Prospect Transactions: Aug. 17-23

LeVon Washington CLE Assigned to Arizona League (rehabbing hip)

I had to decide between Toru Murata and Danny Salazar which would be my breakout pitcher this year. Both at Akron. Both doing very well. I guess I couldn't go wrong either way.

Arizona Rookie League Notebook: 8/19/12 - 8/25/12

Dillon Howard (Photo: Bill Mitchell)
By Sean Mahon
August 27, 2012
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Week: August 19-25

3-4 on the week, 29-24 overall—2nd in AZL Central (4 GB of Dodgers)

Transactions:

OF LeVon Washington received on rehab assignment
RHP Hector Rondon received on rehab assignment
IF Dorssys Paulino assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers
RHP Joshua Nervis assigned to Lake County Captains
IF Jairo Kelly assigned from Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Quick recap:

It was one of the tougher weeks for the AZL Indians as they lost two quality players to promotion and suffered their first losing week in a month. They were outscored 40-23 and averaged just over three runs per game last week, well below their typical run production. The side effects of losing their prized number three hitter in Paulino may be attributed to the lower production last week. They Indians play their final three games of the Arizona League this week.

Player of the Week: Jorge Martinez

With Paulino out of Arizona, J-Mart is obviously the finest bat on the AZL Indians roster to date. Martinez is in the top five in almost every offensive category and has really earned his status on the team as he came into the season under the radar after hitting a pedantic .235 in the AZL between ’10-’11. Last week, Martinez raked at .429 (9-21) clip with six RBI in his six games played. Martinez is 19, so while he’s not incredibly young for this league, he is certainly not old for it. The switch hitting third baseman is a natural righty, but can really impress from the left side of the plate. Though the swing looks less polished, the majority of his extra base hits are from the left side. It’s a bit of a slap hitting approach, but he gets enough hip turn and slap to crush the ball well against the young AZL opposition. Martinez’s line is .348/.391/.561 and look for him to be within the top 30 prospects for IPI coming into the 2013 season.

Pitcher of the Week: Felix Sterling

A reassignment to the AZL may be just what the doctor ordered for Sterling. Sterling was struggling in Lake County with control issues and giving up long balls, but may have found his confidence again with a mighty strong month in Arizona. Last week, Sterling threw four shutout innings against the AZL Dodgers, striking out six and walking just one. The husky righty has thrown 12 consecutive shutout innings and struck out 19 in that stretch, putting on a grand total of ten base runners in the three combined outings. Sterling’s first few outings looked timid—he’d run into trouble with base runners on, not going right after hitters. His latter outings have been different as he is throwing his entire repertoire and getting a plethora of swings and misses. In 21.2 IP, the league is hitting .177 off of him, striking out 31 times.

It was a tough week for… Claudio Bautista

The young second baseman was an absolute terror for much of the beginning of August. He really put himself on the offensive map once he reached the .315 average hold and saw a spike in extra base hits and homers. However, Bautista may have tired as he ran out of gas the last few weeks. His batting average is still a respectable .274, but he’s been in a tailspin the last few weeks. Over his last 10 games, he’s hitting just .179/.289/.385. It’s been well documented the emotional, all-out play of Bautista. Thus, booms and busts could be a trend for him; he looks like a streaky player. Bautista’s bat is his best asset with surprising pop and a very patient plate approach, but he’ll need to find some consistency from week to week.

Dillon Howard Notes

Howard really looked to have turned a corner in the Arizona League as the big righty had his best back to back outings in August, surrendering just two earned runs in 11.0 innings over the two starts. However, the ability to get hits off Howard was most evident on Friday as the pitching prospect surrendered nine earned runs on eight hits. On the plus side, Howard walked just one, but his inability to get ahead in the count and hit the corners has continued to stunt his development as a top pitching prospect. Howard owns a 7.38 ERA in the Arizona League and has given up an eye opening 59 hits in his 39 innings this season as the young hitters have hit .337 against him. Perhaps this season will be written off as an “injury-ridden” year if Howard shines in 2013, but at the moment, the overall numbers are worrisome for the 20 year old. That was likely Howard’s final start of the season and while he entered the season as the IPI’s top rated pitching prospect, his stock has drastically fallen after a tough 2012. Hopefully he can bounce back from a slow season as both youth and pure stuff are still obviously on his side.

