Kinston Season In Review

The 2010 edition of the Kinston Indians boasted the starting pitching depth of a reenergized Cleveland Indians organization. Although the offense took some time to catch up, the 2010 K-Tribe will best be remembered for an amazing end of the season run that got the Indians back into the Carolina League Playoffs after a two year drought.

The first half of the Carolina League season was rich with anticipation as first year K-Tribe manager Aaron Holbert brought to Kinston one of the strongest starting pitching rotations in all of Minor League Baseball. Baseball America ranked the starting rotation as one of the top three in the Minor Leagues to start the season.

The excitement was led by Greenville, North Carolina native Alex White. White grew up just 25 miles from Historic Grainger Stadium and after an award laden career at DH Conley High School; he pitched collegiately at the University of North Carolina, leading them to three straight College World Series Appearances. White lived up to the hype, compiling a 2-3 record and a 2.86 ERA in eight starts before his May call up to Double A. White was in the Carolina League top ten in ERA at the time of his call up. Kelvin De La Cruz (2-2, 2.91) and Nick Hagadone (1-3, 2.39) also starred for the K-Tribe before there first half call-ups. Combined with a strong bullpen led by Bryce Stowell (1-0, 1.42), the K-Tribe pitching staff lived up to the billing and had one of the best ERA