Story on "toolsy prospects with something to prove" in short season ball:
Indians LHP Brady Aiken, Rookie-level AZL Indians: Prospectphiles and casual fans alike are aware of Aiken's Draft experiences, but none have seen him make a Minor League start. That'll change Monday when the Indians' No. 4 prospect takes the mound in the Arizona League when that complex-level circuit officially gets its start. Aiken was taken first overall by the Astros in 2014 but couldn't come to an agreement with the organization, reportedly because Houston had dropped its signing-bonus offer after finding a potential issue with the left-hander's elbow. Aiken headed to the IMG Academy with an eye on returning for the 2015 Draft, only to see his stock take a dive when an elbow injury in his first start later required Tommy John surgery. The 19-year-old has gone 15 months since that fateful start, about the normal time for a Tommy John recovery. When healthy, Aiken has three plus pitches in his fastball, changeup and curve with good control. The Indians had positive reports on his road to recovery earlier this month, and now Aiken will be able to put the surgery and two Draft experiences behind him and finally show off that stuff on the mound again.
Re: Minor Matters
5597Bobby Bradley has hit home runs in many different locales in his baseball career, from the South in his days as a Mississippi prep star to the American southwest in the Arizona League in his pro debut to now the Eastern seaboard in the Carolina League.
The Indians first baseman will get a chance to add another unique location to his home run register next Monday: On an aircraft carrier.
MIDWAY CLASSIC
When: Monday, June 20, 5 p.m. PST
Where: On the deck of the USS Midway, San Diego
Participants: California League—Travis Demeritte (High Desert), Chris Shaw (San Jose), Dawel Lugo (Visalia), Kyle Petty (Bakersfield). Carolina League—Bobby Bradley (Lynchburg), Drew Ward (Potomac), Yu-Cheng Chang (Lynchburg), TBD
Format: Single-elimination, head-to-head, three rounds. Each player gets 15 swings per round
SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals
1. Carolina vs. Carolina
2. Carolina vs. Carolina
3. California vs. California
4. California vs. California
Semifinals
5. Winner of #1 Carolina vs. Winner of #2 Carolina
6.Winner of #3 California vs. Winner of #4 California
Finals
7. Winner of Carolina bracket vs. Winner of California bracket
Bradley, the No. 93 prospect in the BA Top 100, was one of seven players announced this week as participants in the inaugural Midway Classic Home Run Contest on the deck of the USS Midway, a Naval aircraft carrier commissioned at the end of World War II and now anchored in San Diego.
Bradley and Co. will get a chance to showcase their power by hitting “home runs” into the Pacific Ocean off the carrier. Home plate will be located 243 feet from the bow of the ship, and buoys placed in the harbor will signify the home run barrier.
The contest serves as the home run derby for the 20th Carolina-California League all-star game, which will be played the following day in Lake Elsinore, Calif., home of the Padres high Class-A affiliate.
“When I heard what it was, being on the aircraft carrier, I was extremely ecstatic about getting picked,” Bradley said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Bradley earned the derby spot by leading the Carolina League with 15 home runs for Lynchburg entering Thursday. He also is second in the league with a .509 slugging percentage.
Bradley will be joined on the Carolina League side by Nationals infielder Drew Ward (10 homers) from Potomac and fellow Indians prospect Yu-Cheng Chang (seven homers) from Lynchburg. The fourth participant from the Carolina League has yet to be announced.
Rangers infielder Travis Demeritte will lead the Cal League. Demeritte entered Thursday with a league-leading 16 home runs for High Desert. He will be joined by Giants first baseman Chris Shaw (13 homers) from San Jose, Diamondbacks shortstop Dawel Lugo (nine homers) from Visalia, and Mariners first baseman Kyle Petty (eight homers) from Bakersfield.
“You just always want to bring the title back to your side in anything you do,” Bradley said. “For all of us, it’s a chance to be a part of something pretty cool.”
The idea of hosting the home run derby on the USS Midway was hatched by former Lake Elsinore Storm president and reigning BA Minor League Executive of the Year Dave Oster. Oster, who now runs a marketing and consulting business, was inspired in part by the 2012 South Atlantic League all-star home run derby—the first round of which was held on the USS Yorktown anchored just outside of Charleston, S.C.—but this will be the first time an entire derby, start to finish, will be held on a maritime vessel.
