Offseason Spotlight: Mike Rayl and Matt Packer

Mike Rayl (Photo: IPI)

I have to confess: I’m a sucker for left-handed pitchers.

It has nothing to do with any great disdain for right-handed pitchers or any real reason whatsoever other than the fact I have always loved watching a baseball game when a lefty is thrown on the hill. With the game so right-handed dominated, it is like watching the game through a mirror as everything is backwards.

I’m also a lefty and former pitcher myself, so that explains most of love affair with left-handed pitchers.

So with that in mind I was deeply saddened when the Indians traded away power lefty Drew Pomeranz last July in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. But, thankfully, the Indians have some interesting left-handed pitchers in the system that are fascinating to watch develop. There is no lefty in the system even close to Pomeranz’s ability, but there are some good Major League quality lefty arms.

Two of those southpaws are Mike Rayl and Matt Packer.

Rayl, 23, started 25 combined games between Low-A Lake County and High-A Kinston last year and went 6-8 with a 3.42 ERA (123.2 IP, 114 H, 9 HR, 26 BB, 121 K). He does not have overpowering stuff, but he showed an improved fastball last season as his average was up to 88 MPH and he more consistently flashed 92 MPH. He also has a good feel for pitching and commands the ball well.

Rayl learned a lot last season and has taken that experience into his offseason workouts in preparation for this coming season.

“I tried to eat up as many innings as I could,” Rayl said in a recent interview for the IPI. “My goal was to try and get at least over a 100 innings and I got over that. I am still working on some pitches and with my consistency and keeping the ball down.”

Not much was changed with Rayl’s mechanics over the course of last season, but he did make some subtle changes to his delivery to make him more on line with his pitches.

“I worked mostly on just getting the ball out of my glove a lot quicker so I can get my arm up,” Rayl said. “I have a tendency to get my elbow down and throw high and away a lot to righties. That was my biggest problem and I have been working on it a lot so I can throw more strikes down in the zone.”

Rayl had added a sinker to his repertoire at the end of the 2010 season, but the pitch was quickly scrapped at the beginning of last season in order to have him concentrate on developing his fastball, curveball and changeup.

“At the beginning of the year the sinker was just a pitch that got lost,” Rayl said. “When I went to Lake County, pitching coach Jeff Harris and I decided to just scrap it for now and work with the three main pitches that I have. Ever since I let that go I stopped walking people and had better success, and I have not touched it since.”

With the 2012 season right around the corner, Rayl wants to add more natural movement to his fastball in order to make it a more effective pitch.

“I want to develop a more natural sinker,” Rayl said. “That’s my primary goal, and if I can add it to my repertoire I think it [will help me a lot]. I throw a four seamer and two seamer but the two seamer just kind of drifts away. If I can just get it to start middle away and then sink to the bottom half then it will be perfect and I can get a lot of swings.”

Matt Packer (Photo: IPI)

While Rayl was having a good season in the lower levels of the Indians’ farm system, the 24-year old Packer was having another solid season in the upper levels of the Indians system. In 27 starts for Double-A Akron he went 9-12 with a 4.31 ERA (169.1 IP, 175 H, 16 HR, 33 BB, 129 K).

“I think the biggest thing for me early in the year last season was I could command my offspeed stuff just fine, but I could not strike anybody out,” Packer said recently to the IPI. “So when I got into jams I could not get the big swing and miss when I needed it. They were putting balls in play and scoring those runs in scoring position which hurt me quite a bit.”

On the surface Packer’s numbers from last season look quite ordinary, but considering he got off to an awful start going 3-8 with a 5.71 ERA in his first 16 starts and then finished strong going 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 11 starts. His strong finish was just a byproduct of things starting to click for him and some small mechanical adjustments working out.

“Once you have a few good games you get the confidence and you get into a groove,” Packer said. “I worked with [Akron pitching coach] Tony Arnold and we changed a few things mechanically and that is what did it the most. I just got into a few bad habits and they are hard to break once you get into them. It is tough to explain, but I was not really getting tilt with my shoulders so everything was flattening out. When I get that tilt I can get that late action on my ball and get groundballs and swings and misses.”

As spring training draws nearer, a lot of people will focus in on the big upside young talents the Indians have stockpiled in the lower minors. I’ll be focusing in on them too, but I’ll also be checking out how Rayl, Packer and a host of other left-handed pitchers in the Indians’ system perform.

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 Tony Awards: Pitcher of the Year

Jeanmar Gomez (Photo: IPI)

Today we continue the IPI’s year end awards with the announcement of the Pitcher of the Year.  This award goes to the starting pitcher in the Indians organization that had the best year from a performance perspective, not from a prospect standing.

Here are the 2011 Tony Awards so far:

Rookie of the Year: Cody Allen (RHP)

Defensive Player of the Year: Kyle Bellows (3B)

Biggest Disappointment: Nick Weglarz (OF)

Biggest Breakthrough: Elvis Araujo (LHP)

Reliever of the Year: Chen-Chang Lee (RHP)

Comeback Player of the Year: Beau Mills (1B)

Again, these awards are simply for fun to hand out at the end of the year.  Also, the Cleveland Indians in no way whatsoever had any input in these awards.

Onto the nominees…

Pitcher of the Year Nominees:

Scott Barnes (LHP – Columbus)

8-4, 3.45 ERA, 18 GS, 99.0 IP, 85 H, 12 HR, 36 BB, 107 K, .230 BAA

Barnes was having an outstanding season before a knee injury sidelined him on July 10^th and he missed the rest of the season. He was on quite a roll at the time as after struggling in his first exposure to Triple-A he made a quick adjustment and in his last ten starts went 5-3 with a 2.58 ERA (59.1 IP, 49 H, 5 HR, 19 BB, 63 K). He showed an ability to get his fastball by hitters and is definitely a Major League starting pitching option for the Indians in the near future.

Austin Adams (RHP – Akron)

11-10, 3.77 ERA, 26 GS, 136.0 IP, 147 H, 6 HR, 63 BB, 131 K, .280 BAA

This was Adams’ first season as a full fledged starter as he spent all of 2010 in a piggyback role and he made a lot of strides. He is still raw and learning how to pitch, but the power of his mid-to-upper 90s fastball and his good curveball make him an exciting pitching prospect for the Indians. He finished 2^nd in the organization in wins (11) and 2^nd in strikeouts (131). He also finished 2^nd in the Eastern League in wins (11), 11^th in ERA (3.77), 12^th in innings pitched (136.0), 6^th in strikeouts (131), and 3^rd in walks allowed (63).

Elvis Araujo (LHP – Arizona/Mahoning Valley)

9-1, 3.36 ERA, 15 GS, 69.2 IP, 65 H, 2 HR, 25 BB, 63 K, .245 BAA

Araujo took home the honors this year for the Biggest Breakthrough, which was well deserved after the year he had. He finished 7^th in the Indians organization in ERA (3.36) and also ranked 1^st in the Arizona League in wins (9), 3rd in ERA (2.86), 9th in games started (11), 4th in innings pitched (63.0), 3rd in strikeouts (58), 3rd in WHIP (1.14), 1^st in batting average against (.228), 5^th among starters for lowest walks per nine innings (2.5), and 2^nd among starters for fewest baserunners per nine innings (10.3).

Joseph Colon (RHP – Mahoning Valley/Lake County)

4-4, 3.51 ERA, 16 GS, 77.0 IP, 69 H, 3 HR, 31 BB, 61 K, .239 BAA

Colon had a very good return to the mound this season after missing all of the 2010 season because of a right elbow sprain. He pitched all season at short season Single-A Mahoning Valley before getting a call up to Low-A Lake County for his final appearance of the year (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 4 K) and is likely where he will open the 2012 season. He finished 9^th in the Indians organization in ERA (3.51).

Paolo Espino (RHP – Akron/Columbus)

8-1, 2.77 ERA, 34 G (10 GS), 120.1 IP, 101 H, 11 HR, 25 BB, 119 K

Espino is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Indians organization as he just “gets no respect”. All he has done the past few years is perform, but his opportunities have been limited because other pitchers with higher value continue to pass him over. He was lights out for most of the last four months of the season, and in his final 10 games at Triple-A Columbus went 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA (37.1 IP, 29 H, 3 HR, 4 BB, 39 K). He finished 4^th in the Indians organization in ERA (2.77).

Jeanmar Gomez (RHP – Columbus)

10-7, 2.54 ERA, 22 GS, 141.2 IP, 128 H, 8 HR, 49 BB, 110 K, .244 BAA

Gomez returned to Triple-A Columbus to start the season and made a few spot starts over the course of the year in Cleveland before he was called up for good on August 30th. He finished 3^rd in the Indians organization in ERA (2.54) and 3^rd in wins (10). He finished 1^st in the International League in ERA (2.55), 5^th in wins (10), tied for 3^rd in complete games (2), 8^th in WHIP (1.25), and 5^th among starters for lowest batting average against (.242).

