Goodyear Notebook: 3/13

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

So far so good with Miller

It is very early in minor league camp, but so far so good for right-handed pitcher Adam Miller.

Knock on wood, but it has now been well over a year since Miller has had any setbacks with the middle finger on his throwing hand.  After three surgeries on the finger in 2009 and lots of setbacks up to December of 2009, it has been a slow process to get him to where he is today where he is about as close as he can be to pitching for a team once camp breaks in a few weeks.

Miller, 26, maintained his health through a slow rehab process last year and was able to finish the season on a high note by pitching in Instructional League in October.  He made it through last season healthy and in the offseason was able to maintain his health, and is in camp throwing without any restrictions.

“My offseason was good as I pretty much threw and lifted,” said Miller.  “At first I was just throwing two times a week at like 60 feet - nothing crazy - just to keep the feel.  I ended up taking about three weeks off from throwing just to shut it down a little but, and then I started back up throwing in mid-December [to get ready for the season].  There were no restrictions and it was a normal offseason I guess you could say.  I am pretty much a normal guy out here for the most part.  There are some things I may not do yet, but for the most part everything is good and I am just going out there and having some fun.”

The only real restriction for Miller is the Indians are being careful with his volume of throwing.  All of the pitchers in camp are doing a lot of throwing to ramp them up and are throwing bullpens every other day.  In Miller’s case, he has an extra day between bullpens where he is throwing every three days instead of every two days like everyone else.

“That’s the only thing as right now bullpens are back to back, so instead of every other day I am going with two days in between,” said Miller.  “I guess is it a semi-restriction, but it is pretty minor.  It actually could be a good thing because in ’09 coming in I think the thing that was different was the volume coming in which resulted in the finger getting sore again.”

Miller has thrown a lot already in camp and he says the finger so far feels fine.  He threw three bullpens before early camp started, then three more in early camp, and then threw a bullpen on Thursday and another on Sunday.  In total he has thrown eight bullpens over the past few weeks and has not had any setbacks.

“I’m good and the arm feels good,” said Miller.  “Now it is just getting my rhythm back since I haven’t really pitched since ’09.  The last two years I haven’t really been able to get that feel back.  The last bullpen [on Thursday] went really well, so hopefully it is back or so you would say.”

Miller has a starter’s arsenal with his fastball, slider, and changeup mix.  But at the moment he is only concentrating on throwing his fastball-slider combination and really focusing on getting his fastball command back.

“I am pretty much just throwing fastball-slider,” said Miller.  “I am not really worried about the changeup right now.  The slider I haven’t really been throwing because I have been working on fastball command.  If I get that then I can figure the slider out.  Probably the next bullpen [on Sunday] I will make sure it is good especially with live batting practice coming up.”

Miller is not sure what the Indians or his health has in store for him this year.  He knows all he can control is going out there and doing what he can do to help ensure he can get back on the mound and be as effective as possible.

“As far as innings and stuff like that I don’t know what will happen, but I am not even worried about that,” said Miller.  “I’m just ready to throw and stay healthy.  That’s all I can really control right now and I will see what happens after that.  I am not even taking it one inning at a time, but instead I am just taking it one pitch at a time.”

If Miller can stay healthy this spring and show he is effective there is a great chance he will open the season in the Triple-A Columbus bullpen.  The Indians may opt for a more conservative route and have him open in extended spring training and then go to Columbus a few weeks into the season, but it will be hard to keep him from going to Columbus if he is healthy and pitching well because of the limited amount of bullets left in his arm and the amazing story it would make.

There are a lot of fans out there pulling for Miller, and when told of that he expressed a lot of gratitude and thanks. 

“I’m just excited to be back,” said Miller.  “It’s a lot different from last year as all I could do was cover first in spring training.  I am pretty pumped for games right now.  That’s all I care about. As long as I am throwing it’s great.”

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Adams to remain a starter

The Indians have a lot of decisions to make with the starting rotation at virtually every level of the organization from Cleveland on down to Low-A Lake County.  Right-handed pitcher Austin Adams looked to be someone on the bubble going into the season as either a starter or reliever, but apparently he has been told he will be in the starting rotation to open the season.

“I am going to stay as a starter this year for sure,” said Adams.  “I’ll probably be a full fledged starter this year (no piggybacking) just to see how it goes.  We’ll go from there and see how everything works out.”

Last year Adams pitched in a piggyback situation mostly with right-handed pitcher Marty Popham at Lake County and High-A Kinston.  If he does not pitch in a piggyback role it will give the Indians a chance to see if he can go six or seven innings every five days and how he adapts to the role.

The commitment to Adams as a starter is not that much of a surprise.  Going into the season it was generally felt that he would continue to pitch in a piggyback role and then transition to the bullpen later in the year. While a transition to a bullpen role is still possible, the Indians commitment to developing him as a starter increases his value tremendously.  Had he been rated as a starter, he would have easily been ranked in my Top 20 listing this year.

To stay a starter Adams will need to show he can pitch deep into games and that he can develop that much needed third pitch.  His bread and butter are his mid 90s fastball and power curveball, but he also throws a slider and changeup.  The slider is a pitch that the organization has really spent a lot of time of late to develop as a potential additional weapon to his arsenal.

“I am going to stay with my fastball, curveball, slider and changeup mix,” said Adams.  “That’s what I threw last year.  In Lake County I did not throw the slider as Mickey [Callaway] and I worked on it and then once I got to Kinston me and Tony [Arnold] got it going good and I threw it there.  We have been working on my slider more as a strikeout pitch or just something to backdoor a lefty with.  But my curveball is pretty much my go to pitch.”

The development of his slider and improving his command are two things that Adams will need to make strides with this year.  He also wants to maintain good health and shore up his delivery.

“I just want to make strides and stay healthy again,” said Adams.  “I want to work on speeding up my delivery out of the stretch a little bit, but other than that just keep on doing what I have been doing.”

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Burns ready for new season

Right-handed reliever Cory Burns is ready to get things going again.  He has good reason to be excited about this upcoming season after he made a splash last year with one of the best statistical seasons for a Tribe minor league reliever in some time with his 42 saves which were second in all the minors.

Burns, 23, arrived in camp on March 7^th after a good offseason and is hoping that he can pick up right where he left off last season.

“My offseason was good,” said Burns.  “I really just worked on improving off of what I did last year by improving on what I did well and bettering what I needed to improve on.”

Burns not only had an impressive 42 saves last year, he also dominated in almost every statistical category imaginable.  While he doesn’t have dominating stuff, he used his intelligence, a funky tornado-like delivery, and his strike throwing ability to limit hitters to a .212 batting average, had a 2.86 groundball ratio, and had a 13.3 strikeout per nine rate.

“Just throwing strikes,” said Burns about the key to his success.  “I throw all of my pitches for strikes when I need to.  That was one of the hardest things to learn when I changed my delivery, and I think I have mastered it pretty well.  Now I just need to progress through the levels and learn how to pitch more.”

