Top basestealers:

In Lake County:

IF Todd Hankin 26 of 29; CF LRod 19/26; SS Francisco Lindor 19/26/ OF Bryson Myles 14/24

In Carolina:
CF Delvi Cid 22/27; CF Tyler Holt 16 of 24, 20 of 29 including his time in Akron; RF Moncrief 15/16

in Columbus:
CF Carrera 23/30

Moncrief is the only 20/20 candidate.

#14: CF, LeVon Washington, Lake County Captains:

We went from the 2011 second rounder at 16 to the 2010 second rounder at #14, and from one mercurial player to another. To say that #WashTime has confidence would be the understatement of the century. Anyone that’s followed this kid on twitter knows that if there’s anyone that thinks that LeVon Washington is going to be a star, it’s LeVon Washington. Truth be told, he has reason to think that, as the toolsy centerfielder is a star-in-the-making, he just hasn’t had a lot of time to do the making part of that phrase yet.

Washington walked into the 2011 season with a #1 pick swag, and he had every right to, as he was a #1 selection via the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009. The Indians were gifted him in 2010 amid rumors that Washington was going to be a hard sign, and well, a bit of a personality. He turned out to be a late sign, and played in only three ball games in that initial season. Of course, he hit .444, so signs were good that this kid could hit.

Then came 2011, and the swag got bagged, as Washington got absolutely overmatched in his first season at Lake County. In 79 games, he struck out 89 times, hit only .218, stole only 15 bases, and generally didn’t look like a top pick. Many said it was his attitude and lack of preparation that led to his poor start. I’m not going to go too far with that, but it was clear that he came into the 2011 season a different person. Oh, sure, he was still brash, but there’s no doubt the attitude was difference, and his performance was clearly taking the route it was supposed to.

In his first six ballgames, LWash was on fire, going 11-for-25, with eight runs, a double and an RBI. He was hitting .440, and clearly had an entirely different approach at the plate. In other words, he returned to form. Then he got hurt, injuring his hip, which required what amounts to season ending surgery. He would be ranked a lot higher than this if he were healthy, and I’m sure we’ll see him in winter ball to catch up. If he stays focused, this kid can be special. Hopefully, we’ll get to see a focused #washtime for an entire 2013 season. He could be a quick mover if he stays healthy. We…shall…see…

#13: OF/CF, Carlos Moncrief, Carolina Mudcats:

If you don’t know who Carlos Moncrief is, then you need to start paying attention to our anchor nightly feature, Around the Farm. In the land of Five-Tool players, there isn’t a player in the system who has more ability than Carlos Moncrief. This guy has it all. If you start with his athleticism, you can safely say that he’s got to be ranked #1. After watching him play extensively in Carolina, I can’t fathom that there’s another player in the system that can do more than Moncrief can in the field, on the bases or at the plate. Now, understand, I’m talking natural, god-given talent here…not necessarily production.

At the plate, Moncrief has a powerful swing, powered by a compact and muscular frame. He has shown gap power in the past, and while that remains, it appears as though Moncrief has taken the next step. That gap power has turned into a legit home-run threat. He belted 16 last season in 122 games, and already has 13 and leads the Mudcats in only 86 ballgames. His 49 RBI is only four of his career high, also last season in Lake County. The best part about the power is that it’s not coming at the expense of anything else. His OBP is actually higher than it was last season, as is his slugging and his OPS. He’s on pace to match his run total last season, his doubles total last season, and come close to his triples total. He already had 15 stolen bases, and has only been caught once. He has plus speed, but really knows how to run the bases.

Moncrief is a project. He was a pitcher in 2009, and the Indians converted him because of that raw ability. The strides that he’s taken offensively has been immense. The one area that he still struggles with is his overzealous attacking at the plate. He leads the system with 107 strikeouts, and likely will pass his 158 K’s from last season.

In the field, Moncrief seems best suited to the Right Field position because of a cannon arm, but his plus speed has made him a valuable asset in center. He’s an outstanding fielder in right and in center, but with his power and ability, really could be an incredible plus up the middle…especially as a power source. Moncrief has already improved his average to above .250 so far this season, but he’s steadily improved in potentially the most difficult league for offensive players in all of baseball. He hit .194 in April, .260 in May, .271 in June and is hitting .295 so far in July. That’s the type of uptick from a kid who is starting to figure things out…and if he does, Moncrief is a surefire major leaguer, and a potential sleeper star in the making.

If you can’t get excited about Moncrief, than you can’t get excited about anyone in the system.

#12: LHP, Elvis Araujo: Lake County Captains:

Araujo was signed, sealed and delivered to the Cleveland Indians when he was seven-years-old. Okay, I’m exaggerating a bit, but he has been in the system for a long time. The 21-year-old, 6’6”, 220 pound lefty, who happens to share a birthday with yours truly, signed a deal at the ripe ole’ age of 16 in 2007, and has developed into one o f the most promising starters in the system.

