Cleveland Indians Minor League Update: June 8-14

Previous Minor-League Updates

April 6-12 • April 13-19 • April 20-26 (PTM) • April 27-May 3

May 4-10 • May 11-17 • May 18-24 • May 25-31

June 1-7

Permanent Prospect That Matters post

PTM Update

Stats are either major-league stats (if the player is presently in the majors) or overall minor-league stats (if the player is presently in the minors). Rule 5 picks TJ McFarland and Hector Rondon's major-league stats are with Baltimore and Chicago (NL), respectively.

Position Players

Age	Position/Player	Level	PA	BA/OBP/SLG	OPS	2B	HR	SO	BB
25	C/IF Yan Gomes	MLB	86	.293/.302/.610	.912	4	6	15	2
24	SS Juan Diaz	MLB	0	.000/.000/.000	.000	0	0	0	0
23	1B Jesus Aguilar	AA	240	.257/.329/.383	.712	9	6	48	24
21	SS Ronny Rodriguez	AA	234	.251/.268/.390	.659	9	4	37	5
21	3B Giovanny Urshela	AA	208	.291/.314/.432	.746	11	5	25	7
20	2B Jose Ramirez	AA	246	.264/.335/.333	.668	3	2	21	24
21	C/2B Tony Wolters	A+	108	.229/.296/.302	.598	4	1	24	10
19	SS Francisco Lindor	A+	255	.296/.361/.408	.770	14	1	27	23
20	CF Luigi Rodriguez	A+/A-	197	.278/.364/.364	.743	12	1	23	6
18	SS Dorssys Paulino	A-	211	.218/.276/.290	.566	10	0	33	14

The biggest development over the couple weeks has been Ronny Rodriguez, who has started to turn around a dreadful beginning-of-season slump. Rodriguez still isn't walking, but he's putting bat on ball and hitting for power, hitting .275/.287/.473 over the past four weeks in a difficult league for hitters. With the Single-A All-Star Games coming up shortly, the Indians are likely going to promote Francisco Lindor to Akron, but what before seemed like a common sense flip of Lindor and Rodriguez doesn't seem that way anymore. But by the same token, I don't think Rodriguez is ready for AAA yet. So the Indians have an interesting decision to make in a couple weeks.

The rest of the infield in Akron is doing well. Jose Ramirez, one of the youngest players in the league, is more than holding his own at the plate, hitting .264/.335/.333 and striking out less times than he's walked. Giovanny Urshela, himself only 21 years old, has pushed his OPS up to .746. The lone disappointment in Akron has been Jesus Aguilar, who has regressed in his first full season in Akron.

Pitchers

Age	Role/Player	Level	IP	G	ERA	H/9	SO/9	BB/9
25	RP Cody Allen	MLB	26.2	25	2.03	5.7	11.8	2.7
25	RP Hector Rondon (5)	MLB	19.0	17	6.16	8.1	7.1	4.7
24	RP TJ McFarland* (5)	MLB	27.2	13	4.23	10.4	8.1	3.6
25	RP Scott Barnes*	AAA	19.2	15	8.24	9.2	11.4	5.9
23	SP TJ House*	AAA/AA	75.2	13	5.11	9.8	7.6	3.6
22	SP Trevor Bauer	AAA	46.2	8	4.63	7.9	9.4	5.2
22	RP Giovanni Soto* (DL)	AAA	8.2	9	5.19	8.3	8.3	9.3
23	RP Trey Haley	AA	11.2	10	5.40	8.5	10.0	11.6
23	SP Danny Salazar	AAA/AA	51.1	11	3.16	7.4	11.9	3.2
22	RP Shawn Armstrong (DL)	AA	5.2	6	6.35	12.7	4.8	9.5
19	SP Mitch Brown (DL)	A-	15.2	5	11.49	12.1	10.3	6.3

Pitching has turned for the worse the last couple of weeks. After some initial success in AAA, T.J. House has gotten banged around, and even Trevor Bauer has struggled of late. It's not much of surprise that the Indians really went with pitching in this weekend's draft, because so far there haven't many low-level successes. Danny Salazar has been by far the best pitcher in the organization, though he still hasn't gone deep into many starts.

Too Accomplished Update

Here are players who are in the minors or majors, meet the age/level requirements, but no longer have rookie status.

Cleveland (25 and younger)

• RHSP Zach McAllister (Age 25) 65.2 IP, 3.43 ERA, 9.3 H/9, 6.2 SO/9, 3.0 BB/9
  
• RHRP Bryan Shaw (Age 25) 29.0 IP, 3.41 ERA, 8.4 H/9, 8.7 SO/9, 3.1 BB/9
  

Columbus (25 and younger)

3B Lonnie Chisenhall (Age 24) 90 PA, .400/.489/.733, 3 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR (8 Errors)

If I had to guess, the reason Chisenhall is still in Columbus has to do with his defense. 8 errors in 19 games is way too many to explain away because of field conditions or a rogue official scorer. Obviously he's hitting the bejeezus out of the ball, and his strikeout/walk ratio is actually pretty good.

