August 19: McBride Continues to Excell in AAA, Chisenhall and Head Drive Akron to Victory

AAA COLUMBUS (L, 5-9)

• MATT McBRIDE (25, OF):  1-4, HR, 2 RBI.  That was his 3rd HR in 62 AAA ABs, to go along with a .371 BA, 3 2B, and 7 RBI.  Overall in 2010 (AA and AAA):  .296 BA, 28 2B, 20 HR, 71 RBI, .394 OBP.
• WES HODGES (25, 1B):  2-4, RBI.  Last 9 games: .361, 3 extra-base hits, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 11 K.
• DREW SUTTON (27, LF):  3-3, 2B, BB, SB.  Last 9 games: .333, 5 extra-base hits, 6 RBI, 3 BB.
• ZACH PUTNAM (23, RP):  2 IP, H, BB, 2 K.  Last 4 outings (6 IP):  0 R, 5 K, 2 H, BB.  Season in AAA (16 IP): 5.06 ERA, 15 K, 5 BB, .274 BAA.

AA AKRON (W, 15-10)

• JORDAN HENRY (22, OF):  2-6, 2 RBI.  Last 9 games: .375, 6 RBI, 5 BB.
• LONNIE CHISENHALL (21, 3B):  2-5, 2B, 3 RBI.  Last 7 games:  .440 (11-25), 3 2B, HR, 12 RBI, 7 BB, SB.  His pre and post-all star splits are quite telling: .267 BA, 12 2B, 8 HR, 37 RBI, .341 OBP in 266 ABs before the break and .285 BA, 6 2B, 7 HR, 34 RBI, .343 OBP since.  Season (389 AB):  .272 BA, 18 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 71 RBI, .342 OBP.  He’s a lock for this week’s BA prospect hot sheet.
• JERAD HEAD (27, OF):  3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB.  On fire since return to AA: 6-11, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB in 3 games.  He’s went deep in back-to-back contests.  Season in AA: .323 BA, 15 2B, 15 HR, 39 RBI, .379 OBP.
• CARLOS RIVERO (22, SS):  2-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI.  Last 7 games: .345 (10-29), 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, BB.
• MIGUEL PEREZ (26, C):  2-5, 2 2B.  In 114 AA ABs this season: .289 BA, 10 2B, 10 RBI, 4 BB.
• LUCAS MONTERO (25, OF):  In 34 AA at-bats in 2010: .235, 2B, 3B, 3 BB, 10 K.  Last 4 games: 7-16 (.438).  In 321 ABs with Kinston before promotion: .265 BA, 12 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 47 BB, 80 K, 24 SB.

LOW-A LAKE COUNTY (W, 5-4)

• ADAM ABRAHAM (23, 3B):  2-3, solo HR.  Current 8-game hitting streak: 12-34 (.353), 5 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K.  Batting .314 so far in August after a .317 July, but power is down (1 HR in August, 6 in July).  Pre-all star break: .182 BA, 6 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 8 BB, 33 K in 143 ABs.  Since: .321 BA, 12 2B, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 20 BB, 39 K in 196 ABs.
• CASEY FRAWLEY (22, SS):  2-4.  Last 9: .333 (12-39), 3 extra-base hits, 6 RBI.
• GREG FOLGIA (22, OF):  1-4, HR, 2 RBI.  Last 7 games: .400 (12-30), 6 RBI.
• BRETT BRACH (22, SP):  6 IP, 2 ER, 2 H (HR), BB, 4 K.  Last 6 starts: 43 IP, 31 K, 8 ER (1.67 ERA), 3 BB, 32 H.  Season in low-A (19 starts): 2.87 ERA, 81 K, 22 BB, .264 BAA in 106.2 IP.  As of late, his Ks are slightly up, and his BBs and BAA are both down.
• RAMON CESPEDES (19, RP):  IP, K.  Through 4 appearances in low-A: 4.05 ERA, 5 K, 3 BB, .259 BAA.  Last 2 outings (2.2 IP) scoreless with 3 K.  11 appearances with AZL (rookie) Indians prior to promotion: 0.39 ERA, 28 K, 3 BB, .117 BAA in 23 IP.

SHORT-SEASON MAHONING VALLEY (L, 5-7)

• NICHOLAS BARTOLONE (19, SS):  2-4, 2B, RBI.  Last 3 games: 4-12, BB.  Through 42 short-season ABs: .262 BA, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K, SB.  With AZL (rookie) Indians before promotion: .303, 3 2B, 9 RBI, 9 BB, 18 K, 15 SB in 132 AB.
• DIEGO SEASTRUNK (22, C):  4-4, 2B, RBI.  Last 3 games: 8-12, 2B, HR, 5 RBI.  In 113 short-season ABs: .221, 6 2B, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 17 BB, 22 K.  Has shown steady progress: .105 in 19 June ABs, .204 in 54 July ABs, and .300 in 40 August ABs.
• TYLER CANNON (22, SS):  2-3, RBI, BB.  Through 95 ABs with Scrappers: .200, 6 2B, 3B, 15 RBI, 10 BB, 19 K, SB.
• MICHAEL GOODNIGHT (21, SP):  2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K.  A rough second start, but first outing showed promise (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K).
• KYLE C. SMITH (22, RP):  IP, H, 4 K (that’s not a typo).  Last 4 appearances: 6 IP, 11 K, 5 BB, 5 H, 0 ER.