“We were just trying to think of something a little more creative and different, knowing that it was the 75th anniversary season of the Cal League and we wanted to do something special,” said Oster, who spoke with Charleston RiverDogs executives Mike Veeck and Dave Echols about their experience. “(Storm general manager) Raj (Narayanan) and I were sitting around throwing around ideas and thought ‘Hey, what if we go hit some balls out into the bay?’ We both thought it was a good idea and reached out to the folks at the Midway and met with them and they thought it was a great idea, great exposure for both sides.”
The festivities will include professional surfers Taylor Knox, Jeff Clark, and Scott Chandler taking swings in a pre-event home run derby of their own before the all-stars step up to the plate. Individuals on kayaks, paddleboards and will be retrieving the balls hit into the bay.
Simply put, it will be a home run experience unlike anything Bradley or the other minor league participants have ever had before.
“I’ve never hit a home run on a boat,” Bradley said, chuckling. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m just grateful to have a chance to be a part of it.”
The Indians first baseman will get a chance to add another unique location to his home run register next Monday: On an aircraft carrier.
MIDWAY CLASSIC
When: Monday, June 20, 5 p.m. PST
Where: On the deck of the USS Midway, San Diego
Participants: California League—Travis Demeritte (High Desert), Chris Shaw (San Jose), Dawel Lugo (Visalia), Kyle Petty (Bakersfield). Carolina League—Bobby Bradley (Lynchburg), Drew Ward (Potomac), Yu-Cheng Chang (Lynchburg), TBD
Format: Single-elimination, head-to-head, three rounds. Each player gets 15 swings per round
SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals
1. Carolina vs. Carolina
2. Carolina vs. Carolina
3. California vs. California
4. California vs. California
Semifinals
5. Winner of #1 Carolina vs. Winner of #2 Carolina
6.Winner of #3 California vs. Winner of #4 California
Finals
7. Winner of Carolina bracket vs. Winner of California bracket
Bradley, the No. 93 prospect in the BA Top 100, was one of seven players announced this week as participants in the inaugural Midway Classic Home Run Contest on the deck of the USS Midway, a Naval aircraft carrier commissioned at the end of World War II and now anchored in San Diego.
Bradley and Co. will get a chance to showcase their power by hitting “home runs” into the Pacific Ocean off the carrier. Home plate will be located 243 feet from the bow of the ship, and buoys placed in the harbor will signify the home run barrier.
The contest serves as the home run derby for the 20th Carolina-California League all-star game, which will be played the following day in Lake Elsinore, Calif., home of the Padres high Class-A affiliate.
“When I heard what it was, being on the aircraft carrier, I was extremely ecstatic about getting picked,” Bradley said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Bradley earned the derby spot by leading the Carolina League with 15 home runs for Lynchburg entering Thursday. He also is second in the league with a .509 slugging percentage.
Bradley will be joined on the Carolina League side by Nationals infielder Drew Ward (10 homers) from Potomac and fellow Indians prospect Yu-Cheng Chang (seven homers) from Lynchburg. The fourth participant from the Carolina League has yet to be announced.
Rangers infielder Travis Demeritte will lead the Cal League. Demeritte entered Thursday with a league-leading 16 home runs for High Desert. He will be joined by Giants first baseman Chris Shaw (13 homers) from San Jose, Diamondbacks shortstop Dawel Lugo (nine homers) from Visalia, and Mariners first baseman Kyle Petty (eight homers) from Bakersfield.
“You just always want to bring the title back to your side in anything you do,” Bradley said. “For all of us, it’s a chance to be a part of something pretty cool.”
The idea of hosting the home run derby on the USS Midway was hatched by former Lake Elsinore Storm president and reigning BA Minor League Executive of the Year Dave Oster. Oster, who now runs a marketing and consulting business, was inspired in part by the 2012 South Atlantic League all-star home run derby—the first round of which was held on the USS Yorktown anchored just outside of Charleston, S.C.—but this will be the first time an entire derby, start to finish, will be held on a maritime vessel.
“We were just trying to think of something a little more creative and different, knowing that it was the 75th anniversary season of the Cal League and we wanted to do something special,” said Oster, who spoke with Charleston RiverDogs executives Mike Veeck and Dave Echols about their experience. “(Storm general manager) Raj (Narayanan) and I were sitting around throwing around ideas and thought ‘Hey, what if we go hit some balls out into the bay?’ We both thought it was a good idea and reached out to the folks at the Midway and met with them and they thought it was a great idea, great exposure for both sides.”