Pitching against more advanced hitters is exactly what Burns needs to do this year, which likely will happen if he opens the season as expected at Double-A Akron.  He fills up the zone with strikes, but really relies on the deception created from his tornado-like delivery and the varied pauses he uses each time he winds up.  A gimmick delivery like that can work in the lower levels of the minors, but may not work as well in the upper levels, so he and the Indians need to find that out.  He also needs more experience pitching against higher level competition and just learning how to pitch and use his fastball better.

“I just kind of need to keep doing what I am doing,” said Burns.  “I believe I have the stuff to do it, it is really just learning how to pitch.  I think I agree with what they told me, and that is I need to command the fastball a little better.  I throw my changeup and curveball for strikes very well, and sometimes it forces me to stray away from my fastball.  To be at the higher levels, I need to throw my fastball for strikes.”

Notebook:

Knapp slowed: The Indians apparently are taking an extremely cautious approach with right-handed pitcher Jason Knapp.  He says he is fine, but he has not thrown a bullpen yet so far in camp at the recommendation of team personnel.  He is currently only throwing at 120 feet and throwing flat grounds.  It is unknown when he will transition to throwing bullpens, but it should be soon.  I will try and get more clarification on this soon.

Others not pitching: Left-hander Giovanni Soto, right-hander Andrew Shive, right-hander Kyle Landis, right-hander Antwonie Hubbard, and right-hander Jason Johnson are the only other pitchers in camp who are not rehabbing from Tommy John surgery who have not been throwing since I have been here.  Shive, Hubbard and Landis are coming off injury last season so they make some sense, but I am unsure who Soto and Johnson are not throwing.  Again, like with Knapp, I hope to provide more info on why they have not been throwing soon.

Pomeranz impressing: I saw left-hander Drew Pomeranz throw a bullpen on Saturday and he looked very sharp.  I really believe that had he pitched one or two months last season and given more for people to evaluate him on rather than just his college pedigree and what he did in Instructional League that he may have been ranked the Indians #1 prospect, including by yours truly.  Long way to go, but it looks like the Indians may have something in him (fingers crossed).

Hagadone unsure: Left-hander Nick Hagadone is still unsure whether he will open the season as a starter or reliever.  He is being stretched out as a starter, but has been told his role for the upcoming season is still up in the air.  The Indians are expected to make a decision on his role very soon, and if I had to guess he will continue to start in a piggyback role at Double-A Akron.

The Wright stuff: Right-hander Steven Wright toyed with a knuckle ball in the second half of last season.  He never unveiled it in a game, but he has been throwing it in bullpen sessions so far in camp and plans to throw it in minor league spring games.

Salazar on the mend: Right-handed pitcher Danny Salazar is recovering well from Tommy John surgery last year, and is in the middle of his rehab.  He is not throwing yet, but should soon begin a throwing program and could see game action later this summer.

Miller’s schedule: With Miller throwing a bullpen on Sunday, he is expected to throw to live batters on Wednesday.  It will be his final test before minor league spring games start up on Friday, and he is expected to make his first game appearance on Saturday.

Minor changes: I keep hearing that it is possible that the roster setup for all four full season teams may be very close at the start of this season to the ones that ended last season.  With so much depth at the Triple-A level and a logjam of guys, there may be a trickle down affect in the early going where guys have to open at a level they shouldn’t be at.

Released: More roster cuts are coming soon, but over the weekend first baseman Chris Kersten was granted his release.

Full squad: On Saturday the position players all reported and had physicals, drug testing, and all sorts of tests performed.  Sunday was the first official full squad workout.

Programming note: I will be on SportsTime Ohio’s broadcast today of the Indians game out in Goodyear.  The broadcast starts at 4:00 P.M. in Cleveland, and I am scheduled to be on with Rick Manning and Matt Underwood during the 7^th inning to talk about the minor leaguers and maybe some big league stuff.

Programming note II: Paul Cousineau and I will be on the cyber waves tonight with another edition of Smoke Signals at 11:00 P.M. in Cleveland.  We will talk about the happenings this spring and more, and you can listen to the show on-line at Blogtalkradio.com or on our show dedicated page on my site.

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).

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2011 Indians Top 50 Prospects: #7 LeVon Washington

LeVon Washington – Outfielder
Born: 07/26/1991 – Height: 5’11” – Weight: 170 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Washington was selected by the Indians in the 2^nd round of the 2010 Draft out of Chipola Junior College (FL). He was originally drafted in the 1^st round of the 2009 Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, but after a tough negotiating process he did not sign. As a senior in 2009 at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, FL he hit .400 (34-for-85) with 7 HR, 19 RBI and 32 runs scored while also stealing 14 bases. He had signed to attend and play ball at the University of Florida, but his SAT was not high enough, which is why he ended up attending junior college. He is from a military family and was born in Guam.

Strengths: Washington is a tremendously athletic, high upside center fielder that has very good natural bat speed and an advanced, disciplined approach to hitting. He has a good left handed swing with great hands and quick wrists that help generate some good raw power where he can pull the ball out of the ballpark and has good gap type carry. With his strong, compact build he has the potential to be a 10-15 home run hitter in the big leagues. He has a spread out stance at the plate where he leans over the plate, and in Instructional League in the fall made the first of many future adjustments to his swing where he brought his hands up and implemented a leg kick into it. He has good contact skills and hitting mechanics with an innate ability to consistently barrel up the ball. He also has excellent hand-eye coordination and good understanding of the strike zone.

Washington grades out as a 70 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, which makes him a well above average runner. He has been timed at 4.0 to 4.1 down to first base which is well above major league players. He was a second baseman in high school and transitioned to center field last year at Chipola, and the outfield is where the Indians see him sticking. With his speed and ability to cover gaps, track down balls, and go back and come in very well on balls, the Indians feel he has a chance to be an above average center fielder in the future. Last year he was still recovering from shoulder surgery he had after high school, so his arm last year was well below average as he continued to work his way back to full strength. His arm continues to get stronger, and when his full health returns it is expected to be average. He already showed a lot of progress in center field in his short time with the Indians last fall in Instructional League where he displayed significant improvement with better jumps, more speed, and his arm looked stronger. His athleticism, quickness, hitting skills and poor arm have often had him compared to Johnny Damon.

Opportunities: The main focus for Washington this coming season will be to get his arm back to 100% health and to also continue to work on his development as a center fielder. His arm will always be the weakest part of his game and he was noticeably slowed last year by it, but there are doubts in the scouting community that his arm strength will ever return to where he has more than a below average arm. His health is also a concern as in addition to the concerning shoulder issue he had some hamstring issues and injured his hand last year at Chipola which caused him to miss several games. He has to be able to stay on the field as injuries stunt growth and stall prospects. He developed a reputation last year of being a player who lacks a passion for the game by not always running hard and taking off at bats; however, the Indians got to know him a lot and do not believe this will be a problem in the future.  Most of his poor reputation could be chalked up to his 1^st round selection in 2009, not signing, and then having to play junior college ball as opposed to playing in the minor leagues with a sizable signing bonus. His speed did not show as much last year as it did out of high school, and his routing running and jumps in the outfield need more work.

