Minor Happenings: Phelps making big league case

Cord Phelps (Photo: Lianna Holub)

"Minor Happenings" is a weekly column which recaps the important developments and news in the Indians farm system. While most of the information in this report is from my own research and through interviews I have conducted with organizational personnel, some information in this report is collected and summarized from the various news outlets that cover each team.

Another week of action in the Indians farm system has quickly come and gone, and that means yet another edition of Minor Happenings to run down all the notable happenings from the week that was in the minors.

We also have a draft coming up, which means lots of coverage on the horizon for the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.  It is hard to believe it is less than four weeks away….which means another 50 players will be born into the Indians family and into the lore on this site.  Of course only roughly half will of those 50 picks will sign on the dotted line, but once they do they will be followed as prospects for years to come.  Jeff Ellis did a mock draft for the site yesterday, and we will have more mock drafts and articles leading up to the draft, and of course loads of coverage on draft day.

Things for me are slowly getting back to normal, and with that I will soon be going out and catching some games in person to interview players, coaches, and so on.  I’m hopeful I can start doing that by the end of the month or beginning of June.  Lord knows I am chomping at the bit to talk to some guys off to some hot and cold starts!

Onto the Happenings…

Indians Minor League Player of the Week

(for games from May 5^th to May 11^th)

Cord Phelps (Infielder – Columbus)

.417 (10-24), 6 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K, 1.381 OPS

When you peruse the Triple-A Columbus roster for the most impactful Major League ready player in the infield, no it is not third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall or second baseman Jason Kipnis, but instead is actually infielder Cord Phelps.  Chisenhall and Kipnis may have more upside and the better big league careers in the long run, but right now at least in the short term Phelps is the best option available to the Indians who could impact the big league team in a very positive way.

So far this season in 30 games Phelps is hitting .318 with 5 HR, 20 RBI and a .987 OPS.  As a switch-hitter with an ability to take a walk (26 BB, 32 K, 107 AB) who also has some pop, he would be a much welcomed addition to the big league roster.  With incumbent second baseman Orlando Cabrera starting to show his age at the plate and in the field it is possible that at some point down the road the Indians look to cut back on Cabrera’s playing time and bring up Phelps to take up some of the second base at bats.

The beauty of Phelps is he can play several positions, so even if Cabrera is still playing four to five games a week at second base, the Indians could find Phelps enough regular work at other positions where he could play four to five games a week himself if he proves worthy of the time.  He is not an everyday option at third base or shortstop, but he has the versatility and ability to fill in at each position once or twice a week.  He would be a clear step down defensively from Jack Hannahan at third base or Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop, but he would potentially be as good or better than both of them at the plate.

Phelps is a good ace in the hole for the Indians, and when they do decide to bring him up they will have to add him to the 40-man roster though the obvious move would be to designate infielder Adam Everett for assignment when the time comes.  Those who remember Gregg Jefferies who played many seasons for several teams from the late 80s to the end of 90s, this is the kind of player Phelps could be.  He is athletic, versatile, switch-hits, has some speed, and has some pop in his bat where he may not be a regular at any one position, but can be a regular in the lineup at a different position every night.

Honorable Mentions:

Ezequiel Carrera (OF – COL): .385 (10-26), 9 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 5 SB, 1.005 OPS

Tim Fedroff (OF – AKR): .462 (12-26), 1 R, 3 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1.058 OPS

Matt McBride (1B – AKR): .407 (11-27), 7 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.337 OPS

Tyler Holt (OF – KIN): .429 (6-14), 1 R, 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 8 BB, 0 K, 1.136 OPS

Anthony Gallas (OF – LC): .444 (12-27), 6 R, 5 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 1.130 OPS

Brett Brach (RHP – KIN): 1-1, 2 G, 2.19 ERA, 12.1 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 8 K, .128 BAA

Infirmary Report

Here is an update on several players in the Indians system who are rehabbing from injuries or recently been injured:

Infielder Jason Donald recently returned to action with Triple-A Columbus from a left hand injury which sidelined him most of spring training and for most of the first month of the regular season.  After just a few games back in action this past week he was injured again on Tuesday night when a base-runner took a hard slide into him at second base to break up a potential double play.  He had an MRI on the knee and the results are still unknown, but he is wearing a brace on his left knee and is expected to be out for at least two to three weeks.

