Around the Farm: July 10

J. Kipnis

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, United States: 1-for-2, R, RBI, HR: Jason Kipnis participated in the 2011 MLB All-Star Future's Game on Sunday instead of playing for the Clippers. And on the biggest stage, and in the area of his old stomping grounds, Kipnis shined. Starting at second and leading off for the U.S. team, the former Sun Devil product hit a solo home run to cap off a lengthy at-bat in the first inning. His replacement, Grant Green, actually took home MVP honors, going 2-for-2 with a RBI double.

• Zeke Carrera-RF, Columbus: 0-for-5, 3 K: You don't see these types of games from Zeke Carrera often. Especially after coming off a 3-for-4 night. 
• Jason Donald-SS, Columbus: 2-for-3, R, 2B, HR, RBI: Behold, the only run of the afternoon for the Clippers, a solo home run by Jason Donald in the fourth inning. Donald had half the Clippers hits.
• Scott Barnes-SP, Columbus: L (7-4), 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), BB, 5 K: It was a decent start for Scott Barnes, who took his fourth loss of the season by giving up three earned runs. After giving up a run in the first, Barnes got touched up for three runs in the fourth after Jared Goedert started the inning off with a throwing error.
• Nick Hagadone-RP, Columbus: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K: Nick Hagadone finished off the sixth and tossed a scoreless seventh. He hasn't surrendered a run since June 21st.
• Beau Mills-1B, Akron: 1-for-2, 2 BB: If Mills can add the walking and getting on-base part to his game, he may really have a chance at completing this unlikely comeback.
• Michel Hernandez-C, Akron: 2-for-3, R, 2B, RBI:  Michel continues to be unstoppable since signing with the Aeros. In eight games he is hitting .455 with seven RBI. Hernandez has a hit in all but one game he's started.
• Nick Weglarz-LF, Akron: 0-for-4, R, 3 K: A rather forgettable game for Nick Weglarz, who's probably getting tired of Akron at this point. 
• Raul Padron-DH, Akron: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI: Secondary to the job Michel Hernandez has done, Padron has done just as good of a job and he continues his RBI streak, knocking in a run for the fourth straight game. He's hitting .313 in his 10 games with the Aeros.
• Paolo Espino-SP, Akron: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K: More Espino magic, spot-starting and going four innings for the Aeros. It all fell apart after he left.
• Bryan Price-RP, Akron: L (2-3), 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB: The former Rice reliever had been settling in and trimming his ERA down to fit in with the rest of the bullpen. But he labored in this one, giving up three off four hits and a pair of walks. 
• Tyler Holt-CF, Kinston: 2-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB, SB: T-Holt does it all in this one. Not only did he a leadoff home run, he'd later steal a base and also walk. It was Holt's second home run of his pro-career. 
• Abner Abreu-RF, Kinston: 3-for-3, R, 2B, HR, RBI, SB: Also doing it all is Abner Abreu, who has been hot as of late, who now has nine hits in his last six games. He now has homered in four of his last five games as well. They've all been solo shots, but it's good to see the power stroke suddenly re-emerge from Abreu, who now has eight home runs, double his 2010 total. 
• Marty Popham-SP, Kinston: W (3-0), 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K: Bored yet? Marty Popham gave up seven hits, but he didn't walk a single batter and he struck out nine to improve to 3-0 on the season. The nine strikeouts is a season high for Popham. 
• LeVon Washington-CF, Lake County: 0-for-5, 4 K: Boy is LeVon in some kind of rut. The 2010 second round pick still has really found himself in a 5-for-38 slump with 13 strikeouts. The saving grace the last few games has been his walks, but four strikeouts is simply not getting it done.
• Jesus Aguilar-1B, Lake County: 2-for-4, R, 2B, K: Aguilar continues to provide some power with his 22nd double of the season. Aguilar now has 40 extra-base hits on the season.
• Jordan Casas-LF, Lake County: 2-for-3, BB: Casas has held his own in his time with the Captains. He was on base three times and sports a .323 OBP for Lake County.
• Mike Rayl-SP, Lake County: L (5-3), 8 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 5 K: Mike Rayl with his first loss since June 16th simply gave up one too many hits. Rayl has actually struggled the past two outings, but his numbers have to even out sometime, right?
• Jordan Cooper-RP, Lake County: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K: After starting mostly for the Captains, Cooper has come out of the bullpen the past two outings with some success. After giving up eight earned in his last start, 3.1 innings, Cooper has just one earned run in six innings of relief.
• Tony Wolters-SS, Mahoning Valley: 2-for-4, R, K, 2 SB: Busy was Tony Wolters, reaching base twice and swiping a pair of bags in route to a run. He now has nine steals on the year and has put together a great start to his season with the Scrappers. He has a .406 on-base percentage and is hitting .306 with 17 runs scored.
• Alex Lavisky-C, Mahoning Valley: 2-for-3, RBI, BB: Alex Lavisky finally broke a 0-for-20 slide at the dish with a 2-for-3 game. He also walked, which he had done four times during his slide. Things haven't been much better offensively for the power-hitting catcher in The Valley as he is hitting just .155 in 23 games. At least he had eight home runs for the Captains. He's got a big goose egg for the Scrappers.
• Robert Nixon-SP, Mahoning Valley: L (1-2), 6 IP, 9 H, 4 H, 0 BB, 2 K: The one thing you can say about Robert Nixon is that he's got some great control. He walked four in his professional debut, but since then has not walked a batter 24 innings. He's also gone at least five innings in the past four starts. 
• Drew Pomeranz-RP, United States: .2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, BB, K: It was a rough outing for Drew Pomeranz in the MLB All-Star Future's Game on Sunday. Pomeranz entered with a lead and having seen his five predecessor's carve through the World lineup. And after retiring Yonder Alonso on three pitches, the wheels fell off for Pomeranz. He exited having given up three runs and the fourth and final run would be charged to Pomeranz, but the the U.S. offense would save him from taking the loss.

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