Indians Prospect Insider

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)Wolters in good spirits in wake of injury
It happens every spring.
With around 150 players in minor league camp, a handful of players are bound to get a few bumps and bruises along the way. The hope is that of the injuries sustained during spring training that none of them are serious and will keep players out for very long.
Shortstop Tony Wolters, 18,...

Paul Cousineau and I are back on the cyberwaves tonight for some Cleveland Indians baseball talk in another edition of "Smoke Signals" from 11:00 - 11:30 p.m. EST. Tonight we will discuss the happenings in spring training as there have been lots of injuries on both the major league and minor league side of things which have changed the outlook for many positions. We will also see how the fifth starter's...

Non-roster spring invitee Jack Hannahan may
now be the Indians best hope at third base.
(Photo: Tony Lastoria)
?
Some news, notes, and thoughts from my Tribe notebook…
Donald’s injury opens door
Infielder Jason Donald was an uncertainty going into camp because of his lack of experience playing third base, but he really had a strong showing that he...

Lonnie Chisenhall – Third Baseman
Born: 10/04/1988 – Height: 6’1” – Weight: 200 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right
(Photo: Ken Carr)History: Chisenhall was selected by the Indians in the 1st round of the 2008 Draft out of Pitt Junior College. He signed quickly after the draft by agreeing to a $1.1 million bonus. He played his freshman season in 2007...

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)House hoping for a better year
Left-handed pitcher T.J. House is one of the Indians better young pitching prospects. Even though he has been one of the youngest players in the league his first two seasons of pro ball he has pitched well. Last year at High-A Kinston he went 6-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 27 games (135.2 IP, 135 H, 7 HR, 61 BB, 106 K).
Even after another...

Jason Kipnis – Second Baseman
Born: 04/03/1987 – Height: 5’10” – Weight: 175 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right
(Photo: Tony Lastoria)History: Kipnis was selected by the Indians in the 2nd round of the 2009 Draft out of Arizona State University. He won PAC-10 Player of the Year honors in 2008 and was a first team All-American. He originally enrolled...

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)Coaches Corner: Dave Miller
I had a chance to sit down yesterday with Dave Miller who is the Indians Minor League Pitching Coordinator. We talked about a few of the Indians higher end pitchers and some of the role changes in store for other pitchers.
On Austin Adams: “He has four pitches so we are starting him because he has starting stuff and he has not proven...

Alex White – Right-handed Pitcher
Born: 08/29/1988 – Height: 6’3” – Weight: 195 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right
(Photo: Ken Carr)History: White was selected by the Indians in the 1st round of the 2009 Draft out of the University of North Carolina. He signed right at the August deadline for $2.25 million. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher...

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)Tomlin wants to win
The Indians are now less than two weeks from breaking camp in Goodyear, Arizona. Time is running out for them to make a decision on who will be named the fifth starter.
The three candidates for the role are right-handers Jeanmar Gomez and Josh Tomlin as well as left-hander Dave Huff. Right-hander Anthony Reyes is back pitching and may technically...

Drew Pomeranz – Left-handed Pitcher
Born: 11/22/1988 – Height: 6’5” – Weight: 230 – Bats: Right – Throws: Left
(Photo: Tony Lastoria)History: Pomeranz was selected by the Indians in the 1st round of the 2010 Draft out of the University of Mississippi. It was the second time he was drafted as he was originally drafted out of high school in the...

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)Scouting the Tribe
Here is a little different take on the Goodyear notebook today.
Over the past few days I have made my rounds and talked to a few different scouts from other organizations that follow the Indians all year. Some of what they say will follow right in line with what the front office has been saying, but as is the case with talking to anyone outside...

Nick Weglarz - Outfielder
Born: 12/16/1987 – Height: 6’3” – Weight: 245 – Bats: Left – Throws: Left
(Photo: Tony Lastoria)History: Weglarz was selected by the Indians in the 3rd round of the 2005 Draft out of Lakeshore Catholic High School (Ontario, Canada). He has a long history playing for Team Canada, playing for them in October and November of...

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)Wallace ready for career change
Dave Wallace is making the permanent transition from player to coach.
Wallace, 31, retired as a player after the 2008 season. He spent the first six years of his pro career in the Cleveland organization reaching as high as Triple-A Buffalo in 2007 before being traded to Washington in 2008. All told, he hit .223 with 45 HR, 180...

Jason Knapp – Right-handed Pitcher
Born: 08/31/1990 – Height: 6’5” – Weight: 235 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right
History: Knapp was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 2008 Draft out of North Hunterdon High School (NJ). He was set to play college ball at the University of North Carolina, but he ended up signing with the...

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)So far so good with Miller
It is very early in minor league camp, but so far so good for right-handed pitcher Adam Miller.
Knock on wood, but it has now been well over a year since Miller has had any setbacks with the middle finger on his throwing hand. After three surgeries on the finger in 2009 and lots of setbacks up to December of 2009, it has been a slow...

LeVon Washington – Outfielder
Born: 07/26/1991 – Height: 5’11” – Weight: 170 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right
(Photo: Tony Lastoria)History: Washington was selected by the Indians in the 2nd round of the 2010 Draft out of Chipola Junior College (FL). He was originally drafted in the 1st round of the 2009 Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, but after a...