LeVon Washington Notes

Top outfield prospect LeVon Washington had a fine trio of AZL games on his rehab back to Lake County as he went 4-9 with a stolen base and good situational hitting. Washington began his rehab trek back last Sunday and was eased back into games, playing every other day and being regularly subbed out. On Tuesday, he was dialed in going 3-for-3, stole third base and was hitting the ball on the ground and legging out some infield hits as he played five innings in centerfield, good signs considering his hip injury kept him out of action so long. Washington concluded his Arizona tour on Thursday going 1-for-4 and playing in 7 innings of a shortened doubleheader, hitting the ball with more authority despite less to show for it.

Scouting Notes: Caleb Hamrick

Last week, Hamrick saw action in two games as he threw two innings in each outing. His August 19th outing against the talented AZL Athletics squad was shining as he threw two shutout innings, striking out three and left the bases dry with no walks or hits. On Thursday, he threw another pair of innings surrendering two runs on four hits and two walks.

Hamrick’s repertoire consists of a fastball, curveball/slider and split-change. The split-change is Hamrick’s big go-to pitch and sits 76-79 MPH and looks like a real plus pitch. Hamrick’s fastball out of the windup sits 90-92 MPH and touched 93 this week, while out of the stretch he sits primarily 88-91 MPH. Hamrick’s breaking ball is a tough one to track as it’s neither a true curveball nor slider, but sits between 77-81. Physically and stuff wise, he has the makings to be a starting pitcher and will likely see time in the rotation come 2013. Considering he’s had just three outings in ’12, the 18 year old Texan will likely start the 2013 season in Arizona again, unless the Tribe opts to push him along.

The AZL Indians look to conclude the season with a strong finish this week as they play the Mariners on Tuesday and Brewers on Wednesday.

W: Salazar (4-0, 2.25) L: Cole (3-6, 2.90)
S: Guilmet (23)
Akron Top of the 7th

Ryan Rohlinger called out on strikes.
Michel Hernandez singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Quincy Latimore.
Jordan Henry singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Gerrit Cole. Michel Hernandez to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Davis Stoneburner replaces Michel Hernandez.
Tyler Holt walks. Davis Stoneburner to 3rd. Jordan Henry to 2nd.
Pitching Change: Jeff Inman replaces Gerrit Cole.
Thomas Neal reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by third baseman Stefan Welch. Davis Stoneburner scores. Jordan Henry scores. Tyler Holt to 3rd. Thomas Neal to 2nd.
Chun-Hsiu Chen out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Quincy Latimore. Tyler Holt scores.
Jesus Aguilar grounds out, shortstop Gustavo Nunez to first baseman Matt Curry

Lake County Top of the 9th

Pitching Change: Daniel Carela replaces Jordan Hershiser.
Bryson Myles called out on strikes.
Luigi Rodriguez walks.
Zach MacPhee walks. Luigi Rodriguez to 2nd.
Leonardo Castillo strikes out swinging.
Jose Ramirez doubles (13) on a line drive to left fielder Scott Schebler. Luigi Rodriguez scores. Zach MacPhee scores.
Francisco Lindor grounds out, second baseman Jesus Arredondo to first baseman O'Koyea Dickson.

Batavia and Mahoning Valley was postponed

Forgot to add the pitcher's summaries to that Akron box score above:
Guilmet with save #23
Salazar continues to pitch well. He's coming off of TJ surgery, let's hope he continues to fight back.

Aeros report: Danny Salazar loving life in the win column

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

Published: August 23, 2012 - 11:16 PM

Aeros report:

Danny Salazar loving life in the win column

There was a time when Aeros pitcher Danny Salazar could not have cared less if he ever earned another win.

That’s a good thing, considering it had been two years between the right-handed pitcher’s last win (May 6, 2010) until his next (July 31, 2012).

After undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery, his recovery was painstakingly slow.

Salazar’s innings were so limited, it wasn’t until late July that he managed to pitch a full five innings at High Class-A Carolina, limiting Myrtle Beach to an earned run on three hits to finally get back into the win column.

“I was pitching on a limited count, so I was just trying to do the best I could with the little I had in each outing,” Salazar said. “Win or lose, I couldn’t worry about that.”

When Salazar was finally able to get back on the mound, he started at 30 pitches in each outing. Slowly, his limit was increased by 10-pitch increments and is now at 90.

“He’s done a good job with some solid outings this season working back from all that he’d gone through the last year and a half,” Aeros manager Chris Tremie said. “But in his first outing with an 80-to-90-pitch limit, we got to see what he can really do. Most encouraging is the fact that even as he got closer to the 80-pitch range, he was throwing the ball with as much velocity and as much command as he had early on in the game.”

Salazar, 22, started this season with Carolina, going 1-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 16 starts, He struck out 53 and walked 19. His only setback so far was being sidelined for a month after his first two starts with soreness in the reconstructed elbow.

In his next 14 starts, not only did the 6-foot, 190-pound Salazar prove healthy, he only gave up more than two runs once. His reward was a recent promotion to Double-A.

After ending that long winless drought, Salazar is now enjoying that regular winning feeling again with the Aeros.

In his first four starts with the Aeros, he has three wins to go along with a 2.45 ERA and a 15-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Salazar’s most dominating victory with the Aeros came last week, when he pitched seven strong innings and limited the Reading Phillies to a first-inning run on three hits overall. He struck out eight and retired the final 14 batters he faced.

“It was the first time that I’d gone really deep into a game since my surgery, and I felt very good out there,” said Salazar, who signed with the Indians in 2006 as a non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic. “My slider wasn’t working very well, but I commanded my fastball very well, and my change-up, too.”

One big benefit of having more innings to work with showed in Salazar’s recent outing. It gives him more time to develop a pitch that isn’t necessarily working early in the game.

“He was kind of casting a little bit with his slider early in the game and they yanked it a couple times,” Tremie said. “But as the game went on, he had better command of his fastball and as a result, started to get a better feel for his slider as the game went on. Thus, he had better off-speed pitches in the middle to later innings than he did early in the game.”

44. Danny Salazar, RHP

DOB: 1/11/1990

Height/Weight: 6-0/180

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Acquired: International free agent in 2006

Scouting Report:

Salazar was signed in 2006 out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year old. In addition to pitching, Salazar was a shortstop as a youngster in the Dominican, but the Indians made the call to make him a pitcher full-time right off the bat. He’s had some injury issues, with an elbow sprain in 2010 leading to Tommy John surgery, which limited him to just the 14+ innings of work prior to the end of the 2011 season. But he was able to make up some innings in both the instructional leagues as well as in the Panama Winter League.

Salazar throws a fastball, changeup and slider. Prior to the injury, his fastball sat between 89-92 MPH. But after the TJ surgery, he picked up several MPH on the pitch, sitting between 91-94 and even touching 98. It’s possible that the improvement came because Salazar was working in shorter stints to protect the surgically-repaired elbow, but it is not at all unheard of for players to pick up a little arm strength after having the procedure. If the uptick in velocity sticks, Salazar’s prospect status will take a nice little bump. His changeup is a little further along right now than his slider, but both pitches have a future grade of at least average.