High-A Kinston’s game against the Potomac Nationals was postponed because of rain.

July 22: Kipnis, Weglarz Crack BA Hot Sheet

Two Indians minor leaguers, JASON KIPNIS and NICK WEGLARZ, received attention in this week’s edition of Baseball America‘s “Prospect Hot Sheet.”  AA second baseman Kipnis capped an excellent 7-game stretch on Wednesday with a 1 for 3, 2 BB performance against Altoona.  During that period, he batted .565 (13 for 23) with 3 doubles, 2 HR, and 5 RBI (also, a 4:5 K:BB ratio), earning the #3 spot on BA‘s hot list.  AAA outfielder Weglarz claimed the #13 spot after hitting another home run on Thursday, making that three games in a row with a jack.  In the past week, he hit .458 (11 for 24) with 3 doubles, 3 HR, and 4 RBI with a (3:5 K:BB ratio).  It’s one thing when a blogger following only one organization’s MiLB system takes note of individual performances over a given stretch of time, but it’s another thing altogether when those guys receive recognition from something as comprehensive and renowned as BA.  Both of these guys are demonstrating tremendous MLB potential right now…

Relief pitcher TYLER STURDEVANT (age 24) of the high A Kinston Indians continues to have a tremendous season.  On Thursday, he tossed two scoreless innings against Wilmington, giving up 2 hits and striking out 3.  It was only his third appearance for the Indians – he’s pitched 4 scoreless innings for that squad, logging 4 hits allowed, 1 walk, and 4 Ks.  He spent most of the season in Lake County, where he pitched 35.2 innings (16 appearances), holding opponents to a dismal .140 average while maintaining a 0.76 ERA, striking out 56, and walking only 8.  Although bit on the older side for high A ball, Sturdevant is only in his second professional season after getting drafted by the Indians in 2009 (27th round, out of New Mexico State).  With Mahoning Valley in 2009, he struck out 42 batters in 36 innings while posting a 2.75 ERA in 36 innings of work (19 appearances).  Sturdevant clearly has some lethal stuff on the mound, so it will be exciting to see how he progresses through high A ball.

A couple of pitchers on the Lake County Captains squad put together an impressive outing on Thursday.  Starter CLAYTON COOK (age 20) went six strong innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 4.  He’s had a nice season for the Captains, posting a 3.68 ERA with 66 strikeouts, 29 walks, and an opponent batting average of .249 in 18 starts (93 IP).  Over his last 10 starts, he’s shown improvement, posting a 2.91 ERA, .230 opponent batting average, and 41 strikeouts to 13 walks during that span (52.2 innings).  ANTWOINE HUBBARD (age 21) followed up Cook’s stellar start with 3 innings of shutout ball in which he struck out 4 while giving up 1 hit and 1 walk.  On the season, he’s tossed 43.1 innings over 21 outings, logging a 3.12 ERA and .230 opponent batting average while striking out 43 and walking 16.  This big right-hander can strike batters out, posting an average of 1 K per inning pitched during his two years of professional ball.  I’m not as high on him as I am Sturdevant, but the University of Oklahoma product has some potential.

DELVI CID (age 21) of the Lake County Captains has some speed.  The centerfielder swiped 3 bags on Thursday, also going 3 for 5 at the plate with 2 runs scored.  On the season, Cid has stolen 46 bases while being caught 9 times.  The downside here is that he’s batting only .249 with a .304 on-base percentage.  He also has no power, as he has only 9 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 HR on the year.  At 6’2″, 170 lbs., he has some room to grow and develop some power, but that won’t matter if he can’t cut down on the strikeouts (82 in 338 at-bats) and get on base more often (84 hits, 23 walks).  Although he’s still young, his batting average and on-base percentage have both steadily declined over the past 3 seasons, even as he’s increased his stolen base totals each of those years.  His speed is electrifying, but I will temper my enthusiasm about this guy until he shows that he can get on base more often.

The Rundown:  A handful of guys had a good day at the plate on Thursday for Kinston.  KAREXON SANCHEZ (age 22) had his third solid game in a row, going 1 for 2 with 3 walks, 2 RBI, and a run scored.  He’s hitting .286 over his last 10 games with an OBP of .457.  My favorite Indians catcher who is not Carlos Santana, CHUN CHEN (age21), went 1 for 4 with a pair of RBI.  Centerfielder ABNER ABREU (age 20) also went 1 for 4, but tripled and drove in 4 runs.  Rightfielder LUCAS MONTERO (age 25) went 1 for 3 with 2 RBI, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored…  Lake County first baseman ADAM ABRAHAM (age 23) continues to draw my attention with his performances.  On Thursday, he went 2 for 4 at the dish, slugging a double and driving in a pair of runs.