As a 16-year old, during that first season, he was absolutely dominant in the Dominican Summer League. The smooth lefty made 14 starts that year, going 4-2 with a 1.89 ERA in 57 total innings. He struck out 37 and walked 23, and looked really, really good. There were high hopes for Araujo heading into the 2009 season, but as he was working towards a debut in the Arizona Summer League, he suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. His career was put on hold.

I recall hearing a scout talking about how Araujo reminded him of CC Sabathia with regards to his delivery, and while I don’t agree with that assessment as we speak this year, there are similarities in style, size and mentality with regards to Araujo. Please keep in mind that when I talk about size, I’m talking about the much slimmer Sabathia of his early career, and not the Jabba-esque version that oozes on the mound these days.

He missed the entire 2009 and 2010 seasons due to the injury, but came back last year and didn’t miss a beat. He made 15 appearances between the Arizona Rookie League and Mahoning Valley, and while he struggled in his two Mahoning appearances, he was back to his old tricks in Arizona. He pitched in 63 innings, giving up 54 hits and 18 walks, while striking out an impressive 58. He had gained a bit of control and velocity, and really seemed perched to do great things.

He walked into this season at 100%, and he came out blazing. After June 3rd, Araujo’s record was only 2-4, but his ERA was a sparkling 3.02 in 59 2/3 innings, having given up 54 hits and 20 earned runs, while walking 22 and striking out 50. That’s when he hit the wall. Since then, he’s gone 2-4 with a 9.37 ERA in eight starts. He’s struggling with control and velocity, but his 20 appearances is five more than he’s ever made in his career. It’s clear that stamina is a big issue going forward. I’m sure he’ll work on that in winter ball.

I don’t think he’s Sabathia’s equal, but I do see him as a “poor-man’s Sabathia,” as a guy that has good velocity and a sweeping motion that can really give hitters fits going forward. He has to harness his stuff though, and has to gain the stamina to take him to the next level, or he may have reached his peak. Of course, he’s only 21-years-old, so there’s nothing but time. It’s just a plus that he’s healthy and showing the ability that the Indians saw in him five years ago when they signed him.

#11: 2B/SS, Tony Wolters: Carolina Mudcats:

There’s a big part of me that’s in shock that I have Wolters this high, but at the end of the day, this kid can play baseball, and he can play it at a high level. He is definitively not the guy that’s going to make you go, “Wow, this kid is a superstar.” I can honestly say, having watched him play, that he’s the guy that goes 2-for-4, with a double, a single, a stolen base, and you scratch your head and ask yourself, “did he really do that?”

I can’t believe that I’m going to say this, but he really reminds me of a Derek Jeter-like player, in that he commands a baseball team, plays an incredible defensive game, and has mysterious pop. Jeter may be a bit more athletic, but their games are surprisingly similar at this stage of their careers. If you’ve ever talked to Wolters, it’s really easy to see why the Indians pushed him through to High A Carolina, and not some of their other prospects. This kid is calm, cool and collected. I was impressed with him during his first day with the Mudcats, as they were getting ready to play the Indians. He was the first one out of the dugout, and spent several minutes chatting with me and my son. It was his first day at High A, and we could have been having a cup of coffee at Starbucks. His mentality is exceptional.

You all know the story of his season. He started off playing like garbage offensively. He was hitting .130 at the end of May, and seemed loss. There was an abundance of folks calling for a demotion, and I’m not going to say that I was one of them…but…I was one of them. I’ll never forget watching him prior to a game in early May. Here was a kid who had every right to be stressed…had every right to be frustrated…and had every right to be depressed. There he was, talking to my son again, calm, cool and collected. It was striking how at ease he was. He was so relaxed, I started thinking that maybe that was the problem…but it turned out to be his greatest strength.

From that day, on May 1st, Wolters has hit .293 in 71 ballgames, which is 10th in the league, two points behind Jesus Aguilar. His rapped 20 doubles during that stretch, which is tied for fourth in the league since May-Day, and his four doubles put him third in the same abount of time. This kid has ice in his veins, and a ton of ability. He’s one of the smartest players on any team I’ve seen this year. While he doesn’t have power, he has the ability to pick spots to hit to. He has a slap mentality at times that reminds me a bit of Kenny Lofton, where he can get a ball foul when he needs to, then slap it through a hole in the infield. He can play the middle infield effortlessly, and while he’s made some errors this year that he shouldn’t have, that will settle itself. He’s a plus infielder.

But the thing that makes this kid stand out aren’t his metrics, they are his make-up. He’s the poster-boy for why teams that base their ratings soley on metrics rarely win much of anything. He’ll be the heart and soul of whichever major league team he ever plays on, and he will be a major leaguer, and a really good one…right Derek Jeter?