Like Josh Tomlin and Austin Adams, the former shortstop Salazar is a good athlete who fields his position extremely well. The Indians added him to the 40-man roster this offseason, showing that they believe the young Dominican can be a healthy and valuable part of the organization going forward. He needs to continue to refine his secondary pitches and improve his fastball command in order to follow up on his successful 2011, and as a 22-year old he needs to move quickly through the organization. He should start 2012 in the high-A Carolina Mudcats rotation, and should be able to throw with no restrictions.

Glass Half-Full: Salazar remains healthy and effective in 2012
Glass Half-Empty: The elbow issues aren’t in the past after all

I followed Toru Murata, Danny Salazar, and Steven Wright when they were playing winter ball in Panama this past off season. Because of how well they were pitching, I chose Murata and Salazar as my breakout pitchers this year. Wright was in the mix also. Between Murata and Salazar, I chose Salazar based mainly of the reports I was reading from the Panama sports agencies and reading the box scores. Sometimes winter ball can be a good thing.

At least for those who may think that they need some extra work

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STATS FROM PANAMA

JOEZ- Is that Wright the guy we traded to Boston for Lillibridge?

Transactions: Lars Anderson for Steven Wright

by Ryan on Aug 1, 2012 2:00 AM EDT in Transactions

Traded RHP Steven Wright (AA) to the Boston Red Sox for 1B/OF Lars Anderson (AAA)

First, some housekeeping. Because Anderson was on Boston's 40-man roster and Wright wasn't on the Indians' 40-man roster, the Indians will need to make room for him by removing someone on the 40-man roster. The obvious candidates for that are Derek Lowe (who after last night's adventure is not likely to get a chance to make another start) or Jeremy Accardo (who has been awful as well). So the Indians will need to make a move, but it won't a particularly painful decision to make.

[Update: because the Indians transferred Lonnie Chisenhall to the 60-day DL last week and therefore have a free 40-man roster spot, the above paragraph is moot.]

Now for the trade itself.

Although Anderson is a first baseman and has had over 1200 at-bats at AAA, he's not going to be a solution for 2013's squad, at least to start the season. He's a big guy (6'4", 215 lbs) and has good plate discipline and the ability to hit the ball the other way, but he's had problems making good contact at higher levels. In three seasons in Pawtucket, he's slugged .422, way too low a number for a corner prospect. This scouting report mentions his inability to pull the ball in the air, which again is not something you usually see with a first base prospect..

The good news is that Anderson has at least one option left (he was added to the 40-man roster in September 2010), so the Indians can be patient with him. He was once considered one of the better position prospects in baseball, rated as high as #17 by Baseball America before the 2009 season, and was rated #87 going into the 2010 season. Those days as a highly-rated prospect are over, but he's only 24, and still has the physical tools that impressed scouts in the first place. So I think the Indians will keep Anderson in AAA through the end of the minor-league season, give him some at-bats in September, but unless something amazing happens, he's going to start the 2013 season in AAA, and if he starts to hit for power, the Indians will find a spot for him.

Wright was an relatively inconsequential starting pitcher in his first two seasons in the Indians organization, and was moved to the bullpen after that, usually not a good sign for a 24-year-old. After two seasons pitching in relief, he decided to try something unconventional; throw the knuckleball. The Indians agreed to the experiment, and sent him down to Lake County to start the 2011 season to hone his new pitch. He ended the season back in Akron, but this as a starter, and through 20 starts in 2012, he has a 2.49 ERA, striking out 7.9/9 and allowing just 6.7 hits per 9. He's 27 years old, but still not eligible for minor-league free agency. If he's left off the Boston 40-man roster this winter, someone could conceivably select him in the Rule 5 Draft.

The Indians still don't know what they have in Matt LaPorta, and with no other first base prospect/young player in the higher levels of the organization (Jesus Aguilar is the closest, and he's still in Carolina), they made this deal to provide at least some depth going into next year.

JOEZ- Thanks.

You are welcome Lou! Are you staying dry?