David Huff (LHP – Columbus)

9-3, 3.87 ERA, 18 GS, 107.0 IP, 111 H, 10 HR, 30 BB, 66 K, .264 BAA

Huff is 27 years old and lost his rookie status back in 2009, so he is no longer a prospect per se, but he still pitched a majority of the season at Triple-A Columbus so is eligible for the award. After a tough 2010 season he bounced back this season and had a good year in Columbus and a solid showing in Cleveland where in 11 starts there he went 2-6 with a 4.09 ERA (50.2 IP, 55 H, 6 HR, 17 BB, 36 K).

Danny Jimenez (LHP – Mahoning Valley)

4-3, 2.39 ERA, 17 G (12 GS), 71.2 IP, 66 H, 1 HR, 24 BB, 50 K, .241 BAA

Jimenez has made the slow progression through the Indians system where he pitched at rookie level Arizona for two years in 2009 and 2010 before finally getting an opportunity at short season Single-A Mahoning Valley this year. He did not disappoint pitching at a higher level this year and definitely raised his stock. He finished 2^nd in the Indians organization in ERA (2.39). He was also 5^th in the NY-Penn League in ERA (2.39) and 11^th in innings pitched (71.2).

Zach McAllister (RHP – Columbus)

12-3, 3.32 ERA, 25 GS, 154.2 IP, 155 H, 11 HR, 31 BB, 128 K, .261 BAA

After a disappointing 2010 campaign last season in Triple-A (9-12, 5.29 ERA, 27 GS) McAllister had a very good second go around this year. He finished 5^th in the Indians organization in ERA (3.32), 1^st in wins (12), and 4^th in strikeouts (128). He also finished 7^th in the International League in ERA (3.32), 3^rd in wins (12), 1^st in complete games (3), 4^th in innings pitched (154.2), 2^nd among starters in lowest walks per nine innings (1.8), and 4^th for fewest baserunners per nine innings (11.2).

T.J. McFarland (LHP – Akron)

9-10, 3.74 ERA, 27 GS, 149.1 IP, 149 H, 11 HR, 51 BB, 115 K, .259 BAA

McFarland started the year at High-A Kinston but was quickly promoted to Double-A Akron and pitched well in his first extended exposure at one of the highest levels in the minors. He established himself as a good, young starting pitching prospect for the Indians and likely will return to Akron to open 2012. He finished 10^th in the Indians organization in ERA (3.74). He also finished 2^nd in the Eastern League in complete games (2) and 11^th in innings pitched (137.1).

Matt Packer (LHP – Akron)

9-12, 4.31 ERA, 27 GS, 169.1 IP, 175 H, 16 HR, 33 BB, 129 K, .269 BAA

Don’t let that high ERA fool you as it is not truly indicative of how well Packer pitched this season. He finished the season with a flurry going 8.0 innings or more in six of his last ten starts and in 11 starts after the All Star break went 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA. He finished 2^nd in the Eastern League in games started (27), 1^st in innings pitched (169.1), 1^st in total batters faced (702), 2^nd in losses (12), 7^th in strikeouts (129), 9^th in WHIP (1.23), and 2^nd in lowest walks per nine innings (1.8). He also ranked 3^rd in the Indians organization in strikeouts (129).

Mike Rayl (LHP – Lake County/Kinston)

6-8, 3.42 ERA, 25 GS, 123.2 IP, 114 H, 9 HR, 26 BB, 121 K, .243 BAA

Rayl was up for the Biggest Breakout award as well as he had a very good first full season for the Indians. He split his time between Low-A Lake County where in 17 starts he went 5-5 with a 2.83 ERA (82.2 IP, 66 H, 3 HR, 13 BB, 84 K) and High-A Kinston where in 8 starts he went 1-3 with a 4.61 ERA (41.0 IP, 48 H, 6 HR, 13 BB, 37 K). He pitched well in both places and his 3.42 ERA was 8^th best in the Indians organization.

And the Tony Award goes to…Jeanmar Gomez

The Indians did not have a true standout pitching performance from a starter this year. Had lefty Drew Pomeranz finished the year in the organization he would have been the clear runaway winner for the award as his performance was outstanding. There were several good performances by other pitchers, but nothing to Pomeranz’s level so it made it tough to hand out this award.

In the end it was hard to overlook the year that Triple-A Columbus right-handed pitcher Jeanmar Gomez had. Sure, he was no longer a rookie coming into this season thanks to the 11 starts and 57.2 innings he pitched at the big league level in 2011, but he is still just 23-years old and is still growing as a pitcher. To put it in greater context he will not turn 24-years old until next season but already has two Triple-A and Major League seasons of experience under his belt.

Gomez pitched very well all season at Columbus and was one of the best pitchers in the International League. When he was called up to Cleveland on August 30^th he got on a roll where in five starts after his recall he went 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA (30.0 IP, 29 H, 8 BB, 15 K), though he struggled in his final start of the season against the hot-hitting Tigers on September 27^th as he allowed 10 hits, 8 runs, 2 walks and had 5 strikeouts over four innings.

Gomez showed a good fastball that he cuts and sinks and had better command of it this year. His slider and changeup both showed improvement as well. It is now all about just getting him consistent from start to start and becoming more aggressive in the strike zone. He has Major League stuff, just the question is how well it will translate every five days over the course of a 162-game season in the big leagues.

I myself have never been a huge fan of Gomez and what he could do at the big league level. I have always felt he is a big league starting pitcher, but that it would be more as a back of the rotation or depth starter.  But after his season I may have to reconsider my thinking on that as he now looks like he has the potential to be a solid middle of the rotation starter in the big leagues.  Unless the Indians add a veteran starting pitcher to the mix he will go into spring training as the early favorite to make the 2012 opening day starting rotation as the fifth starter.

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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Minor Happenings: Weglarz's tough 2011 comes to an end

Nick Weglarz (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.

Today is the second to last Minor Happenings of the season. I will have one final farm report at the end of next week recapping the outcomes of the championship series’ that Triple-A Columbus and High-A Kinston are in as well as some final notes on some players. As always though, it will not end there as shortly after that piece I will begin to wrap up the season and unveil all the 2011 Tony Awards as well as start diving into coverage on all the fall and winter league action with Instructs, the Arizona Fall League, and winter leagues. The fun never stops!

Speaking of Instructional League…that kicked off yesterday. If you missed the roster and schedule I posted it on Tuesday. If you do not know what Instructional League is, here is a FAQ that gives a rundown of it (I will probably repost the FAQ this Saturday). Also, I did a profile piece on outfielder LeVon Washington who will be getting in a ton of work out in Instructs.

Also, some big changes are coming to the site in the very near future. I will announce them shortly once some things I am working on behind the scenes become clearer. It’s been a tough year for me from a health perspective with the cancer diagnosis back in April and subsequent surgery, so my eyes on a lot of things were really opened. One thing I will say is I will continue to keep striving to make this site better and better everyday and to make it the #1 place to go for everything Cleveland Indians related from the minors to the big leagues.

Onto the Happenings…

Weglarz’s tough 2011 ends

Nick Weglarz

What a tough year it was for Double-A Akron outfielder Nick Weglarz as he once again battled his way through an injury minefield. Coming into the season he was on the big league map as an option in Cleveland this year, but his season got off on the wrong foot when he tore the meniscus in his left knee running the bases in mid-March. As a result he missed the first two months of the season and when he returned he was never himself as he was unable to drive the ball because the knee was still bothering him.

Weglarz was never 100% all season with the knee as he spent the entire season working on strengthening it, and as a result he was never comfortable at the plate all year because he was unable to have any consistency or rhythm when he hit. He ended up playing in just 41 games and hit a disappointing .179 with 3 HR, 12 RBI and a .666 OPS.

Also, for the fourth time in six years, Weglarz ended the season on the disabled list because of a left elbow injury that hurt when he threw the ball during fielding practice before games. The Indians gave him some time at the beginning of August to rest from the elbow issue, but when he returned the issue was still there and after a few games he was shutdown for the rest of the season.

The elbow injury is the latest in a litany of injuries that have affected Weglarz’s career and prevented him from reaching his potential and making it to the big leagues. There is no word on what exactly the issue is with his elbow and whether he will require surgery, but somehow, someway he has to find a way to avoid the injury bug next season or his opportunity may be gone (if not already).

Directors Cuts

Ross Atkins

Indians Farm Director Ross Atkins has been in Triple-A Columbus a lot of late to see the Clippers finish out their season and take part in the postseason. Here are a few comments he recently made on several players and coaches with the Clippers:

On Mike Sarbaugh: “He is getting hard to talk about as we are talking about him so much because he has so much success. That really is a testament to him and I couldn’t enjoy doing it more. When I walked into the clubhouse yesterday the first thing I did was congratulate [hitting coach] Lee May Jr, [pitching coach] Ruben Niebla, [strength and conditioning coach] Todd Kubacki and [athletic trainer] Michael Salazar, the guys who have been with him but don’t get their names in the publications. It is very much a team effort. As you and I have talked about in the past what Sarby creates is an environment of consistency that allows for players to improve and to raise their standards. He couldn’t do that if he was constantly doing that himself. We couldn’t be happier with what has occurred in the past couple of years in Triple-A and long before that with the impact he has had in the organization over a long period of time. It starts with his consistency and then it is his passion for baseball. He wakes up everyday and the second thing he thinks about after his family is the Cleveland Indians and the Player Development system. Not just the Columbus Clippers as he thinks about the bigger picture and that sets the tone. He is always one step ahead. He is always thinking about what is going to occur two days from now, five days from now and then 30 minutes from now. That sets the tone, and the passion in addition to that consistency is what helps raise the standards of a player going through professional baseball. You have heard it for a long time as the only way to do it is by example, and that is what he does. There are no secret formulas. There is no magic. It is passion and his work ethic which creates that consistency. Players know what they can count on and what they are going to get from him and the benchmark is high.”

