Minor Happenings: Fedroff is blazing hot in Akron

Tim Fedroff (Photo: Lianna Holub)

"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.

A shorter version of Minor Happenings this week due to my daughter being sick this week and me down for the count the past 24 hours as well.  Maybe I am just sick from that disgusting game the Indians had with the Red Sox yesterday where they were embarrassed 14-2.  Or maybe not.  In any case, as always there is a lot going on down on the farm and I highlighted most of the important developments from the past week below.

By the way, I hope everyone is safe and sound with all the recent storms that have ripped their way through northeast Ohio and the rest of the country.  What a crazy year with the rain which has played havoc with not only getting baseball games in, but our yards as well.  Hopefully we have nice weather for this holiday weekend…..enjoy the unofficial start of summer!

Onto the Happenings… 

Indians Minor League Player of the Week

(for games from May 19^th to May 25^th)

Tim Fedroff (Outfielder – Akron)

.519 (14-27), 8 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 SB, 1.334 OPS

Double-A Akron outfielder Tim Fedroff is hitting on all cylinders right now at the plate where in 41 games he is hitting .376 with 2 HR, 23 RBI, and a .938 OPS.  Not only did he hit over .500 last week to take home IPI Player of the Week honors, but he has been on an absolute tear all of May where in 20 games he is hitting .430 with 0 HR, 17 RBI, and a 1.047 OPS and looks to be a top candidate for Player of the Month honors for May.

Fedroff, 24, was also recently announced as the Eastern League Player of the Week for the period ending May 16-22 where during that span he hit .583 (14-24) with 2 doubles, 1 triple, and 5 RBI.  He currently leads the Eastern League in hitting and is 2^nd in hits (56), 8^th in total bases (76), 2^nd in on-base percentage (.428), 6^th in slugging percentage (.510), and 4^th in OPS (.938).

Even though Fedroff will probably not be able to sustain his high batting average over the course of the rest of the season, there is no doubt the confidence is flowing right now for him.  After slipping off the radar some last year with an ordinary season at Akron when he hit .274 with 4 HR, 36 RBI and a .715 OPS at Akron, his performance to date has put him back on it.

On one hand the numbers are taken with a grain of salt because Fedroff is repeating at the same level this year, but on the other hand he has the pedigree and talent to do what he is doing and maybe is just a late bloomer.  The Indians paid a steep price to woo him out of college in 2008 when he signed for $725,000 out of North Carolina, so there is a lot financially invested in him.  To go along with that his average tools across the board and ability as a top of the lineup hitter make him a priority outfield prospect for the Indians.  If not for all the outfield depth at Triple-A Columbus, the Indians would have probably already promoted him.

Honorable Mentions:

Jason Kipnis (2B – COL): .391 (9-23), 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 SB, 1.249 OPS

Cord Phelps (INF – COL): .360 (9-25), 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, .920 OPS

Justin Toole (INF – KIN): .364 (8-22), 5 R, 3 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, .917 OPS

Casey Frawley (INF – KIN): .321 (9-28), 8 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K, 1.066 OPS

Anthony Gallas (OF – LC): .385 (10-26), 2 R, 3 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K, .984 OPS

Clayton Cook (RHP – KIN): 2-0, 2.31 ERA, 2 G, 11.2 IP, 11 H, 4 BB, 8 K

Previous Winners:

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)

Miller on the move?

High-A Kinston right-handed pitcher Adam Miller looks to be very close to moving up to Double-A Akron in the very near future.  In seven appearances with Kinston he is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA and in 10.0 innings has allowed 6 hits, 4 walks, and has 13 strikeouts.  After getting knocked around in his first appearance on April 30^th (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) he has settled in over his last six outings and thrown 9.0 shutout innings allowing 2 hits, 3 walks, and has 12 strikeouts.

When Miller was assigned to Kinston the Indians mentioned that if he had about four to five good outings in a row they would likely look to push him up to the next level, and his performance his last six outings both objectively and subjectively has been excellent.  They may decide to have him stick around for another outing or two to continue to work on his slider, which is the big key in his return.

Miller’s stuff will never be where it once was with a fastball that used to touch 100 MPH and a wicked, wipeout slider.  His fastball is still effective as it sits in the low to mid 90s and tops out at 95 MPH, and as he continues to throw and come back from the injury there is some thought he may be able to add another MPH or two to the fastball.  He has dropped the changeup and is just a two pitch pitcher with the fastball-slider combination, but considering he is strictly a bullpen option going forward that should not be much of a problem.

Miller is still trying to work out some issues with his slider to get a proper grip on it since he cannot bend the last digit of his middle finger as it is remains permanently in a 45 degree angle and thus is unable to put any pressure on the ball with the tip of his finger.  Because he is unable to grip the slider effectively, he has had to take an unconventional approach of gripping the slider lower in his hand which makes the pitch much slower and loopy.  He has shown some improvement with the slider from outing to outing, and as long as he remains healthy the biggest obstacle for him now is going to be finding the feel for the slider and becoming consistent and effective with it.

Bullpen should be temporary for Haley

Low-A Lake County right-hander Trey Haley is stuck in a rut.  Now in his third season at Lake County, he has been unable to develop any consistency with his pitches and performance to merit a call up to High-A Kinston.  As a second round pick who received a seven figure bonus back in 2008, the Indians have a lot invested in him and will be patient with him not only because of the money involved but because of his talented right arm that may be the best in the organization.

Haley, 20, is still very young and maturing and developing as a pitcher.  He has made just five appearances this year for Lake County and is 0-0 with a 3.72 ERA.  In 9.2 innings he has allowed 3 hits, 5 walks, and has 13 strikeouts.  His small sample size of numbers is a microcosm for everything people love and hate about him as he is tough to hit, can blow the ball by hitters for strikeouts, but has trouble consistently commanding the zone.

Right now the Indians are pitching Haley in the bullpen at Lake County not as a permanent move, but more to get him settled in and on a roll.  The feeling is that maybe limiting him to a few innings a night out of the bullpen it will take some of the pressure off him with starting and let him just air it out each night.  So far that has worked as in his first three relief appearances since returning from the disabled list from a groin injury he has thrown 4.2 innings and allowed 1 run on 2 hits, no walks and has 7 strikeouts.  The three walkless outings are definitely a positive sign.

Once Haley settles in he is expected to move back into the rotation at some point.  When he does he will continue working on throwing his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate and mixing in his curveball.  He also needs to continue to work on the mental component of pitching, which is something that people around the game believe is his biggest downfall as a pitcher.  He has to learn to maintain the same energy level when he pitches and not get too high or low, as when things unravel it has a tendency to snowball on him because he still lacks maturity on the mound.  He is also working on staying over the rubber, keeping his front side closed, and maintaining a good direction to the plate.

There is absolutely no doubt that Haley has the stuff as he can get it up to 97-98 MPH and has a very promising curveball.  It all comes down to him developing more consistency with his command and mechanics, and also becoming more mature as a pitcher.  With the temporary bullpen assignment it may give him the opportunity to experience some success, which may in turn give him the confidence he needs to improve in several areas of his game.

Soto transforming into big prospect

The trade the Indians made last July where they flipped infielder Johnny Peralta to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Low-A left-handed pitcher Giovanni Soto is quickly starting to look like a steal of a deal.  Soto is now pitching for High-A Kinston this season, and so far this year in nine starts is 4-3 with a 2.76 ERA and in 45.2 innings has allowed 38 hits, 13 walks, and has 44 strikeouts.

Soto, who just turned 20 years old last Wednesday, probably had his best outing as a Cleveland Indians on May 14^th when he threw seven shutout innings allowing three hits, one walk, and had eight strikeouts.  He ranks 11^th in the Carolina League in ERA (2.76), 12^th in WHIP (1.12), and 9^th in strikeouts (44).  He has proven to be an outstanding performer in his three year career as in 2009 he went 4-0 with a 1.18 ERA in 13 games for the rookie level GCL Tigers, and then last year went 9-8 with a 2.93 ERA in 22 combined games between the Low-A teams for Detroit and Cleveland.

