Around the Farm: August 11, 2012

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.

Thomas Neal: LF, Akron Aeros: 2-for-3, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB:

I suppose I’m kicking a dead horse here, but why exactly isn’t Thomas Neal at least in Columbus? Oh, sure, the status quo answer is that Columbus is full of players who can fill in the big league roster should injuries take place. But I pose this question to the IPI fandom…isn’t there a player or two in Columbus that Neal couldn’t replace at this point? There’s Vinny Rottino, but he’s just a rehashed Matt LaPorta, Russ Canzler or Lars Anderson (who are all listed as infielders, by the way). Do you really need four of those guys? Fedroff and Goedert are untouchable as far as movement at this point, and are where they need to be, but what about Chad Huffman and Aaron Cunningham? Huffman is on the DL, and he IS a part-time guy, so you could make a case that he’s not a viable dump to bring up Neal because theoretically, he wouldn’t be getting the at-bats. I don’t necessarily buy that, because the loss of at-bats would come from CanzLaPorttino, but that’s just me. Then there’s Aaron Cunningham, and there isn’t a soul on the planet that can explain why this guy is on any roster in this organization…especially ahead of Neal. Such is life. Call Neal whatever you want with regards to prospects in this system, but he’s EARNED a promotion to Columbus, now get him there.

Jose Ramirez: 2B, Lake County Captains: 4-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 SB:

In case you are counting at home, Ramirez has two four-hit games, one five-hit game, five three-hit games and 12 two-hit games. That’s almost half of his 45 games in Lake County this season, and represents a player that certainly will be in the running for the organizations top offensive player. Like Neal, the experts pooh-pooh this kid as not having any tool in particular that will particularly stand out going forward. Sure, he’s raking in High A, but boy is he raking. His .352 average is fourth in all of the minors right now, and clearly the best in the Tribe system. While numbers aren’t everything, sometimes they mean something…especially when they are this good. Ramirez is also showing a bit of base-stealing ability as well, as his stolen base was his 11^th of the season. Now, will his game translate going forward? Who knows, but this year, is some kind of year. Oh, and by the way, he hit .325 last season in Arizona…so it’s not like this is a one and done sorta thing.

Logan Vick: LF, Mahoning Valley: 2-for-4, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB:

What I love the most about following the minors is how different players react to different things. Sometimes it’s about make-up, or sometimes it’s about talent or tenacity. Whatever the reason, when a kid starts to find his swing, or groove his delivery, there’s just nothing like it. Logan Vick is in that category right now. Vick started off scuffling after signing late, and starting with the Scrappers late. He went 1-for-11 in his first four games, and just didn’t have a clue. In early August, he had his first two-hit game, then went 0-for-7 in his next two, but his swings were getting better. Since then, Vick is hitting .368, and is showing off both the tenacity that he’s known for, as well as the ability to hit the baseball. His two doubles were his first two extra base hits in his career that appears to be heading in the right direction. He also walked, stole second and scored in the first inning, to get the ballgame rolling. It’s early, but the returns are getting better and better for this late sign.