On Nick Hagadone: “You think about Nick a year ago and where he was in Double-A where he was just okay and not extremely effective to where he is now with his arm strength and his fastball command. He by no means is a finished product, but he is somebody who can contribute at the Major League level for sure. He has a lot of upside left. To think that we are talking about a very powerful, very intelligent, very hard working left handed pitcher that has been durable for us and throws 95-98 MPH and then to put upside on that still is really exciting. If the consistency with the fastball command and the slider come then there are really not a whole lot of limits as far as a bullpen role goals. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.”

On Zach McAllister: “I think Zach is much more than just a contributing piece to this puzzle for us. I think he is going to be in the middle of a rotation for a long time and there are a lot of people who think that. I know Zach thinks that and that is probably the most important person. He has things not everyone has. He has a three pitch mix, sometimes four. He is durable, he is very strong, he is very intelligent, and he has the work ethic and the passion which are the standards that are elevating. When you look back at Fausto Carmona when he was 20 years old or Jake Westbrook when he was 22-23 years old and breaking into the Major Leagues, they were not exactly seamless transitions. There is a correction from a talent standpoint and a correction because it is the end of the line. So you increase the expectations for yourself and there is some anxiety for the majority of players that are transitioning. I think as he settles in and realizes what the appropriate adjustments are he is capable of all of the adjustments that will allow for him to have success a long time in the Major Leagues.”

On Paolo Espino: “There is not a whole lot of difference between Paolo Espino and Josh Tomlin. Tomlin is a better pitcher, but there are tiny subtleties that allow for Tomlin to take his skill set to the Majors and have the success he has had there. Paolo is a very similar pitcher, and I think the difference is a little more athleticism from Tomlin and a little more consistency with his fastball command. But when I watch Paolo pitch I marvel at what he is able to do. You see guys that are in the mid-90s with power breaking balls and are around the zone and can’t even come close to what Paolo is able to accomplish. This is because of his consistency in putting the ball over the plate which is definitely number one, and then his ability to throw any pitch in any count. Those types of pitches like Josh and Paolo just keep guys off balance. He has been an asset to this organization, and hopefully we can help find his way to the big leagues one of these days.”

Henry has surgery

Jordan Henry

Double-A Akron outfielder Jordan Henry had a tough second full season in the organization. After hitting .300 with a .752 OPS in 79 games at Akron last year and a combined .312 with 0 HR, 29 RBI, 29 stolen bases, and .768 OPS in 116 total games for High-A Kinston in Akron, the hope was that he would build upon that success this year. That did not happen as he played all year at Akron and in 119 games hit just .256 with 0 HR, 33 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and a .633 OPS.

Henry, 23, maintained success with stealing bases and actually saw his stolen base totals increase this past season, although his success rate dropped from 83.3% in 2010 to 73.3% in 2011. He also maintained his good approach at the plate as last season he had 76 strikeouts and 86 walks, and this season had 69 strikeouts and 75 walks.

Henry’s issues this year stemmed from a much lower batting average and a complete loss of any power he had. Last year his batting average of balls in play (BABIP) at Kinston was .400 and at Akron was .377, but this season it was just .306. On top of that his slugging percentage dipped from .356 last year to .280 this season. The drop in BABIP and slugging percentage suggest that maybe he was just unlucky this year, or that his talent had plateaued.

But it may have also been because Henry played the season on two bad knees. This would affect his ability to leg out infield hits - something he thrived on in 2009 and 2010 – and also his ability to muster any ability to drive the ball. The knee issue is likely also what has kept the Indians from assigning him to the Arizona Fall League this offseason.

Recently Henry met with doctors and had an MRI done on his right knee, and he is scheduled to have surgery on the knee to clean it out and repair cartilage sometime this month. His left knee is also a concern, but no surgery will be required at this time as it is felt with rest it will heal. Once the surgery is complete he will go to Arizona for at least six weeks of rehab.

The knee issues have been chronic for Henry over the past few seasons, but they were at their worst this season so hopefully the surgery, rehab and some rest this offseason will help get him back in top form going into what will be a big 2012 season for him. It is also another reminder that sometimes there are things behind the numbers that offer some context as to why a guy is struggling or having success.

Pack Attack moves to Columbus

Matt Packer

Double-A Akron left-handed pitcher Matt Packer was promoted to Triple-A Columbus this week for the start of the International League Championship Series. He will help fill the void left by the departure of right-handed pitcher Zach Putnam and others who were recently called up to Cleveland this week.

Packer, 24, was one of Akron’s workhorses in the rotation all season. In 27 starts he went 9-12 with a 4.31 ERA, and in 169.1 innings allowed 175 hits, 33 walks, and had 129 strikeouts. He finished the season with a flurry going 8.0 innings or more in six of his last ten starts and in 11 starts after the All Star break went 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA. He has not yet appeared in a game with Columbus.

Packer’s surge in the second half of the season was the result of some minor corrections he and Akron pitching coach Tony Arnold made with his mechanics. Earlier in the season he wasn’t getting good tilt and was not finishing his delivery. As a result he had problems locating and commanding his pitches because his arm angle was off, which is devastating for a pitcher like him that does not throw hard or have dominating stuff. His pitches were flattening out and the result was a pre-All Star record of 3-8 with a 5.71 ERA in 16 starts. He and Arnold worked on his delivery and eventually things clicked in July where they corrected his arm angle and shored up his delivery and then he just took off.

Once Columbus’ season is over Packer will go out to Arizona later this month to get ready for the Arizona Fall League. The Arizona Fall League will be a good test for him as he will face the top talent in the minor leagues. The Indians already feel he is a starting pitching option for them in the future at the big league level, but the question is whether he will end up being a middle of the rotation innings eater or a back of the rotation depth starter type.

Rebabbing in Arizona

Hector Rondon

The Indians will have several pitchers that are rehabbing from Tommy John surgery pitch this fall out in Arizona. Right-hander Robbie Aviles will pitch in Instructional League and right-handers Hector Ambriz, Hector Rondon, Danny Salazar and Alexander Perez will pitch in the Parallel League (advanced Instructional League).

All five of these pitchers missed all or almost all of this season due to recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2010, and it is good to see that all five are back on the mound and pitching again. The farm system needs a boost after losing so many pitchers in the past year due to injury, trades, and callups.

Playoff update

Triple-A Columbus and High-A Kinston are both tied 1-1 in their respective best-of-five series’. Both are traveling to their final destinations today with Columbus hitting the road for LeHigh Valley (Allentown, PA) and Kinston returns home.

Columbus looks to repeat as Governor’s Cup champions while Kinston looks to win the Mills Cup for the first time since 2006. If Columbus wins the Governor’s Cup and are crowned the kings of the International League, they will play for the Triple-A National Championship on Tuesday September 20th in Albuquerque, NM against the winner of the Pacific Coast League. If Kinston wins a championship it would be a fitting end to their relationship with Cleveland which has been near perfect and has had a lot of success since it all started 25 years ago in 1987.

Random Notes

Zach McAllister

Triple-A Columbus right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister probably finished up his minor league season on Tuesday as he went 8.0 innings and allowed 11 hits, 5 runs/earned, 1 walk, and had 6 strikeouts. In two playoff starts he went 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA (14.0 IP, 16 H, 2 BB, 9 K), and in 25 starts for Columbus in the regular season went 12-3 with a 3.32 ERA (154.2 IP, 155 H, 31 BB, 128 K). He was a model of consistency all season with his ability to get ahead of hitters and locating his pitches. If Columbus wins the International League title he probably would pitch the September 20th game in the Triple-A National Championship, but could be up in Cleveland to pitch one of the double-headers looming the final week of the season.

Double-A Akron right-handed pitcher Adam Miller finished off a successful 2011 season where in 31 combined appearances between High-A Kinston and Akron this year he went 1-5 with a 5.93 ERA (44.0 IP, 51 H, 21 BB, 39 K). The numbers themselves were not pretty, but it was a successful year in the fact that he pitched the entire season without any incidents cropping up with his surgically repaired right middle finger. The numbers also would not look so bad if not for back-to-back blow ups in July where in two games covering 3.1 innings he allowed 13 hits and 10 earned runs. In any case the goal all along this season was to get him back on a mound and pitching in a professional environment. He showed a lot of rust with the fastball command and the slider is a big question mark going forward, but he showed he can still pitch it is just getting his consistency back and finding a way to make that slider more effective. He is a minor league free agent, but I see no reason why he and the Indians do not continue their marriage for another year. There is too much respect on both sides for him to pitch elsewhere next season.