Soto has shown an ability in his career to pitch with a maturity well beyond his years.  His cutter is an outstanding pitch, but the Indians have challenged him this season to develop his other pitches that being his changeup, curveball and other variations of his fastball.  They also would like to see him refine his mechanics and get stronger, which they believe will result in a velocity boost.

Of late Soto has only been throwing a little over a half dozen cutters an outing, which is over half the amount he normally throws in a game.  His fastball command has improved this year and he has also been up to 92 MPH, which is up from the 90 MPH he had topped out at prior to this season.  With the development of his others pitches and some velocity gains, he is transforming himself from a middle tier prospect into an upper tier prospect that has the potential to be ranked as one of the Indians best prospects next year.

Gallas is making himself noticed

One of the best stories in the Indians’ farm system through the first quarter of the season has been the play of Low-A Lake County outfielder Anthony Gallas.  In 39 games for Lake County he is hitting a blistering .358 with 4 HR, 14 RBI and a .992 OPS.  He leads the Midwest League in hitting, is 2^nd in OPS, 1^st in hits (53), 1^st in doubles (19), and 3^rd in total bases (84).

Gallas, 23, has just been a hitting machine really since the start of spring training and has not stopped.  He is a local product out of Strongsville, OH and went to Kent State where he put up some impressive numbers in his four year career there where he hit .339 with 49 HR and 224 RBI in 233 games.  As a senior last year he hit .369 with 17 HR, 81 RBI and a 1.107 OPS in 64 games, was a 3^rd team All-American, and set a MAC record as the first player ever to have over 250 hits, 200 runs scored and 200 RBI.  Yet when the MLB Draft came around last June he went undrafted and eventually after some overtures from other teams signed a free agent contract with the Indians shortly after the draft.

There are still some concerns with Gallas’ experience as a college player and his advanced age that he is simply just taking advantage of a young league in the Midwest League where most players are 19-21 years old, but you still have to like the performance to date.  As to why he was never drafted, I posed that question to a few scouts around the league and no one could really give an answer other than the draft is unpredictable.  Teams often hold college seniors to a different level and expect them to perform since they have seen the same competition for four years, and sometimes players are just undervalued in the industry where they slip through the draft.

Gallas is a confident player who is very athletic as he was a two sport star in football and baseball in high school.  At the plate he consistently hits the ball hard and sprays it all over the field.  He is strong and plays solid defense with a good arm in the outfield.  As an undrafted free agent signing he came into the organization with a lot of things stacked against him as a low priority player, but with his performance to date he has turned some heads and has certainly jumped up the priority level in the organization.

Smit retires

Last Thursday High-A Kinston outfielder Jason Smit decided to call it a career as he informed the Indians staff he was retiring from baseball.  The sudden retirement came as a surprise to everyone involved in the organization, but was something he had been contemplating for awhile from what I have heard.  With all the injuries he has had to endure to go along with his family and friends in Australia being so far away, it began to wear on him.

What may have ultimately made the decision was Smit’s placement in Low-A Lake County to start this season.  It was a return trip to a team he played with all of last season where he hit .262 with 8 HR, 41 RBI, and a .710 OPS, and he probably should have opened in Kinston.  He got off to a great start in Lake County this year hitting .344 with 2 HR, 11 RBI and a .938 OPS in 26 games before being promoted to Kinston the first week of May.  But even after the hot start and promotion, he found himself as a bench player in Kinston and not playing everyday.  Seeing his low priority with his placement to start the season and his role when promoted pretty much sealed the deal to walk away from the game.

Random Notes

Triple-A Columbus right-handed pitcher Carlton Smith was struck in the head Sunday by a foul ball off the bat of Wes Hodges that ricocheted off the dugout wall.  He was hit in the temple and while he is listed as day-to-day he has not pitched since.  In 16 appearances for Columbus he is 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA, and in 20.2 innings has allowed 21 hits, 11 walks, and has 21 strikeouts.

Triple-A Columbus infielder/outfielder Josh Rodriguez left Monday’s game with a groin strain.  It is not considered to be serious and he is day-to-day, but he has not played since the injury occurred.  In 13 games for Columbus he is hitting .231 with 2 HR, 5 RBI, and a .696 OPS.

Double-A Akron right-handed pitcher Chen-Chang Lee, or commonly known as C.C. Lee, is once again having another good season.  In 14 appearances he is 1-1 with a 3.16 ERA, and in 25.2 innings has allowed 21 hits, 6 walks, and has 35 strikeouts.  If not for the crowded bullpen situation in Columbus he would already have been promoted there, but that time appears to be coming soon.  After a slow start in April where in seven appearances he has a 4.26 ERA (12.2 IP, 13 H, 5 BB, 14 K) he has really turned it up in May where in seven appearances he has a 2.08 ERA (13.0 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 21 K).  He has very good stuff to get right-handed hitters out and is working on more consistently getting left-handed hitters out.

Double-A Akron catcher Chun Chen is having a solid season at the plate hitting .278 with 6 HR, 23 RBI and a .788 OPS in 39 games.  He is showing some power, though his plate discipline this year has slipped where he has just 9 walks to 42 strikeouts in 144 at bats.  The offense has taken a backseat to his development as a catcher behind the plate as the Indians are working with him to become a much more consistent receiver.  He flashes the ability, but it is a matter of him putting it together night after night and learning the nuances of catching.  The language barrier is also something he is still trying to tackle and he needs to learn how to better control a game.  Former catching coordinator Chris Tremie is the manager in Akron, which is a perfect placement for him to work with the raw skills of Chen on a daily basis and could pay off by season’s end.

High-A Kinston outfielder Abner Abreu continues to be a big disappointment as in 43 games he is hitting .211 with 2 HR, 9 RBI, and a .558 OPS.  Much more has been expected of him at this point in his career, especially considering he is repeating at Kinston this season and is now 100% recovered from his shoulder surgery he had in 2009.  He has lots of tools with great athleticism, power, and a gifted arm, but the bat has not come along as hoped where he has 48 strikeouts (7 walks) in 161 at bats.  There is still a long way to go this season, but his prospect star is rapidly fading.

High-A Kinston left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz had his scheduled start on Tuesday night skipped to monitor his innings.  There was some thought that because he did not make his start that he was on his way to Double-A Akron, but for now he is still in Kinston and expected to make his next start there on Saturday.  In eight starts he is 1-1 with a 2.09 ERA, and in 38.2 innings has allowed 27 hits, 15 walks, and has 54 strikeouts.  He is still working on controlling the running game, his changeup, and also being more consistent with his delivery as he has had a tendency to get rotational in his last few outings.

Low-A Lake County right-handed starter Michael Goodnight is taking a leap this year much like Joe Gardner did last year in Lake County.  In nine starts he is 3-3 with a 2.68 ERA, and in 47.0 innings has allowed 27 hits, 12 walks, and has 43 strikeouts.  He has proven to be a very professional pitcher who has some power to his pitches and has a lot of ability as a starting pitching prospect.  He has certainly raised his stock in how people view him inside and outside the organization.

Low-A Lake County right-handed pitcher Kyle Blair of late has had a rough go of things.  On the season in nine starts he is 2-3 with a 6.53 ERA, and in 40.0 innings has allowed 42 hits, 20 walks, and has 34 strikeouts.  After a strong April where in five starts he went 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA, the bottom has fallen out in May where in four starts he is 0-3 with a 12.38 ERA (16.0 IP, 22 H, 14 BB, 16 K).  The issues stem from a sudden loss of command as he is struggling to throw all of his pitches for strikes.  He is working on getting that command back and being more consistent with his performance outing to outing.

The Indians recently signed left-handed pitcher Luis Lugo out of Venezuela.  He is an interesting prospect to monitor going forward because of his age (17) and size (6’5” 200 lbs) as well as a fastball that already sits between 89-91 MPH.  He is in extended spring training and will probably pitch for the rookie league team in Arizona when play starts at the end of June.

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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Game Recaps 4/30: Columbus rolls to tenth in a row

Clippers blank Knights 6-0

With their clutch two-out hitting, the Clippers beat the Charlotte Knights, 6-0, to win their tenth game in a row.