#10: RHP Kieran Lovegrove, AZL Indians:

When the Indians took this kid in the third round, I have to tell you, I was ecstatic. I’m sure that says more about my sad, sorry little life than it does about my baseball acumen, but I felt like the Indians just stole another first or second rounder in the third round. This kid is a big one at 6’4”, and had a commit to play at Arizona State. As I did my homework on the draft, leading up to the big day…well…week, really, I kept coming across his name and thinking, “Why isn’t he ranked higher?” He’s a tall kid with plus velocity and a good slider already. He seems to project more velocity as he grows. What’s not to like?”

When I read that this kid set up a charity with some friends so send sporting equipment to the underprivileged, I remember thinking, I’m not sure if I want him to sign with Cleveland, or mentor my son. This kid has a special make-up, incredible character, and potentially big-time tools.

He’s got a fastball that can touch 93 or so right now, and likely will go up a few ticks before it’s all said and done. He’s got a wicked slider, which appears to be his out pitch right now, as we speak. He’s clearly a project, but when you get guys that are projectable, the only way they tend to develop is if they have good make-up. Lovegrove has that type of make-up. He’s a good kid. He works hard. He has a big frame that will likely add muscle, which will increase the velocity.

If the planets align, Lovegrove will turn into a special pitcher, and I’m banking on him doing just that. Some say he has average ability…I say different. This kid is a surefire #2 starter…well…if the planets align…

#9: RHP, Jake Sisco: Mahoning Valley Scrappers:

Sisco is another third rounder, and the only reason why I put him ahead of Lovegrove is because he has a body of work, and while it’s not spectacular, you can see what the Indians see in this kid. Here’s what the Indians really like about him. First and foremost, Sisco has size. He’s 6’3”, and about 210 pounds. He can touch the mid-90’s with his heat, and lives in the realm of 93 MPH. He has the potential for three plus pitches, and has command of a fourth. His fastball, curve and slider are out pitches when he’s really rolling. He also throws a changeup, and while it needs work, it’s deadly when working with his other three pitches.

This is a kid that gets to work, and he really wanted to sign out of high school when San Francisco drafted him 37th. He wanted better money, so he went to college, pitched better, and earned himself third round money. He signed quickly with the Tribe, and was able to pitch a full boat of games last season for the AZL Indians. He struggled a bit, but showed a lively arm, and a mound presence that projected into a potential big-time starter going forward.

This season, Sisco has moved up to the New York/Penn League, and is really showing off how good he can be. He’s only given up more than two runs in a game once, which just so happens is his most recent start. Overall, Sisco is 0-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 37 innings pitched in seven starts. He’s walked far too many, with 16, while striking out 22, but overall, has shown the type of progression that you want in a 20-year old. Next year will be the big year for Sisco, as he moves up to the full season leagues. Will he have the stamina that it takes to be a top-of-the-rotation starter? Will he be able to locate his pitcher better than he has this season?

I think that the answer is yes on both counts. While Lovegrove and Sisco both have big question marks as far as progression goes from this point on, but have high upside, and could provide the backbone of a solid rotation in three or four seasons.

Tony's Clone's No. 8 Prospect Rating is Available for free. Buck can get us No. 9-14.

#8: SS/2B, Ronny Rodriguez: Carolina Mudcats:

There’s something to actually watching a guy play baseball every day. It’s funny how often you hear pundits (including me) talk about how good a player is without seeing him play, or even worse, seeing him play once or twice. It’s the nature of the beast in the minor league game, and Ronny Rodriguez has fallen into that category for many scouts. Many will look at his 6’0”, 170 pound frame, and immediately typecast him as a light-hitting, fielding first middle infielder, who may, if he’s lucky, be a utility player. If you watch him over a game or two, you may still feel that way. But to watch this kid day-in and day-out lets you know that there’s a whole lot more going on with Rodriguez than that.

Rodriguez was signed as an 18-year old free agent in October of 2010, and the Indians saw enough in him to place him at Lake County to start his professional career off. Rodriguez became the Captains primary shortstop, and this was based on their belief that his athleticism, while in a small package, would make him a top prospect. They were clearly right, as he began showing his tools right away.

Like many young players, Rodriguez struggled with pitch selection during that first season, and struck out 83 times in 98 ballgames, while only walking on 13 occasions. He also struggled a bit on the base paths. While he stole 10 bases, showing really good speed, he was caught seven times. His OBP was too low at .274, but his OPS and other stats showed a gem in the making. Even with the OBP under .300, his OPS was at a solid .723. In those 98 games, he hit 28 doubles, seven triples and had 11 home runs. It seemed as if this small, toolsy package could hit the baseball. 2012 would be a big year for him.

