Cleveland Sports Forum

BA report for Tuesday:

HITTER OF THE DAY: Jesus Aguilar, of — Triple-A Columbus (Indians)


Aguilar's major league debut didn't go well—3-for-16—but since he returned to Triple-A, he's feeling at home again. He homered on Sunday in his first game back at Triple-A and on Tuesday he homered twice and tied a career high with six RBIs in a 14-2 win over Charlotte. In three games back at Columbus, he is 6-for-13 with three homers and nine RBIs.

CLE AA Lindor, Francisco SS 3 2 2 0 .280 BB (33)
CLE AA Naquin, Tyler CF 4 2 3 0 .329 3B (5)
CLE AA Wolters, Tony C 3 0 1 0 .275
CLE AAA Aguilar, Jesus 1B 5 3 3 6 .300 2 HR (10), BB (23)
CLE AAA Moncrief, Carlos RF 6 0 3 2 .252
CLE AAA Ramirez, Jose LF 4 3 3 1 .315 HR (5), 2 BB (18), CS (9)
CLE HiA Gonzalez, Erik SS 4 1 3 1 .310 2 2B (11), CS (6)
CLE LoA Frazier, Clint CF 4 1 1 1 .246 HR (3)

CLE AA Anderson, Cody 3 10 8 8 0 3 4.59 L (2-4)
CLE AA Armstrong, Shawn 1 0 0 0 0 2 1.78
CLE LoA Brown, Mitch 5 1 0 0 1 4 4.27

Jesus Aguilar (Photo: Brittany Chay)

Around the Farm: June 10, 2014

By Arthur Kinney

June 11, 2014

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

•Jesus Aguilar (Columbus, 1B) - 3-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB - The RBI Machine takes things to new and uncharted heights of greatness in Tuesday night's 14-2 clobbering of the Charlotte Knights (White Sox). A .600 game BA, .667 game OBP, 2.467 game OPS, 3 hits, 4 times on base, 3 runs, 2 home runs, 6 RBI - let those numbers sink in. While this is hardly on the level of Lonnie Baseball's historical effort on Monday night, it's still pretty incredible. To be fair, comparing Lonnie's game on Monday to anything is patently unfair. That was one of the all-time great offensive nights in the history of baseball. In other words, nobody beats the Chiz, but Aguilar's night was still pretty special.

•Zach McAllister (Columbus, SP) - W (1-0), 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R (both earned), 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR allowed - Zach's rehab appearance is two bad pitches short of utter dominance. Given the length he went (94 pitches - 62 of them strikes) and his performance, his return to the Cleveland Indians roatation should be very soon.

•Jose Ramirez (Columbus, LF) - 3-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB caught stealing 1 time, picked off 1 time - A near feature level outing, but the poor baserunning puts him just below the cut line. His numbers, both on the season (.315/.374/.467 with 5 HR and 26 RBI in 40 Triple-A games) and in his last 10 games (.349/.417/.465 with 8 RBI), are worth noting, however.

•Tyler Holt (Columbus, CF) - 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 K, 1 BB - On a normal night, this continuance of Tyler' Triple-A rakeage would be in consideration for feature status. As you have likely figured out, this was not an ordinary night for the Clippers. Holt is now batting .333/.435/.385 with 5 RBI in his last 10 contests and .365/.474/.460 with 7 RBI in 16 games. Tyler should be planning to spend Labor Day evening driving up I-71.

•Adam Abraham (Columbus, DH) - 2-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB - Abraham's injury-delayed start to the season continues to swing wildly between incredible performances and hitless ones. While the overall numbers are good (.350/.417/.650 in 6 games), some consistentcy in terms of hitting would be even better.

•Giovanny Urshela (Columbus, 3B) - 3-5, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB - You know a game is incredible when you see a three-hit performance in the standard entries section of Around The Farm. This outing represents a continuing of Urshela's recently improved form. He is now .286/.333/.595 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in his last 10 games compared to only .247/.295/.452 with 5 HR and 23 RBI in 37 Triple-A games this season.

•Carlos Moncrief (Columbus, RF) - 3-6, 2 RBI, 1 K - Another 3-hit outing from a guy playing a lot better as of late (.289/.341/.526 in his last 10 versus .252/.295/.393 in 59 games on the season).