Outlook: Washington is one of the two or three position players in the Indians system that really stands out as a star caliber player in the making. His power and speed combination is exciting to watch, and his raw skills at the plate, on the bases, and in the field make him one heck of an impressive talent to watch grow and hone his craft these next few seasons in the minor leagues. His physical resemblance, leg kick and bust out of the box from the left side is eerily similar to former fan favorite Kenny Lofton, and if he ever becomes anything remotely close to the player Lofton was it obviously will make a lot of fans happy. He has lots of skills you just can’t teach, and if he can get his arm strength back to acceptable levels and develop in center field, he could be a fixture in the big league lineup soon and for a long time. The Indians should be aggressive with him in the early going and assign him to Low-A Lake County to start the 2011 season, and has an outside shot for a late season promotion to High-A Kinston.

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2010	18	Chipola	C	41	147	39	48	11	1	8	25	24	20	9	.327	.429	.578	1.007
2010	18	AZL Indians	R	3	9	0	4	0	0	0	3	3	1	1	.444	.583	.444	1.027
		MiLB Totals		3	9	0	4	0	0	0	3	3	1	1	.444	.583	.444	1.028

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).

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Tribe Happenings: Chisenhall Making a Good Impression

Chisenhall is no doubt the future at third,

but not right now. (Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Some news, notes, and thoughts from my Tribe notebook…

Chisenhall impressive, but still needs work

Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall has made a lot of noise this spring, and his hype as the Indians number one prospect to go along with some good numbers at the plate so far (.478, 2 HR, 4 RBI) have caught the attention of Tribe fans.  Considering the Indians need at third base, a lot of fans are wondering why not just start him in Cleveland since he is clearly the best option at third.

It is a complex situation where it really is more than just performance that goes into determining who goes where each spring.  In the case of Chisenhall, he has yet to have an official at bat at the Triple-A level, so it is important to get him a month or two of at bats at that level to help him settle in and be ready once he does get that call to Cleveland as expected later this year.

Chisenhall’s situation is a lot like catcher Carlos Santana’s situation from last year where he was clearly the best catcher in spring training but the Indians opted to send him to Triple-A Columbus to fine tune his defense.  That’s exactly what Chisenhall will do this year as they look to finish off his development at third base and ease him into his big league career.

Another thing to keep in mind is while Chisenhall has a beautiful swing and has really performed well this spring, he is going to have a hard time living up to the hype surrounding him.  He’s a very good hitter and solid defender, but the one concern people who watch him have is how much power he will have at the big league level as an everyday third base option.

“I like Chisenhall, but I’m not sold that his power will ever really show up,” said an AL scout.  “He is gonna have to hit a whole bunch of doubles, which he might do, but he has way more of a line drive stroke than loft power. He is a sound defender from the little bit that I've seen.  The big league staff is really excited though.  I think if the front office would let them they'd break camp with him.”

Ah yes, roster management.  That’s another thing the scout brings up as to why Chisenhall will not open the season in Cleveland.

While the Indians will never say so publicly, by having Santana open the first two months of last season in Columbus and having Chisenhall do the same this year it is a cost controlling measure to avoid any Super 2 arbitration issues down the road and most importantly get an extra year of roster control.

For example, if Chisenhall were to open the season in Cleveland and remain at the big league level the next six years he would be a free agent at the end of the 2016 season.  But if he starts in Columbus and comes up to Cleveland in late April about three to four weeks into the season, he would not be a free agent until after the 2017 season.

While Chisenhall has been exciting and hopefully will fill a big need at third base in Cleveland for a very long time, there is no need to rush him.  As long as he stays healthy and plays well, he will be in Cleveland at some point this year.  For now, sit back and enjoy the nice show he is putting on this spring and then keep tabs on him in Columbus once the season starts as it won’t be long until he arrives in Cleveland, maybe in June or July if things go well.

Stowell struggles

There have been a lot of encouraging developments in Indians camp so far this spring training; however, one of the few disappointments to date has been the performance of right-handed pitcher Bryce Stowell.

Stowell was only a non-roster invitee and had little chance to make the big league club, but he has been a disappointment this spring because he did not make a good impression on the big league coaching staff as he was extremely erratic with his command.  He pitched in the game on Tuesday and in one inning allowed two runs on one hit, two walks, a home run and had a strikeout.

Stowell also has not shown anywhere near the arm strength this spring that he showed last year where he topped out at 100 MPH and raced up three levels and finished the year at Triple-A Columbus.  In his outing on Tuesday his velocity was down about 4-5 MPH from its usual 94-96 MPH range where he only averaged about 90 MPH and was topping out at 91 MPH on Tuesday.  When a pitcher has that much of a dip in their velocity you immediately wonder if they are hurt, but supposedly that is not the case as the Indians say he is healthy.  Apparently, he simply has dialed it down a lot in an attempt to more consistently find the zone, but that has not helped as he still continues to throw strikes and has too many big misses.

It has been what a few people have described as a “brutal” spring for Stowell.  His fastball command is clearly an issue, and it is something that will get high priority when he opens the season at Triple-A Columbus.  Even the assignment to Columbus may not be set in stone as there are some who believe he needs to take a step back and open at Double-A Akron since they believe he was rushed to Triple-A too soon last year.

Weglarz staying put

I often get questions asking when the Indians will move outfielder Nick Weglarz to first base.  Anything can happen in the future, but at the moment the Indians have no plans of moving him to first base and appear quite content with him as their potential left fielder of the future.

Weglarz, 23, owns one of the better impact caliber bats in the Indians’ system, and easily has the best power potential of any player in the upper levels of their system.  He’s a physical specimen at 6’3 and 250 pounds, and for his size he actually moves well and holds his own in the outfield.  With Sizemore’s future with the Indians in doubt after this season, the Indians may turn to Weglarz to fill a much needed void in left field.  There is no doubt he has the bat to do it, but the big concern is health as he has missed good chunks in each of the last two seasons because of injuries.

With all the focus on Chisenhall and second baseman Jason Kipnis and what kind of jolt they could give to the Indians big league lineup in the near future, Weglarz is often overlooked.  He is definitely a player to watch and is someone who could quickly factor into the big league mix as an every day player with impact potential with the bat.

Johnson signing official

The Indians made it official this week when they announced that they have signed free agent first baseman Nick Johnson to a minor league contract.

If Johnson, 32, is added to the 40-man roster this season he will make $750,000.  The deal also includes a club option for next year where if he is on the Indians 40-man roster they can choose to exercise that option and pay him $2.75 million in 2012 with an additional $1.75 million in incentives available based on plate appearances.  He has a July 1st out clause where if he is not on the Indians 40-man roster by then he can request his release and become a free agent.

In 794 career games Johnson is a .270 hitter but more impressively has a career .401 on-base percentage which is ranked ninth among active players.  The problem for him over his career has been injuries, most recently a nasty wrist issue which has resulted in three surgeries in less than a year.  The most recent surgery was performed this past February by Dr. Tom Graham at the Cleveland Clinic to remove a tendon in his wrist, so he will spend most of his time with the Indians in the early going rehabbing from the surgery at the Goodyear complex.