Prospects That Might Matter Update

I'll be revisiting the PTM list at the short-season All-Star Breaks, when there's enough of a 2013 sample to make any kind of judgment. But until then, here's a list of the prospects not currently a PTM who meets the age criteria, along with some prospects that are producing but need a promotion to make the list (in italics):

Columbus (25 and younger)

• RHP Cole Cook (Age 24) 2.0 IP, 4.50 ERA
• 1B/DH Chun-Hsiu Chen (Age 24) 78 PA, .243/.321/.357
  
• RHP Preston Guilmet (Age 25) 31.1 IP, 2.87 ERA
  
• C Chris Wallace (Age 25) 46 PA, .262/.304/.357
  

Akron (23 and younger)

• C Jake Lowery (Age 22) 58 PA, .321/.342/.518
  
• C Alex Lavisky (Age 22) 24 PA, .190/.292/.238
  
• RHP Will Roberts (Age 22) 41.1 IP, 3.92 ERA
  
• OF Tyler Holt (Age 24) 275 PA, .268/.344/.381
  
• RHP Jose Flores (Age 24) 31.0 IP, 1.45 ERA
  
• LHP Mike Rayl (Age 24) - On Disabled List
  
• C Roberto Perez (Age 24) 123 PA, .253/.447/.385
  
• RHP Enosil Tejeda (Age 24) 7.0 IP, 0.00 ERA
• RHP Rob Nixon (Age 24) 3.2 IP, 2.45 ERA
  
• OF Carlos Moncrief (Age 24) 238 PA, .278/.350/.421
  
• LHP Matt Packer (Age 25) 67.0 IP, 3.22 ERA
  
• OF Cedric Hunter (Age 25)- On Disabled List
  

Carolina (21 and younger)

• 1B/C Ryan Battaglia (Age 21) 48 PA, .256/.333/.349
  
• LHP Shawn Morimando (Age 20) 58.0 IP, 2.79 ERA
  
• LHP Elvis Araujo (Age 21) - On Disabled List
• RHP Michael Peoples (Age 21) 12.1 IP, 3.65 ERA - moved to the rotation
  
• CF Tyler Naquin (Age 22) 265 PA, .305/.365/.456 - ready for the AA test
  
• IF Joe Sever (Age 22) 82 PA, .316/.366/.368
  
• RHP Cody Anderson (Age 22) 66.1 IP, 2.85 ERA
  
• 2B Joseph Wendle (Age 23) 131 PA, .313/.397/.536
  
• 1B Jerrud Sabourin (Age 23) 197 PA, .302/.381/.401
  
• RHP Jeff Johnson (Age 23) 16.1 IP, 2.20 ERA
  
• RHP Joseph Colon (Age 23) - On Disabled List
• LF Bryson Myles (Age 23) - On Disabled List
  

Lake County (Age 19 or younger)

• RF Anthony Santander (Age 18) 111 PA, .265/.324/.382
  
• 3B Leonardo Castillo (Age 19) 146 PA, .222/.281/.341
  
• C Eric Haase (Age 20) 180 PA, .244/.300/.427
  
• CF LeVon Washington (Age 21) - On Disabled List
• IF Erik Gonzalez (Age 21) 215 PA, .255/.310/.408
  
• RHP Jake Sisco (Age 21) 55.1 IP, 3.42 ERA
  
• LHP Ryan Merritt (Age 21) 61.2 IP, 3.50 ERA
  
• RHP Robbie Avles (Age 21) - On Disabled List

Shawn Morimando has jumped to the front of the list here. Just 20 years, he's been impressive in the Carolina League. He was a 19th round selection in 2011, and the Indians were able to lure him away from a scholarship at East Carolina with a $350,000 bonus. Last year he was solid as a part of the Lake County rotation, and this year he's bumped his strikeout rates up a bit. I worry that he's going to get exposed at high levels because his stuff isn't that great, though0

Cody Anderson is in the same rotation as Morimando, and having similar success. If he was a year younger, he would be a cinch to make the PTM, but since he's 22 and pitching in the Carolina League, his inclusion will have to until he gets to Akron. Also keep an eye on Michael Peoples, who was not only promoted to Carolina recently, but placed in the rotation. He struck out 9.68/9 in Lake County while maintaining a 1.76 BB/9, and so far he's posting similar numbers in Carolina.

Tyler Naquin is in the same boat as Anderson: he's dominating the Carolina League, but he should be at his age. He's likely to be promoted to Akron after the All-Star Break, and we should be a much better read on him in the Eastern League.