The festivities will include professional surfers Taylor Knox, Jeff Clark, and Scott Chandler taking swings in a pre-event home run derby of their own before the all-stars step up to the plate. Individuals on kayaks, paddleboards and will be retrieving the balls hit into the bay.
Simply put, it will be a home run experience unlike anything Bradley or the other minor league participants have ever had before.
“I’ve never hit a home run on a boat,” Bradley said, chuckling. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m just grateful to have a chance to be a part of it.”
Re: Minor Matters
5598BA Chat:
Elliot (Youngstown OH): Mark Mathias had a good week in High A. Fellow 2015 draftee 2B Tyler Krieger has had a good year in Low A. Which one has a better chance to reach the majors?
J.J. Cooper: I have been impressed by what I'm hearing about Krieger this year. But both have a solid chance to be big leaguers of some sort although neither may have massive impact. Mathias was a significant draft prospect who slid because of a shoulder injury. Good get by the Indians to stay on him.
Elliot (Youngstown OH): Mark Mathias had a good week in High A. Fellow 2015 draftee 2B Tyler Krieger has had a good year in Low A. Which one has a better chance to reach the majors?
J.J. Cooper: I have been impressed by what I'm hearing about Krieger this year. But both have a solid chance to be big leaguers of some sort although neither may have massive impact. Mathias was a significant draft prospect who slid because of a shoulder injury. Good get by the Indians to stay on him.
Re: Minor Matters
5599Friday highlights from BA with the Scrappers included:
CLE AA Papi, Mike RF 3 1 2 1 .229 2B (4), BB (10) [average soars]
CLE AA Zimmer, Bradley CF 2 1 2 1 .240 3 BB (39), 3 SB (24), CS (10) [on base 5 times + 3 steals]
CLE AAA Diaz, Yandy LF 4 0 2 1 .284 BB (16)
CLE AAA Gonzalez, Erik SS 5 1 2 0 .289
CLE HiA Allen, Greg CF 3 1 2 0 .289 SB (34), CS (4)
CLE HiA Bradley, Bobby 1B 3 0 1 0 .242
CLE HiA Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 3 0 1 0 .274
CLE LoA Krieger, Tyler 2B 3 1 1 0 .325 BB (27)
CLE LoA Mejia, Francisco C 4 1 2 2 .341 2B (17) [just a normal night for Mejia OPS for June is 1210]
CLE SS Wakamatsu, Luke SS 5 1 2 1 .400 [another fine SS debuts]
CLE HiA Lugo, Luis 6 7 2 2 2 2 4.41 W (3-2) [he's been a lot worse]
CLE AA Papi, Mike RF 3 1 2 1 .229 2B (4), BB (10) [average soars]
CLE AA Zimmer, Bradley CF 2 1 2 1 .240 3 BB (39), 3 SB (24), CS (10) [on base 5 times + 3 steals]
CLE AAA Diaz, Yandy LF 4 0 2 1 .284 BB (16)
CLE AAA Gonzalez, Erik SS 5 1 2 0 .289
CLE HiA Allen, Greg CF 3 1 2 0 .289 SB (34), CS (4)
CLE HiA Bradley, Bobby 1B 3 0 1 0 .242
CLE HiA Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 3 0 1 0 .274
CLE LoA Krieger, Tyler 2B 3 1 1 0 .325 BB (27)
CLE LoA Mejia, Francisco C 4 1 2 2 .341 2B (17) [just a normal night for Mejia OPS for June is 1210]
CLE SS Wakamatsu, Luke SS 5 1 2 1 .400 [another fine SS debuts]
CLE HiA Lugo, Luis 6 7 2 2 2 2 4.41 W (3-2) [he's been a lot worse]
Re: Minor Matters
5601Triston McKenzie making his 2016 debut with Scrappers and Plutko making his AAA debut with Columbus today.
Re: Minor Matters
5603Just wasted a few minutes looking at rosters of all teams in the NY-PL and I find that there are 6 players on opening day rosters who are younger than McKenzie, but no pitchers. 9 pitchers who were born in 1997, McKenzie's the only one who hasn't yet celebrated his 19th birthday. Juan Hillman on Mahoning Valley is one of those other eight, he's the fourth youngest.
Re: Minor Matters
5604Saturday games. Best line I see is McKenzie's debut.