Clayton Cook

High-A Kinston right-handed pitcher Clayton Cook finished off his season strong with two very good starts in the postseason going 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA (10.1 IP, 11 H, 6 BB, 10 K). This was a much better finish than he had in his final regular season start where he did not make it out of the first inning on September 2nd when he allowed 6 hits, 6 runs and a walk in just two thirds of an inning. He actually pitched okay in that outing and was the bearer of some bad luck with some tough hops and a tight strike zone, and was only removed because he eclipsed the 35 pitch inning threshold the organization has in place for pitchers in the farm system. Even with the rough final start he finished the season 9-9 with a 4.56 ERA in 25 starts (122.1 IP, 124 H, 53 BB, 106 K) and had two nice outings in the postseason. It was another good year from the 21-year old Texan.

Low-A Lake County shortstop Ronny Rodriguez put the finishing touches on a very good first year of pro ball this year where in 98 games he hit .246 with 11 HR, 42 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and .723 OPS. The walk (13) and strikeout (83) rate leaves a lot to be desired, but considering how raw and talented he is it is something that the Indians believe they can shore up some as he moves along in the system to High-A Kinston next year. The Indians believe he is the whole package defensively with his arm strength, speed, range, and instincts, and feel he was the best defensive shortstop in the entire Midwest League this year. They are excited about his chances to be a multi-tool player and believe he has the potential to be a four or five tool player down the road.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra). Use discount code 2Z6F362B to receive 40% off the book through the site store!

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Minor Happenings: Is Goedert back in the Indians plans?

Jared Goedert (Photo: IPI)

"Minor Happenings" is a weekly column which recaps the important developments and news in the Indians farm system. While most of the information in this report is from my own research and through interviews I have conducted with organizational personnel, some information in this report is collected and summarized from the various news outlets that cover each team.

With less than a week left in the regular season, the minor league season is quickly coming to an end, and thus so is Minor Happenings for the 2011 season. However, as everyone knows, the season does not end with the conclusion of the regular season as there is always tons to talk about in the offseason with Instructional League, the Arizona Fall League, winter ball, the Rule 5 Draft, roster moves, and of course next year’s prospect rankings and scouting reports. So the fun never ends!

I will be venturing out to Woodbridge, VA this weekend to take in High-A Kinston’s final four regular season games from Saturday to Monday. If they miss the playoffs it may well be their final four games as the affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. It will be a bittersweet visit for me that’s for sure as the K-Tribe staff and team has always been first class and they will be missed. The hope here is they make the playoffs and make it to the Mills Cup Finals where they will play either Frederick or Potomac, a series I likely would attend either in Frederick or Potomac.

Onto the Happenings…

IPI Minor League Player of the Week
(for games from August 25th to August 31st)

Jared Goedert (Third baseman - Columbus)
.345 (10-for-29), 5 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 1.049 OPS

Jared Goedert

Someone who has been forgotten about this season who is quietly putting together another good season is Triple-A Columbus third baseman Jared Goedert. In 83 combined games between rookie Arizona (where he rehabbed for eight games) and Columbus he is hitting .272 with 17 HR, 45 RBI, and a .857 OPS.

The extra base hit production is the most interesting as Goedert has 19 doubles and 17 homers in those 83 games, with almost half of his hits (81) going for extra bases (36). The most notable improvement this season though may be his approach as he is walking more and striking out much less. Last year he walked 53 times in 481 at bats (9.1 AB/BB) and this year has walked 37 times in 298 at bats (8.1 AB/BB). Last year he struck out 112 times in 481 at bats (4.3 AB/K) and this year he has struck out 62 times in 298 at bats (4.8 AB/K).

Goedert, 26, was an offseason addition to the 40-man roster last year and looked to be in line for a possible big league job at some point this season as a right-handed bat off the bench. A nasty oblique injury sidelined him in spring training and ruined his chances this year, and he ultimately was removed from the 40-man roster recently. His injury paved the way for a player like Jerad Head to get an opportunity, one which probably would have been his had he been healthy all year.

With Goedert now healthy and once again showing his power stroke, there would seem to be some interest to add him back to the roster. The Indians are desperate for right-handed bats, especially any with power and production ability. There is a chance he could be added back to the roster sometime in September to get a late season look at him, though that remains to be seen. He has split time this season between first base and third base, and also got a lot of work in last offseason and this spring in left field, so he could add some much needed versatility and right-handed power off the bench.

Honorable Mentions:

Tim Fedroff (OF – COL): .360 (9-25), 4 R, 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, .888 OPS
John Drennen (OF – AKR): .368 (7-19), 3 R, 1 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K, .899 OPS
Casey Frawley (SS – KIN): .357 (5-14), 1 R, 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6 BB, 1 K, 1.050 OPS
Bo Greenwell (OF – AZL/KIN): .600 (7-17), 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 1.293 OPS
Jose Ramirez (INF – AZL): .400 (6-15), 5 R, 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K, .904 OPS
Joey Mahalic (RHP- LC): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 6 BB, 0 K, 0.42 BAA
Cory Burns (RHP – LC): 0-1, 2 saves, 1.42 ERA, 4 G, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 10 K, .227 BAA
Joe Martinez (RHP – COL): 0-1, 1.88 ERA, 2 G, 14.1 IP, 12 H, 1 BB, 12 K, .222 BAA

Previous Winners:

08/18 to 08/24: Elvis Araujo (LHP – Arizona)
08/11 to 08/17: Francisco Jimenez (LHP – Kinston)
08/04 to 08/10: Paolo Espino (RHP – Akron)
07/28 to 08/03: Jerad Head (OF – Columbus)
07/21 to 07/27: Tony Wolters (SS – Mahoning Valley)
07/14 to 07/20: Beau Mills (1B – Akron)
07/07 to 07/13: Luigi Rodriguez (OF – AZL Indians)
06/30 to 07/06: Elvis Araujo (LHP – AZL Indians)
06/23 to 06/29: Kirk Wetmore (LHP – Mahoning Valley)
06/16 to 06/22: Zach McAllister (RHP - Columbus)
06/09 to 06/15: Scott Barnes (LHP – Columbus)
06/02 to 06/08: Beau Mills (1B - Akron)
05/26 to 06/01: Anthony Gallas (OF - Lake County)
05/19 to 05/25: Tim Fedroff (OF – Akron)
05/12 to 05/18: Steven Wright (RHP – Lake County)
05/05 to 05/11: Cord Phelps (INF – Columbus)
04/28 to 05/04: Chun Chen (C – Akron)
04/21 to 04/27: Chad Huffman (OF – Columbus)
04/14 to 04/20: Alex White (RHP – Columbus)
04/07 to 04/13: Drew Pomeranz (LHP – Kinston)

Director’s Cuts

Indians Vice President of Player Development Ross Atkins has been out getting in a lot of last minute looks at a lot of his players as the season winds down. Here are some comments he made recently this week on some players and other things:

Cord Phelps

On the Mike Sarbaugh and the Columbus Clippers: “The most important thing to note is that it is not easy to do [getting to the postseason]. A lot of people will tell you that winning a championship is getting hot in the playoffs and really the most significant threshold is winning your division and getting into a playoff format. With the contributions that that team has made to Cleveland this year and then maintaining a winning record with a very young prospect laden team is a great accomplishment that I hope [Mike Sarbaugh] is very proud of. It is significant for a couple of years to have winning records and to go into those playoff chases. It is great for those players for when they get those opportunities in the Major Leagues whether it is their first call or they are going to the playoffs that they have had incremental increases in their challenges and their competition levels, and this is just one more of those. On many fronts a great accomplishment and we are very proud of Mike Sarbaugh and the job he has done there.”

On the Cleveland bullpen: “We have been talking frequently about the accomplishments that Manny and Time Belcher and Scott Radinsky have had with their bullpen. It really has been remarkable in our eyes. We haven’t studied it to the extent that we could say that it is unprecedented, but it is significant to look back over the course of the year and think about how little movement there has been in the bullpen. It pretty much has been the same bullpen for the entire year except for when there have been workload issues. That is incredible. It has got to be one of the most difficult things to manage as a manager, pitching coach and a bullpen coach to keep those guys at the top of their game, performing well, and not overworked. What it does is it allows us to not rush guys and for them to get the most out of Triple-A.”

On Cord Phelps: “Cord has been consistent and hopefully when he comes back this time it won’t be as much of the potential pressure he felt as well as the anxiety of this being his day and his call. Hopefully that will be minimized or mitigated to some extent and he will be able to be the player that he is and not try to be more. Cord is such a driven, motivated, competitive person that we do not have to be hard on him and have to put challenges in front of him as he does it himself. I am hopeful and confident at the same time that he will handle this transition well. He has always put up good at bats and he did it the first time, and I think his defense will be more consistent this time. We are looking forward to him benefitting from all of the hard work that he has put in. Especially with a player of Cord’s intelligence and commitment, he really did benefit from that first call up and time back down to Triple-A to reflect upon what went well and what he could have done differently. Cord is the type of individual that can maximize that.

