions, and is currently batting .344, which is leading the International League.  He's had two-hit games in three of his last four.
• Scott Barnes-SP, Columbus: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR: This was Barnes first decent start in nearly a month.  He has had a sub-4.00 game ERA since April 27th, until yesterday.
• Nick Hagadone-RP, Columbus: 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 K, S (1): While Hagadone isn't the Columbus closer, do you think that save serves up some notice in Columbus, and perhaps even Cleveland?  Hagadone has some of the best stuff in the organization, and while I doubt he would be moved to closer in the middle of a winning season, there's no doubt he's entered the minds of some in that very role.  His Columbus ERA is now a solid 2.08 after a bad first outing.
• Jordan Henry-CF, Akron: 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, K: Henry is as under the radar a prospect as the Indians have.  He's currently hitting .294.
• Tim Fedroff-LF, Akron: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB:  How do you know you're having an outstanding season?  When 1-3 brings your average down.  Fedroff's hit streak is now at 18-games.
• Karexon Sanchez-2B, Akron: 1-2, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K: Sanchez is that guy that slumps for a month, then goes off for a week-span in which you wonder how he's not in the bigs.  He's only batting .190, but he appears to be on the precipice of one of those streaks.
• Joe Gardner-SP, Akron: 4 1/3 IP, 9 H, 9 R/6ER, 2 BB, 3 K, L (3-3): This is certainly Gardner's first truly horrible start of the season, but he's not been the same pitcher he was last season.  The arm fatigue in April is a bit troubling.
• Eric Berger-RP, Akron: 2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K: Berger has gone five outings and 10 2/3 innings since giving up his last run.  Can this guy get anything more than a spot start?
• Tyler Holt-CF, Kinston: 1-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K: Holt's hit gives him a 24-game on-base streak for Kinston, the longest in the league this year.  He's 11 games from breaking Tim Fedroff's team record.
• Jeremie Tice-1B, Kinston: 1-2, 2B, BB: Tice has another hit in his second game back.
• Adam Abraham-3B, Kinston: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K: Abraham show signs of coming out of his near-season long slump, but always ends up with a couple of games without a hit.
• Clayton Cook-SP, Kinston: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HR, W (4-3): Cook has had five straight impressive starts.  While not in the top tier starters in the organizations, he adds nice depth.
• Travis Turek-RP, Kinston: 1 1/3, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 1 K: Somehow Turek gets credit for a hold in this game.  This is the second blow-up in three games for Turek, who is back on his roller coaster of 2010.
• Tyler Sturdevant-RP, Kinston: 1 2/3, 1 H, 3 K, S (1): Sturdevant rebounds from a bad outing with a great one.
• Anthony Gallas-LF, Lake County: 1-2, 1 BB: Gallas continues his 11-game hit streak.
• Kyle Blair-SP, Lake County: 4 IP, 7 H, 7 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 K: There has to be some concern with Blair, who hasn't had a good outing in four straight starts.  He's allowed 3+ runs in each start, and had a 6.75+ game ERA in each as well.
• J.D. Reichenbach-RP, Lake County: 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 4 K: This is Reichenbach's third straight solid outing for the Captains.
• Dale Dickerson-RP, Lake County: 1 IP, 1 K: Dickerson hasn't given up a run since April 21, a streak of ten games.

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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