Minor Happenings: Araujo is finishing strong in Arizona

Elvis Araujo (Photo: IPI)

"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.

We are rounding third and heading home on the 2011 season. With about ten days left in the regular season several teams are just playing out the end off the season until the offseason begins or players get set to go out to Instructional League.

In case you missed it I posted a piece on Double-A Akron outfielder Nick Weglarz earlier this week. Also, I will be heading out to Niles, Ohio tonight to see short season Single-A Mahoning Valley play so maybe I will see some of you there.

Speaking of seeing people, I am planning an impromptu site outing at Lake County next Wednesday August 31st. If you are interested in coming let me know.

Onto the Happenings…

IPI Minor League Player of the Week
(for games from August 18th through August 24th)

Elvis Araujo (Left-handed Pitcher - Arizona)
2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 10.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K, .121 BAA

Elvis Araujo

It has been a long road back, but rookie level Arizona left-handed pitcher Elvis Araujo has made it back healthy. After a very good pro debut in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year old back in 2008 when he went 4-2 with a 1.89 ERA (57.0 IP, 46 H, 23 BB, 37 K), he came into the 2009 season as one of the Indians best up-and-coming prospects.

Unfortunately for Araujo and the Indians he hurt his elbow during extended spring training in 2009 which required Tommy John surgery. His return to the mound was a lengthy one as he had several setbacks along the way and ended up missing all of the 2009 and 2010 seasons before finally returning to the mound last October during Instructional League.

Now 20-years old, Araujo came back strong and healthy this spring and pitched well in extended spring training and has continued to pitch well during short season ball with the Arizona League Indians. He is having a breakout season and will get a lot of attention from people who put together Top 30 Indians prospect lists this offseason. In 13 games (11 starts) he is 9-1 with a 2.86 ERA, and in 63.0 innings has allowed 54 hits, 18 walks, and has 58 strikeouts. He has not allowed an earned run in his last three outings covering 14.0 innings.

Araujo is a huge lefty who is listed at 6’6” 215 pounds though looks much bigger than that when he tows the rubber. He has power stuff as he throws a fastball that consistently sits at 90-93 MPH and has touched 96 MPH, and has the body and arm strength to add more velocity as he matures. He also has a good developing curveball and a changeup.

The Arizona team’s season wraps up this weekend, so Araujo will probably get one final start with them. At the conclusion of their season he will probably join short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley or Low-A Lake County for the final week of the season to help acclimate him to the environment of where he will likely play next year.

Honorable Mentions:

Jared Goedert (INF – COL): .346 (9-26), 4 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.203 OPS
Justin Toole (INF – KIN): .381 (8-21), 3 R, 1 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K, .887 OPS
Bryson Myles (OF – MV): .435 (10-23), 7 R, 3 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K, 3 SB, 1.101 OPS
Erik Gonzalez (INF – AZL): .450 (9-20), 6 R, 0 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 1.226 OPS
Luis DeJesus (RHP – AZL): 1-0, 1.13 ERA, 2 G, 8.0 IP, 7 H, 0 BB, 8 K, .241 BAA
Marty Popham (RHP – KIN): 2-0, 2.25 ERA, 2 G, 12.0 IP, 6 H, 6 BB, 13 K, .140 BAA
Austin Adams (RHP – AKR): 1-1, 1.93 ERA, 2 G, 14.0 IP, 14 H, 3 BB, 16 K, .264 BAA
Paolo Espino (RHP – COL): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 9.1 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K, .094 BAA

Previous Winners:

08/11 to 08/17: Francisco Jimenez (LHP – Kinston)
08/04 to 08/10: Paolo Espino (RHP – Akron)
07/28 to 08/03: Jerad Head (OF – Columbus)
07/21 to 07/27: Tony Wolters (SS – Mahoning Valley)
07/14 to 07/20: Beau Mills (1B – Akron)
07/07 to 07/13: Luigi Rodriguez (OF – AZL Indians)
06/30 to 07/06: Elvis Araujo (LHP – AZL Indians)
06/23 to 06/29: Kirk Wetmore (LHP – Mahoning Valley)
06/16 to 06/22: Zach McAllister (RHP - Columbus)
06/09 to 06/15: Scott Barnes (LHP – Columbus)
06/02 to 06/08: Beau Mills (1B - Akron)
05/26 to 06/01: Anthony Gallas (OF - Lake County)
05/19 to 05/25: Tim Fedroff (OF – Akron)
05/12 to 05/18: Steven Wright (RHP – Lake County)
05/05 to 05/11: Cord Phelps (INF – Columbus)
04/28 to 05/04: Chun Chen (C – Akron)
04/21 to 04/27: Chad Huffman (OF – Columbus)
04/14 to 04/20: Alex White (RHP – Columbus)
04/07 to 04/13: Drew Pomeranz (LHP – Kinston)

Directors Cuts

Indians Vice President of Player Development Ross Atkins had a lot to share this past week on several players in the Indians farm system:

Zach McAllister

On integrating players from the 2011 Draft: “Brad and Paul Gillespie do such a good job of getting all of the players that are recently signed integrated into our system. They do a great job of getting all of the information to them of what they can expect. Part of our job is to make sure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible and that they feel not only comfortable with coming into professional baseball but start to learn what separates the Cleveland Indians from other organizations and to identify with our organization. That process begins now. A lot of it for these young players is getting to know us, getting to know the professional baseball environment, and the culture of the Cleveland Indians and our expectations for them. It is a lot for a young player to go through. They have these great visions of all of a sudden I am playing baseball under the lights, and the next things they know they look up and they are one of 155 players and there are 55 staff members they will get to know, so it can be very overwhelming. The more we can organize the information and prepare them for what they are going to experience and manage their expectations, the better off they will be. Secondarily, I think it is important for us to really make an effort to get to know them as individuals and not just as a player. That process starts now. Francisco Lindor is going to go to Mahoning Valley even though he is a younger player. He is advanced as a defender and we feel his approach is advanced enough so we will get him built up and hopefully in some games by the end of the season and then he will transition into Instructional League. We have a similar plan for Dillon Howard. But there are always different variables. Where they were playing, where they weren’t playing, and what their personal needs are at this point. So each plan is individual. We are excited to have them in and have spent some time with them already and I have been very impressed and encouraged.”

On Zach McAllister: “Zach really has been the most dominant pitcher we have had at that level statistically, and one of the most dominant pitchers in that league. I think he is in the 90th percentile range of fielding independent pitching (FIP), which is just eliminating defense and things he can’t control. The things he can control he does a great job with. The thing that has been most encouraging for Zach at 23-years old is how well he has handled the expectations, the competiveness, the big games, and all of those things in and around the trade and coming into this organization. It all bodes well for him as someone who can certainly handle the Major League environment. He has made some subtle delivery adjustments that have helped him, he has gotten more aggressive with his fastball to both halves of the plate, he is pitching inside better and really has a good four pitch mix. The secondary weapons are still developing, but there are not many 23-year olds that their secondary weapons are not developing. The baseball pedigree smart driven players really benefit from the professional environment and he is one of them who has.”

T.J. McFarland

On T.J. McFarland: “He puts the ball on the ground and is really aggressive with a hard sinking fastball. He is athletic, he is young, and the slider is a decent weapon. If the changeup comes he has a chance to be a starter. As far as starting pitchers go I don’t think anyone in that league puts the ball on the ground at a higher percentage. That is obviously something that has value in the Major League game. As defenses get better and infields get more consistent, if you put the ball on the ground you have a better chance of having success. He is very similar to [Aaron Laffey]. The thing about Aaron Laffey was his toughness and confidence. If that comes with T.J. – and he shows all the signs that he has those things in him – they just have to continue to progress as well as his slider and changeup. Aaron’s competitiveness was so elite, so we are hopeful T.J. has that in him too and we think he does.”

On Giovanni Soto: “Ever since he came here and he pitched in the playoff game in Lake County he just really has not had much struggles at all in the minor leagues. The only thing that has held him back have been injuries, and they have been small and fortunately nothing significant. I think that is mostly youth and him still growing into his overall physical size and what he is ultimately going to be. Our player development guys love him. They talk about his intelligence. They talk about his confidence and his savvy, the things that it takes to be a Major League pitcher. Whether or not he is a Major League reliever or he can stay in the rotation will be the question, but he is a Major League pitcher.”

Mike Rayl

On Mike Rayl: “He is at the Kinston level now. His delivery is so clean and his pitches are so refined he could probably be at a higher level and have success. What you want to balance is giving him the opportunity to try new things to be more aggressive with the fastball on the plate, be more aggressive with his secondary weapons on the plate, realize when he is benefitting from a little bit bigger zone and challenge himself to do that. If he continues to dominate we will have to push him quick. He has certainly warranted that move to Kinston and really he is ready for a challenge already. We are excited about the prospect he has become.”

On Michael Goodnight: “He has a delivery and aptitude. Those are two things you really can’t add to a player so to speak. Especially once they are 21-22 as their delivery really is pretty much their delivery. There are subtleties you can offer but he has a great one. He uses his lower half and gets out over his front side well. He has aptitude as he is aware of his delivery and aware of what it is going to take. Sometimes as a younger player your aptitude or awareness can work against you as you are aware of everything going on. Now it is going to be a matter of him simplifying things for himself.”

Hector Rondon

On Hector Rondon: “We are hopefully at the end of the rainbow with him after going through that process [with Tommy John surgery]. It has been lengthy and he has had a couple of minor setbacks in the process, which is normal. He is in the mid-90s consistently almost every time he pitches. He is pitching in sim-games in Arizona right now.”

On Jason Knapp: “Unfortunately he had another setback with his shoulder [earlier this year]. The thing we know is how well he handles going through the process of rehab and the process of setbacks and handling and controlling the things he can control to get stronger with his lower half and with his core. To work on things off the field so that when he does get the opportunity again he is prepared. He is focused on that and is actually home right now and we will get him back out to Arizona and get him ready for spring training.”

On Tony Wolters: “He has been incredible he really has, especially for a high school player to be at that level right now. He missed some time because of a hamate procedure he had on his hand [this spring]. Has really handled himself well. He has made himself a better defender and his approach is more consistent. You can envision a Major League stadium around him as you watch him play. He has the strength, the confidence, the hands and the athleticism. He has really had a productive year even after the staggered start because of the injury. Tony is very much into the fold and has made himself into a solid Major League prospect for us.”

Jake Lowery

On Jake Lowery: “[Catcher] is an area that we feel like we have a nice number with Alex Monsalve, Alex Lavisky, Roberto Perez, Chun Chen and add Jake Lowery to that mix. He is just coming into the fold and as a college player he is still only 20 years old. He has the leadership, he has the toughness, and the bat seems to be something that is not going to be a limitation and something that might be a strength. It is really encouraging to think that we have gotten that out of the 4th round. He is by all means a solid catching prospect for us. Our staff speaks of him in the same light as Jason Kipnis when he first came into Mahoning Valley. That same swagger, toughness and a guy who wants to be in the lineup and the manager wants to put into the 3-hole every night. Those are intangibles that can sometimes be dismissed easily, but really end up having some [value] when those things are being said about a player.”

On Bryson Myles: “He is a really impressive athlete and may have the highest ceiling of all of those guys [in the 2011 Draft]. Now, the chance of him realizing that ceiling is another story for him as there is a lot more baseball acumen and intelligence and execution to come just from experience and overall exposure to a higher caliber of player. But his athleticism as a former football player is elite. He is powerful, he is quick, and he has some feel for the bat too. Our player development staff loves getting a player like this. They can really see immediate results and tangible progress that occurs with the impact that they have on a player. Thinking about the ceiling being as high as it could be, Myles is very exciting for our player development staff.”

Don’t overlook Espino

Paolo Espino

One of the most overlooked guys in the Indians system may be Triple-A right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino. Because of his average stuff, size, and projection he has often been passed over for more highly touted pitchers, but he continues to be a performer and put up consistently good numbers outing after outing.

Espino, 24, is having another good season where in 31 combined appearances (8 starts) between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus he is 8-1 with a 2.82 ERA (108.1 IP, 91 H, 25 BB, 103 K). Since being called up to Columbus almost two weeks ago he has pitched well in three outings where in 15.1 innings he has allowed just 3 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks, and has 14 strikeouts.

Espino does not overpower hitters as his fastball sits in the low 90s. Instead, he is more of a finesse pitcher who has a plus curveball, a no fear approach, and throws strikes. In many ways he is similar to right-hander Josh Tomlin, another pitcher he never wowed scouts with stuff but just threw strikes and went after hitters.

Espino is not a minor league free agent until after the 2012 season, and while he is Rule 5 eligible this offseason he probably would not be rostered by the Indians or picked up by a team in the Rule 5 Draft. He has established himself as a depth option in the system, and he likely will be a part of the Triple-A Columbus staff to start the 2012 season.

Playoff update

Congratulations to Triple-A Columbus for clinching the International League West Division earlier this week. Mike Sarbaugh and his players just win year after year, and they will now get a chance to defend their 2010 league title.

