Around the Farm: April 25, 2011

Jordan Brown

Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday's performances by Indians prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday's game.

Jordan Brown-RF/DH, Columbus: 3-for-7, 2 R, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI:

Jordan Brown just never goes away. Brown has had a cup of coffee with the Tribe, but just can't seem to find a home. Still, the kid never seems to get the break he needs to make a full-time trip to Cleveland. With that said, he never gives up. Brown belted a grand slam today in game 2 to help bring the Clippers back from a 5-0 deficit. He's currently riding a five-game hitting streak in which he's hitting .368.

• Cord Phelps-DH/SS, Columbus: 0-5, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K: Phelps managed to score two runs without getting a hit in today's doubleheader.  It goes to show that you can have a good day by drawing walks.
• Chad Huffman-LF, Columbus: 2-for-3, R, HR, RBI: Huffman celebrated being named IL player of the week with a home run.
• Travis Buck-1B, Columbus: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, K: Buck's averaged actually dropped to .545.
• Luis Valbuena-SS/3B, Columbus: 3-for-5, R, 2B, 3 RBI, K: Valbuena is getting hot at the right time. If he can keep the bat rolling, he may get a call soon.
• Alex White-SP, Columbus: 5.3 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 8 K, HR, W (1-0): White continues his climb to Cleveland with his first win, and another dominating performance.  It's only a matter of time.
• Jensen Lewis-RP, Columbus: 1 IP, H, W (2-0), 0.00 ERA: Lewis should be done proving himself to Cleveland brass. He's too good to be stuck in triple A, but he has to figure out a way to carry his skills to the bigs consistently.
• Carlton Smith-RP, Columbus: 1.1 IP, H, K, 0.00 ERA: Smith has now gone 7 1/3 innings without giving up a run, which is only 1/3 inning less than JLew.
• Josh Judy-Closer, Columbus: 1 IP, K, S (2): Judy gets his second save in as many days.
• Tyler Holt-CF, Kinston: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, SB (9): Holt continues his stellar play as a game-changer for Kinston.
• Casey Frawley-SS, Kinston: 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, K: Frawley has been inconsistent offensive in his debut at high A this season, but is 4-for-12 in his last four games.  Perhaps his bat is starting to wake up.
• Greg Folgia-RF, Kinston: 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, K: Folgia hasn't done much since his call-up. Even after tonight's game, he's only hitting .192, while striking out 12 times without a single walk.
• Drew Pomeranz-SP, Kinston: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 5 K, HR: Other than the homerun, Pomeranz was again solid in this short appearance.  Obviously, the Indians are really monitoring his pitch count this early in the season.
• Tyler Sturdevant-RP, Kinston: 2 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K: Sturdevant continues a solid 2011 season with two innings of shutout baseball.  His ERA dropped to 1.54.
• Kyle Blair-SP, Lake County: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 4 K, HR, W (2): With so much focus on Pomeranz and White, 4th round pick Kyle Blair has been able to sneak between the cracks a bit.  After briefly struggling with control issues to start the season, Blair has been outstanding since, winning his last two starts.
• Francisco Jimenez-RP, Lake County: 3 IP, H, 2 K, H (2): Jimenez has yet to go less than 3 innings in a game this season, which makes you wonder if he is going to be looked at as a starter down the road.  He's made occasional starts over the past couple of seasons.
• Clayton Ehlert-Closer, Lake County: 1 IP, S (4): Ehlert gets his fourth save, without any trouble.
• Jesus Aguilar-1B, Lake County: 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI: Aguilar hit his fourth homer in two days, and his team leading fifth overall.  Lake County only had four hits on the game, with Aguilar's 2-run jack being the game winner.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

Jim is currently the co-site editor, the ATF/Carolina Mudcats/Indians/General Site Columnist, and the co-host of IPI's weekly online radio show, Smoke Signals. You can follow Jim on Twitter @Jim_IPI, or contact him via e-mail at jpete@indiansprospectinsider.com.