Around the Farm: August 24

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.

Mitch Talbot - SP, Columbus: (W, 2-2) 7 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K.

After giving up six runs in each of his past two outings and not making it past the fourth inning, Talbot was due for a quality outing and that's exactly what he provided; and then some. This was one of Talbot's best starts to date in Columbus and probably also all season. With the Clippers chasing another championship, Talbot is vital to the pithing staff to perform at a high level.

• Travis Buck - RF, Columbus: 3-4, K. Buck has stuck around the organization since being demoted and while he hasn't lit it up night in and night out, he's been a solid contributor.
• Luis Valbuena - SS, Columbus: 1-2, R, 2B, RBI, BB. What a shame Valbuena couldn't do this in Cleveland.
• Josh Judy - CP, Columbus: (S, 22) IP, 2 BB. Shutting the door for his 22nd save of the season, Judy has been one of the best closers in the International League this season.
• Chun Chen - C, Akron: 0-4, K. Still in a slump and hitting just .162 in his past ten games, Chen has really struggled as of late, also hitting just .192 in August.
• Matt Packer - SP, Akron: (L, 7-12) 6 IP, 9 H, 6 ER/R, , 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR. Packer has been pitching well lately with a 3.82 ERA in August, while he was has only walked 6 and struck out 31. His biggest problem is he's just not missing many bats, where hitters in August are hitting .269 against him.
• Tyler Holt - CF, Kinston: 3-5, K. In a league where pitching dominates, Holt has held his own and while he may only be hitting .260, he's really had a productive season in Kinston.
• Justin Toole - 1B, Kinston: 4-4, R, 2B, RBI. It's nice to see someone else step up in the K-Tribe lineup who hasn't already. Toole, more of an organizational player, has also quietly put together a decent season, hitting .262.
• TJ House - SP, Kinston: (L, 6-12) 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER/R, BB, 7 K, HR. By all means, this was a pretty decent outing for House. He gave up a fair amount of hits, but kept Kinston in a position to win the ball game. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't pick him up.
• Trey Haley - RP, Kinston: IP, H, K. Haley has been solid out of the 'pen as of late and has now gone four consecutive outings without allowing a run.
• Luigi Rodriguez - LF, Lake County: 1-6, 3B, 4 K. Luigi really needs to get his strike out rate under control (15 BB/49 K this season), but he's turned himself into an intriguing prospect in which many, including myself, are high on.
• Alex Monsalve - C, Lake County: 2-5, K. In need of a productive night to get himself out of an 8 for his last 44 slump, Monsalve rebounded nicely with a two hit game.
• Michael Goodnight - SP, Lake County: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K. Possibly Goodnight's best outing as a professional, he's really pitched well in the month of August with a 3.24 ERA and opposing hitters have an average of just .153 against him.
• Kyle Blair - RP, Lake County: 2 IP, H, K. Another pitcher who has had a fine month of August is Kyle Blair. Since being switched to the bullpen, he has a 1.80 ERA and opposing hitters have an average of .216 against him. Was switching him to the bullpen the right call? Time will tell.
• Tony Wolters - SS, Mahoning Valley: 1-4, R, BB, 2 K. Wolters has been striking out at a higher rate lately, but with that being said, his walk to strike out rate is still rather impressive, especially for a young player.
• Jordan Smith - 3B, Mahoning Valley: 1-4, 2 R, 2B, BB, K. When a player has a .332 batting average heading into the home stretch of the season, you know you're talking about a special player and Smith has turned himself into just that.
• Alex Lavisky - C, Mahoning Valley: 3-5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K. Lavisky showed everyone that he has the power to become a fine prospect, but he's yet to show the consistency that will turn him into one.

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