Luis Valbuena got the bats started early for Columbus, with a solo shot in the first. The Clippers got a run in the third with two outs due to Charlotte shortstop Eduardo Escobar's second error in the game. Jason Kipnis drove home Chad Huffman and Travis Buck in the fifth with a two-out triple. The Clippers final run came in the sixth when Huffman walked with the bases loaded. The Knights walked in another run in the eighth.

Starter Joe Martinez got the win going five innings and striking out five. Carlton Smith came in for two innings of relief and struck out three. Eric Berger relieved him and struck out the side in both the eighth and ninth innings.

Paul Phillips went 3-5 on the game and scored two runs. Umpires overruled a home run for Phillips in the sixth inning and he was sent back to second.

The two teams continue their four game series Sunday at 2:15 P.M. David Huff will pitch against Jeffery Marquez.

Aeros Blanked by Moore, B-Mets

Brandon Moore stifled the Akron Aeros for seven innings as the Binghamton Mets won game two of a three-game series 4-0 Saturday at NYSEG Stadium.

Moore picked up the win for the B-Mets scattering two hits, striking out nine and walking none. Manny Alvarez pitched two innings of relief for Binghamton to record the save.

Right-hander Joe Gardner struggled in his first start since April 13. Gardner lasted just 2.2 innings and suffered the loss giving up one earned run on six hits, walking two and striking out two.

The lone run Gardner allowed came in the bottom of the second inning. The B-Mets opened the frame with an Eric Campbell leadoff single. Raul Reyes followed with a single that advanced him to third base. Allan Dykstra drove Campbell in with a sacrifice fly to right field that made it 1-0.

Binghamton (7-12) scored two more times off Aeros reliever Paolo Espino in the bottom of the sixth inning. Espino gave up three earned runs, but tossed five innings of relief striking out nine and walking none. Espino’s five innings out of the bullpen were the most by an Aeros reliever in a single game this season.

The B-Mets capped their scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Dykstra solo home run as they went on to the win.

The Aeros (11-12) and B-Mets will play the rubber match of this three-game series Sunday afternoon. Right-handed pitcher Austin Adams will get the ball for Akron. Adams is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA this season and is 1-0 against Binghamton. He will face lefty Mark Cohoon, who is 1-1 with a 1.44 ERA in 2011. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 AM or online at sportsradio1350.com. Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m.

Murata's Stellar Outing Foiled by Lynchburg's Shutout

Toru Murata's stellar outing was foiled by strong Lynchburg pitching in a 4-0 win for the hometown Hillcats Saturday night. Lynchburg fired right back at Kinston after the K-Tribe shutout Lynchburg for a series opening win on Friday night.

Murata's third appearance of the season was his first Professional start in America, and it was a great one. He lasted four innings, the first three of which were perfect frames. Murata allowed just one hit over four innings and struck out seven batters without yielding a walk.

Murata's stellar outing was followed by the first appearance of Adam Miller since the spring of 2008.

Once a feared pitching prospect and first round pick, Miller needed a number of surgeries to repair an issue with the pulley system in his right middle finger. Miller's issues were considered as career-threatening as they were rare. The 2003 first round pick played for Kinston in 2004 and 2005. He had worked his way to AAA before his most recent injury forced a nearly three year absence from the game.

Miller struck out the first batter he faced to start the fifth inning. Joey Terdoslavich followed by Smacking a double and scoring on a home run by the next batter, Joe Leonard. Leonard's shot broke an 18 inning scoreless streak posted by the Hillcats offense, thanks in large part to Kinston's shutout of the Hillcats on Friday night. After a walk, single and an out, the fifth continued to unravel for the K-Tribe. New K-Triber Delvi Cid let a single to center field slip past him which gave Lynchburg an added insurance run.

Miller pitched one inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. He walked one and struck out one.

The K-Tribe's best chance to break the shutout came in the eighth. With two men on thanks to Lynchburg miscues in the field, Adam Abraham recorded the innings first out via the strikeout. Abner Abreu singled to load the bases But Kinston's following batters both popped out to leave three aboard. Kinston had a base runner on in every inning but one and left twelve on in the game.

Miller's(0-1, 27.00) first decision of the year comes as a loss while Lynchburg's starter Dimasther Delgado (1-3, 4.82)picks up his first win of the season.

Game three decides the current series and gets underway at 1:05 in Lynchburg at Calvin Falwell Field on Sunday. Sunday's matinee contest will feature Kinston's ace, Drew Pomeranz (0-0, 2.00) searching for his first win this season. Pomeranz will be opposed by Lynchburg righty Zeke Spruill (1-1, 1.70).

Captains Salvage Last Game of the Series 4-1

Brian Heere smacked a three run home run and J.D. Reichenbach pitched solid in relief to get the win as the Lake County Captains took the final game of the series from the South Bend Silver Hawks 4-1 on Saturday at Classic Park.

The Captains got to the Silver Hawks starter J.R. Bradley in the bottom of the first inning when Carlos Moncrief lead off the inning with a double. A ground out moved Moncrief to third base and he scored when Giovanny Urshela grounded out and the Captain lead 1-0. The Silver Hawks tied it at 1-1 in the top of the second inning when Yazy Arbelo hit his fourth home run of the year off of Captains starter Kyle Blair.

Heere hit his home run in the bottom of the six inning scoring Jason Smit and Anthony Gallas to give the Captains a 4-1 lead.

Blair did not get a decision pitching five innings and allowing one run on two hits while striking out two. Reichenbach (2-1) replaced Blair in the top of the sixth inning and went three scoreless innings allowing a hit and striking out four. Clayton Ehlert pitched a scoreless ninth inning and picked up his sixth save of the season.

Bradley (0-4) took the loss working six innings allowing four runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out one. Kable Hogben worked two scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out two.

The Captains travel to Lansing to begin a three game series against the Lugnuts on Sunday at 6:05 PM. The Captains will send RHP Cole Cook (0-2, 4.67) to the hill against RHP Misaul Diaz (0-1, 6.60). The game can be heard on AM 1330 WELW and on the internet at captainsbaseball.com.

The Captains return home on Wednesday for a three game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Individual game tickets are on sale at the Classic Park box office, online at captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-WINS (9467). Full season tickets plans, 7-, 12-, 20-, and 35-game mini ticket plans for the 2011 season are on sale now at great prices complete with several exclusive benefits. Information can be found at the Captains website www.captainsbaseball.com.

The Lake County Captains are a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and play their home games at Classic Park in Eastlake, at the corners of State Route 91 and Vine Street. For more information on the Captains, please visit the team's official website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com.

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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Around the Farm: April 16



(Photo:  Lianna Holub)

 Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday's performances by Indians prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday's game.

Jason Smit-RF, Lake County: 3-for-5, 3R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K, 1 Outfield Asst:
Have I mentioned how hot this kid has been all season? Smit is a 21-year-old fringe prospect from Australia who has never really found his place since signing with the Indians as a 16-year-old. His raw ability has always been there: a strong arm, good offensive instincts and tons of potential. The Tribe has moved him around during his young career, and have finally settled on the outfield. Smit seems to have settled on finally connecting the potential to reality. Smit is breaking out in a big way, hitting .500 on the season, with five doubles, two homers and nine RBI in only 10 games played. His .500/.565/.825 with a 1.390 OPS is absolutely ridiculous, and will likely make this fringe prospect the breakout star of the 2011 season.