•Ryan Rohlinger (Columbus, 2B) - 2-6, 1 RBI - Rohlinger gets his first multi-hit night in a week and a half and it still seems puny compared to the offensive juggernauts surrounding him in the box score. The guy can simply not catch a break.

•Justin Sellers (Columbus, SS) - 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 Sac Fly - How good was the Clipper offense on the night? Sellers, the lone Clipper without multiple hits on the evening, went hitless and still got an RBI on a sac fly.

•Luke Carlin (Columbus, C) - 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E - This performance was from the nine hole. All you need to know about the Clippers dominance on the night.

•J.C. Ramirez (Columbus, RP) - 2 IP, perfect - J.C.-Ram continues the Central Ohio-based awesomeness on the night.

•Mark Lowe (Columbus, RP) - 1 IP, perfect, 2 K- And Lowe's dominant ninth inning makes it 12-for-12 in regards to ATF inclusion for players who took the field for the 614 ballclub on the night. This may be a first in the history of this column. I'm almost certain I've never included every player from a boxscore before.

•Francisco Lindor (Akron, SS - Game 1) - 1-3, R. The opener of the RubberDucks' doubleheader in Akron was a far more sedate affair, with Francisco scoring the only run of the game...

•Joe Wendle (Akron, 2B - Game 1) - 1-3, RBI, K. ...and Wendle driving him in.

•Cody Anderson (Akron, SP - Game 1) - L (2-4), 3 IP, 10 H, 8 R (all earned), 3 K, 3 HR allowed, 1 HBP - Cody Anderson's start did little to help matters. His struggles this season continue.

•Jordan Cooper (Akron, RP - Game 1) - 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 1 HBP - Finally, the bullpen provides some good news from this game....

•Giovanni Soto (Akron, RP - Game 1) - 2 IP, 1 H - ...and here's some more.

•Tyler Naquin (Akron, CF - Game 2) - 3-4, 2 R, 1 3B - The nightcap was a far better situation offensively, as evidenced by this performance, which likely would be feature worthy on a normal night. This game continues a strong stretch for Nauin, who is .390/.432/.537 with five RBIf over his last 10 games and .322/.376/.444 with 25 RBI on 61 games on the season. He now has a 13-game hitting streak.

•Francisco Lindor (Akron, SS - Game 2) - 2-3, 2 R, 1 BB - Lindor seems to be coming out of his recent slump. Hopefully, this is the case.

•Bryan LaHair (Akron, 1B - Game 2) - 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E - One of two mullti-hit, multi-RBI efforts on the night for Akron in Game 2. Hopefully, this game also represents an emergence from his mini-slump.

•Alex Lavisky (Akron, DH - Game 2) - 2-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI - Here's the other. Lavisky's batting average reached the .300 mark (.303) with this performance.

•Matt Packer (Akron, SP - Game 2) - L (1-1), 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R (all earned), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR allowed, 1 WP - All of this hitting was undone by poor starting pitching, however. Packer seems to be having a difficult time getting back in the swing of meaningful baseball as both of his starts since coming back from rehab in extended spring training in Goodyear have been poor. Hopefully he can get himself together soon and start pitching like he has in the past.

•Adam Miller (Akron, RP - Game 2) - 0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R (all earned), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR allowed, 1 WP - The relief pitching didn't exactly help either. Miller is also coming off of a delayed start to his season, but Miller had a good run in the last two-thirds of May before his recent struggles. His numbers are now all officially to be ignored, barring his recent difficulties continuing to intensify, as this effort sent them into the stratosphere.

•Tyler Sturdevant and Shawn Armstrong (Akron, RPs - Game 2) - 1 IP, perfect, 2 Ks each - Some good news on the pitching front comes from the usual suspects to close out a tough 14 innings for the RubberDucks and their fans at the corner of Main and State.

•Todd Hankins (Carolina, CF) - 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 CS - Hankins has been hitting better as of late (.275 in his last ten as opposed to .250 in 50 games on the Advanced Single-A season).

•Erik Gonzalez (Carolina, SS) - 3-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 CS - Gonzalez remains an unstopabble force of nature, tearing through the Carolina League at a .310/.343/.410 clip with 30 RBI and 8 SB in 47 games.

•Yandy Diaz (Carolina, 3B) - 2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB - Diaz posts his second straight multi-hit game. He looks as if he can hit. The issue will be staying healthy as he spent two months on the disabled list after an early season injury.