On opening night, Rodriguez went 2-for-4, with two runs, a triple and two RBI. His triple came on a laser to straightaway center that hit high up the 20-foot wall. While he struggled for most of that month (he was hitting .188 on May 3rd), you could see that there was a player there. May 4th is when things really started to change for Rodriguez. He went four for four, with three runs and two RBI, with two doubles. Since that day, Rodriguez is hitting .296 in 68 games, with 43 runs, 12 doubles, two triples and an impressive 11 home runs. He has 38 RBI, and five stolen bases. He still has struck out 44 times vs. only eight walks, but he is striking out less. He just has to learn how to take some walks.

Defensively, he has the tools to be something pretty special, but I’m starting to wonder if that’s at the shortstop position. In his two seasons there, his fielding percentage is .922. He has the tools, but hasn’t made much progress. Part of that may be the fact that the Indians have moved him to second base for some of the time, while he and Wolters alternate positions. At second, Rodriguez is a much better defender, having made only five errors in 178 chances, for a .972 fielding percentage. Ultimately, that’s likely his position.

He’s still a project, but the foundation for this project is more than solid. This kid has all the tools to be a big-time player in the upper levels and the bigs. As he moves away from the instincts, and moves towards knowledge of how to play the game, he should be a very special player. He’s got the potential to be a 20-20 guy in the bigs. As a middle infielder, that makes him very valuable going forward. Of course, there is this Kipnis guy….

You can find the link to #8 here (FREE CONTENT)

We must have been posting simultaneously??

f you can’t get excited about Moncrief, than you can’t get excited about anyone in the system.

Moncrief is a favorite of mine; he was my breakout pitcher the year he stopped pitching; and his combination of offensive skills and his RF defense is an enticing combination. But I think you can easily get excited about Luigi Rodriguez without getting excited about Moncrief. Moncrief does look like a power hitter and little Luigi doesn't but both are having breakthroughs in power this season

Cleveland Indians acquire outfielder Brent Lillibridge from the Boston Red Sox for minor-league pitcher Jose De La Torre

Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 3:21 PM Updated: Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 3:26 PM
By Starting Blocks


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians have acquired right-handed hitting outfielder Brent Lillibridge from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Jose De La Torre.

Lillibridge went to his Twitter account to say:

It's been a crazy month but I am excited to be playing baseball again tomorrow! Flying out to Cleveland in the morning. #Indians

Jose De La Torre is a 5-9 right-hander from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This season, he is 7-1 for Class AA Akron with a 2.80 earned-run average. He has walked 19 and struck out 42 in 45 innings of work.

KMA

not a lot to report from BA yesterday. A lowlight was a David Huff 5 inning, 4 HR outing in AAA. Another NO. 1 pick who will be out of the organization soon to join Crowe and Mills.

CLE AAA Phelps, Cord 2B 3 2 1 0 .263 2B (25), BB (47), SB (8)
CLE HiA Wolters, Tony SS 4 0 1 0 .264 3B(5)
CLE SS Naquin, Tyler CF 4 2 2 1 .290 2B (7), BB (15), SB (4) [no homers for him as a pro. Another No. 1 pick with a low ceiling]
CLE AA Packer, Matt 7.1 8 2 2 0 3 1.35 W (2-0) [first runs allowed this summer]
CLE AAA Barnes, Scott 1.1 0 0 0 1 3 3.60
CLE R Howard, Dillon 4 7 9 2 1 2 6.33 L (0-4) [No. 2 pick in 2011 who is consistently terrible. The 6 errors made behind him didn't help but neither did the 2 homers.]

The Radar Report: July 25, 2012
By Tony Lastoria
July 25, 2012
ShareThis
"The Radar Report" is a premium feature that lists fastball velocities for several pitchers in the Indians' system which I have recorded during my visits to see the teams/players.

This piece posts about once a month and includes anywhere from a half dozen to a dozen radar readings for pitchers. When available, it will also include velocity ranges for their secondary pitches.

Note: The information obtained in the chart below is from myself and has not been provided by the Indians or anyone affiliated with them or from another team. The readings are recorded through the use of my own radar gun, a Jugs R0250 which is the newest model offered by Jugs and a top line radar gun.

To view previous Radar Reports, click on the link below:

April 18th
April 27th
May 13th
June 22nd

Pitcher Fastball Low Fastball High Fastball Avg Notes
Danny Salazar 89 96 92.1 Slider 82-86 MPH; inconsistent velo all night
Jordan Cooper 86 89 87.7 Slider 81-83 MPH; Changeup 71-74 MPH
Grant Sides 92 95 93.9 Slider 82-84 MPH; strong & good life on FB
Mike Rayl 87 92 89.4 Curveball 74-77; velo improved later in game
Brett Brach 88 90 88.7 Changeup 78-81 MPH; quick worker
Cole Cook 88 90 89.4 Slider 79-80 MPH; short night with 7 pitches

Tony's colleague posts this long [I've edited it] report on yesterday/s performances:

Ezequiel Carrera: CF, Columbus Clippers: 5-for-5, 4 R, 1 2B:

It’s funny how things can change so quickly in a season. For Carrera, he’s really turned around a season that was dreadful at the beginning of the year. Carrera has his average up to .290. That’s good, but in-and-of itself, it’s nothing special. What is special is the fact that he was hitting .236 on June 2nd. Since then, he’s hitting .339 in 48 games, with 38 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, and incredibly, five homers and 20 RBI. He’s walked 17 times against 21 K’s, and stolen 16 bases against only three CS. Since July 19th, he has a .548/.576/.935 line, for a crazy 1.511 OPS.