Nick Hagadone

On Nick Hagadone: “He has gotten much better over the course of the year, and he is finishing pitching as well as his entire time with us. He is 95-97 MPH every time out. His fastball command is improving and his slider is very much a Major League weapon. Hopefully we will see him [back] in the Major Leagues soon.”

On Chen-Chang Lee: “A year ago we did not know if he would really be a solid Major League option for us because of his inconsistency with his fastball command and the variability from outing to outing for him. He has really become a force, and probably is the most dominant reliever in that pen even above Nick Hagadone. The right-on-right is really, really impressive, and he has really improved his ability to get lefties out. He has tightened up his breaking ball. Fastball command is really what separates those younger players from Major League pitchers, and his fastball command has improved as well.”

On Matt Packer: “All year Matt has not walked guys and he has still gotten strikeouts, so we were encouraged that luck would be in his favor toward the end of the year. When I say luck, really it is just him being prepared for opportunity if he continued to go out there and put the ball over the plate that he would get better outcomes. That has really occurred recently and he has really dominated for the last month and been the best starter in that rotation in Akron and has solidified our thoughts that he is a Major League pitcher. He is a great feel to pitch left-hander that has some power and deception to his fastball and when he commands it he can pitch at any level. He will have to have elite command because the power and deception is not over the top. It is not the Justin Masterson-ilk and not that type of fastball, so he is going to have to do a better job of commanding it, but he is showing the ability to do that. We are pleased with the progress, and it is always nice when guys are finishing much stronger than they started.”

On Austin Adams: “We have talked about him and his name comes up a lot with everyone in our organization. I think it is a testament to his commitment and a testament to the Major League staff and Chris Antonetti allowing us to be patient with him and keeping him in that starting role because it would have been easy to envision him in a relief role throwing 100 MPH and helping a Major League team immediately. I think with the Major League bullpen being consistent and not needing someone to experiment with and then Austin’s commitment to making adjustments and making himself a more complete pitcher has solidified in our minds that he is going to be a Major League starter with above average weapons. There is work to be done, but we believe in the person and feel good about the process ahead of him and really feel good about what he has accomplished this year.”

Lindor debuts

Francisco Lindor

The Indians 2011 first round pick shortstop Francisco Lindor made his pro debut at short season Single-A Mahoning Valley on Sunday. In two games he is 1-for-6 at the plate and has scored two runs.

Lindor is still 17-years old and does not turn 18-years old until mid-November, and is the first ever 17-year old player to don a Mahoning Valley uniform. He has actually been working out with the team since August 17th, but due to his age and him not playing all summer the Indians have gradually ramped up his baseball activities. He worked out with the team for almost two weeks before getting into a game on Sunday, and in the two games he has played he did not play the whole game as he was removed after five innings both times. He also has not yet played in back-to-back games.

In team drills and in his first two games Lindor has shown lots of speed and athleticism on the field with good speed on the bases and incredible hands and quickness in the field. He is also a player who looks like he is having fun out there as he always has a smile on his face and is very welcoming as a person, but by the same token is very competitive and loves to win.

Lindor is a native of Puerto Rico, but he and his family moved stateside to Florida four years ago when he was 13-years old to sharpen his baseball skills and improve his English to provide him a better opportunity professionally. That decision by his family paid off as he became a highly sought after prospect this year for the draft and wound up passing on a full scholarship to play collegiately at Florida State when he signed with the Indians for $2.9 million just before the midnight signing deadline in August 15th.

Lindor’s experience in Mahoning Valley is more of an introduction to the minor league life with the daily routines, travel, and everything that goes into being a pro baseball player outside of the white lines. After the season finishes up this weekend he will go home for a short bit and then head out to Instructional League in Arizona which starts up on September 14th. He will get a lot of one-on-one instruction while out there and get some games in there as well before it wraps up on October 14th and everyone goes home for the winter.

Infirmary Report

Bo Greenwell

High-A Kinston outfielder Bo Greenwell returned to Kinston this week after rehabbing from surgery to repair a broken thumb he suffered back in June. Dr. Thomas Graham performed a procedure on him in June where he removed some loose tissue inside the finger and inserted a plate and four screws to stabilize the thumb. After two months of rehab he played in four games in Arizona last week and was assigned to Kinston on Monday. In 63 games this year he is hitting .282 with 4 HR, 26 RBI and a .757 OPS.

High-A right-handed pitcher Marty Popham left his start on Tuesday after the fourth inning when he was hit on his wrist by a line drive. Up until that point he had thrown four perfect innings and had four strikeouts. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time, but he is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

Triple-A Columbus catcher Luke Carlin dislocated his left thumb on Sunday and had to leave the game. He returned and played on Tuesday night going 0-for-3 at the plate. In 61 games this year he is hitting .208 with 5 HR, 27 RBI and a .689 OPS.

Playoff outlook

It is pretty academic at this point with regards to the postseason chances for the Indians’ six stateside affiliates. Triple-A Columbus is the only team so far to clinch a playoff berth. Rookie level Arizona, short season Single-A Mahoning Valley and Low-A Lake County are all eliminated from the playoffs. The only two teams whose postseason fate is undecided right now are High-A Kinston and Double-A Akron.

Akron is 70-67 and is 3.0 games back of the wildcard with five games to go, so they will need a miracle to get in. The two teams ahead of them in the wildcard chase are Richmond and Bowie, and both would essentially have to tank while Akron would seemingly have to win all of their remaining five games for them to get in.

Kinston has a great shot to make the playoffs, and really they control their own destiny. They are 34-29 in the second half and are tied for first with Winston-Salem, though have one less loss and one less win because of two postponements that they have to make up. They have six scheduled games remaining, and one of the postponements from last weekend because of Hurricane Irene has yet to be rescheduled. It looks like that one will only be played – likely on Tuesday - if needed to decide the second half division title.

Random Notes

Paolo Espino

Triple-A Columbus right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino has been sensational since being called up to Columbus in mid-August. He has made five appearances (four starts) and gone 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA (23.1 IP, 12 H, 3 BB, 26 K). He has dominated in his last four appearances where he has thrown 17.1 shutout innings and allowed 9 hits and no walks while striking out 20 batters. He often gets glossed over for other more high profile players or pitchers with better stuff, but he just continues to perform. In 33 combined appearances between Double-A Akron and Columbus this year he is 8-1 with a 2.79 ERA (116.1 IP, 97 H, 25 BB, 115 K). He was also named the International League's Pitcher of the Week last week. He could be another Josh Tomlin-like pitcher in the system, though the question is whether or not he will get the chance.

Double-A right-handed pitcher Austin Adams had a very impressive year this season where in 26 starts he went 11-10 with a 3.77 ERA (136.0 IP, 147 H, 63 BB, 131 K). He was recently put on the temporary inactive list in Akron which may signal his season is done, not because he is hurt but because he may have reached his innings threshold of 135-140 innings this season. He has really developed himself into a starting pitching option for the Indians going forward. He has the very good upper 90s fastball and a good power curveball; it is just developing that fastball command and his changeup that will determine if he stays a starter down the road. He has a tendency at time to leave his pitches over the plate middle up, so getting him to more consistently work down in the zone and to both sides of the plate is key for him as well. There is no doubt he is at worst a Major League bullpen option.

Tyler Holt

High-A Kinston outfielder Tyler Holt is putting the finishing touches on his first full pro season. He has played well this year where in 119 games he is hitting .256 with 2 HR, 26 RBI, 34 stolen bases, and a .694 OPS. Those numbers may not look that impressive, but remember this is the Carolina League where offensive numbers suffer. Only one player in the entire league is hitting over .287, and his .256 average ranks 21st in the league. One of the things the Indians liked about him when they drafted him was his ability to get on base and impact a game on the bases, and he is doing that as he is 1st in the league in walks (76), 2nd in on-base percentage (.368), and 3rd in stolen bases (34).

Low-A Lake County right-handed reliever Cody Allen got a well deserved callup to Double-A Akron for the final week of the season. He has been lights out since being drafted this year and making his pro debut with short season Single-A Mahoning Valley. In 21 combined appearances between the two stops he is 5-1 with a 1.42 ERA and in 50.2 innings has allowed 31 hits, 14 walks, and has 70 strikeouts. He was his best at Lake County where he did not allow a run in seven appearances covering 17.1 innings. The call to Akron was more to help them as they lose players the final few days due to workload and promotions as he will likely open the 2012 season at High-A Kinston, but there is no doubt he has quickly opened some eyes and put himself on the radar as a bullpen option for the Indians down the road.

Jordan Smith

Short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley third baseman Jordan Smith continues to do well and in 63 games is hitting .306 with 0 HR, 44 RBI, and a .803 OPS. After a good June (.324/.405/.405) and blazing hot July (.347/.427/.485), he cooled considerably in August (.258/.388/.299). He has struggled of late where in his last 15 games he is hitting just .208 with a .616 OPS, which is probably him just tiring out at the tail end of the season after playing everyday for over two months straight for the first time ever in his career. He has certainly impressed this season with his good eye, approach, and developing power and size at the plate that it makes him an interesting prospect going forward as a corner infielder or outfielder.