Low-A Lake County is officially eliminated from playoff contention, but here is how things stand for the Indians’ other four affiliates with about a week and a half to play:

Double-A Akron: They are 66-64 and in 3rd place in the Eastern League Western Division. They are 7.0 games out of 1st place and 5.5 games off the wildcard pace, so it looks like their postseason chances are very slim.

High-A Kinston: They are currently 31-27 in the second have and in 1st place by 0.5 games in the Carolina League Southern Division. It will come down to Kinston and Winston-Salem since Myrtle Beach already won the first half division title and Salem appears to be out of it. With just 11 games left, it should go down to the wire.

Short season Single-A Mahoning Valley: They are currently 35-29 and in 3rd place in the NY-Penn League Pinckney Division. They are 4.0 games out of 1st place and 1.5 games out of the wildcard spot with 11 games to play.

Rookie level Arizona: They are currently 27-25 and in 3rd place in the Arizona League Central Division. With four games left they are 4.0 games in back of first and 3.0 games out of the wildcard so are an extreme long shot to make it into the playoffs.

Random Notes

Jared Goedert

Triple-A Columbus third baseman Jared Goedert is having a great month of August so far where in 22 games he is hitting .370 with 6 HR, 10 RBI and a 1.125 OPS. Overall his season in 76 combined games with Double-A Akron and Columbus he is hitting .264 with 15 HR, 35 RBI and a .836 OPS. He has split his time this season evenly between first base and third base, but of late is playing a lot more third base since Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Donald were called up to Cleveland and Beau Mills was promoted to Columbus last month. He does not appear to be an option for a September callup, but is playing his way back into roster consideration at some point next year and is certainly a right-handed hitting depth option for the bench in Cleveland.

Double-A Akron left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz is back in action after about a five week layoff because of a sore shoulder. He made his return earlier this week and is now pitching out of the bullpen, mostly since it is late in the season and there is no time to build him back up to start, but also to best ensure he remains healthy the rest of the season. He has pitched a total of 1.0 inning in the two games since he returned and has not allowed a run and has 3 strikeouts. In 19 total appearances with Akron this year he is 5-6 with a 4.50 ERA, and in 80.0 innings has allowed 69 hits, 54 walks, and has 87 strikeouts.

Giovanni Soto

Left-handed pitcher Giovanni Soto completed his rehab from left elbow neuritis and was recently re-activated on the High-A Kinston roster. From the looks of the rotation setup the next few days, it appears he will pitch out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season. He mad a bullpen appearance with Kinston last night and in 2.0 innings allowed 3 runs (all earned), on 4 hits, 1 walk and did not record a strikeout. In 15 combined appearances between Kinston and Arizona this year he is 4-4 with a 3.25 ERA (63.2 IP, 57 H, 20 BB, 65 K).

Low-A Lake County right-handed pitcher Kyle Blair is starting to look like his old self since his return recently from a knee injury. He had been struggling with a knee injury for most of the season before finally going on the disabled list at the end of June. After some time away to rehab it and rest he has come back and pitched well where in five relief outings since his return on August 11th he has thrown 10.0 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits, 4 walks, and has 6 strikeouts. He will finish the season in the bullpen, and in 20 games this season (14 starts) he is 3-5 with a 5.55 ERA (73.0 IP, 76 H, 39 BB, 66 K).

Bryson Myles

Short season Single-A Mahoning Valley outfielder Bryson Myles left last night’s game after the first inning after fouling a ball off of his foot. He felt some discomfort in the foot, so he was removed from the game for precautionary reasons. The early news is that the prognosis is good and that he should not miss much if any time. He is having a nice pro debut where in 40 games with Mahoning Valley he is hitting .312 with 1 HR, 13 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and a .813 OPS.

Outfielder Bo Greenwell has returned to game action as made his first rehab appearance with rookie level Arizona on Wednesday night going 3-for-3 at the plate with 2 doubles. He has been rehabbing a broken thumb which occurred back in June while playing for High-A Kinston, and it looks like there is a chance he could rejoin his Kinston teammates before the end of the season next weekend. In 57 games with Kinston this year he was hitting .261 with 3 HR, 19 RBI, and a .688 OPS.

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). Use discount code 2Z6F362B to receive 40% off the book through the site store!

Posted in: Bryson Myles,Elvis Araujo,Giovanni Soto,Hector Rondon,Jake Lowery,Jared Goedert,Kelvin De La Cruz,Michael Goodnight,Mike Rayl,Paolo Espino,T.J. McFarland,Tony Wolters,Zach McAllister