Tim Fedroff: LF, Columbus: Game 1: 2-for-2: The fleet-footed outfielder continued his hit barrage with his third straight multi-hit game, and his fifth in the past six. During that stretch, Fedroff is leading the hitting with a whopping .609/.635/.826 line for a 1.451 OPS. He has six runs, two doubles a homer, three RBI and a walk.
Cord Phelps: 2B, Columbus: Game 1: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K: Phelps hit his 11th homer of the season, and his second in his last six ballgames. He is on pace to pass his career high of 14, hit last season.
Ezequiel Carrera: CF, Columbus: Game 1: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K: You know it’s going good for the lead-off hitter when he hits a home run. What’s surprising is that it’s his sixth long fly of the season, and his second in consecutive nights. He hit his first homer on May 16th, and has hit five of his six since June 5th. He would save his best for game two.
Bryan Price: RP, Columbus Clippers: Game 1: 2 IP, 1 H, 5 K: Price has some misleading numbers in his four-game stint with the Clippers, thanks to a four run implosion without getting an out on July 19th. He was lights out in game one of their doubleheader on Wednesday, and has seven K’s in his last 3 2/3 innings.
Cord Phelps: 2B, Columbus: Game 2: 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI: Phelps followed up his home run performance with a three-hit, triple, two-RBI game. It’s his third three hit game in his last eight. He has value as a moderate prospect should Kipnis go down, but other than that, Phelps is a throw-in for a trade, or minor league, upper level filler.
Vinny Rottino: 1B, Columbus: Game 2: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB: Rottino’s pick-up has had a direct result in the Clippers run over the past month from mediocrity to a run at first place Indianapolis. They are 8-2 over their last ten games, and Rottino is hitting .319, with two homers and 16 RBI over his last 12.
Tim Fedroff: LF, Columbus: Game 2: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI: In a game full of offense, Fedroff came through again, going 5-for-6 on the day, and continuing to make a mad dash for the majors.

Thomas Neal: LF, Akron: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB: Neal continued to break out of a mid-season swoon with his third multi-hit game in his past five, and fourth in his past eight. He now has a ten-game line that reads .350/.409/.525.
Nick Weglarz: DH, Akron: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K: Weglarz continues to toss in performances like this in what has generally been a middling year. He has had his moments, and I’m still rooting for the kid to make it to the bigs, but injuries have sapped him of his prospect status.
Juan Diaz: SS, Akron: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K: Diaz continues to roll out a hot bat with his third two-hit performance in his last five game. He upped his hit streak to seven, going 10-for-24 during that stretch.
Loek van Mil: RP, Akron: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 K: Van Mil dropped his ERA below two with this performance, and is really starting to make me wonder if he couldn’t get a bump in the next couple of weeks. He’s been really good getting outs, and while his numbers aren’t overpowering in the K department, he has been locking out runs, which is the point.
Rob Bryson: RP, Akron: 2 IP, 5 K: Bryson was absolutely dominating on Wednesday night, rolling out a 32 pitch, 21 strike outing, which is the type of pitching the Indians wanted when they included him in the Sabathia deal. Now, if he can maintain this high level, he could move into the elite status of relievers. We shall see.

Alex Monsalve: C, Carolina: 2-for-4: It was the big catcher’s second two-hit game of his run in the Carolina League. It has been a tough road for the big, 20-year-old backstop, but keep watching this kid. He’s got big power if he can refine that swing.
Danny Salazar: SP, Carolina: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 4 K: Salazar dropped his overall ERA under 3.00, and I maintain that this kid is a top 20 talent in the organization, or better, once they unleash the hounds. They are keeping him on a pitch-count, but that should change later this year, or in the winter leagues.

Lindor did manage to get his 20th stolen base, and Myles showed some selectivity with two walks,
Mason Radeke: SP, Lake County: L (5-5), 6 H, 2 R/ER, 7 K, 1 HR: He rebounded from a 7 run game on July 19th, but it’s interesting to look at his K totals in his past three starts. He’s K’ed 23 batters in 15 1/3 innings. Perhaps there’s more to this 35th rounder than meets the eye.

