Cleveland Sports Forum

In what's already been an unforgettable year for the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Indians got more news to celebrate on Saturday.

First baseman Bobby Bradley was named the Carolina League MVP and was one of six Hillcats players voted to the end-of-season All-Star team, and Mark Budzinski was selected as the league's Manager of the Year. Bradley, Cleveland's third-ranked prospect and the No. 74 overall prospect, entered Saturday leading the circuit with 29 homers and 101 RBIs. He's batting .245/.355/.494.

Catching prospect Francisco Mejia, who electrified Minor League Baseball with a modern-era record 50-game hitting streak, was also among Lynchburg's honorees.

Myrtle Beach right-hander Trevor Clifton was named the league's Pitcher of the Year. He leads the loop with a 2.87 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, and the Cubs' No. 8 prospect has amassed 122 strikeouts over 113 innings while going 7-7 across 22 starts for the Pelicans.

The Pelicans' Toby Williams is Trainer of the Year.

Mason Robbins, who leads the league with a .314 batting average, and teammate Nick Basto, who's second with a .307 mark, represent Winston-Salem on the All-Star team.

Here is the complete list of 2016 Carolina League end-of-season All-Stars and award winners:

Francisco Mejia C Lynchburg CLE
Bobby Bradley* 1B Lynchburg CLE [Bobby's second MVP in 3 seasons as a pro]
Yoan Moncada 2B Salem BOS
Rafael Devers 3B Salem BOS
Yu-Cheng Chang SS Lynchburg CLE
Mark Mathias UT INF Lynchburg CLE
Aderlin Rodriguez DH Frederick BAL
Anthony Santander OF Lynchburg CLE
Greg Allen OF Lynchburg CLE
Mason Robbins OF Winston-Salem CWS
Nick Basto UT OF Winston-Salem CWS
Trevor Clifton† SP Myrtle Beach CHC
Ryan Brinley RP Potomac WAS
Mark Budzinski Manager Lynchburg CLE
Toby Williams Trainer Myrtle Beach CHC

* Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year

Some hot hands from the rubber.

Indians Prospective ‏@indiansPro

Columbus Clippers LHP Ryan Merritt has been sensational over his last 7 starts:
6-0 43.2(IP) 40H 9R 6ER 5BB 30SO 1.24 ERA #Indians

Columbus Clippers RHP @SArmstrong90 has not allowed a (Run) over his last 19 appearances:
1-0 5SV 20.0(IP) 8H 0R 0ER 6BB 27SO #Indians

#Indians 2016 4th Round Draft Pick RHP @ShaneBieber19 over his first 8 pro outings for Mahoning Valley
21(IP) 8H 2R 1ER 2BB 20SO 0.43 ERA

Mahoning Valley Scrappers LHP Brady Aiken @bradyaiken10 over his last 3 starts:
2-0 15.0(IP) 11H 3R 3ER 4BB 17SO 1.80 ERA #Indians

By the way, Connor Marabell hit a walk off 3 run homer to cap that Hillcat 8-7 win yesterday. He is now tied for the second most extra base hits in our system. For some reason I haven't payed him much attention. He had a nice season going at Lake County before his promotion.

A little non earth shattering news from Paquette ...

Indians OF prospect Todd Isaacs has been named to the Great Britain roster for the World Baseball Classic

Indians have released 2014 12th Round Draft Pick RHP Jordan Dunatov

Congratulations to Todd Isaacs He's supposed to be super baserunner and has also shown some power this summer. Could help the Brits go a long way. Or maybe not

The Clips allow 2 in the bottom of the 8th to waste a great performance by Morimando and lose to Durham 3-2. But that's OK, they've already locked up the International League West title. I think that's 3 years in a row? Yandy was only prospect to do anything. Zimmer's cooled off after good start at AAA. Down to .267.

By the way, Salazar was placed on paternity list and Armstrong was brought up today before the game.

Rob Kaminsky with yet another good outing in Akron tonight to lead Ducks to a 4-2 victory. Only 1 run in 7.1 IP. Allen with a couple hits and a steal.

Hillcats get a well deserved day off. Let those legs rest from running around the bases all the time.