•Alex Monsalve (Carolina, C) - 2-4, 1 RBI - Monsalve is another hitter doing much better in his last 10 games than the season as a whole. He is .308/.333/.436 during the former time span and .241/..295/.333 in the latter.

•James Roberts (Carolina, 2B) - 2-4 - Roberts' second multi-hit game in his last three nights gives some hope that his recent 5-for-27 stretch may be behind him.

•Michael Peoples (Carolina, SP) - W (3-6), 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R (earned), 2 BB, 3 K - Peoples picks up his first win in exactly a month, a stretch which included some solid - or better - outings, but also some bad luck.

•Benny Suarez (Carolina, RP) - H (2), 2.1 IP, 1 K - Suarez shuts down the Potomac Nationals bats to keep the Mudcats in the lead.

•Jacob Lee (Carolina, CP) - S (1), 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (earned), 3 K,1 HR - Despite one bad pitch, Lee strikes out the side to pick up his first saveof his pro career.

•Clint Frazier (Lake County, CF) - 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI - Frazier's first inning solo home run was one of only two notable offensive events for the Captains on the night.

•Eric Haase (Lake County, starting C) - 1-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E. Haase's homer in the next at-bat was the other. He left the game in the bottom of the eighth with Richard Stock coming in a a defensive replacement. Hopefully this was merely a matter of getting Stock some work and not due to an injury to Haase.

•Mitch Brown (Lake County, SP) - ND, 5 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K - Brown has a solid outing, but only lasts five innings.

•Matt Whitehouse (Lake County, RP) - BS (4), 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (all earned), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR allowed, 1 WP - Matt seems to have more good outings than bad ones, but the bad ones are really bad.

•Wander Beras (Lake County, RP) - L (2-1), 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 earned), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR allowed, 1 BK - Beras suffers his first loss of the season in his second straight rough outing. Hopefully, his recent performance does not become a trend.

Wednesday game stats from BA:

CLE AA Lindor, Francisco SS 4 1 1 0 .280 BB (34)
CLE AA Naquin, Tyler CF 3 1 1 1 .329 2B (10), BB (23)
CLE AA Rodriguez, Ronny 3B-1B 5 1 3 0 .237
CLE AA Wendle, Joe 2B 5 0 3 0 .246

CLE MAJ Bauer, Trevor 5.1 7 3 3 1 1 4.24 L (1-3)

Not reported because a) he was not a preseason Top 30 prospect and b) because the game was rained out, was another 3 shutout innings by Lefty Ryan Merritt for Lake County. I would assume he'll be promoted to Carolina sooner rather than later since he's fully mastered his current level of competition.

Scrappers roster updated with signings through just about this very moment:

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... 5&sid=milb

New signees Drake Roberts and Austin Fisher help flesh out the infield. None of the top of the draft OFs have inked yet so the OF crop here is dominated by youngsters with promise but no record of success, like Josh McAdams and D'vone McClure and Nick Hamilton, Tom' son, whose pro career is probably nearing its brief conclusion. Highly touted 18 year old catcher Francisco Mejia is here but the fabled Sicnarf Loopstock is not.

This year's low-ceiling draftees Jordan Carter, David Speer and J.P. Feyereisen are here as potential starters. Probably the most interesting pitcher is 20-year-old Sean Brady a 2013 pick or Kieran Lovegrove, still only 19, a 2013 choice.

Mejia is the only one on the roster who was on the Tribe preseason top 30. That will change, in regards the 2015 Prospect List after Zimmer and Papi and perhaps Greg Allen sign and move to Niles, Ohio, for their first pro summers.