Rookie level Arizona third baseman Robel Garcia had a nice season this year where he finished up hitting .284 with 6 HR, 24 RBI and a .915 OPS in 45 games. The 18-year old switch-hitter is still very raw and inexperienced as a player, but made some strides at the plate this season with his approach and showed a lot more power. Last year in Arizona he had a .286 slugging percentage but this year had a .544 slugging percentage. He can run a little bit, has a good arm, and has the tools and versatility to play almost anywhere in the infield, so he is a prospect to keep an eye on next year, and could open the season at Low-A Lake County.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra). Use discount code 2Z6F362B to receive 40% off the book through the site store!

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Around the Farm: August 19

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.


Jesus Aguilar: 1B, Kinston: 3-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI:

Welcome back, Jesus Aguilar. The big first baseman made his Kinston debut nearly a month ago with the spotlight on him after hitting .292, with 19 homers and 69 RBI in Lake County. He was greeted with a 5-for-28 start (.178), and didn't hit his first homer until August 10th. Since a multi-hit game on August 8th, the tide has started to slowly turn for Aguilar. He's gone 13-for-47 (.277), with three homers, and has regained his prospect luster. If you close your eyes, and listen to his big line from last night, visions of future right-handed power at the big league level should dance in your head. You have to wonder what the brass will do with him to start the season of next year. Will he start off in the sparkling new red, black and white of the Single A Carolina Mudcats, or will they immediately keep him close to home, and start him at Double A. His busy winter season will likely dictate his next developmental step.


Matt Packer: SP, Columbus: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 9 K, W (7-11):

How good has Matt Packer been since July 7th? He's gone 5-3, with a 1.99 ERA. If you take away his one bad start on August 9th, he's drops that stellar ERA to 1.32. In those nine starts, he's gone eight innings or better five times and seven innings or better three times, with that one lone bad start in the middle. He's definitely back in the mix with regards to starting in the future for the big league club, and may be the best lefty option in the near future. Packer struggled to regain his rhythm as the season starter, but he's definitely back. It will be extremely important for Packer to avoid early season struggles at Columbus next year. Should he start off with the form that he's showcased for all of last season, and the second half of this one, he immediately makes the loss of Drew Pomeranz, Alex White and Joe Gardner more palatable.

• Jared Goedert: 3B, Columbus: 2-4: Goedert's future with the Indians is fairly clear with Chisenhall and Kipnis already called up, and Cord Phelps and Luis Valbuena playing the "next in line" game. He's scuffled this year since coming off the DL, and appears to be a filler option at best. Good to see a multi-hit game. Thanks to a 5-for-5 day on August 13th, Goedert has a nice ten-game line of .353/.421/.588.
• Beau Mills: DH, Columbus: 2-4: Mills had his second two-hit game in as many nights, and continue to showcase a bat that has major league potential. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that he'd be in the majors if he was right-handed. Overall, he's hitting .282 in Columbus, and .296 overall for the 2011 season. In his past ten, he's hitting .371.
• Mitch Talbot: SP, Columbus: 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K: Talbot's career really has taken strange paths over the past two seasons, hasn't it? He's toiling in Columbus as a pseudo-starter/reliever, and is likely a fourth or fifth option for both at this point.
• Paulo Espino: RP, Columbus: 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K: Espino's eight-game showing in Columbus has been a bit of a mess. He came out of the gate and gave up nine earned runs in three appearance (2 2/3 innings) out of the pen. Since then, he's been much better, with last night's showing his best at the Triple A level this season. He has a rubber arm, and seems likely to pitch in the majors at some point, since he can seeming start on a dime.
• Matt Langwell: RP, Columbus: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 K: Langwell has given up a run in five of his seven appearances since being promoted to the Clip Show after dominating at Akron. He's a solid, spectacular-at-times reliever, who should improve as he gets used to the level.
• Ben Copeland: DH, Akron: 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K: Copeland continues to be a cog in the Aeros line-up. If he stays with the organization, he seems a shoe-in to start at Columbus next year, and become an injury fill-in for the Tribe.
• Chun Chen: C, Akron: 1-2, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K: Talk about a stat-filling night. Chen racked up his 13th homer, which is now a career-high for the big-hitting catcher. It will be interesting watching his development next season in Columbus. With another outstanding offensive season, he immediately becomes a factor in the Santana/Marson catching situation at best, and a nice trade option at worst.
• John Drennen: RF, Akron: 3-4, 3B, 2 RBI: Drennen had a nice night, driving in two with a triple, but he's still found barely any consistency since his 50-game suspension. These are the kinds of games he can provide, now he just needs to regain the day-to-day form.
• Jordan Casas: LF, Kinston: 3-4, 2 R, 1 2B: Casas continues his stellar offense at Kinston with his fourth multi-hit games in his past six. His .304 average leads the K-Tribe in his short stint, and he's perhaps breaking the Lake County-to-Kinston offensive jinx.
• Adam Abraham: 3B, Kinston: 2-5, 2 R, 2 2B: These were the kinds of games that Abraham, a doubles-machine when he's on, should produce at a more consistent level. The problem with the Kinston third baseman is that he can never maintain his high level of play for a substantial amount of time. Still, he has 13 homers, 29 doubles and 60 RBI, so they'll still be keeping an eye on him.
• Tyler Cannon: 2B, Kinston: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 K: Cannon has broken out of a minor slump with a four-game hit streak in which he has three multi-hit games, and gone 7-17, with three runs scored. Cannon's future is murky with the middle-infield situation seemingly filled up for the foreseeable future at the top level, but he should provide some options in a couple of years.
• Casey Frawley: SS, Kinston: 2-5, 2 K: Frawley has been hotter than a firecracker over the last week, hitting in six-of-seven games, with four of the multi-hit variety (10-27). Of course, with Frawley, that means that his overall average has leaped up to .211 on the season. He's scrappy, but needs get out of the no-offense most of the time/hot streaks some of the time, and into something a bit more consistent.
• Roberto Perez: C, Kinston: 2-5, 1 K: Perez is just a solid defensive catcher. He has no offense to speak of, so these multi-hit games are icing on the cake. He'll play in the majors at some point as a defensive specialist. I could definitely see him latching on to an ace, and becoming someone's personal catcher...he's that good.
• T.J. House: SP, Kinston: 2 IP, 6 H, 6 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 K: The clock is ticking on House as a starter. In his second full-season with the K-Tribe, the electric arm just isn't doing anything starting games. Will they continue the experiment, or move him to the bullpen? Whatever they do, he hasn't earned a promotion to Akron, other than longevity.
• Jose Flores: RP, Kinston: 1 IP, 7 H, 7 R/ER, 1 BB, L (4-4): When your starter comes out and give up six runs in two innings, it's tough to be worse. Enter Flores, who gives up seven in one inning. Ugh.
• Kyle Landis: RP, Kinston: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR: Some of House's and Flores' stink must have washed off on Landis. He did give up his two runs on a homer, and aside from that mistake, was awesome, striking out five of his six outs. Landis has now given up five runs in his last two appearances though, showing the first chink in his armor this year. How good has he been? His ERA, after five runs in his last four innings pitched, is still only 1.91.
• Trey Haley: RP, Kinston: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K: Haley's another one of those power-potential arms who just hasn't learned how to harness it yet. With that said, he had his best outing with Kinston last night, pitching three shutout innings to close the game out. He's an interesting watch over the next couple of seasons.
• Cody Allen: RP, Lake County: 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 4 K: Allen has just pummeled the Midwest League hitters in his four games since being promoted. In his four appearances, his pitched in 10 1/3 innings, giving up only eight hits and three walks, while striking out 16. Yeah, welcome to the radar Cody.
• Bryson Myles: RF, Mahoning Valley: 2-2, 1 R, 2 BB, SB (16): This team is loaded with potential, and Myles is at the top of the list. He has an incredible blend of offense and defense, to go along with blazing speed. The sixth round pick is really starting to heat up after a month-long stint on the DL, and has a ten game line of .324/.444/.405, with six runs and six stolen bases. He's raw, but could really develop quickly. Don't be surprised if Myles is a quick-mover through the system.
• Tony Wolters: SS, Mahoning Valley: 2-3, 1 BB: Clearly, Wolters is already being groomed as Asdrubal Cabrera's replacement in the coming years, especially if they can't sign their current shortstop to a long-term deal before he becomes a free agent. Wolters is a long ways off at the ripe-old-age of 19, but his offensive and defensive potential has the Tribe brass salivating. You combine that with on of the best work-ethics in the system, and you may just have a special ballplayer in the making.
  

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra). Use discount code 2Z6F362B to receive 40% off the book through the site store!