I seem to have jinxed Lake County after bragging on them. They get drubbed today, 12-6. Carter and Calica both with a couple hits apiece.

Just like the parent club, Mahoning Valley scores in the 10th inning to win, 6-5. Gabe Mejia 2-3, 2 steals, 2 runs, and an RBI. He's hitting .337 now. Would have liked to see him get a bit of time at Lake County before seasons end. He had nothing else to prove in NYPL. ... Looks like the beer and ladies have worn on Ben Krauth, he got his ass handed to him today for the first time. 7 hits and 4 earned runs in 3 innings. He has an ERA now, and it is 2.57. Civale took up the slack though, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Civale is one of those guys whose name begins with C, can't remember, is he one of the C's we like? Well his name begins with Civ so we'll root like hell for him regardless. I just looked up his stats. 31.2 IP, 21 H, 7 BB, 24 K, .194 BAA, 0.88 WHIP, 1.99 ERA. ... Uh yeah. We like him. For now anyway.

Hey, what's this?

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Indians Prospective
(AZL) Brewers 2 Indians 0
Garza 2.2(IP) 2H 0R 0ER 2BB 4SO
Nelson 1-4 2SB

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Is that Alberto Garza? Always wondered what happened to him. Wonder if Beinvido Feliz is on the team too?!

Gabe Mejia left the game midway; I wonder if he's out for the duration. Take a look at his splits:

June: 200/250/244 3 steals in 4 tries [2 doubles]
July: 330/380/430 6 steals in 11 tries [6 doubles, 2 triples]
Aug: 406/464/426 15 steals in 18 tries. [0 doubles, 1 triple]

He's 22 already and hasn't played a game in full season ball. Maybe he's just a good Class A hitter and basestealer?

I'm OK with all the C's: CIVale, CALica and BIEber. [even if they're not all C's]

Monday from BA:

CLE AA Allen, Greg CF 4 0 2 2 .301 BB (13), SB (5)
CLE AA Papi, Mike LF 4 1 1 1 .209 BB (37)
CLE AAA Diaz, Yandy 3B 3 0 1 0 .322 BB (46)
CLE LoA Castro, Willi SS 5 0 2 1 .259 2B (21)
CLE R Jones, Nolan 3B 4 0 2 0 .257 3B (2) [not a sparkling debut but we'll see how he comes along]
CLE R Nelson, Hosea LF 4 0 1 0 .222 2 SB (13)
CLE R Taylor, Samad 2B 3 0 1 0 .291 [best avg on this team] 5-10 160 17 year old
Calica is not listed, I guess because he was drafted in the 11th round. He's now 9 for 16 including 3 doubles, no walks, 0 for 1 stealing.
CLE AA Kaminsky, Rob 7.1 4 1 1 2 3 3.25 W (10-7)
CLE AAA Morimando, Shawn 6 4 1 1 1 8 2.62
CLE SS Civale, Aaron 3 1 0 0 0 2 1.82 [Thanks for pointing out the name, HB, I'd overlooked it!]

Since Kaminsky was dubbed our most disappointing prospect at midseason, he's gone:

67 innings 53 hits 21 walks 16 R/ER 53 K 2.15 ERA 1.10 WHIP

He doesn't turn 22 until the weekend. That means he's 9 months older than our impressive draftees Civale and Bieber and finishing up a full season in AA. Came into the season rated our No. 9 prospect. He stays on any list of our top pitchers behind only Aiken, McKenzie [Clevinger if he still qualifies as a rookie]

Weird thing is, Civ, he got his name same way you did. Turning name around backwards. His grandpa was from eastern Europe, named Elavic.

(I totally just made that up. My jokes get better the more I wake up)

I'm OK with Bieber's as long as they're pitchers and not singers.

The Indians must not be very high on Mejia, maybe due to his total lack of power. Otherwise, at his age, you would assume they would have moved him up this season.

A few FYI's ...

Morimando now has a combined record of 15-4 with a 2.91 ERA this year.

Kaminsky had 10 ground ball outs last night to only 2 flyball outs.

Greg Allen up to 43 steals now on year.

Does not Diaz need to be moved to the 40 man by tomorrow?

Before Sept. 1st. As far as I'm concerned they should have already dumped Martinez and replaced him with Diaz.