CLE AA Zimmer, Bradley CF 2 1 1 0 .242 2B (13), BB (40)
CLE AAA Diaz, Yandy LF 4 0 1 1 .283 2B (8)
CLE AAA Gonzalez, Erik SS 4 1 1 2 .288 2B (16)
CLE HiA Allen, Greg CF 3 0 2 0 .294 BB (42)
CLE HiA Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 4 1 1 1 .274 HR (8) [his offensive deficit is singles]
CLE HiA Bradley, Bobby 1B 4 0 1 0 .242
CLE LoA Castro, Willi SS 5 1 2 0 .275
CLE LoA Mejia, Francisco C 5 1 1 0 .338 [worst game at the plate in a couple weeks]
CLE LoA Krieger, Tyler 2B 3 1 2 2 .329 BB (28)
CLE MAJ Naquin, Tyler CF 3 1 3 4 .320 3B (3), HR (5), 2 BB (9) [more power in the majors than the minors]
CLE SS Wakamatsu, Luke SS 4 0 1 0 .333 2B (1)
CLE AAA Armstrong, Shawn 1 3 1 1 1 1 2.16
CLE AAA Plutko, Adam 5.2 3 2 2 5 4 3.18 W (1-0) [AAA debut]
CLE HiA Sheffield, Justus 1.2 5 4 4 3 2 4.08 L (4-4) [worst of the year]
CLE SS McKenzie, Triston 6 4 1 0 1 6 0.00 L (0-1)
CLE AA Zimmer, Bradley CF 2 1 1 0 .242 2B (13), BB (40)
CLE AAA Diaz, Yandy LF 4 0 1 1 .283 2B (8)
CLE AAA Gonzalez, Erik SS 4 1 1 2 .288 2B (16)
CLE HiA Allen, Greg CF 3 0 2 0 .294 BB (42)
CLE HiA Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 4 1 1 1 .274 HR (8) [his offensive deficit is singles]
CLE HiA Bradley, Bobby 1B 4 0 1 0 .242
CLE LoA Castro, Willi SS 5 1 2 0 .275
CLE LoA Mejia, Francisco C 5 1 1 0 .338 [worst game at the plate in a couple weeks]
CLE LoA Krieger, Tyler 2B 3 1 2 2 .329 BB (28)
CLE MAJ Naquin, Tyler CF 3 1 3 4 .320 3B (3), HR (5), 2 BB (9) [more power in the majors than the minors]
CLE SS Wakamatsu, Luke SS 4 0 1 0 .333 2B (1)
CLE AAA Armstrong, Shawn 1 3 1 1 1 1 2.16
CLE AAA Plutko, Adam 5.2 3 2 2 5 4 3.18 W (1-0) [AAA debut]
CLE HiA Sheffield, Justus 1.2 5 4 4 3 2 4.08 L (4-4) [worst of the year]
CLE SS McKenzie, Triston 6 4 1 0 1 6 0.00 L (0-1)
Re: Minor Matters
5605McKenzie looked great last night!
Indians prospective
Update: Scoring change after the game on an error makes 1 run McKenzie gave up unearned
6(IP) 4H 1R 0ER 1BB 6SO
Juan Hillman tonight....
Indians prospective
Update: Scoring change after the game on an error makes 1 run McKenzie gave up unearned
6(IP) 4H 1R 0ER 1BB 6SO
Juan Hillman tonight....
Re: Minor Matters
5607in Columbus,
Urshela 0-4 now hitting 265
Ronny Rodriguez 3B in 4, hitting 273
in the bullpen:
TJ House's new home. 2/3 1 0 0 0 0
Armstrong struggles 1 3 1 1 1 1
Adams too 2/3 0 0 0 2 2
Josh Martin earns the save 2/3 0 0 0 0 0
in Akron:
Frazier 0-4 drops to 291 Papi 0-3 drops to 216
in the bullpen: LH Nick Maronde 1 1 0 0 0 3 save
in Lynchburg:
Anthony Santander hits his 8th homer and 2nd in two days
in Lake County:
Nathan Lukes single, two walks his line: 316/404/456 14 steals in 20 tries; 17 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers
in Mahoning Valley:
Gabriel Mejia off to a 1-10 start, did get a steal the one time he was on
Urshela 0-4 now hitting 265
Ronny Rodriguez 3B in 4, hitting 273
in the bullpen:
TJ House's new home. 2/3 1 0 0 0 0
Armstrong struggles 1 3 1 1 1 1
Adams too 2/3 0 0 0 2 2
Josh Martin earns the save 2/3 0 0 0 0 0
in Akron:
Frazier 0-4 drops to 291 Papi 0-3 drops to 216
in the bullpen: LH Nick Maronde 1 1 0 0 0 3 save
in Lynchburg:
Anthony Santander hits his 8th homer and 2nd in two days
in Lake County:
Nathan Lukes single, two walks his line: 316/404/456 14 steals in 20 tries; 17 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers
in Mahoning Valley:
Gabriel Mejia off to a 1-10 start, did get a steal the one time he was on
Re: Minor Matters
5608House put up zero's in his first bullpen appearance as well. He may find a home there. We could use a lefty specialist.