• Cord Phelps: 2B, Columbus: 2-for-4, 1 K: Phelps was the lone Clippers’ player with multiple hits, breaking out of a two-game, 0-for-8 mini-slump.
• Columbus Offense: 4-for-30, 1 BB: What you see is what you get with the Clippers in this game. The only player to reach second was Gregorio Petit in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to an error that got him onto first in the first place. Not a good night for a team that’s been hitting the ball well.
• T.J. McFarland: SP, Columbus: 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R/ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 3 HR: McFarland pitched well, but clearly had the ball up in the strike zone, giving up three jacks in the game. In Akron, McFarland gave up one homer in 60 1/3 innings. In Columbus, he’s given up eight in 78 1/3.
• Rafael Perez: RP, Columbus: 1 IP, 1 BB: Perez returned after the Indians had to shut him down on July 27^th after shoulder fatigue. He’s back, but you have to wonder if the Indians shouldn’t just shut him down for the year.
• J.C. Romero: RP, Columbus: 1 IP, 1 BB: Romero is closing in on his “leave date.” I’m sure his bags are already packed and at the door. I just don’t see why the Indians would even consider bringing up this guy at this point.
• Lars Anderson:  1B, Columbus: 1-fo-3: Anderson got his third hit with the Clippers in his eighth game, and is hitting a lofty .160. He’s really finding his groove now that he’s out of the Red Sox organization.
• Tyler Holt: CF, Akron: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB: Holt is finding his groove for the first time in the Eastern League since getting called up in early July. Since July 27^th, Holt is hitting .373 with a .448 OBP in his 15 games, while scoring eight runs. Holt can strike out in bunches, but has really stepped up his selectivity, walking seven times, while striking out ten times during the stretch.
• Nick Weglarz: DH, Akron: 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB: Weglarz is officially playing his ass off right now. He’s hitting .429 over his past ten games, with six doubles and nine RBI. It goes beyond that though, as the big lefty is leading the Aeros in hitting since July 25^th with a .354 average. His stat line since then is .354/.456/.542/.998 over that 16 game stretch, with eight runs, six doubles, a homer and 12 RBI. While he’s walked nine times against 17 K’s in the last 16, he’s walked six times against only five K’s in his last ten. He’s clearly seeing the ball well, and perhaps regaining some stature. Is it enough to get him back on the 40-man roster? I doubt it, but he’s making it interesting for sure.
• Roberto Perez: C, Akron: 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 RBI: Perez has made ATF twice in one week! He is only hitting .179 over his last ten games, but he’s driven in eight runs over that stretch, so his few hits are counting at least.
• Danny Salazar: SP, Akron: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R/0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K: Salazar is an intriguing story right now, and may be one of the top two starters in the upper levels of the system right now. If you’ve followed ATF, you know he’s been on a strict pitch count all season. Well, he threw 84 pitches on Saturday night in his second start with the Aeros, and perhaps is ready to really make a move. I don’t think he’ll be a quick mover because of his injury history, but I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to say that Columbus next year, and Cleveland the year after.
• Bryce Stowell: RP, Akron: 1 IP, 1 K: Stowell returned to Akron after over a month of recovery time for a left oblique strain. There’s no doubt this kid has a cannon for an arm, but as he closes in on his 26^th birthday in September, his “prospect” days are closing in. Stowell needs to finish this season strong, and start next season the same way in Columbus. If he gets to June healthy and dominating….the way he can, perhaps he gets his shot. Another injury though, and his story goes from the hopeful, to lost cause.
• Loek Van Mil: RP, Akron: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R/0 R, 1 K: Van Mil is an interesting player, who’s having a great season in the Indians organization. Here’s the reality though…the Indians likely don’t intend to do anything with this “kid” at any point in the future with regards to the major leagues. The only scenario that could benefit him going forward are injuries above him. Still, he’s been borderline dominant at times in Akron, and while the 7’1” giant doesn’t possess a blazing arm, he can still bring it, and offer good innings. We’ll see what happens in the coming seasons, but remember, he’s about to turn 28, so like Stowell, the term “prospect” seems silly.
• Tony Wolters: SS, Carolina: 1-for-4: Wolters lead-off single upped his hit streak to eight ballgames. He’s hitting .353 over those eight ballgames, and has a .353/.405/.676 stat line.
• Giovanny Urshela: 3B, Carolina: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B: Urshela hit a ninth inning double to extend his hit streak to seven games. Urshela is hitting .433 during that seven game stretch, and is third in the league in average, and has a league leading 1.233 OPS.
• Jerrud Sabourin: 1B, Lake County: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI: Sabourin moved his average up to .304 on the season, and like Jose Ramirez, is an under the radar guy that’s been leading this team in many ways offensively. While it’s possible that the stars on this team are “protecting” players like Sabourin and Ramirez (who has been hitting in front of Lindor since his promotion), it’s just as possible that they are just good hitters.
• Jake Lowery: DH, Lake County: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K: The extra-base-hit barrage continues from a surging Lowery, who has seven extra-base knocks in his last nine games (three doubles/nine K’s).
• Mason Radeke: SP, Lake County: L (5-6), 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR: Radeke pitched well, but just didn’t get the support that he needed to win the ballgame. The kid is just mowing people down right now. Since July 13^th, over the span of six starts and 30 1/3 innings, Radeke is leading the Midwest in K’s with 40, while walking only ten. He gave up seven runs on July 19^th, but other than that, he’s been sparkling as a starter, and could now be on the radar as a potential sleeper prospect.
• Cody Penny: RP, Lake County: 1 IP, 2 K: There’s some buzz about this kid’s arm, and he’s showcasing some of that in his first two games with the Captains, striking out four in his first two appearances.
• Charlie Valerio: C, Mahoning Valley: 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 4 RBI: Valerio singled home Vick in the first inning, drove in two more with a single in the third. Valerio is bursting on the scene this season, and while there’s a long road to the bigs, he might be another offensive catcher in the system that the Indians can keep an eye on going forward…especially taking into account depth.
• Juan Romero: RF, Mahoning Valley: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB: It seems like a decade ago when Romero started off the season hitting moon-shot after moon shot during the first couple of days of the season. He hit three in the first two games of the season, but things certainly tapered off, as the right-handed hitter saw his average drop to a low of .167 on August 7^th. Over his past two games, however, Romero is 4-for-8, with two runs, a double, a homer and three RBI. His downfall? He has 51 K’s in 32 games…and only six walks, two of which came on Saturday. They were his first since July 22^nd.
• Jacob Lee: SP, Mahoning Valley: 3 IP, 5 H, 2 K: Lee gave up a few hits in this one, but didn’t give up anything big, and continued to dominate short-season hitting. He’s an older guy in this league, so it will be curious to see if he can carry this type of pitching into the full season leagues.
• Tyler Booth: CF, AZL Indians: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K: Booth is really finding his bat, and has two three-hit/two-double performances in his last three games.
• Jorge Martinez: 3B, AZL Indians: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI: Martinez continues a monster season in which an 0-for-8, two game stretch seems like a major slump for this kid. He’s already got career highs in every major offensive category except for stolen bases. His stat-line is .353/.387/.567, and it appears as though he may be a factor going forward…if he can find a position to play that he doesn’t butcher.
• Anthony Santander: DH, AZL Indians:  The kid continues to showcase his offensive prowess as another free agent signing with offensive potential. He’s another kid, though, that seems to strike out in bunches, with 31 in 32 games, vs. seven walks.
• Dillon Howard: SP, AZL Indians: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R/1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K: There’s some not to like here, but I’d be nitpicking. The kid went six innings, and force 13 ground ball outs, without one single fly ball out. Sure, he walked four batters, but he also induced three double plays. If he came in soft, perhaps he’s finally getting into some shape.

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.