• Tyler Cannon-SS, Lake County: 2-for-4, BB, K. This 2010 12th round pick continues to take advantage of his first full season, hitting .385 so far.
• Giovanny Urshela-3B, Lake County: 2-for-4, 2R, 2B, BB: Urshela is only 19-years-old, but may be the best defensive third baseman in the organization.  Now, he's hitting .421 for the season.  That's just icing on the cake.
• Alex Lavisky-DH, Lake County: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 K:  Lavisky has struggled all season, but this output is a promising sign for the young catcher.
• Anthony Gallas-LF, Lake County: 3-for-4, 1R:  Gallas continues to run up good numbers, bumping his average up to .364.
• Abner Abreu-CF, Kinston: 2-for-6, 1 R, 1 3B, 3 K:  Abreu keeps trying to kick it into high gear, but his lack of selection just kills him.
• Tyler Sturdevant-RP, Kinston: 2 IP, 3K:  The fireballer had his best outing of the short season with this perfect outing, and second good outing in a row.
• Ezequiel Carrera-CF, Columbus: 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI:  Carrera is a bit of a sleeper for the Tribe, but if this is his play, the Indians may find themselves loaded with outfield prospects.
• Jason Kipnis-2B, Columbus: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB:  What a difference a weekend makes.  Kipnis has raised his average 50 points in two days.
• Jerad Head-LF, Columbus: 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI: Head, like the rest of his teammates, continues to roll out the big lumber.  Yet another Tribe outfield prospect knocking on the door early.

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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Game Recaps 4/14: Smit leads Lake County onslaught

(Photo: Lianna Holub)

Jason Smit smacked his first home run of the year and J.D. Reichenbach threw four scoreless innings of relief to lead the Lake County Captains to 6-1 victory over the Dayton Dragons on Thursday at Classic Park.

The Captains struck early scoring five times in the first inning against Dragons starter Tanner Robles. Robles walked the bases loaded to start the inning and then Jesus Aguilar hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Nick Bartolone to score and advanced the other two runners. Alex Monsalve singled to score Carlos Moncrief and then Smit connected with a three run shot, and the Captains led 5-0. The Captains tacked on another run in the top of the second inning when Tyler Cannon singled home Bartolone to make it 6-0.

The Dragons got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Yorman Rodriguez hit a lead off home run off of Captains starter Kyle Blair. Later in the inning with two men on, Devin Loman tripled scoring both runners and it was 6-3.

The Captains picked up another run when Moncrief doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. He would score on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Cannon and the lead was 7-3.

Captains starter Kyle Blair (0-0) did not get a decision pitching four innings allowing three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out a season high seven batters. Reichenbach (1-0) came on in the top of the fifth inning and threw four shutout innings allowing two hits while striking out four to collect his first win of the season. Clayton Ehlert pitched a scoreless ninth inning striking out two.

Dragons starter Tanner Robles (0-1) took the loss working only on third of an inning and allowing five runs on two hits while walking three. Jason Braun followed Robles and pitched 3.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out four. Pat Doyle pitched 3.1 scoreless innings and Daniel Wolford threw a scoreless inning.

The Captains travel to Bowling Green, KY for a three game series beginning on Friday at 8:05 PM. The Captains will send RHP Tony Dischler (0-0, 37.80) to the mound to oppose RHP George Jensen (0-0, 13.80). The game can be heard on AM 1330 WELW and on the internet at captainsbaseball.com.

The Captains return home for a six game home stand on Monday with a pair of three series with Lansing and Bowling Green.

Clippers Sweep Mud Hens in doubleheader

Jeanmar Gomez pitched a seven-inning, complete game shutout, while Grady Sizemore provided the only run with a third inning homer as the Columbus Clippers beat the Toledo Mud Hens 1-0 in the opening game of tonight's doubleheader.

Gomez gave up eight hits and a walk, while striking out seven, for his second straight solid start. It wasn't a walk in the park, however, as he allowed a runner in scoring position in four innings, including the fifth inning, when Mud Hens Cale Iorg was thrown out at home.

In game 2, the Clippers overcame a 3-1 deficit by scoring six unanswered runs triggered by Luis Valbuena's two-run double in the fourth inning to defeat the Mudhens 7-3 in the nightcap, completing the doubleheader sweep.

Valbuena's double would tie the game in the fourth, while a wild pitch allowed Ezequial Carrera to score, giving the Clips a lead they wouldn't relinquish. In the seventh, Lonnie Chisenhall would score on a Wes Hodges fielders choice, and Chad Huffman and Jordan Brown would score on a Cale Iorg error, giving the Indians the final 7-3 tally.

Reliever Carlton Smith would get the win with two innings of one-hit relief, while Zach Putnam would get his second save with two innings of one-hit relief, adding a strikeout.

Columbus concludes their series with Toledo, and their nine-game road trip tomorrow with a 7:00 tilt in Toledo. The Clippers open their season at Huntington Park against the same Mud Hens this coming Saturday, with a 4:05 series opener. The series begins an 11-game homestand.

Five run eighth helps Barnes, Aeros take game one

The Akron Aeros brought 10 men to plate in the top of the eighth inning scoring five times to break a scoreless tie and win game one of a four-game series against the Reading Phillies 5-0 Thursday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

With the win, the Aeros (5-3) have now won two straight games.

Scott Barnes got the win for the Aeros pitching seven scoreless two-hit innings, striking out 10 and walking none. Barnes’ 10 strikeouts are the most by any Aeros pitcher in a single outing this season.

R-Phils reliever Tyson Brummett gave up all five runs in the eighth inning and suffered the loss lasting just 0.2 innings.

The Aeros began their eighth inning rally when Karexon Sanchez led off the inning by reaching on a Carlos Rivero throwing error that allowed him to advance to second. Donnie Webb reached on a sacrifice bunt that allowed Sanchez to third base. Jordan Henry scored Sanchez with an RBI double that gave the Aeros a 1-0 lead. Juan Diaz followed with a single that scored Webb and Henry. The Aeros added two more runs on a pair of RBI singles from John Drennen and Tim Fedroff to make it 5-0.

Eric Berger shut down the R-Phils over the final two innings to close out the win.

The Aeros will go for their third straight win Friday in game two against Reading. Akron will send righty Austin Adams to the mound. Adams pitched six scoreless innings against Altoona on Sunday to earn his first win of the season. The R-Phils (5-3) will turn to right-hander Chris Kissock in game two. Kissock is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 2011. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Coverage begins on Fox Sports 1350 AM at 6:50 p.m.

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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Indians Minor League Magazine 6/1 (Ep. 6)

"Indians Minor League Magazine" is a half hour program on the Cleveland Indians cable network SportsTime Ohio (STO) which airs weekly on Tuesday nights from 6:00-6:30 PM EST. The show recaps all of the highlights from the week that was in the Cleveland Indians farm system with lots of video, interviews, and in-studio guests.

The show recaps the week that was in the system and also features interviews with Akron manager Joel Skinner and Lake County outfielder Jason Smit.

This year I am writing the "Diamond In the Rough" feature which focuses on some guys who slip through the cracks because they are not considered a high level prospect or have kind of been overlooked. This week's "Diamond In the Rough" was Low-A Lake County catcher Roberto Perez, and the diamond segment is featured at the beginning of part two.

By the way, you can follow "Indians Minor League Magazine" on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indians-Minor-League-Magazine/120037858012265?ref=ts

Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:

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Smit Back On Track In The Valley

It's been a long time coming for Jason Smit.

After spending the better part of the last three seasons at the Indians spring training complex for nine-plus months a year, Smit was put on the opening day roster for short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley when their season started about three weeks ago.

Such is the life for an international player who signs at 16-years of age.

Since signing in July of 2006, Smit had spent the 2006, 2007 and 2008 season's playing at the Indians former spring training site in Winter Haven, FL for their then rookie level Gulf Coast League team. In between there he also spent all of extended spring training in 2007 and 2008 and all of Instructional League in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at the Winter Haven complex. If anyone ever needed a tour guide of the ins and outs of Winter Haven the old Chain O’Lakes complex, he would be your guy.

The Indians moved their spring training site as well as all their player development operations to Goodyear, AZ this year. While Smit did stick around earlier this year in Goodyear for his third extended spring training, it was a much better experience because he expected to come east and play for one of the Indians Single-A affiliates in Ohio, be it Low-A Lake County or Mahoning Valley. The move east would also mean he would get his first taste of the excitement of finally playing in front of fans, something he had almost no experience of doing in an Indians uniform prior to his arrival in Mahoning Valley a few weeks back.

