I got nothing this week. Well, maybe a little bit. Today the beer will come first, and 6 observations about some of our 2009 draftees will come second.
1. Jason Kipnis is playing
Kipnis, the Indians 2nd round pick (#63 overall), is the highest 2009 draftee in play for the Indians. Alex White, the first round pick, is expected to sign eventually but not pitch due to his workload during the regular season and College World Series. Kipnis is a little guy, listed as 5'10" 175. He got off to a nice start, though, getting a single, double and triple in his first three ABs as he saw his first action this week.
2. Kyle Bellows only hits HRs
Not really, but Bellows (4th round, #125) hit his 6th HR earlier today in Mahoning Valley's 2-1 victory. That's 6 HRs (3 ahead of the nearest Scrapper) in more than 180 plate appearances and out of 40 total hits, which isn't exactly great and explains why his overall line (.239/.309/.368 coming into today) doesn't look very impressive.
3. Jordan Henry's boots are made for walking
Henry (7th round, #215), a lanky CFer, came into today batting .276. But he has a .417 OBP courtesy of a fancy 35:17 BB:K ratio, taking a walk in just under 20% of his plate appearances. Jordan seems to enjoy taking his walking boots off once he is on base, though, as he has 13 SB in 14 attempts.
4. Vidal Nuno has 1444 motivators
That's how many players were selected before Vidal, who was the Indians 48th round selection and their lowest pick to see action so far this season. Nuno hasn't let it both him, though, as he has put up a 3-0, 2.02 ERA, 36K, 10BB, 35.2IP line so far. He started in Arizona but has been moved up and made several starts for the Scrappers more recently.
5. Joseph Colon is younger than a few T-shirts I have
Colon, who was drafted in the 12th round (#365) out of Puerto Rico, isn't the youngest player the Indians drafted (that would be Steven Ewing). And with his 2/18/90 date of birth, he is far from the youngest player on one of the minor league affiliate rosters. But, I think, he is the youngest player drafted this year by the Indians who has seen any playing time.
6.Here's to you, Chris Kersten and Cory Burns
The best performers at this very early stage have probably been Kersten on offense (33rd, #995) and Burns as a pitcher (8th, #245). Kersten, a big 1B out of Louisiana Tech, has a .341/.400/.548 line for the AZL Indians. Burns, pitching out of the pen for Mahoning Valley, is 2-0 with 7 saves, a 1.61 ERA, and 24:2 K:BB ratio in 22 innings.