Tyler Naquin: CF, Mahoning Valley: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B: Naquin has a modest four-game hit streak, and also has a not-so-modest four-game doubles streak. He’s starting to figure things out offensively, and could see a bump to Lake County before too long. [but no power]
Joe Sever: 3B, Mahoning Valley: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB: Sever continues to hit the ball well for the Scrappers, and while he’s a modest prospect, he does seem to carry an advanced bat for this level. The real test will be what happens when the .313 hitter moves up to the full-season leagues.
Jacob Lee: SP, Mahoning Valley: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R/2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K: Lee only went three innings in his second start in a row after coming out of the pen exclusively to start the year. He’s pitched very well overall, and has a nice 29/5 K to BB ratio right now, in only 24 1/3 innings.

Tyler Booth: RF, AZL Indians: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI: Booth exploded with his first two-homer performance of his career, as he upped his average to .292 on the season. He could be a nice sleeper in the system going forward, as he’s got plus speed, and better power than advertised. While many think he’s another in a line of speedy, light-hitting outfielders, he may be more than that.
Doryssys Paulino: SS, AZL Indians: 4-for-5: Paulino had another error on the night, and has 12 on the season so far. He’s raking at the plate, to the tune of .359, but there’s no way he’s going to advance as a shortstop flopping around as he is right now. He’s averaging an error every other game.
Nelson Rodriguez: 1B, AZL Indians: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB: Your homework tonight is to check out some of the video on Rodriguez that’s on Youtube. Sure, it’s against moderate competition, but his blasts are legendary, and the pundits are raving about this kid as the sleeper of the draft (good call, Jeff Ellis). He may be the big hitter out of a very good draft.

BA lines are similar but limited to preseason Top 30 and top draft picks:

CLE AA Weglarz, Nick DH 4 1 2 0 .243 BB (42)
CLE AAA Phelps, Cord 2B 4 2 3 2 .270 3B (3), CS (4)
CLE HiA Wolters, Tony SS 5 1 1 1 .263
CLE LoA Lindor, Francisco SS 3 0 1 0 .267 BB (44), SB (20)
CLE SS Naquin, Tyler CF 4 1 1 0 .288 2B (8)
CLE AA Van Mil, Loek 2 3 0 0 0 1 1.93
CLE AAA McFarland, T.J. 5 8 5 5 2 4 5.25 L (4-4)
CLE R Haley, Trey 1 2 1 1 0 3 7.50

Danny Salazar: SP, Carolina: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 4 K: Salazar dropped his overall ERA under 3.00, and I maintain that this kid is a top 20 talent in the organization, or better, once they unleash the hounds. They are keeping him on a pitch-count, but that should change later this year, or in the winter leagues

Danny is my breakout pitcher this year.

Andrew Campbell is my breakout position player. I see he's moved on from Arizona to Mahoning Valley. Good Luck Andrew. I hope I don't put a hex on you.

#7: RHP, Mitchell Brown, AZL Indians:

Mitch Brown has everything that you want in a big-time draft prospect. He’s got that cannon arm, that can touch 95, and has the potential to pick up a few ticks on the gun as he develops more. He has a sharp, 12-6 curveball with a sharp break. He has a cutter that he throws in the 88 MPH range. He has a nice little changeup, that can be devastating when he works it in with his fastball. In other words, he has all the pitches you need to be successful, at 18. Sure, they all aren’t plus pitches, but they are fundamentally sound. He has fantastic mechanics, and he can replicate his delivery.

What scouts are most impressed with aren’t the physical attributes though, it’s his mental approach and solid make-up that really boosted his stock. By all indications, he doesn’t live and die by his talent, and was one of the hardest workers in the draft.

Mitch’s Dad is a former athlete himself. It turns out that Jeff Brown was a former Korean powerlifter, who is extremely active in his son’s development on several levels. They are workout fiends, and what started off as push-up and sit-up challenge, turned into something a whole lot more complicated. It wasn’t strange to see Brown dragging tractor tires around his house all day long, building his lower body.

After starts, he goes right to the gym. Why? “I need to remove the lactic acid from my bloodstream.” How? He jogs for an hour, runs wind sprints for 20 minutes, does core work for another 20, the does laps in a pool.

Brown has made two appearances so far for the Arizona Rookie League Indians. In his first game, he gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits in two innings. He really upped the ante in his second start, with a one-hit, one walk performance, while mowing down four in three innings. He’s got the make-up and the mentality of a #1 starter, and that’s exactly what he is. He’s also the top-rated starter in my rankings going forward.

There are a bunch of Indians starters grouped together in the 7-30 range that could be really good…or minor league fodder. The next two years will really clear things up. Brown seems to be a lock, but has a long way to go.