"Actually, to the day they named the rosters I did not know where I was going to be, but it feels good to be here," said Smit in a recent interview at Eastwood Field in Niles, OH. "I didn't know what to expect coming into this season because last season I was injured the whole year. But I really had a good spring training and extended spring training with my hitting. I could have been [with the rookie team] again, though I didn't think I was going to because I played so well. I kind of think in a way I have earned my place coming here [to Mahoning Valley]. It is so much better coming here and playing in front of people instead of in the GCL [or in Arizona]."

Smit, now 19, was signed out of Australia at about this time three years ago. At the time he was signed, he was widely considered a top ten International prospect. He was a guy that the Indians felt was a middle of the diamond player who had a lot of upside offensively and for his age had great instincts for the game and a very advanced approach at the plate. It was always felt that he had the potential to play anywhere in the infield or even the outfield.

Indians Assistant GM and Director of Scouting John Mirabelli plucked Smit from those International waters three years ago, and likes what he has seen so far this year.

"I gotta tell you, he is one of my pleasant surprises of the year,” said Mirabelli. “He has struggled with injuries and had trouble getting his feet on the ground in terms of a position, which is hard when you have an injury, but I will tell you what, he is swinging the bat and he is showing some power.”

Smit’s versatility has been put to the test as injuries along with maturity have pretty much moved Smit out of the middle infield picture. He is continuing to grow and fill out, and even though he is listed at 6'0" 165-pounds, he is noticeably bigger in both height and weight. An injury to his shoulder which occurred in spring training and later a hamstring injury which plagued him much of the rest of the year pretty much ruined his 2008 season.

The injuries started the ball rolling near the end of last season where the Indians decided to move him to the outfield in Instructional League, and to date he has handled that transition exceptionally well.

"I got hurt last year halfway through spring training and I missed all of extended spring training and I only ended up with about 50 at bats throughout the season," said Smit. "So, it was pretty hard to get going because you would play two innings in one game, then two innings the next game, four innings, four innings, four innings and just kind of progress [to get back into regular game activity]. This year I have not had an injury yet so I am hoping for the best."

With the move to the outfield, Smit has grown to love the new position. Though he primarily is now considered an outfielder he will also play first base, and at times if there is a need he will also play third base. The transition to the outfield mostly occurred last year, and this year he spent most of spring training and extended spring training working out at first base to add that skill to his repertoire.

"Yeah, I am kind of moving all over the place, but whatever spot gets me at bats I will play there," said Smit. "I have talked to the club on a number of occasions and said I will play anywhere, though I don't think I will be playing much middle infield too much anymore. To be honest, while I haven't been playing the outfield very long I feel very comfortable out there. I can play all three spots in the outfield, and also play first base and some third base."

The Indians feel that Smit is showcasing the athleticism they loved when they signed him with his recent ability to learn so many positions in such quick order.

“When we originally signed him he was very young but physical and his father and brother [had good size], so we thought that he would become a bigger kid and would have some power,” said Mirabelli. “We felt good about his potential power down the road. We were not always sure of him staying in the middle infield as I actually thought he would end up at third base, but he is playing pretty good in the outfield and has played first base. If he can ever get his arm back and get some confidence in throwing, maybe [down the road] we go back to third base with him."

So far this season, through games played on Tuesday July 7th, in 18 games Smit is hitting a very good .323 (21-for-65) with 0 HR, 8 RBI, and an .892 OPS. While he is off to a good start, he is still focusing on getting better with his pitch selection and pre-pitch routines.

"The last two seasons I have been working on a lot during the season," said Smit. "I am working with [Mahoning Valley Hitting Coach] Phil Clark to work more on approach and not change anything mechanically. Just concentrate more on pitch selection and stuff like that. When we sit down and talk he is happy with my mechanics, but it is more about what pitch to swing at or take. I think he has been really good about everything, and has been a good change for me."

Smit has only been playing baseball since he was 12-years old, which shows how raw of a prospect he was when the Indians signed him as a 16-year old in 2006. He has also spent much of the last three years stateside in the United States away from his family and long-time high school sweetheart who all still live in Australia. Through all of the challenges on the field and off it in adapting to the professional game, lifestyle, and being apart from loved ones, he has handled it very well.

Now that he is in Mahoning Valley and playing in front of fans and finally getting some exposure, he will be a player a lot of fans watch in the coming years as he moves his way through the Indians system. But for now, Smit says his main focus is on this season.

"Right now I just want to stay healthy," said Smit with a smile," and get after it everyday."

Mirabelli agrees.

“He is still young at only 19 years old. He is a great, smart kid. Is a very hard worker and has a lot of intangibles that you like to bet on with a kid like that. He has bounced back from a little bit of adversity - young kids don't always do that - and I am very pleased where he is right now.”

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Post Weekend Update: Goodyear Bound....Soon

Here is the final weekend rundown of the offseason. Starting this Thursday, the daily coverage of the Indians minor league affiliates will kick into gear, and my weekly “Minor Happenings” piece recapping the week that was will start back up every Thursday once the season started on Wednesday April 8th.

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If anyone has been paying attention to the box scores I have been posting, you may have noticed some of the positions certain players have been playing so far this spring. Most notably, the players who are concentrating on one specific position, or making a position change. Here are some of the position changes or area of concentration I have noticed:

- Jared Goedert only playing 3B. Goedert has played some 2B the last two years, but with Josh Rodriguez slated to be the regular 2B in Akron, Goedert will get little if any time at 2B and instead play only 3B.

- Jeff Hehr has been getting some work in at 1B. He played 20 games there with Lake County last year while spending most of his time at 3B. He also played 2B most of the season in 2007 at Mahoning Valley, and was drafted as a shortstop. He is a guy on the bubble, so his versatility could be a big plus for him.

- Matt McBride is only playing in LF. As I mentioned a few times this offseason, McBride has made a permanent move to the outfield. He is still listed as a catcher, but aside from the need to use him in an emergency he is not expected to catch at all this year.

- Josh Rodriguez has played almost every inning at 2B. He will be the everyday 2B in Akron, and give Carlos Rivero a day off at SS from time to time.

- Jason Smit is only playing in LF. As mentioned a week or two back, Smit has made the move from the infield to the outfield. No reasoning why yet, but something I hope to ask about when I get to Goodyear later this week.

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Thanks to outfielder Matt Brown for coming on our Smoke Signals program last Thursday. His strong faith is a real asset for him that allows him to keep a clear head from distractions and be a sponge with instruction.

As I mentioned on the broadcast, he has an absolute cannon for an arm. I saw flashes of the gifted arm of Cory Snyder in right field for the Indians in the late 80s when Brown threw a seed from the warning track in right field to 3B that gunned down a runner. As always, the bat will be what determines his fate as a prospect, which he improved a lot last season. This is a big year for him in Kinston, a separator and one where he needs to remain consistent offensively and show some growth.

This week, Adam Burke guest hosts as the show moves to 8-9pm this Thursday March 26th. My flight leaves Cleveland at 9:00pm for Goodyear, so I will only be calling in for a few minutes when the show starts while I wait to board my plane.

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Here is a recap of some of the known releases and retirements:

- Right-hander Joe Ness has been released. He didn’t last long in camp, and was a longshot coming in given his age and coming off shoulder surgery which sidelined him all of last season.

- First baseman Todd Martin has been released. This was somewhat of a surprise. It is no surprise given his age and injury history, but a surprise because he can hit and the Indians have a need for a 1B/DH type bat in Akron or even Kinston. He plans to play independent ball this year and possibly catch on with another team.

- Catcher Brian Juhl has retired. He didn’t play much last year, and the prospects of spending another season possibly in Kinston probably were not too inviting.

As always, much luck with these guys in their future endeavors.

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Speaking of Ness, here is the scouting report on him in my book. This is one of the writeups for 27+ players that are only available in the book and will not be posted on-line:

Ness, 25, was taken in the 6th round of the 2005 Draft out of Ball State University. At 6'5" and 230 pounds he is a big and strong pitcher with a fastball that hovers in the low to mid 90s. He also throws a slider and changeup. While he is a strike-thrower, his pitches tend to lack variation in speed which is a problem as he moves up the minor league ladder and faces more advanced hitters. Even though he did not pitch last year, the Indians feel he still has some potential to be an innings eater because of his strong mechanics. It is not yet known why he did not pitch last year or what the undisclosed injury was, and there have been no reports of his release, but in any case he is in an uphill climb this spring to make the Double-A Akron roster or be released.