I just went and looked at his splits and lefties are creaming him so dunno about that.
I just went and looked at his splits and lefties are creaming him so dunno about that.
Re: Minor Matters
5609Sunday games:
CLE AA Frazier, Clint LF 4 0 2 0 .295
CLE AA Rodriguez, Nellie 1B 4 0 1 1 .236
CLE AA Zimmer, Bradley CF 3 1 1 0 .243 2B (14), BB (41), 2 SB (26) [busy weekend]
CLE AAA Diaz, Yandy LF 5 0 2 0 .288
CLE AAA Gonzalez, Erik SS 5 0 3 1 .294
CLE HiA Bradley, Bobby 1B 5 0 1 0 .242
CLE HiA Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 5 1 2 0 .276 2B (20) [any day, another extra base hit]
CLE HiA Mathias, Mark 2B 4 1 2 4 .255 HR (3)
CLE LoA Mejia, Francisco C 4 0 1 0 .336
CLE SS Wakamatsu, Luke SS 5 2 3 2 .429 2 2B (3) [yet another solid SS]
CLE AA Kaminsky, Rob 6 5 1 1 0 1 4.76
CLE AAA Clevinger, Mike 5.2 2 0 0 4 8 2.48
CLE HiA Brown, Mitch 3.2 4 6 5 4 7 4.71 L (2-5) [stinks as usual]
CLE SS Hillman, Juan 6 5 3 3 0 5 4.50 W (1-0) [OK debut]
CLE NBA James, Lebron MVP 27 11 11 .429 [The King]
CLE AA Frazier, Clint LF 4 0 2 0 .295
CLE AA Rodriguez, Nellie 1B 4 0 1 1 .236
CLE AA Zimmer, Bradley CF 3 1 1 0 .243 2B (14), BB (41), 2 SB (26) [busy weekend]
CLE AAA Diaz, Yandy LF 5 0 2 0 .288
CLE AAA Gonzalez, Erik SS 5 0 3 1 .294
CLE HiA Bradley, Bobby 1B 5 0 1 0 .242
CLE HiA Chang, Yu-Cheng SS 5 1 2 0 .276 2B (20) [any day, another extra base hit]
CLE HiA Mathias, Mark 2B 4 1 2 4 .255 HR (3)
CLE LoA Mejia, Francisco C 4 0 1 0 .336
CLE SS Wakamatsu, Luke SS 5 2 3 2 .429 2 2B (3) [yet another solid SS]
CLE AA Kaminsky, Rob 6 5 1 1 0 1 4.76
CLE AAA Clevinger, Mike 5.2 2 0 0 4 8 2.48
CLE HiA Brown, Mitch 3.2 4 6 5 4 7 4.71 L (2-5) [stinks as usual]
CLE SS Hillman, Juan 6 5 3 3 0 5 4.50 W (1-0) [OK debut]
CLE NBA James, Lebron MVP 27 11 11 .429 [The King]
Re: Minor Matters
5610Zimmer's weekend:
12 plate appearances
5 walks 1 strikeout
2 singles
2 doubles
5 steals 0 caught stealing
avg: .572
OnBasePct: .750
SluggingPct: .857
I've always thought stolen bases should be included among total bases, although I am sure that there are some modern other stats that do that. How about just a TotalBasePct which would be total bases plus walks plus steals less caught stealing divided by total plate appearances. Zimmer's TBP for the weekend: 1.333.
12 plate appearances
5 walks 1 strikeout
2 singles
2 doubles
5 steals 0 caught stealing
avg: .572
OnBasePct: .750
SluggingPct: .857
I've always thought stolen bases should be included among total bases, although I am sure that there are some modern other stats that do that. How about just a TotalBasePct which would be total bases plus walks plus steals less caught stealing divided by total plate appearances. Zimmer's TBP for the weekend: 1.333.