2014 Tribe Minors in Review: Mahoning Valley Scrappers (SSA)

Previous entries: AZL Indians * DSL Indians

The New York-Penn League is a level that usually consists of college players selected in that year's June draft. Because the Indians don't have an Advanced-Rookie affiliate, there were also several younger prospects here who weren't quite ready for Lake County.

The Scrappers had a record of 33-42 in 2014, and missed the NYPL playoffs.

I've expanded the stats from you're used to seeing in the weekly updates. For the hitters, I've included Batting Average, 2B, 3B, HR, SB, and SB%, and for the pitchers, I've added G, GS (Games Started), and HR/9. In addition, I've added the league average for rate stats at the bottom of each section so that you can mentally compare the performance of a player to his league peers.

I have also highlighted any statistics that ranked among the top 10 in the league. This will be adjusted to the number of teams in each league (for the Carolina League, I'll probably highlight only a top 5 placement).

Hitting

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Bradley Zimmer and Francisco Mejia are the major standouts here, though there a couple other players well worth mentioning: 2B Steven Patterson ranked among the NYPL leaders in doubles, while RF Greg Allen led the league in steals with 30. With Gabriel Mejia (and his DSL-leading 72 steals) likely headed to the US next year, the Indians could conceivably put he and Allen in the same outfield.

Pitching

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Brady pitched well for the second straight season, and should be lock to start 2015 in Lake County. Shane appeared briefly with the Scrappers towards the end of the season after a nice season in Arizona. Cameron Hill, who was a 17th round selection from Redlands Community College (OK) was a very pleasant surprise, as was JP Feyereisen (16th round), who didn't allow a run all season (17 IP).

Mid-Season Prospects That Matter: none (short-season players not eligible)

Prospects of Interest: C Francisco Mejia, CF Bradley Zimmer, OF Mike Papi, LHP Sean Brady, RHP Casey Shane, RHP Kieran Lovegrove, RHP Cameron Hill

Rule 5 Eligibles: RHP Juan Santana, RHP Carlos Melo, 1B Leo Castillo, 1B Juan de la Cruz

The Indians will probably try to place these players either on the AA or AAA roster in December to prevent these players from be selected in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft.

Minor-League Free Agent: RHP Carlos Melo

For a player to eligible for minor-league free agency, he either has to have played parts of seven minor-league seasons with one organization or have been released or outrighted by his first organization if they have signed a 2015 contract by October 15th.