For David Speer, Austin Fisher and J.P. Feyereisen, the waiting truly was the hardest part. Now that the wait is over, the trio hope that their patience is rewarded with a successful summer at Eastwood Field.Speer, Fisher and Feyereisen were among the 28 players present Thursday when the Mahoning Valley Scrappers hosted media day.
All three were recently drafted by the Cleveland Indians, and were assigned to the Scrappers earlier this week. The Scrappers open their season tonight at Jamestown. The game will mark the first of a four-game series against the Jammers. Speer was drafted by the Indians last Saturday in the final day of the June draft. Just days earlier, the left-handed pitcher earned a degree in economics and political science at Columbia University.
“It’s been a crazy week,” Speer said. “Heading into the last day of the draft, I didn’t know where or if my name would be called. I had a few teams show interest, but the Indians weren’t really one of them. I was shocked when I saw my name come up on the internet. I couldn’t be happier.
”When informed that he would be playing for the Scrappers, Speer admitted that he had to again turn to the internet for information. “Honestly, I didn’t know where Mahoning Valley was,” Speer said. “I had to go to Google maps. Then it was like, bang, bang, bang. Book a flight, get here, get a physical and two days later I’m in uniform.”This past spring, Speer went 7-2 with a 1.86 ERA at Columbia. In 87 innings, he recorded 75 strikeouts while issuing just seven walks.
Fisher was selected in the 13th round of the June draft out of Kansas State. The infielder batted .300 with the Wildcats this spring as a junior. He played third base as a freshman, but was moved to shortstop the past two seasons. “I like the shortstop position, but I’ll play wherever they want me to play,” Fisher said. “I’m just thrilled to be here. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove myself
Like Speer, Fisher’s transition from college to professional baseball was quick and to the point.“It’s like, yesterday I was in Kansas and today I’m here,” Fisher said. “I think the longest part of the process was being delayed in the Chicago airport for almost five hours.”
Feyereisen was a 16th-round selection out of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The right-handed pitcher compiled a 15-5 record in 36 appearances, including 26 starts, with a 3.05 ERA while at UWSP.“Every day growing up you dream to play professional baseball,” Feyereisen said. “I was pretty small in high school, and caught up junior and senior year, but playing pro never came to my mind until this past year
.“Then all of a sudden, I’m drafted, signed, on a plane and here all in the span of a couple of days.”
The Scrappers’ 28-man opening day roster includes 10 players who previously played in the Mahoning Valley. Among them are catcher Martin Cervenka and outfielders Joel Mejia and Josh McAdams, all mainstays in the 2013 Scrappers’ lineup. The Scrappers will once again be guided by manager Ted Kubiak.
The 72-year-old former big leaguer managed the Scrappers in 1999 and 2000. He returned in 2003, then began his third stint with the franchise in 2012.Tonight, Kubiak will take part in what he believes is his 42nd opening night in professional baseball. He said the thrill of a new season never gets old. “I love the game, I just love being here and having a uniform on,” Kubiak said. “I love being around the guys. Where else would I be if not here?”
Following the four-game series in Jamestown, the Scrappers return to the Mahoning Valley for their home opener. They will host Auburn in a three-game set beginning Tuesday. This marks the 16th year the Indians’ Class A affiliate of the New York-Penn League has played its home games at Eastwood Field. - See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/jun/13/t ... fQVZV.dpuf

CLE AA Lindor, Francisco SS 4 1 1 0 .279 SB (18)
CLE AA Naquin, Tyler CF 5 0 1 0 .327
CLE AAA Moncrief, Carlos RF 2 2 1 1 .255 HR (6)
CLE AAA Ramirez, Jose 2B 4 0 1 0 .314
CLE LoA Frazier, Clint DH 5 3 3 4 .250 2B (7)
CLE AA Armstrong, Shawn 2 0 0 0 1 1 1.65

Thursday games:

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20140612

Info regarding those not mentioned by BA:

Roberto Perez with a double in 3 trips, he's been hitting OK since return from DL: 8-31, although not at the clip from before when he managed 5 homers.

Vinnie Pestano with a perfect ninth with one strikeout; scoreless work in his last 10 games, walking only 2 in 9 2/3.

26 year old Anthony Gallas reaches AA. Triple and Homer in his second game for Akron. It looks like he's up to replace Bryson Myles who must be on the DL again.

Adam Miller 3 runs in 2/3. Giovanni Soto 5 in 2/3. Joe Colon 8 hits 2 walks only 3 runs in 5 innings.

Frazier's 3 hits led Captains to a 13-6 win. Other offense delivered by irrelevant players.

Robbie Aviles not as sharp as most starts, 4 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings.

Carolina rained out again.

It looks the Arizona League doesn't start play until next Friday. So Indians have time to sign a few high school kids for that team, although it will probably consist primarily of Dominican Summer League grads and some Arizona returnees from 2013.

Excellent night for some Tribe pitchers:

Dace Kime wins his first after 9 losses pitches an excellent 6 2/3 shutout innings with 9 strikeouts
Adam Plutko with his first star quality outing in Carolina with 6 shutout innings and 7 K
Each allowed only 3 hits and a walk.
Kime struggled mightly in April, ERA 9.9, gradual improvement since. Plutko starred in his time in Lake County has had more problems at the higher level. These were the 2 top starting pitcher prospects drafted in 2013. We could use their continued success to bolster the thin pitching ranks. Add Luis Lugo who had a similar line in his last start and they're the cream of the crop in Class A and perhaps in the organization as Cody Anderson has failed to match his Carolina success in Akron.

