Just a few final updates as spring training wrapped up for the minor leaguers yesterday:
- All players who have been assigned to full-season clubs are on their way to them today, while those who have not been assigned to a club are staying behind in extended spring training (EST) in Winter Haven.
- In Buffalo's last spring game on Saturday, 1B Jordan Brown went 2-3 with a pair of singles...
Today is just a mish mash of things as I close the book on the spring training coverage of the young Indians down in Winter Haven, and start to focus on the start of the minor league season this coming Thursday. In the coming week I will have in-depth previews for each of the four full season affiliates at Buffalo, Akron, Kinston and Lake County, and on Thursday I plan to post my first Minor Happenings...
Not much news today other than some roster decisions were finalized. Official rosters are not available yet, and it may be 24-48 hours before I get my hands on all four full-season rosters, but when I get them I will post them hear right away.
The most surprising news of the day is how many "vets" are going to start in extended spring training (EST). Apparently, Dan Cevette, Chris Niesel, Joe...
Some quick updates today as camp gets ready to break in a few days:
- In Monday's Triple-A game between Buffalo and Toledo, first baseman Jordan Brown hit three home runs. Outfielder Jason Cooper went 2-for-3 with 2 2Bs and catcher Wyatt Toregas went 3-for-4 with an RBI. On the mound, right-hander Adam Miller started the game and allowed two runs on three hits in three innings and had three...
Prior to last year, the Indians had a lot of problems with developing relievers in their minor league system. While players at nearly every position had established themselves at the major league level, for various reasons the Indians went into last season without having developed an impact reliever in the five years since "The Plan" was consummated in June 2002.
That all changed quickly after...
I am still settling back in after my trek back to northeast Ohio yesterday and today. But, wanted to chime in on some news regarding the release of some minor league players. Here is who I know of right now: Luis Valdez, Dan Frega, Scott Sumner, David Uribes, Mike Eisenberg, Alan Brech, Kyle Collina, and Kyle Harper. There are a few more, but I am trying to get word on who they are, so possibly more...
Weglarz Likely To Play in Olympic Games This Summer
Outfielder Nick Weglarz was a late arrival to minor league camp this year, and made his spring debut this past Tuesday. His absence was not the result of an injury or for personal reasons, but because he was taking part in the Olympic qualifiers in Taiwan and Australia playing for Team Canada.
Weglarz is familiar with playing for his...
Sipp Right On Schedule
Indians left-handed pitching prospect Tony Sipp is right on schedule in his return from Tommy John surgery last July.
Sipp threw a bullpen session yesterday where he threw 60 pitches total, with one set of 30 pitches then a five minute break and then another set of 30 pitches. He threw all fastballs and changeups in the 60-pitch session. Yesterday was a key day...
Undrafted Stiller Now An Established Prospect
What a difference a year makes.
At this time last year, right-hander Erik Stiller was doing everything he could in spring training to stick with the organization and had no idea what his baseball future had in store for him. Being an undrafted free agent signing in June 2006, the Indians had little invested in him so Stiller had to work...
Finocchi Stays Positive, Looks To Return In June
Right-hander reliever Michael Finocchi looked to be on the fast track in the bullpen after another good season last year when he went 5-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 45 combined games in Kinston and Akron. He followed up the solid performance in the regular season with an excellent showing in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) by throwing 10.1 shutout innings...
Cevette Working His Way Back Onto Indians Radar
A little over two years ago, left-hander Dan Cevette was considered one of the top young hurlers in the Indians farm system. In fact, some believe he still is. But these days, Cevette is trying to work his way back from injury and into the big picture he seemed so clearly in just a few short years ago.
Cevette was drafted by the Indians...
McBride Likely Out Until July
In two years, catcher Matt McBride has established himself as one of the top catching prospects not only with the Indians, but in all of baseball. Last year, Baseball America tabbed McBride as the fifth best catching prospect in the minors, and he had been an All Star at short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley in 2006 and at Single-A Lake County last year. It appeared...
Okay, finally made it down to Winter Haven this morning. After spending the better part of four days in Tampa visiting family, and another two days in Disney.....I was ready to make my life simple again and just take in some baseball.
Today was a camp day, and the complex was pretty quiet as the Indians were playing away which left the minor leaguers to have inter-squad scrimmages. Things...
Whelp, I head out to Winter Haven tomorrow. Before I actually go there I have some family to visit in Tampa and then will be doing the Disney thing with the kids on Saturday. But, starting this Sunday, I will be in Winter Haven through the following week and then some. If any of you will be in Winter Haven during this time (16th-24th), look out for me bustling about around the minor league fields....
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!
