IPI Inbox: Who is this Burns guy?

Cory Burns (Photo: Lianna Holub)

 My Minor Happenings column this week will be delayed until tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday.  In the mean time I have selected a few recent questions received via e-mail or on my Twitter page (@TonyIPI) and answered them below.  If you have a question on anything pertaining to the Cleveland Indians from the minors to the big leagues, feel free to contact me.  I also pull from questions in the comments sections in articles, and also from Twitter, so you can post your question there as well.

To the IPI Inbox we go.....

Gerry wrote: Cory Burns has "off the chart" minor league numbers. Most impressive are the low walks for a high strikeout pitcher. Can you tell us more about him? How hard does he throw? What is his array of pitches?

Me: Double-A Akron right-handed reliever Cory Burns is an interesting prospect.  After finishing second in all the minors last year with 42 saves in combined time at Low-A Lake County and High-Kinston last year (1.96 ERA, 2.3 BB/9, 13.3 K/9), he is once again shutting the door on opponents and closing out Akron wins this year.  In 10 appearances for Akron he is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 8 saves, and has some impressive peripheral numbers with just 1 walk allowed and 20 strikeouts in 9.0 innings of work.

When people see a strikeout rate like Burns’ has had so far in the minors – 12.8 K/9 in 86 career appearances – you would think he is blowing the ball by hitters with a mid to high 90s fastball, but this is hardly the case as his fastball clocks in regularly at 88-90 MPH and tops out at 91 MPH.  His success is mostly derived from the good movement he gets on his fastball as it has some tailing action and also two good secondary pitches in a changeup and knuckle-curveball.  He doesn’t have a true plus pitch, but all three of his pitches are average to above average pitches that he commands well with the changeup being his best offering and at times flashing plus ability.

Even with all the saves and impressive numbers to date Burns is not considered an upper-echelon relief pitching prospect.  There is some uncertainty on whether his gimmicky Hideo Nomo-like delivery will transition as he reaches Triple-A and perhaps the Major Leagues.  He creates a ton of deception with his “tornado” delivery as he has varying pauses in the delivery – sometimes as much as 2-3 seconds – which makes it uncomfortable for hitters.  He also turns his entire back to the hitter before twisting around and releasing the ball from a sidearm slot.  He certainly has potential as a big league reliever, but since he is generally viewed as a middle-tier relief prospect he will have to continue to put up ridiculous numbers to continue being noticed.  I'm a fan though….incredible makeup, solid pitches, and a crazy delivery….what’s not to like?

Burns pitching:

Dave H. wrote: [What about] Carlton Smith’s Pestano-like metamorphosis…he’s been a never-was and comes with a SSS warning but a guy with a 90’s fastball that has never been a bat-misser is producing [good numbers].  Has he perhaps gone from a 2-seamer to a 4-seamer producing more K’s and fly balls?

Me: I'm unaware of any change in Smith’s repertoire as he has always relied heavily on his hard sinker that sits at 91-93 MPH and has been up to 96 MPH.  He has definitely been pitching very well for Triple-A Columbus so far as in 9 games he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, and in 12.2 innings has allowed 9 hits, 2 walks, and has 17 strikeouts.

It’s hard to believe a 24-year old pitcher like Smith had some sort of major metamorphosis though or changed his approach to pitching.  Coming into the season he had a career 5.5 K/9 rate, and while he throws hard, he is more of a pitch-to-contact guy who has always relied on groundball outs.  He throws a cutter, slider, and changeup, so it is possible he made a major change to one of them which is helping or that he has added a new pitch, but again I have not heard that as being the case.  Given that he is in his free agent year and may be pitching with a chip on his shoulder, I think that along with just another year of maturity and experience is the reason for the success.

Even with Pestano’s jump in his strikeout rate last year he had previous minor league success as a strikeout pitcher.  I liken Smith’s season more along the lines of Frank Herrmann last year who like Smith just never was a guy who put up big peripheral numbers and relied on pitching to contact.  Both throw about the same - and small sample size be damned right now for Smith - I think we see Smith continue to show he is a Major League middle relief depth option.

Derek D. wrote: Do you think after his awful start that it is finally time the Indians will release Wes Hodges?

Me: I certainly think Hodges' days are numbered.  He is no longer a priority player for the organization as when Jason Donald was initially brought to Columbus on a rehab assignment a week or so back Hodges had to sit out.  The surprising trade of Jordan Brown will help Hodges get more playing time, so hopefully he can make good on the opportunity and improve his numbers to date where through 13 games he is hitting .163 with 0 HR, 6 RBI, and a .456 OPS.

Hodges, 26, is an example yet again of how hard it is to make the big leagues and also how hard it is to continue success and development throughout the minors.  Going into the 2009 season Hodges was one of the Indians top prospects after a record-setting performance at Akron in 2008 (.290, 18 HR, 97 RBI, .821 OPS), but since reaching Triple-A his career has flat-lined because of injuries and sub par performance.  His defensive shortcomings have caught up with him, and now his hitting has taken a dive.  He may get a quick cup of coffee in the big leagues someday, but he has the “4A” label now firmly attached to him.  He may just be burned out and need a fresh start with another organization to maybe get that much needed spark, and I would be very surprised if after Nick Weglarz and/or Nick Johnson are possibly activated in the next month at Columbus if Hodges is not traded or released.

Eric Z. wrote: Any news on when Washington and Wolters will head to Lake County?

Me: No news at the moment.  The Indians have been conservative in Wolters return from his hamate injury this spring, and have done the same with Washington who has battled hip and leg injuries since the winter.  Both are arguably the two best young position prospects in the system, and while frustrating for both of them to sit and wait, the Indians have to do what is best for them long term and not rush them back.  If both were older, say a Jason Kipnis and Ezequiel Carrera kind of player in Triple-A, I believe both would be back already or very close.  But, due to their youth, you just want to ensure as best as possible they are 100% and at the same time you can develop other areas of their game while they are sidelined.

At this point, I expect both to be out of action until short-season leagues start up in mid-June with both going to short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley.  That’s not to say neither will go to Low-A Lake County before then, just I think waiting and starting them in Mahoning Valley seems more likely at this point.

Loran H. wrote: What happened and what is the status of Bryce Stowell?

Me: Stowell has been sidelined since the end of spring training with some shoulder fatigue.  He had a poor spring as his command was way off and even his velocity was down some, so near the end of camp the Indians just decided to shut him down.  From what I know he is not expected to be out much longer, but these things can always be fluid especially since when we are dealing with potential injuries the team cannot say much.

Another thing in play is the Indians have been able to be much more conservative with activating Stowell because of the crowded pitching situation in Cleveland and Columbus, so he as well as Anthony Reyes have continued to bide their time out in extended spring training in Arizona.  At the moment there is no ETA on Stowell (or Reyes), but I suspect that after lefty Nick Hagadone is soon promoted to Columbus that Stowell will slot into the Double-A Akron bullpen.

Matthew Z. wrote: What happened to Beau Mills?

Me: Mills has been battling an Achilles injury since spring training.  Last I heard he was playing in extended spring training, and as long as there have not been any setbacks he may be activated soon.  He had a very disappointing season last year at Double-A Akron (.241, 10 HR, 72 RBI, .689 OPS) and a sub par year in Akron in 2009 as well (.267, 14 HR, 83 RBI, .724 OPS).  It looks like he has plateaued at the AAA/AA level, but what a boost it would be for the team if he can get himself back on track as he has that big power bat the organization lacks.

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: Beau Mills,Bryce Stowell,Carlton Smith,Cory Burns,LeVon Washington,Tony Wolters,Wes Hodges