Friday boxes:

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20140613

Other highlights or notable lights:

D'Vone McClure in his NYPL debut draws 3 walks. Last season in Arizona he drew 5 walks in 106 AB vs 40K
Sean Brady 5th round pick in '13, LHP, debuted less well: 4-8-5-5-0-3
Note on Francisco Mejia C who BA listed with his 3 hits, double and 3 rbi in his debut: He's only 18 years old in a league almost exclusively 20+-year-olds. He is a potentially very bright prospect. His defense is rated very highly and his offense in his debut in the states last year was considered a surprise.

LeVon Washington another patient hitter, drew 2 walks for Carolina.

On the same subject, Tyler Holt, 25 year old not very heralded OF now with Columbus, walked 2 times and hit his first AAA homer. At Columbus he's 348/464/478 with more walks 15 than strikeouts 13.

Lou Head new closer for the Aeros fanned the 3 men he faced. One awful game (3 runs in 1/3 inning) will insure his ERA stays very high for a long time, but in his other three games for Akron his composite line is: 3-1-0-0-1-6
Will Roberts, not much of a prospect either, with a solid 6 inning start for Akron: 6-6-1-1-0-4 3.86

Cleveland Indians ‏@tribeinsider
Draft signing today (14 overall now signed)

Round 11
RHP Jared Robinson
Cerritos College (CA)

An undersized righthander with a quick arm, Robinson lacks upside but makes up for it with quality stuff, good athleticism and a clean arm action. His fastball sits at 90-92 mph and touches 93, and some scouts say they saw him bump 94 early in the year, though his fastball lacks downhill plane. A two-way player who has started and relieved at Cerritos, Robinson has shown three fringy offspeed pitches, but he’ll likely be a two-pitch bullpen guy in pro ball. Some scouts prefer his slider, which has a chance to be average, while others like the shape and depth on his curveball, which he just needs to throw for strikes more consistently. Robinson is committed to Long Beach State but considered signable in the seventh- to 10th-round range.

Yesterday's signing: OF Greg Allen

Allen generates a wide range of opinion among Southern California area scouts, with some liking him in the top three or four rounds but others seeing him as a fifth- to 10th-round talent. [we got him in the 6th] He has posted three solid years for San Diego State but has never topped an .800 OPS, [pretty unimpressive] and some scouts question whether he’ll hit enough to be an everyday player. Generously listed at 6 feet, 175 pounds, Allen has well below-average power but is capable of shooting balls into the gaps at times. A switch-hitter, he has a less complex swing and more patience from the left side. He has enough bat-to-ball instincts to give him a chance to be an average hitter if he can learn to chase fewer breaking balls. He has become more patient at the plate in the last two years, walking about as much as he strikes out. Allen is an aggressive baserunner with plus speed, helping him steal 50 bases over the last two years at San Diego State. His speed plays up in center field, where he has an extra gear when chasing down balls in the gaps, earning him above-average grades on his defense. He has an average arm. [Not too exciting. Dont' see any one particular skill here.]

Yesterday's 9th round signing: Alexis Pantoja, SS, Puerto Rican Baseball Academy. Sounds like the Harvard of the Caribbean

Pantojas has an attractive profile as one of the better defensive shortstops in the draft class, and a lefthanded hitter plays with energy. He has a slender, athletic 5-foot-11, 160-pound build and has grown stronger over the last year, but he needs to continue to add strength. He grows on scouts in game action because of his defensive prowess as a soft-handed, reliable defender with above-average range and a strong, accurate arm. Pantojas' speed plays as average out of the box and better on the bases with good baserunning instincts. Added strength has helped his swing as a contact-oriented hitter with a slightly uphill path, but he’s still unlikely to produce much impact with the bat and will have well below-average power. The scarcity of talent at the position could push him up draft boards.

[Good field not hit ss. He could hang around a few levels. Heck, John McDonald still bounces back and forth to the majors and he's about 53 now.]

Danny Salazar gonna be activated and start for Columbus tomorrow.

Zach Mac is making rehab start tonight. 65 pitches.