#6: CF/OF, D’vone McClure, AZL Indians:

I really had to force myself to not rank this kid a lot higher than he is listed here in these rankings, based on his incredibly high upside, to go along with his outstanding start to his AZL season. With that said, he’s an extremely raw ballplayer, and while he may have the HIGHEST upside in the system (including Lindor), he also represents a whole lot of unknowns.

This kid is 6’3” tall, and an extremely athletic 190 pounds. He’s a football player, and that’s been talked about a lot. He was an all-state outfielder, and really wanted to play both sports in college. Had he gotten that offer at a big school, I don’t believe he’d be with the Indians right now. He didn’t, and here he is.

He plays at an extremely high level, and the mystery is that this kid hasn’t played a whole lot of baseball, as he’s always split his time between football and baseball. He can fly, and has plus speed to go along with a plus arm that will allow him to play any of the outfield positions going forward. As it stands, he’s playing center, but most scouts project him as a left-fielder.

He has incredible bat speed, but is still doesn’t have very good pitch recognition. Our very own Jeff Ellis hesitantly compared him to Vladimir Guerrero. “His bat speed is so good, he can hit bad pitches very well…”

He has played in three games so far, and has at least one hit in all of them. He’s 6-for-14, with six runs, a homer, three RBI, a walk and five K’s. It’s early for this kid, so don’t expect him in the next year or two. If that happens, then this kid is really taking off, but his window is four or five seasons. If all goes well, this kid can be something special.

#5: 1B, Jesus Aguilar: Carolina Mudcats:

Aguilar is an interesting prospect, to say the least, and he’s one that I’ve absolutely loved for the past two seasons. There are question marks, though, with the big first baseman, and enough to keep me from launching him into the top two. But, there are positive intangibles as well, that could ultimately make Aguilar a prospect that gets to Cleveland sooner, rather than later.

His plus tool is his power, and while he has showcased other capabilities this season, his only plus tool remains his power. I know that he’s hit for average this season, and that’s improved his stock overall. I know that he’s shown off better pitch recognition and less aggressiveness at the plate with regards to his K/BB ration, which has also improved his stock overall. What he needs to do, however, is show these skills over time, and that is the one thing he has yet to do.

It’s folly to think that Aguilar is a .300 hitter, and that’s the danger of ranking this kid this high. The expectations may be that he’s the next David Ortiz-type first baseman, who is going to launch 40 homers and hit .310 while doing it. Can he? Sure, but that’s his ceiling…

What Aguilar has shown this year is a lot more athleticism than a lot of the prospect gurus initially saw in him. He’s been dogged by comments about his horrid footspeed and agility, but he’s shown off a bit of an uptick in his defensive prowess around first base. No, he’s not going to be a top defensive first baseman, but he can be a serviceable player there. In other words, the Indians can count on him to NOT be Travis Hafner. He can field, and get around the bag.

He’s not a speedster, and never will be, but again, is that what he’s supposed to be? In a land in which the term “tools” is all important, Aguilar has the one that isn’t apparent anywhere above him…power. THAT will translate in the bigs. Don’t let his 12 homers fool you in Carolina. There’s a 20-foot wall all the way around the outfield, and Aguilar has played his fair share of wall-ball this year. He’d have four or five more dingers, if he were in another stadium in the system.

Aguilar should end up in Akron at some point this season, and will find his way to Columbus in 2013. The rumors will likely start flying in spring, and won’t stop until he makes the team. Can he handle that pressure? Don’t know, but I do know that if he does, the Indians longing for a right-handed power hitter will end.

#4: RHP, Cody Allen: Cleveland Indians:

Cody Allen is the only major leaguer to make this list. I went back and forth about whether or not to include him in this ranking, and ultimately decided that he was still new enough to the Indians, that should he get sent down, he would still be considered a prospect.

If you’ve followed IPI at all, you know his story very well. Allen was initially drafted in the 16th round by the Indians in 2010, but he turned down the Indians offer, as he wanted top 10 money. He was coming off of Tommy John surgery though, and teams backed off him. The Indians re-drafted him in the 23rd round the following season, and he decided to sign. He started the year in Mahoning Valley, and dominated in 14 appearances, striking out 42 in 33 2/3. He moved to Lake County, and struck out 28 in 17 innings. He went to Kinston for a game, pitching three innings, giving up a hit and striking out three. He ended in Akron, where he scuffled in one outing, but boy…did he dominate. He went 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA, striking out 75 in 54 2/3 innings, while walking 14.

Domination.

Then came 2012. I watched his first two outing in Carolina this year where he struck out eight in four innings, giving up one hit. He went to Akron and gave up a run and two hits in 7 2/3, striking out 10. He went to Columbus prior to May, and pitched in 31 2/3 innings, giving up eight earned runs while striking out 35. Overall in the minors, he’s gone 43 1/3 innings, giving up 25 hits and nine runs, while walking 9 and striking out 53.

Domination.