Too Old to Matter but Possible Contributors

Although minor-leaguers older than 25 are excluded from PTM, that doesn't mean older players can't help the Indians. Here are some of those players:

Columbus

• IF Cord Phelps (Age 26) 200 PA, .254/.328/.463 (.262/.327/.524 over last 28 days)
  
• RHP Carlos Carrasco (Age 26) - Recalled by Cleveland June 8
  
• OF Tim Fedroff (Age 26) 272 PA, .260/.354/.336
  
• OF Ezequiel Carrera (Age 26) 132 PA, .241/.315/.422
• RHP Paolo Espino (Age 26) 7.2 IP, 5.87 ERA
• IF Matt Lawson (Age 27) 121 PA, .255/.364/.347
• OF Jeremy Hermida (Age 29) 242 PA, .262/.405/.472

Akron

• RHP Bryce Stowell 28.0 IP, 2.25 ERA
  
• RHP Austin Adams 22.1 IP, 3.22 ERA - coming back from shoulder surgery

Carolina

• None

Lake County

• None
  

Columbus Clippers (AAA)

Roster - Schedule - Scoreboard

Record: 30-32 (2nd IL West, 11.5 GB)

Current 7-Day Disabled List

• RHP Tyler Sturdevant (April 2)
• IF Nate Spears (April 2)
• IF Luis Hernandez (April 25)
• RHP Matt Capps (April 25)
• RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (April 29)
• LHP Giovanni Soto (May 23)
• RHP Fernando Nieve (May 30)
  
• 1B Matt LaPorta (June 5)
  

Current Rehab Assignments

• C Lou Marson (May 28)

Transactions (June 1-7)

June 1

• Cleveland recalls RHP Matt Langwell
• Cleveland options LHP Scott Barnes
• RHP Louis Head promoted from Lake County (A-)
• RHP Benny Suarez promoted from Lake County (A-)

June 2

• RHP Benny Suarez demoted to Lake County (A-)
• RHP Louis Head demoted to Lake County (A-)

June 4

• Cleveland recalls SS Juan Diaz
• IF Nate Spears promoted from Akron (AA)

June 6

• Cleveland signs minor-league free agent C Matthew Colantonio, assigns him to Columbus

June 7

• RHP Cole Cook promoted from Akron (AA)
• Cleveland signs minor-league free agent LHP J.C. Romero, assigns him to Columbus
• Placed 1B Matt LaPorta on 7-Day Disabled List (hip), retro June 5

June 8

• Cleveland recalls RHP Carlos Carrasco

Akron Aeros (AA)

Roster - Schedule - Scoreboard

Record: 30-31 (3rd EL West, 3.5 GB)

Current 7-Day Disabled List

• RHP Shawn Armstrong (April 20)
• LHP Mike Rayl (May 2)
  
• RHP Kyle Landis (May 10)
• IF Kyle Bellows (May 23)
• OF Cedric Hunter (May 30)

Current Rehab Assignments

• RHP Blake Wood (May 18)
• RHP Brett Myers
  

Transactions (June 1-7)

June 4

• IF Nate Spears promoted to Columbus (AAA)

June 5

• IF Justin Toole promoted from Carolina (A+)
• RHP Chen-Chang Lee promoted from Lake County (A-)
• C Alex Lavisky activated from Disabled List
• RHP Robert Whitenack demoted to Extended Spring

June 7

• RHP Cole Cook promoted to Columbus (AAA)

Carolina Mudcats (A+)

Roster - Schedule - Scoreboard

Record:20-40 (4th, CL Southern, 11.5 GB)

Current 7-Day Disabled List

• C Alex Monsalve (April 2)
  
• 3B Todd Hankins (April 24)
• RF Anthony Gallas (April 29)
  
• LF Bryson Myles
• RHP Joseph Colon (May 11)
• LHP Elvis Araujo (May 12)
• RHP Owen Dew (May 30)
• RHP Jacob Lee (June 3)

Transactions (June 1-7)

June 5

• IF Justin Toole promoted to Akron (AA)
• RHP Mason Radeke promoted from Lake County (A-)
• Cleveland signed IF Paddy Matera to minor-league contract, assigned him to Carolina
  
• Placed RHP Jacob Lee on 7-Day Disabled LIst (forearm strain)

Lake County Captains (A-)

Roster - Schedule - Scoreboard

Record:20-38 (7th, MW Eastern, 21.5 GB)

Disabled List

• LHP Mitch Brown (May 2)
• RHP Robbie Aviles (May 28)
• CF LeVon Washington (May 29)

Transactions (June 1-7)

June 1

• RHP Louis Head promoted to Columbus (AAA)
• RHP Benny Suarez promoted to Columbus (AAA)

June 2

• RHP Louis Head demoted from Columbus (AAA)
• RHP Benny Suarez demoted from Columbus (AAA)

June 5

• RHP Chen-Chang Lee promoted to Akron (AA)
• RHP Mason Radeke promoted to Carolina (A+)

DSL Indians

Roster - Schedule - Scoreboard

Record:3-3 (4th, BC South, 2.0 GB)

Offensive Leaders

• 3B Alexis De Los Santos 22 AB, .455/.500/.682
• 2B Jorma Rodriguez 19 AB, .368/.455/.474
• RF Michael Depen 12 AB, .250/.250/.500

Pitching Leaders

• Johan Puello 7.1 IP, 2.45 ERA
• Luis Jimenez 4.2 IP, 3.86 ERA
• Edgar Pineda 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA