Around the Farm: June 15

J.D. Reichenbach
(photo: Lake County)

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.

J.D. Reichenbach: RP/SP, Kinston: 5 2/3, 0 H,  2 BB, 2 K:


There's absolutely no way that the Indians' management thought this would happen.  Reichenbach was recently called-up to the Tribe, and was clearly going to stay in the bullpen.  Instead, K-Tribe pitchers went 37 innings in two days, thanks to the 23-inning juggernaut on Sunday, and a doubleheader in which Reichenbach pitched, on Tuesday.  So, Reichenbach made his first professional start with the organization.  How did he respond?  Well, you likely noticed the zero hits.  That's right, he threw 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before being taken out, no doubt, because of pitch count.  No doubt he's back in the pen now, but will a no-hit outing make the Tribe take notice of his starting ability?  One outing doesn't make a career, but wow.

Jason Kipnis: 2B, Columbus: 2-4, 2 R, 2 3B, 1 RBI, 1 K:

Kipnis continued his June heat-up last night with two game-changing triples that helped Columbus sweep Buffalo, 7-3. His first triple came in the fourth inning, and he would later score on an Bisons' error. Kipnis tripled again in the sixth inning, driving in Zeke Carrera. Kipnis would again score on a Chad Huffman single, to give the Clippers a 3-0 lead. More importantly, Kipnis continues to showcase the kind of game-changing offense that has carried every team that he's played on throughout his travels in the Indians' organization. He's now 11-22 in his last five games, having scored seven runs, hit three triples and two homers, and driven in six. Over his last ten, Kipnis' line is .350/.400/.675. It's time to add Kipnis to the Tribe's roster. How does he respond to new surroundings? Look no further to last seasons playoff call-up to Columbus. His first series was for the Governors' Cup against Durham last season, and took over the series. He capped it off by hitting for the cycle in the series-clincher. The Indians need offense, and Kipnis can provide it. He's proved in the past that his streaks aren't relegated to levels.

•  Chad Huffman: RF, Columbus: 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI: Huffman is tagging along with Kipnis, and perhaps playing a bit better.  He upped his hit streak to eight games, and over ten, his line is .382/.462/.765.  Do you think his 1.226 OPS over that time period might look good on the big league club?  Oh yeah, he's a righty.  Of course, we do have Austin Kearns.
• Jared Head: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K: Head hasn't gotten a lot of press, but the 28-year old has had a fantastic season, hitting .312, with eight homers and 29 RBI.
• Scott Barnes: SP, Columbus: 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 7 K, W(5-1): Barnes early season struggles appear to be over.  He hasn't had a bad start in a month, and hasn't lost since April.
• Nick Hagadone: RP, Columbus: 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER: Hagadone's struggles continue in Columbus.  He's given up ten runs in his last five appearances.
• Tim Fedroff: CF, Akron: 2-4, 1 BB: Fedroff has met a four-game hitless stretch with a three game hit streak in which he's gone 6-12, with three runs, a double and an RBI.  Perhaps he's back to his dominating ways.
• Travis Hafner: DH, Akron: 1-2, 1 R, 1 BB: The Tribe slugger made his first rehab appearance for Akron, and made the most of it.  No, he didn't slug a homer, but he did get a hit, and look comfortable at the plate.  He could be in Cleveland by Friday.
• Kelvin De La Cruz: SP, Akron: 3 H, 6 R/ER, 6 BB, 2 K, L (4-4): Ouch.  DLC got drop-kicked, continuing a frustrating, up-and-down season that has seen his stock drop after an injury-plagued 2010.  Is the bullpen calling?
• Tyler Holt: CF, Kinston: 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB (15): Holt continues a solid month of June after struggling for most of May.  He's back to getting on base, and creating the havoc that made him a top draft choice in 2010.
• Anthony Gallas: LF, Kinston: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI: Gallas played in his second game with Kinston, and had his second double.  This kid continues to excel as one of the Tribe's surprising prospects of 2011.
• Rob Bryson: RP, Kinston: 1 IP, 2 BB, 3 K: Bryson continued his rehab assignment on his way back to Akron with a solid outing after moving up from Lake County.  He did walk two, but struck out the side.
• Preston Guilmet: Closer, Kinston: 1 IP, 1 H, S (15): Guilmet was back to basics, saving his fifteenth game of the season.
• Ronny Rodriguez: SS, Lake County: 1-3, 1 R, 1 3B: Rodriguez scored the only run, and had one of the two hits for Lake County in the game.
• Bryce Stowell: RP, Lake County: 2 IP, 1 BB: One could make a case that Stowell was one of the top relievers in the system last season, if not THE top.  He quietly made his return tonight with two innings of near-perfect pitching.  Stowell will be slowly making his way back to Columbus throughout the rest of the season.
• Nick Sarianides: RP, Lake County: 2 IP, 1 K: Sarianides did Stowell one better, going a perfect two innings to end the 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,J.D. Reichenback,Jason Kipnis