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Minor Happenings: Head continues to thrive in Columbus

Jerad Head (Photo: IPI)

"Minor Happenings" is a weekly column which recaps the important developments and news in the Indians farm system. While most of the information in this report is from my own research and through interviews I have conducted with organizational personnel, some information in this report is collected and summarized from the various news outlets that cover each team.

It is time for another edition of Minor Happenings to get caught up on all the Happenings in the Indians’ farm system. In this edition I have lots and lots of updates on players throughout the system.

It was a crazy week last week for the Indians as they completed three trades that netted them two Major League players and a minor league player for one Major League player and six minor league players. The big losses were lefty Drew Pomeranz and righty Alex White, so a lot of people are wondering how strong the Indians farm system is after all the deals. The truth of the matter is there is very little left if at all from an impact perspective in the upper levels of their system after the trades and graduation of guys to Cleveland this year, but the lower levels are well stocked. What this means is their system value is going to take a huge hit next year, but with so much promise in so many players in the lower levels of the minors they could quickly ascend back to a Top 10 system in 2013. If they keep drafting well, they will be fine.

Anyway, I wanted to share that for those wondering how much the system was hit this past week after all the trade activity, though the system was going to take a serious hit anyway with the graduation of Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, etc.

Onto the Happenings….

IPI Minor League Player of the Week
(for games from July 28th through August 3rd)

Jerad Head (Outfielder - Columbus)
.370 (10-27), 6 R, 3 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K, 1.296 OPS

Jerad Head

Triple-A Columbus outfielder Jerad Head may be the Rodney Dangerfield of hitters in the Indians farm system. He just gets no respect.

Head, 28, is not really a prospect because of his age, but he is having a very good season for Columbus this year where in 94 games he is hitting .287 with 19 HR, 60 RBI, and a .861 OPS. He is not considered a very good Major League caliber defender, though he has the ability and experience to play any position on the field. Up the middle positions like shortstop, second base, center field and catcher are a stretch, but he can play there in a pinch.

With all that versatility and production from the right side you would think the Indians would have called Head up by now, right? Wrong. He is still in Columbus and Austin Kearns is still the right-handed bat to complement an all left-handed hitting outfield in Cleveland.

While this is maddening for a lot of people, there are flaws to Head that the industry feels will not translate well to the big leagues. For one, as a 28-year old never been prospect he doesn’t have pedigree on his side even though his numbers the last two seasons have been very good (2010: .299 AVG, 17 HR, 66 HR, .906 OPS). He is also considered a guess hitter which is something the Indians don’t need, as they need someone to put up professional at bats in their lineup.

Head doesn’t draw enough walks as he has never had more than 29 walks in a season, and he strikes out too much as he has 82 strikeouts this year in 342 at bats which is about a strikeout every four at bats. In fact, his walk and strikeout rates have gotten worse this year as in 311 at bats last year he had 23 walks (13.5 AB/BB) and 66 strikeouts (4.7 AB/K), but in those 342 at bat this year he has 24 walks (14.2 AB/BB) and 82 strikeouts (4.1 AB/K). That’s the main reason why he has not been called up, which is his lack of a consistency with his approach and poor discipline.

Head’s numbers have also been in decline all year. In April he hit .339 with a .913 OPS, in May he hit .323 with a .914 OPS, in June he hit .256 with a .802 OPS, and in July he hit .224 with a .750 OPS. After bottoming out in July he seems to have picked up his play of late where in his last five games he is 9-for-23 with 2 2B, 4 HR, and 11 RBI, including a four game consecutive home run streak from July 30th to August 2nd.

All of this is not meant to tear down Head, but instead show why the Indians probably have not called him up even when they have such a need for right-handed hitting, particularly in the outfield. Me personally, I would have called him up weeks ago. The Indians Player Development Department loves him, and he has been in serious consideration for a callup several times this season, but has not been.

Unfortunately for Head, it does not look very good at this point for a callup as by passing up on him all year it pretty much has sealed his fate. I don’t expect him to be called up this year, and considering he is a minor league free agent at the end of the year he probably signs elsewhere for a better opportunity. Here’s hoping he gets consideration for the big league roster sometime between now and the end of the season just to take a look. It can’t hurt.

Honorable Mentions:

Cord Phelps (2B – COL): .409 (9-22), 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 1.071 OPS
Jared Goedert (INF – COL): .400 (6-15), 4 R, 0 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 0 K, 1.409 OPS
Luis Valbuena (SS – COL): .364 (8-22), 5 R, 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K, .940 OPS
Jordan Casas (OF – KIN): .389 (7-18), 2 R, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, .921 OPS
Jeremie Tice (1B – KIN): .353 (6-17), 3 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 1.156 OPS
Jerrud Sabourin (1B – MV): .471 (8-17), 2 R, 4 2B, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 1.251 OPS
Todd Hankins (2B – MV): .391 (9-23), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1.049 OPS
Jordan Smith (3B – MV): .389 (7-18), 4 R, 2 2B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, .950 OPS
Leonardo Castillo (INF – AZL): .421 (8-19), 2 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 3 K, 1.292 OPS
Joseph Colon (RHP – MV): 1-0, 2.70 ERA, 2 G, 10.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, 6 BB, 10 K, .152 BAA
Matt Packer (LHP – AKR): 1-1, 1.08 ERA, 2 G, 16.2 IP, 15 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 15 K, .250 BAA

Previous Winners:

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

IPI Minor League Player of the Month
(for July)

Luigi Rodriguez (Outfielder – Arizona)
.396 (36-91), 19 R, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 4 BB, 14 K, 12 SB, 1.046 OPS

Luigi Rodriguez

This award would have gone to Abner Abreu had he not been traded as he hit .352 with 8 HR, 17 RBI and a 1.236 OPS in 21 July games for High-A Kinston. Also, Jordan Smith at Mahoning Valley had a great month as well. But the top performance in July goes to outfielder Luigi Rodriguez who is making a splash this season as one of the Indians top prospects in the lower levels of the minors.

Rodriguez, 18, is hitting a sizzling .373 with 3 HR, 17 RBI, 22 stolen bases and .972 OPS in 32 combined games between rookie level Arizona and Low-A Lake County. He is a switch-hitter who has all the tools to be a top of the lineup threat as he has great speed, some gap power, and some hand-eye ability with the bat. While he creates havoc with his speed, he is still learning how to be a better baserunner as he still relies on his raw speed to steal bases or motor around the basepaths.

Rodriguez had a hamate injury this spring which slowed him down some, but he has shown no affects from it. Though it has only been a week, the most impressive thing has been how well he has translated as a hitter at Lake County. The big thing he needs work on is his defense as he is an inexperienced outfielder, something which was on display earlier in the week when he had three errors in one game. He was signed two years ago as a second baseman and last season was converted to the outfield, so while he has taken to it well he still has a lot to learn. While out in Arizona this year the coaches there really worked on his route running and decision making on defense.

Honorable Mentions:

Chen Lee (RHP – COL): 2-0, 0.60 ERA, 9 G, 15.0 IP, 11 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 22 K, .216 BAA
Beau Mills (1B – AKR/COL): .292 (28-96), 16 R, 6 2B, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 11 BB, 19 K, .858 OPS
Matt Packer (LHP – AKR): 2-2, 2.28 ERA, 6 G, 43.1 IP, 36 H, 12 R (11ER), 9 BB, 33 K, .228 BAA
Jesus Aguilar (1B – LC/KIN): .293 (29-99), 15 R, 9 2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 13 BB, 31 K, .882 OPS
Carlos Moncrief (OF – LC): .290 (31-107), 22 R, 4 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 9 BB, 38 K, .876 OPS
Jordan Smith (3B – MV): .347 (35-101), 12 R, 12 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 12 BB, 11 K, .912 OPS
Tony Wolters (SS – MV): .309 (34-110), 17 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 20 K, 11 SB, .774 OPS

Previous Winners:

June: Jesus Aguilar (First Baseman – Lake County)
May: Tim Fedroff (Outfielder – Akron)
April: Tyler Cannon (Infielder – Lake County)

Director’s Cuts

Here are some recent comments from Indians Farm Director Ross Atkins:

Matt Packer

On Matt Packer: “The most important numbers have remained consistent as he is still throwing the ball over the plate, he is still striking guys out and not walking them. That is the hardest part of being a pitcher and he has maintained that, he has just given up more hits and therefore he has given up a few more runs and his ERA is higher. But the most controllable factor for a pitcher is throwing the ball over the plate, and he has continued to do that and now we are seeing the benefit of throwing the ball over the plate more consistently.”

On Matt Langwell: “He is a great story as he had some success as an amateur at Rice and he went into a bullpen role for us a couple of years ago and has really performed well. He seems to be getting better and better each step of the way each week and month. His slider will be the separator for him as he has plenty of fastball and can locate it down and away, so now it is a matter of him developing that slider into a Major League weapon. He is absolutely someone who has turned himself into a prospect. Those are our favorite stories when a guy who was on the periphery has put himself on the forefront.”