Johnson is not an option to make the Indians opening day roster, but could be someone who factors into the big league mix a few months into the season.  He probably will not swing a bat until the beginning of April, at which point the Indians will already be long gone and have started the season.  The Indians will monitor his rehab and if all goes well he could be assigned to Triple-A Columbus later in April or in May on a rehab assignment to make a decision on him before the July 1st roster deadline date.

First cuts

The Indians made their first cuts of the spring on Friday as they optioned right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber, right-handed pitcher Hector Rondon, and infielder Jared Goedert to Triple-A Columbus, and also optioned left-handed pitchers Kelvin De La Cruz and Nick Hagadone to Double-A Akron.  Left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz, right-handed pitcher Bryce Stowell, and catcher Chun Chen were reassigned to minor league camp.

For those who don’t know, players optioned to the minors are on the 40-man roster whereas players that are “reassigned” are not on the 40-man roster.

Book update

My new book titled 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects and More is now in the Goodyear team shop.  It is also available for purchase in the Single-A Lake County Captains team shop and should be available in the Single-A Kinston Indians team shop sometime this coming week.  While it will not be available in the Triple-A Columbus team shop, it may soon be available in the Double-A Akron Aeros team shop.

For those that do not wish to purchase the book in a team shop or through me directly here at my site, you can now purchase it on-line at Amazon.com.

Parting shots

The Indians still plan to develop left-hander Nick Hagadone as a starter.  He should open the season in the Double-A Akron rotation, likely in a piggyback role with another pitcher.  His long term role is still likely in the bullpen, but by continuing to start him it allows more development opportunities for his pitches and improving his command. … Right-hander Anthony Reyes threw a very nice bullpen on Friday, and then carried it over into a live batting practice session with outfielder Grady Sizemore.  He has been slowed in camp by a sore elbow, but he reported no issues after the session.  He is scheduled to throw another bullpen on Sunday, and if all goes well he will probably pitch in a game on Tuesday. … Speaking of Sizemore, he is expected to start running the bases on Sunday.  If all goes well there he could soon get some live action, perhaps by next weekend. … Infielder Jared Goedert has an oblique strain and will be out for about two to three weeks.

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).

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2011 Indians Top 50 Prospects: #8 Tony Wolters

Tony Wolters – Shortstop
Born: 06/09/1992 – Height: 5’10” – Weight: 175 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right

(Photo: Ken Carr)

History: The Indians selected Wolters in the 3rd round of the 2010 Draft out of Rancho Buena Vista High School (CA). In just 25 games his senior year in high school he hit .430 (34-for-97) with 27 runs scored, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, 17 RBI and was a perfect 25-for-25 in stolen base attempts. In 2009 he was part of the Team USA 18-under club which defeated Cuba to win the Gold medal in the Pan Am Junior Games, hitting .371 with 4 doubles and 10 RBI in the tournament. He was also named to the 2009 Aflac All-American team and earned the game’s MVP award as he went 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and a stolen base in Petco Park. He had a verbal agreement to attend the University of San Diego and slid to the 3rd round because of his seven figure bonus demands, but he was eventually signed by the Indians on the deadline for $1.35 million.

Strengths: Wolters doesn’t show a ton of plus tools, but he is a guy scouts just love to watch play. He is a smart, natural hitter who shows good hitting skills at the plate with good bat speed and hand-eye coordination. He shows an advanced approach at the plate for his age as he works counts well and is a selective hitter. He only has average at best power, but he still shows some surprising pop because of his innate ability to square the bat up with the ball and make hard contact. He is a line drive gap-to-gap hitter who sprays the ball all over the field with the ability to turn on balls. He is an average runner with strong leadership qualities who loves the game and plays it with a ton of enthusiasm. He is the very definition of a baseball "rat" that works hard to improve and spends a lot of time in the weight room in an effort to get bigger and stronger.

What the Indians and scouts like most about Wolters is his potential to be an above average hitter who plays excellent defense. His range at shortstop is only average at best, but he is an amazing defender who the Indians believe has the ability to remain at shortstop as he displays outstanding hands, actions, balance and instincts for the game. Because of his good instincts it helps him get to a lot of balls that a typical average ranged shortstop does not get to. While his arm is only solid average and lacks much arm strength for future gains, he is fundamentally sound and accurate with his throws. He is an extraordinary playmaker who shows a lot of flair, and he has an exceptional ability at turning the double play.

Opportunities: While there is little doubt about Wolter's defensive potential, the bat is still a big question mark. The Indians first order of business for him will be to help him improve as an offensive performer as he is still searching for his swing, something that is not uncommon for a player his age breaking into pro ball. While he shows an advanced approach at the plate it is more just an innate ability as he presently is still learning the nuances of hitting as a pro. In high school he would just go up to the plate and swing with little thought about the situation or what was coming, where as a pro he will need to have a more solid approach to hitting and be able to identify how pitchers are throwing to him and what pitches to attack. He has some issues with his setup and approach where his hands were too low in high school and not in proper hitting position as the pitch came to the plate. In the fall the Indians began working with him to help him become more efficient and fundamentally sound with his swing, and one small minor adjustment made in Instructional League was to bring his hands up.

Wolters is an under-sized player, so in order to remain a high level prospect he will need to remain in the middle infield. Due to his average range and arm and lack of plus speed, it is possible that down the road he could move to second base, but at this point that would appear to be a move that would be made only out of necessity.

Outlook: Wolters oozes all the intangibles and good fundamentals to be a very good player down the road. He just looks like a ballplayer out there with his on field actions and demeanor which are all very advanced for his age. There is no question that his bat is raw, but as he and the Indians make some adjustments and he matures his potential as an offensive player is very reachable. Also, while it is possible he may end up at second base down the road, it is way to early to consider such a move because of his amazing skills at shortstop. There is a strong belief in the scouting community that he will be a big leaguer someday, and some have even comped him as a left-handed hitting version of Dustin Pedroia. That is a very long projection at this time, but with his skills as a defender and hitter, the sky is the limit for him right now and why he is such an exciting, young prospect in the Indians organization. He should open the 2011 season at Low-A Lake County as the regular shortstop.

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2010	18	AZL Indians	R	5	19	2	4	0	0	0	3	2	5	2	.211	.286	.211	.497
		MiLB Totals		5	19	2	4	0	0	0	3	2	5	2	.211	.286	.211	.496

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).

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Goodyear Notebook: 3/11

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

Aviles is on schedule

With the start of minor league spring training, it is always interesting to find out how some of the players coming off major surgeries are doing in their rehabs.  One of those players is right-handed pitcher Robbie Aviles.

Aviles, 18, was drafted by the Indians in the 7^th round of last year’s draft and signed with them for $150,000.  He was actually projected to go in the first or second round, but a ligament tear in his elbow just a few days before the draft seriously damaged his draft standing going in.  He had Tommy John surgery performed on July 13^th, and is on the road to recovery.

“I’m feeling great,” said Aviles during an interview on Friday.  “So far so good.  Everything is pain free right now, so I am happy.”

Aviles continues to progress nicely with his rehab and is now throwing flat grounds as on Friday morning he threw a flat ground session to a catcher squatting down for the first time.  Going forward, the plan is to have him throw off a five inch mound in about one or two weeks so he can get used to the downward angle and then progress to a full sized mound around the beginning of April.

If things go well Aviles could pitch for the Indians rookie level team in the Arizona Summer League sometime in June or July, but the focus appears to get him 100% healthy by the time Instructional League starts.  While he has made a lot of positive strides in his rehab, he is still several months away from being ready to pitch in games.

“I am holding back some,” said Aviles.  “In my flat grounds to a catcher I am probably throwing at 75%, and when I am long tossing I am at about 90%.  When I start getting on the mounds I will probably start at 60% and then work my way up about 5% every throwing session.”

As for the injury, it happened on June 4^th which was just a few days before the 2010 Draft.  Because New York starts their high school baseball season so late, Aviles and his school were still playing, something you rarely see from high school players in June.

“I was throwing well and it was the best I ever felt,” recalled Aviles about the day he hurt his elbow.  “I heard I was up to 95 MPH in the first inning, but on the seventh pitch of the game I just tore it.  I got off the mound, talked to some scouts, and every team knew an hour later.”

The injury was devastating for Aviles as it put his pro career in jeopardy, one which he was eager to get started with right away rather than go to college where he was committed to play at the University of Florida.  When the Indians selected him he knew he had little bargaining power because of the injury and he did not drag the negotiating process out.  It did not matter to him as all he wanted to do was play baseball, so he signed quickly.

“I was happy when my area scout Brent Urcheck called me up,” said Aviles.  “I was not going to hold out.  My agent, parents and I talked and my goal my whole life was to play baseball, so I just signed right away and got the surgery going right away so I can hopefully come back as soon as [possible].  If I had held out I might have missed all of this season and Instructional League.  But since I signed right away and had the surgery right away, I am hoping to pitch halfway through this year and be able to pitch in Instructs at 100%.”

The Indians plan to make some adjustments to Aviles’ mechanics and improve the quality of his pitches, but those plans are currently on hold until he starts pitching on a mound and proves he is healthy.

“I have been talking to the pitching coaches here and they want to tweak my mechanics a little bit but they are waiting for me to get on the mound,” said Aviles.  “I really want to work on my secondary pitches.  I have a clean slate right now so I want to work on all my stuff and get better at everything and just work hard.”

This season is all about health for Aviles.  If he can successfully return from Tommy John surgery, then he should be able to pitch in 2012 with few if any restrictions and be back on track to achieving his dream of pitching in the big leagues someday.

“My goal is to come back healthy, be a good pitcher, and make it to the major leagues someday,” said Aviles.  “And help the Indians win a World Series.”

Notebook

On the comeback trail: Right-handed pitcher Alexander Perez had Tommy John surgery last May.  So far so good as he is currently throwing at 90 feet and should be back on a mound probably sometime in April, though because of his youth and his high priority as a prospect to the Indians they will be very conservative with him this year.  He will open the season in extended spring training and probably will not pitch for an affiliate until short season ball kicks up in June where he will probably pitch a few games for rookie level Arizona.  If all goes well he could potentially go to High-A Kinston to finish out the season, maybe even Double-A Akron.

Not far behind: Right-handed pitcher Hector Rondon had Tommy John surgery last August and has also recently started a throwing program where he is at 90 feet.  Considering he had his surgery three months after Perez yet is almost on the same time table it is a sign that he is either making some big strides in his rehab or Perez has had a setback or two along the way.  I will try and get more clarification on this in the coming days.  In any case, I would not expect to see Rondon pitch for any affiliate other than rookie level Arizona this year.  If things go very well, there is an outside chance he could pitch for Triple-A Columbus at the end of the season, but the target appears to be to let him loose in Instructional League and maybe even have him go to the Arizona Fall League.

Abreu’s confidence:  The shoulder issue that plagued outfielder Abner Abreu for most of last season appears to be a thing of the past.  He was never technically hurt last season, but ever since separating his shoulder in June of 2009 he has had a confidence issue with the shoulder and it was also never really at a 100% last season.  There is a belief by a few coaches that his poor showing last year and his lack of power was simply the result of a lead shoulder issue where he lacked the confidence in it and it was still not a 100%, similar to Jared Goedert prior to last year.  If the confidence truly has returned and he is healthy, it will be interesting to see how he performs this year and if the shoulder issue really did affect his play last year.

Welcome back Mr. Davis: So I get to minor league camp on Friday and I see some tall, lanky righty pick up a ball with a nameless jersey and No. 51 on the back.  After a closer look I realize it is Jason Davis, but in my surprise I ask around in order to be sure as the warm Arizona sun may have affected my vision.  Sure enough, it is him.  The Indians have not signed him as they just have him in camp for a few days to take a look at him.  This is similar to when they brought in right-hander Tom Mastny last year, and then subsequently released him a few days later.

Morris feels good: Left-handed pitcher Ryan Morris says he feels as good as he has in a long time.  He recently had a follow up physical with his doctor on his left shoulder, and apparently his range of motion has improved by 40 degrees, something that he and his doctor are quite pleased with as the procedure to release the joint capsule in his shoulder looks like a success so far.  It remains to be seen if he will make a team out of camp, will open in extended spring training, or maybe is even released, but this is encouraging news for him nonetheless.

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

House adjustment: Left-hander T.J. House made a change to his mechanics over the winter where he is now staying back much more through his delivery so he can drive the ball through the zone better.  The change should help him have more power to his pitches.  I’ll be talking to him later on in camp and will discuss the change further with him then.

Eric “Rollie” Berger: Probably the most interesting thing my first day was the sight of left-hander Eric Berger who has grown his hair out and has a mustache that would make Rollie Fingers proud.  Check out the photo of him to the right….classic.  And I heard that the mustache was two times as big just last week before he trimmed it down.

Roster cuts:  Eight players were sent down from big league camp on Friday: right-handed pitchers Bryce Stowell, Hector Rondon, and Corey Kluber, left-handed pitchers Kelvin De La Cruz, Nick Hagadone and Drew Pomeranz, infielder Jared Goedert, and catcher Chun Chen.  Their arrival will likely mean a first round of cuts coming sometime this weekend or early next week.

Get your pictures:  Just a reminder to family members of the players, if you would like any high quality pictures of your son, brother, nephew, etc in action this spring, just drop me an e-mail at tlastoria@indiansprospectinsider.com and I will send you some pictures at the completion of my visit.

Family visits: Speaking of family, you may or may not know that you are able to obtain guest passes so you have authorization to get inside the complex and get a closer look at the action.  I’ve learned over the years that the players often don’t realize they can get you these guest passes, or that they are afraid to ask for them.  As long as the player requests them at least 24 hours in advance, you should have no problems getting them.

Today: I will be at the minor league fields all morning and then spend the day at the ballpark watching the big league team.  Not much action yet in minor league camp as it is mostly just pitchers throwing bullpens and doing lots of different drills.  Things should kick up on Sunday as it will be the first full squad workout with position players and pitchers will start throwing live batting practice.

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).

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2011 Indians Top 50 Prospects: #9 Cord Phelps

Cord Phelps – Second Baseman
Born: 01/23/1987 – Height: 6’2” – Weight: 200 – Bats: Switch – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Phelps was selected by the Indians in the 3rd round of the 2008 Draft out of Stanford University. His professional debut in 2008 was slowed by a sprained ankle he suffered prior to the College World Series. He played in the Pan-Am Games qualifying tournament for Team USA out in Puerto Rico last October where in nine games he hit .237 (9-for-38) with 6 runs, 1 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI, a .661 OPS and a 3-6 walk to strikeout ratio. Team USA took third place and qualified for the Pan-Am Games this year in Guadalajara, Mexico and also the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup this fall. He then went out to the Arizona Fall League (AFL) last fall where in 19 games he hit .367/.474/.557 with 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 stolen bases, and had 16-14 walk to strikeout ratio. His .308 average last year was good for 4th in the Indians organization. At Stanford he majored in human biology.

Strengths: Phelps is one of the most complete players in the Indians system. He does not have any one great tool, but he is well balanced across the board and can impact a game in almost every area. He is an above-average offensive player with great instincts who maintains a consistent, patient approach at the plate that results in a good ability to put the bat on the ball and get on-base at a very good rate. He is an extremely disciplined and intelligent hitter who has a good plan when he goes to the plate and a very strong understanding of the strike zone. He consistently gets on top of the ball and swings at good pitches. He has a good feel for contact and squares the ball up well, and he has some developing power where he has started to drive the ball with more authority to all parts of the field. He has average speed and shows excellent instincts on the bases, runs them hard, and makes good decisions.

Phelps is an overachiever who gets the most out of all his skills and plays them up because of how consistent and disciplined he is with his preparations and approach day in and day out, his incredible intelligence, and his exceptionally strong instincts. He is a hardnosed, serious player who is very mature, driven, has a great attitude, understands the game, and is as committed as anyone as far as his work ethic is concerned. He is the very definition of a “baseball player”, and his patient, polished approach at the plate, decent speed, and switch-hitting ability profiles him as a #2 hitter in the big leagues and potentially a leadoff hitter.

Phelps is often under-rated by national pundits as a defender at second base. He has exclusively played second base in his two and a half years in the Indians organization, and over that time period he has played a very good, consistent second base. He is a fundamentally sound, solid defender who moves around well and displays very good instincts and gets good reads on the ball. He can make all the routine plays and the occasional exceptional one, and shows a very good ability to cover the hole between second and first well. He has made strides with his pivot where he now turns a good double play and displays a solid, accurate arm. He is considered a slightly above average defender with some room for growth still where he could be an above average defender at the big league level.

Though Phelps has only played second base in the minors, he does have experience at third base and shortstop in college. While he cannot play shortstop at the big league level except in a pinch, he has the ability to play third base. The Indians experimented with him at third base in the AFL last fall to find a way to get his bat in the lineup and liked what they saw from him. He struggled initially – which was to be expected - with seven errors in 11 games, but had just one error in his last eight games. More importantly, the subjective evaluations of him from Indians staffers were positive as they felt he settled in nicely, looked comfortable, and improved as he went along. Overall he showed good range and got good jumps on balls and his arm was more than adequate there. They believe he is an option for them this coming season at both third base and second base, and maybe potentially even in left field down the road.

Opportunities: Offense is going to dictate Phelps’ plate appearances as there are not a lot of players who are just solely defensive minded second baseman and primarily play just two positions. He is very strong and has good size, but his size and strength do not show at the plate as he plays smaller. Prior to his junior year in college he did not hit a home run in 278 at bats, but he hit 13 home runs in 259 at bats his junior year in 2008 and has continued to show improved power since coming into the Indians organization. Last year the Indians challenged him to use his discipline from both sides of the plate to his advantage to make sure he is taking advantage of mistakes and driving the ball. The results speak for themselves as he had a spike in his slugging percentage. Going forward he needs to continue to improve in this area and be more consistent driving the ball by being more aggressive at the plate and better understanding what to expect in certain situations. He also needs to make a few minor adjustments with his approach at the plate to be shorter to the ball and maintain a consistent bat path. He needs to continue to work on refining his defense, and adding some versatility should only help increase his value. He has been injury free in his career, but he had a minor bout with a wrist injury last
August which forced him to be in and out of the lineup for much of the rest of the year until the fall.

Outlook: Phelps saw his stock skyrocket last year as he went from a player viewed as a high on-base singles hitter to a guy who can not only get on base at a consistent clip but also drive the ball out of the ballpark. He is certainly in the discussion as far as infield options go for the Indians this year as he is an option at two positions of need and provides a lot of versatility. Since Brandon Phillips’ failure in 2003 the Indians have been searching a long time for an everyday second baseman in their system, but suddenly they have tons of immediate options at the big league level with Phelps, Jason Kipnis, Jason Donald, and even the widely panned Luis Valbuena. He will get a long, extended look this spring at second base and third base, but will likely open the 2011 season at Tripe-A Columbus, though is expected to be a quick call up sometime in May just like Donald was last year.

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2008	21	GCL Indians	R	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
2008	21	Mahoning Valley	A-	35	141	24	44	10	2	2	21	15	22	4	.312	.376	.454	.830
2009	22	Kinston	A+	130	479	72	125	27	5	4	53	93	97	17	.261	.386	.363	.749
2010	23	Akron	AA	53	199	25	59	8	3	2	23	15	29	1	.296	.346	.397	.743
2010	23	Columbus	AAA	66	243	41	77	20	4	6	31	24	39	3	.317	.386	.506	.892
		MiLB Totals		285	1065	162	305	65	14	14	129	147	189	25	.286	.376	.413	.790

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).

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The Release Of A Dream

This piece originally ran in May of 2008, but it is very relevant at this time of the year in spring training when players are being released, so I am re-posting it today. This gives a good idea of the emotions these players go through, and how in fact they are notified they are being released. Spring training is a fun time because there is so much excitement in the air about the start of a new season, but one of the cold realities is the dream will end for anywhere from 15-25 guys by the end of spring.  I plan to update this piece after spring training this year.

Ever wonder how the release process works in the minors? Well, I am here to hopefully shed some light on the topic.

Many fans probably never think twice about it, but there is some interesting drama in the offseason and in spring training when players in the minor leagues are released. Many of these players are young men out on their own or away from a school environment for the first time. They are really experiencing success and failure on their own for the first time. By playing in the minors, they all have obtained the golden ticket for a chance in a lifetime many of us always dreamed of getting: to be a major league baseball player.

The release process has always been a mystery to me, and after all the intensity I witnessed during the near two weeks I was in Winter Haven for spring training this year, I ventured to find out more on the process on how it is communicated to them. Also, I was curious about the personal aspect of it in how players take the news, the flurry of emotions that race through them when they are told, and what they do after they are released.

With the help of three former Indians minor league players who have been released over the last two years in spring training or the offseason, I was able to answer a lot of the questions I had about the release process in the minors. In addition, since one of the players I talked to was an offseason release casualty, not only was I able to find out about the spring training release process, but I was also able to get a little insight into how players are released in the offseason as well.

Their responses are provided below in a Q&A format, which I preferred mostly because I wanted to keep it direct and to the point. I wanted it to be more raw, and with most of the words coming right from them. Also, while some of the questions were laid back "softball" type questions, there were others that were more to the point put them on the spot.

It should be noted that the identity of the players is not provided here, and the reason for that is when I contacted them I told them I would keep their responses anonymous. Most were fine with using their names, but in the end I felt it best not to use them. However, when you read their responses below, if you are pretty knowledgeable of the players in the Indians minor league system over the last three years, there is a good chance you will be able to figure out who the players are (they know some of their responses may be self-incriminating).

Player 1 and Player 2 were spring training releases, and Player 3 was an offseason release. This is important to note as they answer questions about the release process, as there are some differences between the offseason and spring training release process. Each one of these players had a different experience in the Indians farm system, so having three viewpoints to the process was something I wanted in order to help cover most of the angles. Plus, when reading their replies you can see how some players know more about some situations than others, or some players had much better (or worse) experiences with some aspects of the Indians minor league system.

With that, onto the Q&A...

Going into the offseason and spring training, does the organization give any hint that you may or may not be released? Do they prepare you for it? If so, how? Or, are you kept in the dark?

PLAYER 1: There is a preliminary meeting each player has with the big guys, but they keep it very broad and leave the skepticism to the player. They try to combine telling you what they expect out of you during spring training without guaranteeing anything.

PLAYER 2: Going in you don't really know what to expect until you have your one on one meeting with Ross Atkins.

PLAYER 3: Going into the offseason I did not have any indication from the organization that I was going to be released. As the [2007] season came to a conclusion, I had a feeling that being released was a possibility, but I was hoping that they would at least give me a chance in spring training to prove myself again.

What are the meetings like when you first come to spring training where the organization sits down to discuss what they expect from you in the upcoming season?

PLAYER 1: They don't actually discuss the upcoming season. It's more about spring training and what they want you to focus on.

PLAYER 2: Within the first few days you meet with Ross and Dave Miller (if you're a pitcher) or Bruce Fields (if you're a hitter). They tell you what their plans are for you in the upcoming season, and what they expect you to do during spring training and what they want you to work on. They did tell some guys they didn't know if they would have a spot for them. In my meeting they told me I didn't have to worry about getting released because they liked my stuff, but I needed to stay healthy. They said I needed to have a year like my first year and that I was fighting for a spot in the bullpen in Kinston. That's where they wanted me.

PLAYER 3: N/A (question not asked)

Is there any point where you start to feel/realize the pressure that you may be released? What is that like? Can it be overwhelming?

PLAYER 1: Yeah, we all know when the cuts are coming. And speculation begins to swirl. Everybody loves trying to guess who is next, hoping it's not them. I would actually say we all get a little closer as friends during this time period. We play golf to release the tension. Video games and March Madness help too. It's only as intense as you let it be.

PLAYER 2: I didn't really feel any pressure. I'm pretty laid back and was just trying to enjoy my time there with my friends. Guys will start to talk and guess who they think will get released and who's going to end up playing where.

PLAYER 3: Yes, throughout the season my opportunities began to get limited after a few rocky outings early on. I began pitching once every three days, then four days, then my time between appearances kept increasing. Each time I had an extra day off the other bullpen guys would get rested and they were taking priority over me. It was tough to go out and pitch with confidence when it felt like no one had confidence in me. It seemed like I was watching my career unravel right before my eyes and there was nothing I could do about it.

Was it a complete surprise when you got the news? Does the staff communicate with you that "hey you need to pick it up", or are you completely blindsided?

PLAYER 1: I knew all offseason I was in jeopardy. I hit the gym and the food (6000 calories a day) with every intention of proving I deserve to be there. There really is no communication whatsoever and the releases are always a blindsided action. You don't want to believe it's going to be you. Especially not being an 8th rounder with not too bad of stats.

PLAYER 2: I can't say I was completely surprised, because I knew my age, arm trouble, and previous year were all going against me. I was also a guy that didn't get a lot of money when I signed, so they didn't really have a lot invested in me. But, I know I was well liked in the organization as far as being a guy that got along with all the coaches and players. I was also told I had some of the best stuff on both the teams I played for so I was a little surprised they didn't give me another year to see if I could fix things. I had a really good first year so I just think it really came down to my health.

PLAYER 3: There wasn't much communication from the staff about what I needed to do, but I knew what I needed to do and the bottom line was that I just wasn't getting it done.

How does the release process work? What do they say when they contact you? How do they contact you?

PLAYER 1: You get to the clubhouse and your laundry loop is missing. It's like our "red card" from [the movie] Major League. The clubhouse manager tells you to see Ross Atkins. There's no doubt anymore. You're gone. May as well say the goodbyes now. Then you sit in the Minor League office waiting room for what feels like an hour, but is only really five minutes. Walk upstairs, sit in the chair. They say see ya later.

PLAYER 2: They get the clubhouse guys to hold your practice clothes so when your laundry loop (holds our day to day practice gear) isn't in your locker you know you have a meeting with Ross. After that you go into a one on one meeting with Ross and Dave and they explain why they are releasing you.

PLAYER 3: In the offseason, Ross Atkins, farm director, called me up and informed me that the organization was going to let me go. He said, "We aren't letting you go because you aren't good enough to pitch at this level, we are letting you go because there were a lot of guys ahead of you."

What were your initial feelings when you were released? Have those feelings changed at all a month later?

PLAYER 1: I tried to be cooperative with Atkins because I understand it's a business for him. But the way they told me (very nonchalant and without a care) and the fact that I wasn't given a second chance to prove I can compete has left me feeling disappointed. Not in the way I went about my career, because I gave it 100% all the time and did everything I could have done to get better. Rather, the fact they just shoved me out the door like I didn't belong in the first place.

PLAYER 2: When I was first released I wasn't too upset. I have felt like I was ready to move on with my life if my arm kept hurting me. It is a little sad thinking that they didn't want you anymore or didn't think you were good enough to keep pitching for them.

PLAYER 3: My initial feelings were extreme disappointment, my stomach just dropped. I just wanted to go back and change an outing or two from the season that may or may not have led to being released. After all the dust had settled, my feelings changed from disappointed to relieved. That may sound a little erratic, but when I caught wind of some of my buddies that were released during spring training it made me feel better. Not because my friends were released too, but because they all had better seasons than me and I knew that if I would have put in all the effort in the offseason preparing for spring training, I still may have been released.

What do you do when you are released? Do you immediately clean out your locker? Do you talk to any players? What are their reactions like? What happens?

PLAYER 1: Clean out your locker right away. Linger around while we wait for our exit physicals so we can't blame them for any injuries that may occur. Every player you say bye to shows shock, but underneath they all have to have expected it. We all know who's on the bubble. I left the field, packed my hotel room up, and drove home immediately. Most guys who fly get driven by van to the airport almost immediately. Their flights leave that day.

PLAYER 2: We sat around in an empty meeting room and played cards until the guys all went out for morning stretch, then cleared our lockers out and waited on our exit physical and flight information. I did talk to a lot of my friends and just wished them good luck on the season and told 'em I'd be checking their stats from time to time and if they ever came down to Louisiana or wanted to just give me a call. You don't know how to act around guys that are being released. The locker room is a little more quiet than usual on release days. After you get all your paperwork done they drive you to the hotel to pack and drive you to the airport. They make your flight as soon as possible so you don't have much time to sit around usually.

PLAYER 3: At the end of the season, all the players took exit physicals. After Ross called me and told me the news, that was it. I think that I may have received a letter in the mail a few months later stating that I have officially been released from the organization. I still stay in contact with some players. When I first talked to them after I was released, they were disappointed for me and wished me the best of luck.

How much accountability do you, as the player, take for being released? Or do you put sole responsibility on the team for not giving you a "fair chance"?

PLAYER 1: It's a combination for me. I don't feel I was given the full opportunity to prove myself, but at the same time I understand it is a cutthroat business. No time to lag behind and catch up later. I knew my stats weren't great and there were things I could have done better on the mound. Though I did feel my worst days were behind me and even those days weren't that bad. But I take responsibility for my life and understand that in the end, I didn't have what it took to make it as an Indian.

PLAYER 2: I feel a lot of it is on me. I know the majority of the problem was my arm trouble and that's something I couldn't control. It is tough being a guy that didn't get a lot of money cause you have to stand out twice as much to make a name for yourself. If they don't have anything invested in you they will push a guy that did get a lot of money regardless of how well he's playing.

PLAYER 3: I take the majority of the accountability for being released. I didn't perform up to my potential and I had a disappointing season. As far as a "fair chance", I may not have been given as many chances as some other guys, but I was a low round draft pick with not much money invested in me. It is a business and I was pretty expendable. On the flip side of things, I have seen some low round or free agent guys perform outstanding and move up the organization.

How would you evaluate the level of coaching you received in the professional ranks compared to college/high school?

PLAYER 1: Absolutely hands down phenomenal. I'm preparing to go back to Marietta College and be the pitching coach if the spot opens up soon like I think it will. I've learned so much about pitching I never knew before pro ball. Ken Rowe is the smartest man alive I genuinely believe it.

PLAYER 2: I was a pretty "raw" talent. I had never really had anyone that knew a lot about pitching teach me until I got to the professional level. I went to a small college so I didn't have a pitching coach. I really value the things I learned while I was with the Indians. I kept a notebook of mental approaches, how to fix problems if I was struggling, and basic information on opponents. It is something I'll always have and be able to pass on to my kids.

PLAYER 3: I would say that the knowledge of coaching in minor league baseball was just as good or better than my college experience. The amount of individual time and attention that I received was far less in minor league ball than in college, but that is expected due to the fact that there are over a hundred pitchers in the organization. Additionally, I would say that in my experiences, the professional coaches focus more on the metal & strategic approaches to pitching more than mechanics. While in my college experiences, I received even focus on all three.

How did your approach change as you advanced, and what did you attempt to do to compensate for ability shortfalls to allow you to remain in the organization? For example, did you try to follow advice that you did not agree with to try and stay with the team? If not, did you find that being "independent" after declining to make suggested adjustments (assuming you tried it and found it not to be comfortable) result in less further interaction with the coaching staffs?

PLAYER 1: I always tried to do whatever the pitching coaches suggested. The problem is, the number of changes grew and grew and grew. Eventually I forget what got me there in the first place. And now I'm struggling to find that pitcher I used to be. So many changes and tweaks along the way have gotten me lost.

PLAYER 2: My approach didn't really change for how I attacked hitters. I did learn a lot about mechanics though and fixed several problems I've had for years. I was open to changing my mechanics because I trusted the pitching coaches, and I just wanted to be the best pitcher I could. My first year I threw well so my first pitching coach said if it is not broke don't fix it. My second year I struggled so we changed a few mechanical things.

PLAYER 3: I did seek advice from pitching coaches and tried it. As it did not feel comfortable, I tried to go back and do the things that had gotten me to professional baseball. Unfortunately for me, I did not get back on track fast enough.

Do you think you improved as a player during your time in the minor league system?

PLAYER 1: I did not improve as a player physically. Mentally, though, I am ten times smarter and ten times more of a pitcher now. I understand the game.

PLAYER 2: I don't think I improved pitching much, but I did learn a lot. Like I said I had a really good first year, but fell off my second year due to injuries.

PLAYER 3: I feel that I did not improve in the minor league system. Maybe that is why I was released.

Do you feel that you played up to the potential you were scouted at?

PLAYER 1: No.

PLAYER 2: My first year I got a promotion from rookie ball to High-A because I had such a good season, so my first year I would say yes.

PLAYER 3: In my first year, I do believe that I played up to my potential. As for my second year, I did not meet the expectations that the organization had for me.

How does someone that was released get other teams to give them a chance? Do you have agents pounding the phones? Or do you just sit by the phone and wait? Did you contemplate retirement rather than moving to another organization?

PLAYER 1: Independent league teams call. Maybe some major league orgs call my agent. But for the most part you just join an Indy ball team and try to make the most of it and hopefully you'll get picked up later. I thought about every option. But I know that I can still pitch and I don't want to cut a career short no matter what path it may lead me.

PLAYER 2: When you're released they send out a notice to all the other teams with your contact information. Also your agent will set up try outs or send out stats to other teams. I'm pretty sure I'll just retire because I don't want to have to have another surgery.

PLAYER 3: Once I was released, I called my agent and informed him of the news. He asked me my feelings about the situation and we decided to make some calls to some other organizations. Some organizations had some scouting reports on me, but none of them were strong enough to put myself in a situation where I was going to be somewhat of a prospect/priority. After hearing that it was going to be an uphill battle that may not be possible to conquer, my agent and I both agreed that it was in my best interests to retire from professional baseball.

What is in store for you now? Will you look to continue your baseball career and try and latch on elsewhere? Or, have you decided to move on from baseball and do something else?

PLAYER 1: Washington Wild Things are my new team. Hopefully I can be successful as I already know I'm going to enjoy playing. They win. They play as a team. And it's about winning as opposed to just personal gain. I'm excited.

PLAYER 2: I'm ready to move on with my life and start making a little money, so I think I'll just hang up my spikes. I will miss the competition of baseball, but I'm glad to be back home with my family and friends. Now I just have to start working for retirement.

PLAYER 3: I have retired from professional baseball. I am going to take this summer off and enjoy golf, grilling out and boating. In the years to come I will probably start playing some recreational baseball for the love of the game.

A special thanks to all three players who contributed to this Q&A. You know who you are, and I appreciate all of you taking the time to do this while you are going through a big transition from one organization to another or moving on with your life.

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