The Indians called him up last week, and he’s made three appearances. In those appearances, he’s pitched in three relatively meaningless outings, going 3 1/3 innings without giving up a hit. He’s walked three and struck out four, but again…he’s dominating.

He may have the best arm in the entire system. He can touch 97/98, and resides in the 95’s, and he throws a ton of strikes. He won’t be back down, and if he is…whoever does it should be fired. He’s the real deal, and with Pestano, should dominate in Cleveland for years.

#3: CF, Tyler Naquin: Mahoning Valley:

Tyler Naquin wasn’t the guy they were supposed to pick. There wasn’t a soul on the planet that even had Naquin on their radar. Because of that, Naquin was panned by many as an incredible reach in the first round. Those pundits may be right, but at the end of the day, Naquin is a talent. The only question is whether or not he’s the type of talent that the Indians needed.

What Naquin was considered by all is the best pure hitter in the draft class. One of my favorite comparisons for his swing was to Will Clark, who, if you forgot or never knew, was nicknamed “The Natural” because of the way he could swing the bat. Naquin’s bat won’t remind anyone of Jim Thome, but he does have good gap power, and should hit a ton of doubles in the future. To go along with his plus bat tool, he is a plus runner, as well as having a plus arm, that some have called the best in the draft. I knew about Naquin when they drafted him, but after seeing the Indians take a bunch of outfielders recently, like Tyler Holt, I just didn’t think Naquin was even on their radar.

Yet here his is, starting for Mahoning Valley in center. He’s having a solid season thusfar, and in 26 games, has hit seven doubles and two triples in 100 at bats. He’s driven in 11, walked 15 times, and struck out 19 times. He’s stolen four bases.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Naquin in Lake County by the end of this season, and I would be shocked if he wasn’t in Carolina next season either way, if not higher. He has an outside chance of being a quick mover, and Jeff Ellis even thinks there is a slight chance that he could end up in Cleveland in August or September of next season.

This kid doesn’t have the flash or flair as a guy like McCune and Brown, but he’s a player. He fits in that Jason Kipnis mold, but perhaps with some more tools to start off with than Kip had. It won’t be long for Naquin…

#2: SS, Dorssys Paulino, AZL Indians:

There was a small part of me that wanted to put Paulino at #1, but had I done that, it would have been soley for the shock value. Lindor is, by far, the #1 guy in the system, but Paulino may end up a lot closer to him in the rankings than some people think.

Like Lindor, Paulino really has an incredible make-up. Like Lindor, when people meet this 17-year old, they are left with the impression that he’s a lot holder, and that he’s been handling himself extremely well as a then-16-year-old, newly signed guy, and a no2 17-year old, making his first appearance in the Arizona Rookie League.

People were raving about his bat when the Indians signed him to a 1.1 million dollar bonus, and he’s done nothing to take away from that assessment. He has incredible bat speed for his age, makes good contact, is a good hitter, and has home run power. At 6’0” and 175 pounds, he can fill out more, and generate even more power as he gets older. He doesn’t have plus speed, but he can run fairly well, and as he learns the intricacies of the game at the plate, you’ll likely see himself turn into a 20-30 base stealer. He’s another kid with a plus arm.

He’s just not a very good defender. He had three errors in a game over the past weekend, and he just lacks the initial instincts of the position. There is a bunch of speculation that they could move him to third base.

Danny is my breakout pitcher this year.

I had a choice between Danny Salazar and Toru Murata. I chose Salazar.

It's a bit bizarre to note a player's first 3 games in the Arizona League as part of his prospect rating. However, I hope McClure can be a good OF. We sure don't have many of them. I don't where Luigi Rodriguez fell on this list; he's be in my Top 3 with Lindor and Paulino. I know Naquin is required to be rated that high but his lack of power makes me expect we will have any Trevor Crowe on other hands. He does have a better arm, but he doesn't have a lot of speed.

Cody Allen is hardly our No. 4 prospect. He has made a stunningly fast move through the minors and could be a good middle or setup reliever. That's hardly what a No. 4 prospect should be.

Mitch Brown, along with Lovingrove and Brown give us the largest corps of HS pitchers in one draft since the famous Fab 4 of Martin, Denham, Dittler and Iforget. Perhaps this bunch will achieve more?

10-2 win for Clippers. Carrera stays hot, with a single, triple and moves his avg to 291. Goedart with 3 doubles and a single, he's at 318. Canzler singles and homers.

But the hottest Clipper is Tim Fedroff, who has been hitting great since his promotion. He'd never managed more than 4 homeruns in a season but has had 6 in 120 AAA at bats in 2012. 2 last night, pluse 2 singles, and walk and 6 RBI. Fedroff is now an impressive 383/446/617. 25 year old, of course LF hitter. I imagine he could match Johnny Damon's majorleague talent level right now.

Sturdevant 2 shutout innings, Barnes one.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... a_colaaa_1