Infielder Jared Goedert started a 20-game rehab assignment with Double-A Akron this week.  He is recovering from a rib cage strain (oblique) that he suffered back in spring training that resulted in him being placed on the 60-day disabled list to start the season.  He should finish his rehab with Triple-A Columbus and is set to come off the 60-day disabled list at the end of the month, so the Indians will need to make a decision in the next two weeks on who to remove from the 40-man roster to add him back or if they will designate him for assignment.

Outfielder Nick Weglarz is still recovering from his left knee injury in spring training.  He is expected to start playing rehab games in Arizona soon, and could be back with Triple-A Columbus by the end of the month.

Right-handed pitcher Anthony Reyes is pretty much ready to be activated from extended spring training where he has been working to get stronger from his Tommy John surgery that he had two years ago.  The big problem has been finding somewhere to pitch him as the rotations in Cleveland and Columbus are bursting at the seams, and they still have to get right-hander Mitch Talbot back into the mix in the next two weeks.  In the meantime he just in a purgatory state and just biding his time until the Columbus rotation thins out and a spot opens up for him or the Indians trade or release him.

First baseman Nick Johnson is recovering well from his right wrist injury.  He is on the verge of playing some rehab games, and if things go well could be in Triple-A Columbus by the end of this month or beginning of June.  The Indians will need to make a decision on him in the next seven weeks since he has an opt-out clause in his contract where he can request his release if not on the 40-man roster by July 1^st.

Right-handers Hector Rondon and Alexander Perez are both rehabbing from their Tommy John surgeries last season.  Both will likely start pitching in rehab games with rookie level Arizona when their season starts in late June, and if all goes well it is possible both could see time with a regular affiliate in late July or August.  Both will be limited pitching in affiliate ball this year, and most of their work will likely come in the fall in Instructional League or another fall/winter league.

High-A Kinston outfielder Delvi Cid is back on the disabled list as he has struggled to overcome recurring back spasms.  The back spasms and a groin injury sidelined him in spring training and delayed the start of his season by a month, and after just three games of action with Kinston he is sidelined again for an undetermined amount of time.

Zach Attack

Triple-A Columbus right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister is back pitching to the level he was prior to last season, which is great news for the Indians especially considering they picked him up from the Yankees last August for outfielder Austin Kearns.  Once again the Indians look like they made a trade that at the time was considered low profile that may pay big dividends down the road just like the Eduardo Perez for Asdrubal Cabrera, Ben Broussard for Shin-Soo Choo, and Casey Blake for Carlos Santana trades of the past.

McAllister, 23, has made six starts for Columbus this year and is 6-0 with a 3.00 ERA.  In 39.0 innings pitched he has allowed 36 hits, 6 walks, and has 29 strikeouts.  He has really been on a roll his last four starts going 4-0 with a 1.92 ERA and in 28.0 innings has allowed 6 runs, 25 hits, 2 walks, and has 21 strikeouts.  This is a big change from last year where pitching mostly for Triple-A Scranton WB he went 9-12 with a 5.29 ERA (149.2 IP, 185 H, 45 BB, 99 K) in 27 total starts between the Yankees and Indians organizations.

McAllister’s confidence has returned and he is once again working the strike zone to near perfection.  While he is a physical specimen at 6’6” 240 pounds, he is not an overpowering pitcher as he generally sits 87-91 MPH with his sinking fastball though has touched 94 MPH in the past.  He is more of a command and control specialist with a deep mix of pitches he can throw for strikes as in addition to his fastball he also throws a slider, cutter, curveball and changeup.   He is an intelligent pitcher who just knows how to pitch and has a feel for working to both sides of the plate.  His biggest step forward this year has been the improved command of his pitches and the effectiveness of his cutter and slider.

McAllister is now without a doubt Major League starting depth, and yet another option at the big league level for the Indians who are now nine starters deep with Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, Josh Tomlin, Alex White, Carlos Carrasco, Mitch Talbot, Jeanmar Gomez, McAllister, and Dave Huff.  The depth and youth the Indians have in the starting rotation is almost unheard of, and one big reason they can sustain the success they have had in the early part of the season.

Barnes a future option

Another big league starting pitching option looming on the horizon for the Indians is Triple-A Columbus left-hander Scott Barnes.  Due to the depth of the staff both in Cleveland and Columbus it is highly unlikely that he will ever see time in the big leagues this season unless a catastrophe occurs, but he is on the radar as an option in the near future.  He is up for roster protection after this season and will surely be added to the 40-man roster as the Indians believe he is a starting pitching option for them in the future.

The Indians acquired him back in July of 2009 for Ryan Garko, and again it could pay off as another low key trade that pays big dividends for them in the future.  He worked through some struggles last season and really finished strong with a good showing in the Arizona Fall League and has come out this season pitching like a man on a mission.  He opened the season in Double-A Akron and dominated in two starts (11.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 17 K) before quickly being called to Columbus where in four starts he is 2-1 with a 6.23 ERA (21.2 IP, 23 H, 13 BB, 20 K).

The numbers so far for Barnes at Columbus have not been pretty, but the beauty of the situation is he is under no pressure to get to the big leagues this year and can use the rest of the season to get acclimated to the Triple-A level, gain confidence, and work on his limitations (slider, emotions).  His fastball has been up to 96 MPH this year and his changeup continues to impress, but his command – mostly his fastball arm side - has been off a little since his promotion to Columbus though some of it is likely the result of dealing with some nerves in his first exposure to Triple-A.  He is a very intense, emotional pitcher and sometimes it can get the best of him.

Brach continues to perform

High-A Kinston right-handed pitcher Brett Brach is about as consistent as they come.  Coming into the season, in 39 career games (37 starts) he owned a 10-11 record with a 2.97 ERA, and in 200.1 innings had allowed 181 hits, 49 walks, and had 153 strikeouts in combined time from 2009-2010 with short season Single-A Mahoning Valley, Low-A Lake County, and Kinston.  This season in seven appearances (5 starts) between Kinston and Double-A Akron, he is 4-2 with a 1.34 ERA, and in 33.2 innings has allowed 19 hits, 12 walks, and has 23 strikeouts.

Brach, 23, is a performer.  Armed with an 89-92 MPH sinking fastball and average secondary pitches, he lacks the stuff to be considered a high end prospect.  But sometimes even those who lack the sexiness of a 98 MPH fastball or devastating slider can get noticed and make their mark as a prospect.  This is something Brach is doing as he consistently gets hitters to pound the ball into the ground and he throws strikes.  In a lot of ways he looks to be an overlooked over-achiever much like right-hander Josh Tomlin was in his early days in the system.

At the moment Brach’s 1.63 ERA at Kinston is 3^rd best in the Carolina League.  He has always pitched well with his sinker-changeup combination as he gets good separation in velocity between the two pitches, but he has made some strides so far this season with his fastball command and his breaking balls.  He has done a better job keeping the ball down in the zone and has really challenged hitters going right at them with his pitch to contact mentality.  His slider and curveball have been effective in allowing him to get ahead in the count with first pitch strikes.  He may never be a high end prospect, but he is starting to make a name for himself as an innings eating potential back of the rotation big league pitching prospect.

Miller’s slider

Now that High-A Kinston right-hander Adam Miller has been activated, just about every appearance he makes and every pitch he throws is going to be over-analyzed.  He struggled in his first outing on April 30^th allowing four runs, four hits, one walk and had one strikeout in one inning of work, but in the two outings since then on May 3^rd and May 8^th he has thrown two scoreless innings and allowed one hit, two walks, and has two strikeouts.  The time between his appearances has resulted some in trying to maintain his health but mostly because of all the rainouts Kinston has had.

Miller, 26, is sitting in the low 90s with his fastball at 90-93 MPH and has been up to 95 MPH.  The big thing he is working on at the moment is regaining the feel of his slider, a pitch that was once considered the best in his arsenal and a plus-plus devastating weapon.  Since the last digit in his right middle finger is now stationary and does not bend, he has to find a feel for the slider since the tip of his finger always lays flat and is unable to curl around the ball or put pressure on it.  He has made unbelievable strides with his health, now the key is getting that slider back to being a usable, consistent weapon.  Once he and the Indians are comfortable with how the slider is coming along, he should quickly move up to Double-A Akron.

Award Winners

Low-A Lake County swept the Midwest League awards this week as outfielder Anthony Gallas was named the Midwest League Player of the Week and left-handed pitcher Mike Rayl was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for the period from May 2^nd to May 8^th.

Gallas, 23, is a Strongsville native and Kent State University graduate and during the period hit .433 (13-30) with 5 2B, 3 RBI, and scored 6 runs.  In 29 games he is hitting .348 with 3 HR, 12 RBI, and a .969 OPS, and ranks 5^th in the league in hitting (.348), 5^th in OPS (.969), 2^nd in hits (39), 1^st in doubles (15), 5^th in total bases (63), and 6^th in runs (22).  As an undrafted free agent signing last June, he has come on strong and quickly made a name for himself because of his performance and wide skill set as a defender, runner, and hitter.  With every game he is starting to look a lot like another Brian Barton who broke onto the scene back in 2005 in Lake County as an undrafted payer.

