Today we continue with the IPI’s year-end awards with the announcement of the Defensive Player of the Year, an award given to the Indians minor leaguer who had the best season defensively. Prospect standing is not considered with these awards as they are 100% awarded based on performance. In the coming days the Biggest Disappointment, Biggest Breakthrough, Reliever of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and All-Tony Team will be announced.
The minor league 2012 season officially ended for the Indians over the weekend with Double-A Akron winning a league title, but the beat goes on with Instructional League already in session and other fall and winter leagues set to start in the next few weeks. Today, Tony checks in with another Minor Happenings piece and takes a deep look into first baseman Chun Chen's future with the Indians and also provides tons of comments from the Indians front office on the likes of guys named Salazar, Guilmet, Urshela, Radeke, and more. Also, be on the lookout for the first Instructional League game recap later today or first thing tomorrow.
In today’s Minor Happenings, Tony takes a look at the positive strides that Alex Lavisky has made this season and how he has legitimized himself as a catching prospect. In addition to that he discusses and breaks down how right-handed pitcher Cole Cook is back on the prospect radar, how first baseman Jesus Aguilar has solidified his prospect status this season, and provides tons of comments from Ross Atkins on the Lake County team.
Triple-A Columbus missed the playoffs for the first time in two years, but they still had a winning record at 75-69 and had several bright spots from a player development standpoint. In the first piece of a six-part series recapping all six of the Indians' stateside affiliates, Tony recently sat down with the Indians front office and discussed Columbus' season, some of the promising developments made by several players, and some players that could be in the Major League mix next season.
The minor league season may be over, but there is no end in sight for Minor Happenings or the minor league coverage here on the IPI. In this week’s Minor Happenings, Tony takes a look at the emergence of Low-A Lake County second baseman Jose Ramirez and what kind of prospect he really is, the strong finish from Lake County catcher Jake Lowery, and the good year but unfortunate injury to short season Single-A Mahoning Valley lefty Geoff Davenport. As always, he has lots of quotes on players like Matt Langwell, Carlos Moncrief, Matt Packer and others provided by the front office, and lots more.
The Toledo Mud Hens bats' exploded at Fifth Third Field on Sunday night as they defeated the Columbus Clippers, 8-5, in front of a sell-out crowd. The scoring started early as first inning homers by Jerad Head and Danny Dorn got the Hens off to a 3-0 lead.
In today’s Minor Happenings, Tony looks at the very strong season that High-A Carolina third baseman Giovanny Urshela has had and the jump he has made as a prospect. He also touches on the season that Carolina right-handed pitcher Jordan Cooper has had and what it may mean for his future, provides lots of comments from Ross Atkins on some of their rising young Latin American stars, and provides injury updates and more on players like Lars Anderson, Adam Abraham, Carlos Moncrief, Tyler Naquin, and others.t
The Columbus Clippers aren't conceding anything when it comes to the playoffs. The Clippers remained alive in the IL wild-card race with a 4-2 victory Wednesday over the Bats at Louisville Slugger Field, using a pair of unlikely sources to spur the offense and a pitcher-by-committee approach to winning effect.
olumbus saved the best for the last, plating two runs in the top of the ninth as they beat the Bats 2-0 in a tight pitcher's duel at Louisville Slugger Field. Early on, it was a pitcher's duel between Columbus' Eric Berger and Louisville's Todd Redmond.
Indianapolis parlayed a fourteen hit attack into triumph as they beat Columbus 8-4 at Victory Field. The Indians staked themselves to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an Alex Pressley RBI double off of the center field ball. The Clippers would then tie it at 1-1 in the bottom of the third when Juan Diaz scored on a Tim Fedroff RBI groundout to second.
First baseman Russ Canzler fell just a triple short of the cycle going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while starter T.J. McFarland held the Tribe scoreless over the first five frames and went on to scatter eight hits over 6.2 solid innings to help the Columbus Clippers hold off the Indianapolis Indians 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field.
Once again, the Mud Hens put a beating on Columbus pitching, winning decisively 10-3 over the Clippers at Huntington Park. The Mud Hens got off to a fast start as Ryan Rayburn hit a deep two run bomb to left center. Danny Worth added to the Hens advantage with an RBI single to center and just like that Toledo led 3-0 after a half an inning of play.
This week in Minor Happenings, Tony takes a look at the conservative approach used by the Indians with Danny Salazar and why he has been impressive this season, the strides at the plate made by shortstop Ronny Rodriguez and why he has solidified himself as a top prospect, provide quotes from the front office on players at the rookie level Arizona level, and lots of insight and info on other players like T.J. McFarland, Preston Guilmet, Bo Greenwell, Jake Lowery, Aaron Siliga, Hector Rondon and many more.
The 2013 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!
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