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In case anyone missed it, I did a Q&A for Baseball Daily Digest earlier in the week talking about Double-A Akron and some of the players expected to be there.

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And don’t forget to visit the site store for any IndiansProspectInsider.com apparel you may be interested in!

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Camp Update: Position Changes & First Rosters

I've already mentioned that Lonnie Chisenhall has been officially moved from shortstop to third base. Here are a few other position changes that I have learned about:

- As I speculated in my update over the weekend, Abner Abreu indeed seems to have been moved to the outfield as he is working out there. This makes sense now that Chisenhall and Tice will likely be the third baseman at Kinston and Lake County.

- In our radio interview with Matt McBride a few weeks back, he mentioned he would be primarily playing in the outfield this year. At the moment, he is still listed as a catcher and working out there at the early stages of camp. This may just be temporary as many of the catchers are in big league camp, so once those guys start to trickle back into minor league camp McBride will then probably concentrate on the outfield. Hopefully when I get out there in two weeks I can nail his 2009 position down.

- Jason Smit has been moved to the outfield. Whether this is permanent or temporary, it looks like this could be a way to get him on the Lake County club sometime this season, though he likely remains in extended spring to work on the change and then starts the season in Mahoning Valley.

- Adam Davis is still working out at catcher.

- Adam Abraham is now working out at catcher, as expected, where he played only at first base in 2008 with the rookie level GCL club.

As for the makeup of each roster, the pitching is still too hard to determine who will end up where especially in the lower levels, and not all players are in camp as another couple dozen of players are expected to arrive in the next few days. That said, the Indians have the following grouping of position players which may be an early sign of who may end up where. The team in bold above the listing is MY projection based on this listing:

(note, there is no COLUMBUS listing since 90% of the players are in big league camp still. )

AKRON:
Catcher: Armando Camacaro (C), Alex Castillo (C), Michael Valadez (C)
Infield: Todd Martin (1B), Josh Rodriguez (2B), Carlos Rivero (SS), Jared Goedert (3B), Niuman Romero (INF), Jerad Head (INF)
Outfield: Jose Constanza (OF), Mickey Hall (OF), George Lombard (OF), Lucas Montero (OF)
(note, Weglarz is missing from this group because he is in the WBC and John Drennen is not in camp yet)

KINSTON:
Catcher: Adam Davis (C), Matt McBride (C/OF), Alex Monsalve (C), Doug Pickens (C),
Infield: Nate Recknagel (1B), Cord Phelps (2B), Mark Thompson (SS), Lonnie Chisenhall (3B), Jansy Infante (INF)
Outfield: Matt Brown (OF), Cirilo Cumberbatch (OF), Tim Fedroff (OF), Roman Pena (OF)
(note, Monsalve's inclusion here is probably more to help the pitchers get their work in)

LAKE COUNTY:
Catcher: Rob Alcombrack (C), Juan Aponte (C/1B), Chen Chun (C), Richard Martinez (C/1B)
Infield: Chris Nash (1B), Cristo Arnal (2B), Ronald Rivas (SS), Karexon Sanchez (3B), Matt Willard (INF)
Outfield: Abner Abreu (OF), Angel Rodriguez (OF), Juan Valdes (OF), Adam White (OF)
(note, outfielders John Allman and Ryan Blair are not in camp yet and likely will fit in here. Bo Greenwell will fit in here too once he joins camp.)

EXTENDED SPRING:
Catcher: Adam Abraham (C/1B), Moises Montero (C), Roberto Perez (C), Rolando Petit (C)
Infield: Lurvin Basabe (INF), Jesus Brito (INF), Jose Camargo (INF), Argenis Martinez (INF), Rafael Vera (INF)
Outfield: Trent Baker (OF), Darling Read (OF), Jason Smit (OF), Joel Torres (OF)
(note, outfielder Delvi Cid and infielder Kevin Fontanez are not in camp yet and will likely slide into here.)

There are a lot of guys still on their way to camp or you are in camp who have to finish their pre-camp workouts and physicals before they are cleared to practice. Guys noted above as well as some other notables like Jeremie Tice (INF), Brock Simpson (OF/1B), Donnie Webb (OF), Tim Palinscar (OF), and Kevin Rucker (OF).

Also, in case anyone missed it Dustin Realini (INF/OF) has retired and Kevin Dixon (RHP) is not in camp (restricted list). I am trying to track down some info on both players and hope to have a small update on both. Dixon's status is sort of surprising.

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Indians Top 100 Prospects: #86 Jason Smit

86. Jason Smit - Infielder
Born: 10/27/1989 - Height: 6'0" - Weight: 165 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007	17	GCL Indians	R	35	117	10	25	6	0	1	15	10	35	0	.214	.295	.291	.586
2008	18	GCL Indians	R	23	55	10	13	3	1	1	8	8	18	2	.236	.364	.382	.746
		Career		58	172	20	38	9	1	2	23	18	53	2	.221	.318	.320	.638

History: Smit was signed as an undrafted International free agent in July 2006 at 16-years old.

Strengths & Opportunities: Smit is a promising, young prospect out of Australia who was widely considered a top ten International prospect at the time he was signed. He is a middle of the diamond player who has a lot of upside offensively, and for his age has great instincts for the game and a very advanced approach at the plate. The Indians really like his potential with his bat and throwing arm, and while they view him as a middle infielder, he has the potential to play virtually anywhere on the infield. He was signed as a shortstop, but has mostly moved around a lot between third and second base, and even played some outfield last year.

There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes Smit is doing to improve his game, like learning more about different pitches and how to pick them up. It was sort of a lost season for Smit as he came down with an injury to his throwing arm and shoulder in spring training that just lingered for most of the rest of the year. As a result, the Indians took it slow with him to ensure a 100% recovery and no more setbacks, but it hindered his development some as without the injury he may have been given a chance to play at some point at Single-A Lake County. There is a lot of projection involved with any prospect like Smit who is still so young, so there is no telling what may happen with him over the course of the next few years as his body continues to mature. Now 18-years old, he is starting to fill out his frame and he added 10-15 pounds of good weight in the last year.

Outlook: Smit will likely remain in extended spring training again this year to continue his development before moving on to Single-A Lake County around mid-season.

Photo courtesy of Ken Carr

Jason Smit's MinorLeagueBaseball.com stats page

Jason Smit's Baseball-Reference page

Jason Smit's MinorLeagueSplits.com page

Jason Smit video:

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Smit Goes From Outback To The Pros

This is an article from August 2007, but thought some who missed it the first time around may be interested in it. In the coming weeks, I'll be posting several more of these older articles that were written before this blog began a year ago.

The Indians dipped into the outback last year to nab 16-year old Jason Smit, a promising, young prospect out of Australia. When he signed with the Indians in July, Smit was widely considered a top ten International prospect.

At 16-years old, there is a lot of projection involved with any prospect at that age, so there is no telling what may happen with Smit over the course of the next few years as his body continues to mature. Still, the chance at grabbing a player with a lot of upside offensively that can be a middle of the diamond player was intriguing for the Indians and their scouts to pass up.

“Jason is a middle-of-the-diamond player with offensive upside who has been playing at the international level since he was 14 years old,” said Indians Scouting Director John Mirabelli in a press release last year after Smit was signed. “Jason has great instincts for the game and a very advanced approach for a player his age.”

The Indians tried Smit out back in extended spring training in 2006, liked what they saw, and worked with Smit’s agent to get him signed.

“I was at the academy in Australia,” recalled Smit. “We were having talks to a lot of teams and it kind of just happened. I actually came over last extended spring training to tryout with the Indians and for a bunch of other teams. I liked Cleveland and ended up signing with them.”

As noted by Mirabelli above, the Indians really liked Smit’s potential with his bat and throwing arm. While the Indians view him as a middle infielder, he has the potential to play virtually anywhere on the infield.

“I was signed as a shortstop and been moved around a bit to third and second,” said Smit. “Just trying to figure out where I am going to be at this stage. I'm not too sure quite yet, so I am just playing everyday going spot to spot. I've always liked shortstop, but I don't mind. Whatever helps me try climbing up the ladder is fine. I don't really care where I am playing as long as I am getting an opportunity to swing the bat I am happy.”

Smit is playing his first season of professional baseball in the Gulf Coast League (GCL) with the Indians short-season rookie level team the GCL Indians, located in Winter Haven, Florida. With just a few days left in the season in the GCL, Smit (now 17-years old) is hitting .214 with 1 HR and 15 RBI in 117 at bats. Smit is one of the younger players in the league, as most of the players range from 18-20 years old.

“It's alright, it has been a long few months,” said Smit in his Australian accent when asked how his season is going. “It was nice to get the season going and I am pretty excited by it. I got here February 17th. It's been a long time.”

On the surface, the numbers he has put up are not very good. But, he is very young, and there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes he is doing to continually try and improve his game.

“I'm doing alright (at the plate),” said Smit. “I’m battling through it as it has been a long season so far, and we are kind of getting to the end part. I’m just working with the coaches a lot to try and get better as a hitter, like learning more about different pitches and how to pick them up.”

Smit has been in Winter Haven for the past six months. For Smit and his extended spring training brethren, that might as well be a long prison sentence. After the major league and full season minor league clubs break camp at the end of March, the short-season league players for Mahoning Valley and the GCL hang around in extended spring training for two and a half months scrimmaging each other, doing drills and working out. Then, once Mahoning Valley’s season starts up in late June, it is just the GCL players in Winter Haven and the complex pretty much becomes a ghost town while the GCL Indians play through their season.

“It is very difficult seeing everyone leave,” said Smit when asked about his first extended spring training. “It is an extension of spring training and knowing your season is not going to be for another few months. Its okay, and the more experienced you get the better it is going to be. We train in the morning. There are basically two teams, the rookie ball team and Mahoning Valley and we basically are together. All it is, is we play different teams by splitting into two teams and one day one team will play, like say Houston, and the other will train, and it switches back and forth.”

Not only has it been tough to keep focused mentally for six months in Winter Haven, but Smit also has to deal with adjusting to the American culture. Smit is a native Australian, but has been to the Unites Stated before and there is no language barrier, which he said helps.

“It’s not too bad,” said Smit. “It is pretty much the exact same as home with the people and stuff, and the language is the same which is always good. So there is nothing really that different. I didn't have to change to much with what is around, so it wasn't too bad of a change.”

Of course, being 17-years old and in a new country several thousand miles away from his family has to be rough, right?

“It's been difficult,” said Smit. “My parents and brother came over a couple weeks ago (early July) for a good month. I had them come over to make it a bit easier because it has been hard being away so long. With friends and stuff like that it is difficult, but it is alright as long as you keep in regular contact.”

Which raises another question. At 16-years of age Smit signed a professional contract and is now playing ball at 17-years old, but just about every kid in the United States is still attending high school at those ages.

“I'm 17 now, and I graduated last year in October,” said Smit. “We graduate earlier than American kids, I think we start a year earlier. I made sure I finished high school and graduated and then came here.”

Being so young, Smit gets a lot of the typical playful heckling in the clubhouse, especially in spring training when all the players were in camp. But, one player took him under his wing and tried to help prepare Smit for what lies ahead for him as he continues to live his dream to hopefully someday become a major leaguer.

“One guy actually took me under his wing, Alan Zinter, who is 38,” said Smit. “He was just trying to make the big league squad again (in spring training). He took me under his wing massively, and I learned so much from him. I think he quit because there was no place for him. He was huge though. He talked about different ways to get through the season, and just so much stuff on how to play the game mentally, and stuff like that it was a massive hand. He was a really good guy to get along with and stuff, and it was a bunch of things that he helped me with.”

With the GCL season wrapping up this Monday on August 27^th, Smit plans to go home and be with his family. But, the Instructional League isn’t too far off from the end of the season, so his vacation from Winter Haven may not last long.

”I'm gonna go back home,” said Smit. “I am not too sure yet about Instructs. I'm guessing I will probably come, but we'll go home before that and have a good break before we come back again.”

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Minor Happenings: GCL Rundown

"Minor Happenings" covers 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.

This is the first of what will be three editions of Minor Happenings this week. Today's edition as well as tomorrow will recap my visit to Winter Haven and Myrtle Beach to see the rookie-level GCL club and also Kinston. The third installment on Friday will be a regular edition of Happenings.

Tomorrow's piece will be much larger and include lots of comments from Indians Farm Director Ross Atkins on some of the Kinston players as well as Abner Abreu who is playing with the GCL club. In addition to that, I'll have a recap of my talk with pitching coach Greg Hibbard on several pitchers he has on the Kinston staff along with small recaps of interviews I had with catcher Carlos Santana, infielder Jared Goedert, and relievers Vinnie Pestano and Michael Finocchi. I'll even have a special little story on the visiting clubhouse manager in Myrtle Beach, Bob Leber, who just happens to be a diehard Indians fan.

Also, let me take this moment to announce that my first attempt at a radio show will commence tomorrow night (Thursday) August 14th from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM EST. The show can be heard on BlogTalkRadio.com by clicking here. When you go to the link you should see The Cleveland Fan Live upcoming shows and you should see mine on there. I'll be partnered up with Paul Cousineau, who is a widely popular writer on TheClevelandFan.com as well. For the first few episodes we will likely split time on the major league team and the prospects. Down the road, as soon as we get more comfortable with this, I'll have a show that is 100% just on the prospects.

Do note, these are just test shows still and I have nil radio experience, so please keep that in mind when listening for the first several episodes. The hope here is this provides yet another way for people to get some prospect information, and more importantly offers people a place to talk shop on the radio about Tribe prospects. The best thing is you don't have to listen live to hear the show as you can download the podcast and listen to it anytime 15 minutes after the show and listen on your computer or download it into whatever media device you choose.

Last, two players I spoke to during my visit to Winter Haven - outfielder Bo Greenwell and left-hander Chris Jones - will not be included in this piece because I will have a feature article in each of them down the road.

Manager's Minute: Rouglas Odor

I had a chance to sit down with GCL Indians manager Rouglas Odor and talk about a few of the position players on the team during my visit to Winter Haven a few weeks back. Odor is a very easy going manager who enjoys his role as a mentor and teacher to all the new young kids in the system at the rookie level. Considering the environment the kids play in, he does his best to lighten things up and make it fun in Winter Haven. He lives in Winter Haven year round, and actually has two young boys named Rouglas (both have different middle names).

Odor is in his 20th season in the Indians organization as a player, manager or coordinator. Odor was a 32nd round pick out of the University of New Orleans in 1988, and played in the Indians system for seven years from 1988-1994. In 1995 he retired and joined the Indians field staff as the Venezuelan Field Coordinator before eventually managing the Venezuelan Summer League team in 1999 and 2000. This is his second year in a row managing the GCL Indians club, and prior to that he manager short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley for two seasons (2005-2006) and rookie-level Burtington for four seasons (2001-2004).

On Abner Abreu (3B): "He looks very good and he can hit the ball with a lot of power. It is something when you see an 18-year old hitting the ball out of a major league ballpark the other way. He did it here and hit it out toward right-center. He has strong hands and a natural whip in his swing that is hard to teach. He will continue to improve and I think he is going to be just fine."

On Bo Greenwell (OF): "If you look at his numbers right now they are not probably that great, but the adjustments he has made from last year are unbelievable. He is a totally different hitter. He already has a few home runs where last year he was more a contact hitter. Now he is hitting the ball with authority and is much stronger. It is hard to make that adjustment in one year, so I have been really impressed to see that progress."

On Kevin Rucker (OF): "He is another player with a bright future, but he needs to play. He is only 18 years old, and last year he didn't play much as he had an injury. So basically this is his first year. His arm strength and speed are above average. He can go get the ball in the outfield, and when he makes contact he can hit the ball way out of the ballpark. So, we know out of the five tools he has four of them. Now we are just working on his hitting as he needs to be more consistent. He needs to make more contact and put up more quality at bats, which could come as he matures. He really has a bright future and the potential to be an everyday player in the big leagues. He reminds me of Andre Dawson."