C.C. Lee

On Chen Lee: “He really has been exceptional. A lot of his transition was really just dealing with a new country, a new level of play, a new style of baseball, different coaches, and a very different language and teaching method. That transition seems to be behind him. He is in the mid-90s with a fastball with a well above average breaking pitch. He has two above average Major League weapons, now it is just how consistent can he be with them. He has made huge strides with his commitment to strength and conditioning, not that it was a limitation but now it is a strength. He is a great piece in the mix and no question is someone who will pitch in the Major Leagues.”

On determining movement in the system: “What it comes down to in Player Development is you typically have about 20 position players and 20 pitchers – that’s a rough number – that stands out and are priority guys and you are going to make sure you have a clear path for. Then there are guys around them that certainly have a chance to become a Major Leaguers, but their path to the Major Leagues may not be as projected and they will have to perform to get there. Those guys we have identified as a priority we are going to move them when it is right for them to move, not when a hole is created or a Double-A or Triple-A need is there. There are other ways to fill those holes and needs. You are trying to put them in a position to have success while being challenged and ultimately work on their limitations to become a Major Leaguer.”

Infirmary Report

Here are some updates on the walking wounded in the Indians’ system:

Scott Barnes

Triple-A Columbus left-handed pitcher Scott Barnes tore his ACL in his knee and had surgery recently. Obviously he is out for the year, and the Indians have not set a timetable on when he will return. Looking at it logically, with the 8-9 month recovery time needed from the surgery he might miss the first month or two of next season before he is cleared for regular game action. In 18 starts between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus this year he went 8-4 with a 3.45 ERA (99.0 IP, 85 H, 36 BB, 107 K).

Right-handed pitcher Hector Rondon is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and may be back at some point this month. He is throwing long toss right now and then will progress to bullpens. If all goes well there is a chance he could pitch in a game or two out in Arizona, though he likely will not pitch until Instructional League or the Parallel League this fall.

Right-handed pitcher Alexander Perez is also recovering well from Tommy John surgery and has been throwing bullpens in Arizona. Unless he has a setback, he will probably get into a game in Arizona later this month. He will also pitch in Instructional League or the Parallel League this fall.

Nick Weglarz

Double-A Akron outfielder Nick Weglarz returned to game action last night. He had been on the disabled list and missed two weeks of action because of a freak eye injury and also elbow soreness from throwing. In 34 games with Akron he is hitting .180 with 2 HR, 11 RBI, and a .679 OPS.

Double-A Akron left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz was recently put on the disabled list because of shoulder soreness. The Indians are still very high on him and hope to have him back in about two weeks. In 17 starts for Akron this year he is 5-6 with a 4.56 ERA (79.0 IP, 68 H, 53 BB, 84 K).

Double-A Akron right-handed pitcher Adam Miller is healthy and has not had any setbacks with his finger. His recent poor performance is not injury-related, it is more that he is not making quality pitches and may be wearing down late in the season. In 27 combined appearances between High-A Kinston and Akron he is 1-4 with a 6.45 ERA (37.2 IP, 45 H, 17 BB, 36 K).

The Indians continue to be cautious with High-A Kinston left-handed pitcher Giovanni Soto. He is rehabbing a left elbow injury, and because of his age they do not want to push him. He has not had any setbacks, and he is scheduled to throw a sim-game today so could be close to returning. In 11 starts for Kinston this year he is 4-4 with a 3.02 ERA (56.2 IP, 49 H, 18 BB, 58 K).

High-A Kinston outfielder Bo Greenwell is still rehabbing from a broken thumb injury. Though there is the potential for him to get back in late August, he is not expected to return this year and probably will not play again until Instructional League or the Parallel League. In 57 games for Kinston this year he is hitting .261 with 3 HR, 19 RBI and a .688 OPS.

LeVon Washington

Low-A Lake County outfielder LeVon Washington has been on the disabled list for heat exhaustion. Because of his age and where he is at in his career the Indians are not pushing him and want to make sure he is 100% before sending him back out. They have been educating him on preparing his body for games, and he should be back soon. In 59 games for Lake County this year he is hitting .229 with 2 HR, 15 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and a .651 OPS.

Low-A Lake County right-handed pitcher Kyle Blair is still rehabbing his knee in Arizona and is doing well. He will throw a sim-game in the next couple of days, though the Indians are not expected to push him as they want to make sure the knee is strong enough and he feels good about it since it was affecting him this year when he pitched. He could come back later this month. In 14 starts for Lake County he is 3-5 with a 5.98 ERA (61.2 IP, 65 H, 35 BB, 58 K).

Right-handed pitcher Antwonie Hubbard is in Arizona rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He had the surgery after he injured his elbow during spring training.

Random Notes

Nick Hagadone

Triple-A Columbus left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone has had a very good bounce back season as in 36 combined appearances between Double-A Akron and Columbus he is 6-2 with a 2.79 ERA, and in 58.0 innings has allowed 47 hits, 16 walks, and has 62 strikeouts. The most important development for him this year has been the return of his command he has made incredible strides with his walk rate dropping from 6.6 BB/9 last year to 2.5 BB/9 this year. That’s amazing, especially considering a mid-season promotion to a higher, new level where a slip up was to be expected. With the trade of lefty Drew Pomeranz and righty Alex White, some fans have wondered if the Indians will explore him as a starter again. That is very unlikely as while the Indians won’t rule it out in the future, they are really locked into him as a reliever as he is near term Major League depth and they are focused on developing him that way. He is a Top 10 prospect for sure next year.

Double-A left-handed pitcher Matt Packer is having another good season as in 21 starts he is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA, and in 127.1 innings has allowed 134 hits, 23 walks, and has 99 strikeouts. Since hitting a wall at the end of June, he has really come on strong since around the All Star break in July as he has pitched at least 7.0 innings in each of his last six starts and over that period is 3-2 with a 1.57 ERA (46.0 IP, 36 H, 9 ER (8 ER), 7 BB, 40 K). His change of fortune of late is tied to him getting back to a more consistent delivery like he was doing last year by using his lower half better, staying back, and finishing his pitches. His command and stuff have also been better lately and as a result he is getting some swing and miss. He’s another guy who will jump up in the prospect rankings next year, probably somewhere in the teens.

Austin Adams

Double-A Akron right-handed pitcher Austin Adams is having a solid season on the mound where in 21 starts he is 8-8 with a 3.88 ERA, and in 104.1 innings has allowed 110 hits, 56 walks, and has 100 strikeouts. There is no doubt he needs to work on that 4.8 BB/9 rate, but he has some of the best stuff in the system with a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and a very good power curveball. He has even reached 100 MPH a few times this season, so there is no doubting the potential with his arm and the progress made this year. The Indians are committed to him as a starting pitcher and going toward he needs to work on developing his changeup, his consistency outing to outing, and his effort level. He is a pretty sure bet to be a Top 10 prospect in the Indians’ system next year.

Double-A Akron right-handed pitcher Cory Burns is having another incredible season closing games where in 44 appearances with Akron he is 2-4 with a 2.54 ERA and has 30 saves. Even with a month left in the season, his 30 saves broke the Akron single season save record which was formerly held by right-hander Randy Newsom with 29 in 2008. He is a clear end of game option as along with his 30 saves he has 44 games finished which means he has been the final pitcher on the mound for Akron any time he has pitched. He is 30-for-32 in save opportunities this year, and is now 83-for-91 in his three year minor league career closing out games. Saves typically do not mean a lot in the minors, but his ability to finish games late and pitch in high leverage situations is very impressive and improves his stock as a relief prospect. He will jump up some next year in prospects lists.

Low-A Lake County right-handed pitcher Felix Sterling has had a good season so far where in 9 appearances (7 starts) between rookie level Arizona and Lake County he is 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA, and in 42.2 innings has allowed 36 hits, 21 walks, and has 44 strikeouts. He is only 18-years old but has some good size (6’3” 200 lbs) and good stuff with a low 90s fastball and developing breaking ball and changeup. Even more impressive may be his personality and makeup, which the Indians rave about. They have been happy to get him into the tougher Lake County environment to see how he handles it at such a young age, his likely starting place next season. He is another pitcher who should rank in the teens next year and potentially in the Top 10.

Tony Wolters

Short-season Mahoning Valley shortstop Tony Wolters continues to impress in his first full season as he put up a 5-for-6 night at the plate on Wednesday and in 44 games is hitting .309 with 1 HR, 15 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and a .805 OPS. Indians personnel have been impressed with how in tune to the game he is as he just eats, breathes, and sleeps baseball and shows unbelievable excitement and passion on the field. He also understands how to be a professional, which is unheard of for his age. He has the potential to be the Indians’ #1 prospect next season, and surely will be in the top five.

Rookie level Arizona left-handed pitcher Elvis Araujo is having a good season where in 9 starts he is 5-1 with a 3.68 ERA, and in 44.0 innings has allowed 42 hits, 14 walks, and has 39 strikeouts. After missing all of the 2009 and 2010 seasons because of Tommy John surgery he was expected to be very rusty after not pitching, but the results to date have been very positive for the 6’6 215 pound lefty. The main goal for him this season was getting him out on the mound in a competitive environment, and he has done that while flashing great stuff. He is an exciting prospect who will surge up the Indians’ rankings next year.

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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