Rayl, 22, made one start during the period and threw seven scoreless innings allowing one hit, no walks, and struck out a career high 11 batters.  On the season he has made seven starts and is 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA, and in 35.1 innings has allowed 23 hits, 9 walks, and has 39 strikeouts.

Random Notes

Triple-A Columbus third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall is hitting .281 with 2 HR, 21 RBI, and a .793 OPS in 31 games.  He has really turned things around after a slow start and in his last ten games is hitting .350 with a .897 OPS.  The biggest change is he is once again using the entire field and spraying line drives all over the place.  When he is on his game – like in spring training – he has a nice line drive stroke going from gap to gap.

With infielder Jason Donald out again for awhile, Triple-A infielder Luis Valbuena may now be the first option the Indians will call upon for a utility need should they decide to part ways with Adam Everett.  In 25 games for Columbus he is hitting .277 with 4 HR, 16 RBI and a .805 OPS, and he is playing all over the field as he has appeared in 13 games at shortstop, four at third base, four in the outfield, and one at second base.  He is currently primarily playing outfield for Columbus due to the depth of infielders on the team, though is not foreign to the position as he has played there in the past in winter ball.

Double-A left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone showed he was human this past week in allowing his first earned runs of the season.  In ten appearances he is 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA, and in 20.2 innings has allowed 14 hits, 6 walks, and has 23 strikeouts.  His one blemish this year has been his appearance on May 7^th where in 1.2 innings he allowed three runs on two hits and two walks, but he actually threw well that outing as he was the victim of some very poor calls on balls and strikes by the home plate umpire.  Even with the tight strike zone he kept his composure, and overall his ability to harness his adrenaline and emotions has been a big key in cutting down on the walks this year.

Double-A Akron third baseman Kyle Bellows is really struggling at the plate this season where in 27 games he is hitting just .177 with 0 HR, 9 RBI, and a .496 OPS.  He’s been a big disappointment offensively, though the concerns with his offense were known going into this season.  Defensively he continues to be an excellent defender at third base, and that defensive ability is going to keep him in the organization for a long time to hopefully allow him time to iron out his flaws offensively.

High-A Kinston left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz continues to dominate the Carolina League where in six starts he is now 1-0 with a 1.27 ERA (28.1 IP, 16 H, 10 BB, 42 K).  He picked up his first professional win this past week in his last start on May 7^th when he went five shutout innings allowing three hits, three walks, and had eight strikeouts.  In his last start he relied mostly on his fastball as he had trouble locating his curveball and changeup, which is a clear sign that he needs to move up to Double-A as he needs to be challenged to throw his secondary stuff more and not just get by with fastballs when needed.

High-A Kinston outfielder Jason Smit has had a rough introduction to the Carolina League since his promotion from Low-A Lake County last week.  In five games with Kinston he is hitting .167 with 0 HR, 2 RBI and a .536 OPS, while in 26 games for Lake County he hit .344 with 2 HR, 11 RBI and a .938 OPS.  At Kinston he will split time between the outfield and first base.

Low-A Lake County outfielder Carlos Moncrief is off to a very good start where in 32 games he is hitting .260 with 4 HR, 19 RBI and a .838 OPS.  He is still working his way back as an everyday position player since he spent his first two seasons in the organization as a pitcher.  He has the power bat and arm that projects well as a prototype right-fielder, and his performance so far this season is encouraging and he is showing signs of development.

Low-A Lake County middle infielder Argenis Martinez is a slick fielder who is one of the best defensive infielders in the entire Indians system, if not the best.  In 25 games this year he is hitting .244 with 0 HR, 13 RBI and a .628 OPS.  At 5’11” and 160 pounds he moves swiftly and is an acrobat in the field showing excellent range to track down almost any ball, good footwork and hands, and a solid throwing arm.  Even with all that potential defensively, he still needs to show he can hold his own offensively if he wants to move up to the higher levels of the system.

The Indians recently released infielder Ron Rivas and right-handed pitcher Orlando Pereira.  Neither release is a surprise as Rivas was an error-machine last year for Kinston and even after a big showing in spring training had been playing sparingly this season.  Pereira was a young pitcher from Venezuela who topped out at the rookie level.

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: Adam Miller,Alexander Perez,Anthony Gallas,Anthony Reyes,Brett Brach,Cord Phelps,Delvi Cid,Hector Rondon,Jared Goedert,Jason Donald,Nick Johnson,Nick Weglarz,Scott Barnes,Zach McAllister