On Jason Smit (2B): "He had a shoulder problem throughout all of spring training and extended spring. He just got back a few days ago and we are taking him slowly. He looks very good, but he lost so much time."

Coaches Corner: Steve Lyons

In addition to talking with manager Rouglas Odor, I also had the opportunity to sit down and break down a plethora of the pitchers on the staff. Like Odor, this is Lyons second season with the GCL club. Prior to coming to the GCL he was the pitching coach at Watertown (1998), Mahoning Valley (1999), Kinston (2000-2001, 2005-2006), Columbus (2002), and Akron (2003-2004). This is his 11th year in the organization, and he also resides in Haines City which is about 10-15 minutes outside of Winter Haven.

On Danny Salazar (RHP): "His fastball sits between 88-93 MPH. He is just a real athletic kid, throws good strikes with his fastball, and is just trying to develop his secondary pitches right now. He has a good feel for a changeup and we are trying to figure out if he will throw a curveball or slider, whichever fits well with him. He is a former shortstop and moves around well, and he should be able to make adjustments pretty easily because he is such a good athlete."

On Alexander Perez (RHP): "His curveball and changeup are so far advanced for any kid his age. He is basically a high school senior and just turned 19 so would be going into his freshman year in college. You just don't see that at such an early age. He has an ability to throw his curveball for strikes and is a big league breaking ball ...a weapon. His changeup is very similar to that too. He is a very loose bodied kid, and has a good frame that should fill out. His arm works so easy, so with maturity he is going to add velocity. When you add velocity to the secondary pitches he has, you have a big time starting pitching prospect."

On Clayton Cook (RHP): "He just turned 18. You know what, this kid is probably one of the most mature kids we have in that locker room which says a lot for a 17-18 year old kid. Coming into this environment he has handled himself nothing but professionally and is ready to work everyday. He pretty much had a good delivery when he got here, so it is more about educating him on taking care of himself, learning how to attack hitters, and just kind of acclimating him to professional baseball."

On T.J. McFarland (LHP): "Really all through extended spring he has probably been the most consistent guy here from the beginning until now. He has made improvements. He is a guy who throws three pitches for strikes and really trusts his fastball. He is not scared of contact, and I think eventually he will be more of a groundball type pitcher. I wouldn't say he is like an Aaron Laffey because he has a different fastball and stuff, but I think he has a chance to be one."

On Chris Jones (LHP): "He is 100% healthy. He has made a lot of improvements, and he is still trying to acclimate to professional baseball as even though he was here last year it was not very long. He is now learning that it is more than just showing up on the day you pitch and that there is work that goes in between those five days. He is around 87-90 MPH with the fastball and throws a curveball and changeup where the curveball is very good."

On Marty Popham (RHP): "He is around 90-92 MPH and is a big physical kid with a nice loose arm. He had a big year in college going 17-1 or something like that and had a big increase in his workload where I think he had around 130 innings before coming out here. So we are just kind of limiting his workload. I think we will be able to get a better feel for him next year getting him out to a full season team. Who knows if he is going to start or be in a reliever role, I don't think it matters. He is an interesting kid because he is a big, big guy with some arm strength and looks like he has a good slider and changeup. I think the slider has the potential to be a major league slider."

On Denny Montero (RHP): "He is what we call a pure development guy where he has a lot of arm strength, is very inconsistent with his strike throwing, will show you anywhere up to 95 MPH, and does have a lot of secondary stuff. It is one of those things where it is patience and consistent work with him. I almost want the kid to back off a little bit with the velocity so he can get a better feel for the strike zone. Once he learns how to command the ball with a little less velocity then it is easier to add the arm speed back."

Rucker's Potential

One of the more intriguing players on the GCL roster is outfielder Kevin Rucker. Rucker (6'1" 185-pounds) is a player with a lot of talent where he runs well, plays very good defense and has some good raw power. At 18-years of age, he is also very rough around the edges and raw for a prospect, but the Indians are excited about his potential. Rucker signed late last year and came into the organization at the end of July so he played very little last season.

This year is his first full season in the organization, and he is learning to live on his own and also get acquainted with everyday life as a professional baseball player.

"I'm getting used to playing everyday," said Rucker during my recent visit to Winter Haven. "It is a whole lot more games than in high school as I think I passed the amount of games I played in high school the first two weeks out here. But it is pretty cool to live on your own and stuff. I think the weirdest part was when you wake up in the morning you are like 'aw, I gotta go to school...oh wait, no I don't'. I just go to the ballpark now and have fun and play baseball."

Coming from high school, Rucker has a lot to learn and will be making a lot of adjustments over the next several seasons.

"The pitchers here have a lot of good stuff," said Rucker. "In high school you see maybe one guy who throws 90 MPH, but out here everybody throws 90 MPH. I am learning from the coaches here and they are helping me out to make my job easier so I can perform. I am working on staying with a steadier approach and trying not to swing at balls out of the zone. I am still learning the zone as a young hitter, and I am just trying to stay consistent as much as I can with my plan at the plate."

Rucker was a 47th round pick out of a Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria, CA. He sort of went unnoticed because he spent a lot of time playing football in high school as a full-time defensive player at the free safety position. His prowess as a free safety in football certainly translates to his excellent ability to track down balls as an outfielder. Rucker planned on attending junior college if he did not sign with the Indians, but after talking to his family they felt the best choice for him was to take the opportunity to play professional baseball now.

"I live in kind of a small area, so a lot of scouts don't get around there for colleges and stuff," said Rucker. "Also my senior year in high school was my first year playing baseball full time. I was going to go to a junior college, but then I got offered a contract and my family felt it was a good decision so I made up my mind to play pro ball."

Last year, Rucker played in only 11 games for the GCL Indians and hit .281 with 0 HR, 8 RBI and a .674 OPS. He is once again back with the GCL club this year and to date in 31 games is hitting .213 with 2 HR, 8 RBI, and a .633 OPS. The stats may not look good, but for a kid his age he is still very much learning the game and maturing as a player. Even though he has struggled with the numbers, Rucker has noticed some improvement from this last year to this year.

"I am more disciplined as a hitter now," said Rucker. "My instincts in the outfield are getting a lot better, and my adjustment from center field to right field [has gone well]."

McFarland's Consistency Impresses

Left-hander T.J. McFarland is one of the top pitching prospects pitching for the rookie level GCL Indians. McFarland was a 4th round pick in the 2007 Draft out of high school and has quickly impressed in his first year going 3-3 with a 4.43 ERA in nine starts. Out of his nine starts, McFarland has allowed one run or less fives times and only allowed more than four runs once.

As fate would have it, the one day I see him pitch he was a wreck on the mound with command problems and was elevating everything he threw. His line for the game was not pretty (4 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 1 BB, 1 K), and it was his one bad start of the year. Even with the rough outing, McFarland has maintained a positive attitude.

Having stuck around in Winter Haven since early March, McFarland has not grown weary of his surroundings and is excited to finish out the season and see what is in store for him next year.

"Things are going really great," said McFarland in the clubhouse after the game. "I am enjoying it down here and just loving it, and I am pretty satisfied with what I have done so far."

This of course is the politically correct answer because anyone who says they are enjoying themselves in Winter Haven is either lying through their teeth or needs to be sent to a mental institution.

In any case, McFarland showcases a two-seam sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s and has topped out as high as 94 MPH. He also throws a slider and changeup where the slider has good potential to be a plus pitch for him and the changeup is still a work in progress. He is working on refining these pitches as well as making adjustments to improve and get to the next level.

"There are a few things I need to work on mechanically like just being more efficient with my pitches and making more strike pitches," said McFarland.

The big thing right now is McFarland is healthy and looks ready to move onto what could be a callup to Lake County at the end of the GCL Indians season on August 28th. Many of the players on the roster will be sent to Lake County or Mahoning Valley for the final week of the regular season for those clubs to give them some experience playing in a more baseball friendly environment.

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