Kelvin Diaz

Kelvin Diaz - Third Baseman/First Baseman
Age: 21 Height: 5'11" Weight: 184 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2006 DSL Indians	.382	58	204	43	78	13	1	9	62	24	29	4	.476	.588	1.064
2007 DSL Indians	.315	68	238	40	75	19	2	8	41	37	29	8	.426	.513	.939

Among diehard fans of the Indians' minor league teams, Diaz is something of a folk legend. Not to be confused with Kelvin N. Diaz who was a pitcher for the Indians' GCL team who retired earlier this year, Diaz has been unable to get a visa to play in the United States either of the past two seasons partly because his identity and age cannot be verified as he was not born in a hospital. In 2007 his overall talent level would have put him at a level to play for Lake County because, although his hitting is a notch above that level his defense and overall knowledge of the game is still lagging behind. His last two seasons in the DSL have both been marked by a homerun barrage early in the season followed by a drop in power as the season wore on, but still ending up with a high batting average and OBP as he has shown advanced plate discipline (35:29 BB/K ratio in 238 at bats) for a young Latin player, especially one with significant power potential. His defense is poor (25 errors in 2007) were mostly the result of poor footwork on his throws. If the visa issues get cleared up this year, he should open the season as the starting third baseman in Lake County.

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Lurvin Basabe

Lurvin Basabe - Second Baseman
Age: 18 Height: 5'8" Weight: 179 Bats: Switch Throws: Right

	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007 DSL Indians	.284	60	208	38	59	4	3	1	24	45	30	19	.412	.346	.758

Lurvin is the typical short Latin middle infielder. He doesn't show much pop at the plate but does show advanced plate discipline (45:30 BB/K ratio) and some speed that he needs to refine (19 SB in 33 attempts). He had the highest error total on his DSL team with 27. He was hurt in the Fall Instructional League (FIL), so the Indians did not get a good look at him. That said, Basabe has some tools and the fact that they even brought him to the FIL means that the Indians do consider him a real prospect. His path to the majors may be an uphill one, however, as the Indians in the recent past have not valued short Latin middle infielders that highly, even if those guys have good statistical performances at upper levels of the minors. Basabe most likely will remain in extended spring training next year before making his stateside debut with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Indians.

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Abner Abreu

Abner Abreu - Shortstop/Third Baseman
Age: 18 Height: 6'3" Weight: 170 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007 DSL Indians	.303	56	228	34	69	13	7	4	41	18	46	5	.353	.474	.827

Abreu opened some eyes this year as a tall, rangy shortstop. He has the potential to hit for power as demonstrated by his performance in the Fall Instructional League (FIL) where he showed power to all fields and a quick bat that allowed him to drive the ball to his pull side when FIL pitchers tried to bust him inside. He may eventually move off shortstop as he fills out and play only third base. Abreu most likely remains in extended spring training and plays next year with the rookie level team in the Gulf Coast League.

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Masahide Kobayashi

Masahide Kobayashi - Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 33 Height: 6'0" Weight: 196 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 Chiba Lotte Marines	2	7	3.61	49	0	27	47.1	53	19	4	12	35	2.29	6.69	1.38
Career (Japan)	36	34	2.79	445	10	227	580.1	507	180	40	170	463	2.63	7.18	1.17

The 33-year old closer for the Japanese Major League Chiba Lotte Marines throws an assortment of pitches, and throws both a two-seam and four-seam fastball. The two-seamer tops out at 88-89 MPH, and the four-seamer at 93-94 MPH. He also reportedly throws a hard biting slider and a forkball. Last year, he had an off year and was even sent to the Japanese minor leagues to get himself back on track. He is tabbed to throw meaningful innings for the Indians next year as a 7^th/8^th inning guy, and will also back up Joe Borowski as a potential closer.

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Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson - Shortstop
Age: 23 Height: 5'9" Weight: 165 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007 GCL Indians	.281	11	32	3	9	1	0	0	8	4	8	0	.298	.250	.548

Mark's defining tool currently is his glove. He has average arm strength, is an average major league runner, but has some adjustments to make as a hitter. For him to be a regular he has to excel in the field and he has to learn to hit more than he can right now. After his play in the Fall Instructional League he was compared to Mike Bordick. He impressed pretty much everyone in that camp and, although he probably projects as no more than a utility infielder in the majors if he ever makes it that far, his attitude and defensive skills make it a distinct possibility that he may reach his potential.

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Kevin Rucker

Kevin Rucker - Outfielder
Age: 18 Height: 6'1" Weight: 185 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007 GCL Indians	.281	11	32	3	9	1	0	0	8	4	8	0	.298	.250	.548

If there is one player from the 2007 draft that fits the role of sleeper it may be Kevin Rucker. The Indians 47^th round draft pick and a player not listed among the top 120 players in the state of California by Baseball America, he signed much earlier than expected as he wanted to play baseball. He is the classic toolsy outfielder with good power to pull side (maybe 15+ HR potential), average speed that allows him to steal a base and is a solid fielder with a strong, accurate arm. He has strong quick hands, and when he makes contact the ball jumps off his bat. He is a very raw prospect and will require patience with his advancement likely being only one level a year, and this could not have been more evident as he only got 32 at bats in his first season in rookie ball. Most of the season was spent preparing him for the advanced level that pro ball offers. He most likely will start the year in extended spring training and return to the rookie level league (GCL).

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T.J. McFarland

T. J. McFarland - Left-handed Pitcher
Age: 18 Height: 6'3" Weight: 190 Bats: Left Throws: Left

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The Indians made T.J. their 2007 4^th round draft pick in great part due to his spurt at the end of his senior year in high school where he threw up to 94 MPH (normally sits at 91-92 MPH) with the makings of a good breaking ball. Unfortunately, he has yet to throw a pitch for the Indians, as he did not play last summer and did not pitch in the Fall Instructional League (he attended but did not pitch). He hurt his elbow as a high school junior but avoided Tommy John surgery. It is not clear if the problem that caused the Indians to be extra careful with him both in the summer and in the instructional league was his elbow or his shoulder, but he insists that he is fine physically and is chomping at the bit to start pitching. It is hard to pinpoint his upside right now because he came on so fast this spring and then didn't pitch this summer or fall. He will most likely have to open next season in extended spring training as he gained no game experience this year. He should pitch for one of the short-season league teams next year, most likely the Gulf Coast League team.

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Joey Mahalic

Joey Mahalic - Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 19 Height: 6'3" Weight: 205 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 GCL Indians	2	0	4.86	7	4	0	24.0	28	13	0	7	21	2.62	7.86	1.48

This spring Joey had an average fastball (84-88 MPH) with good late movement that was good enough to make him the High School Player of the Year in Oregon. During the summer, before he signed, he pumped it up to as high as 94 MPH. He also has a sinker, slider and a changeup with his slider being his best pitch. He already is filling out, has a durable body and comes from an athletic family as his father played as a linebacker in the NFL and his mother was a college athlete and this shows as he competes well. John Mirabelli called Joey out as possibly being the sleeper of the Indians 2007 draft. Next year, Mahalic likely will stick around for additional instruction in extended spring training, before moving to Lake County or a short-season league team by mid-season.

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Chris Jones

Chris Jones - Left-handed Pitcher
Age: 19 Height: 6'2" Weight: 165 Bats: Left Throws: Left

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 GCL/Lake	0	0	4.20	2	2	0	7.2	8	4	1	5	7	6.25	8.75	1.81

Chris is a slender left-handed pitcher. His fastball at the time he was drafted was a tick below average (he threw in the low 90s in the instructional league) with good arm side tail. His out pitch is clearly his curve ball and the Indians are very excited about his curve. He projects to have an average changeup with good sink and fade. Initially, the idea would be for him to start 2008 in the rotation at Lake County. There is a good deal of sentiment in the Indians organization that Chris is going to be a really good pitcher and he rates watching next year.

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Jonathon Holt

Jonathon Holt - Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 22 Height: 6'2" Weight: 210 Bats: Left Throws: Right

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 Mahoning Valley	2	3	4.32	16	4	4	33.1	36	16	5	4	27	1.08	7.36	1.20

The Indians selected Holt in the 5th round of the 2007 Draft from the University of Tampa where he was their closer. He was described in scouting reports as being durable with good fastball movement and a two pitch mix - fastball and slider although his changeup has the potential to be a good pitch against lefthanders which is something he probably needs to be a late inning guy and not just a specialist. He doesn't break 90 MPH with his fastball very often, pitching at 88 MPH mostly, but like real estate, it's all about location and his fastball has good arm side run. He is a strike thrower as evidenced by his 27:4 K/BB ratio in 33 innings this summer. His numbers were a bit skewed as the Indians used him four times as a starter. This proved disastrous to his stats as he had a 9.00 ERA in 12 innings as a starter and a 1.69 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP in 21.1 innings as a reliever. Dennis Nosco and Baseball America think that Holt has a chance to move fast as reliever and potentially be the first Indians' 2007 draftee to reach the majors. John Mirabelli agreed in an interview right after the draft. Holt projects to be a good 6^th or 7^th inning guy, or if he overachieves, a major league setup man maybe in the mold of Rafael Betancourt.

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Bo Greenwell

Bo Greenwell - Outfielder
Age: 19 Height: 6'0" Weight: 185 Bats: Left Throws: Left

	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007 GCL Indians	.215	37	144	12	31	5	0	0	8	16	24	5	.298	.250	.548

Greenwell is a toolsy, high energy, leadoff type hitter, with good strike zone discipline and good hands. He has a passion for the game that, at least in part, must have come from his father. The Indians think he can be an above-average base stealer (he has 60 speed on the scouts' 20-80 rating system) and that he should be able to stay a centerfielder as he advances. His play has evoked comparisons to that of Johnny Damon. His dad is Mike Greenwell, the former Boston Red Sox star. Even with the blood lines there is a lot of projection in Greenwell who was drafted near the top of the range (6^th-12^th round) that he was projected to go and his first year numbers did not suggest that he was ahead of the development curve in any way. He likely will remain in extended spring training when spring camp breaks, and open the year with a short-season league team in June.

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Matt Brown

Matt Brown - Outfielder
Age: 23 Height: 6'1" Weight: 183 Bats: Left Throws: Right

	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007 Mahoning Valley	.250	63	224	22	56	14	3	0	31	25	41	6	.325	.339	.665

The Indians 13^th round pick in 2007, coming out of college last year his biggest challenge was developing better plate discipline. He is an intriguing outfielder who offers a great package of overall tools, one of the best in the 2007 draft. He was the 184^th best prospect in the 2007 draft according to Baseball America and that publication predicted he could have gone as high as the 3^rd or 4^th round so he is a very good late round pick by the Indians. He has good bat speed, raw power, good arm strength, is an average runner and his defense is a major strength for him right now. He is an all-out player which is good in the field, but he takes that attitude to the plate with him which presents a problem and the Indians will continue to work as they did in the Fall Instructional League to get him to shorten his long, maximum-effort swing. He had a sore arm in the instructional league and so had to mostly DH there which could be a problem if it continues into next season. He should open the season in Lake County.

Video: Brown at the plate.

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