Elliot (Youngstown OH): Jesus Aguillar finished with an OPS over 900, kept his strikeouts below 100, cut his errors down to 4. But he still missed the cut! Does he project as anything more than a DH? Does he project as a major leaguer at all?


Vincent Lara-Cinisomo: Yeah, the position might be the issue with Aguilar. One scout we spoke to really likes the bat and the approach and said Aguilar was trying too hard when he was in the majors. Where he fits with the Indians is the question

BA announces: We’ll begin rolling out our Draft Report Cards this week


They alter that format from year to year and I think they've given up on strict grades, but we should be at the top of the class this year, for a change.

Games of 10-15:

CLE AFL Lindor, Francisco SS 3 1 1 0 .346 BB (3), CS (1)
CLE AFL Smith, Jordan RF 4 0 0 0 .241 [he's irrelevant]
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos RF 4 0 0 0 .529
CLE VL Padron, Raul PH-DH 0 0 0 0 .000 [who's he?]
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 5 1 2 1 .364

CLE AFL Head, Louis 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 5.40
CLE AFL Maronde, Nick 2 2 0 0 1 1 16.20 [way better than the disaster last time out]
CLE VL Rodriguez, Ramon 2 2 1 1 1 0 2.08

Here's a top 10 list from the various Independent Leagues. Included is a former decent Indians minor league reliever who'll be getting a chance with the Dbacks:

Plenty of success stories have sprung from the independent leagues over the past two decades. From position players Kevin Millar to Daniel Nava and from pitchers Brian Tollberg to Steve Delabar, numerous players can credit the independent leagues for keeping their dream of a big league career alive.

But in 2014, indy ball became nearly mainstream. John Holdzkom went from hard-throwing, control-troubled righthander scuffling for an independent league job to a setup man for the Pirates in the playoffs in the span of a wild three months. In Arizona, outfielder David Peralta was making a case to be part of the Rookie of the Year discussion with a .286/.320/.450 half-season with the Diamondbacks.

Success stories like that keep Mal Fichman, the Pirates’ indy leagues scout, and Chris Carminucci, the independent leagues coordinator for the D-backs, flying around the country finding players. Carminucci and the D-backs were especially active this year, signing 21 players. Six of those signees ended up helping short-season Hillsboro win a Northwest League title in the franchise’s second year of existence.

With the D-backs signing 21 players, the Braves adding another 13, and 25 teams signing at least one player, a total of 92 independent league players signed with affiliated clubs in 2014, including a record 40 from the Frontier League.

Major League Baseball’s decision to reduce the draft from 50 rounds to 40 has benefitted indy ball teams, as a number of productive college players now go undrafted with the shorter draft. Thus the increased velocity seen throughout the game also has filtered down to independent ball.

Five years ago, scouts struggled to find indy league pitchers who could maintain 90 mph velocity. This year, a number of indy ball pitchers touched 100 mph, including Holdzkom and Danny Carela, plus numerous others who would consistently touch 95 mph.

From last year’s independent leagues top prospects list, No. 1 K.C. Serna made it to Double-A with the Phillies. No. 2 prospect Pete Perez had a successful season with low Class A Rome in the Braves system. No. 3 prospect Tim Adleman pitched well for Double-A Pensacola (Reds).

With all the signings, the list of intriguing unsigned independent league players is much shorter than it was just a few years ago. Teams that wait until the season is over to start looking for indy finds are the equivalent of Christmas shoppers digging through bins on Dec. 28. Many of the top arms and bats already have found jobs in affiliated ball.

But there are still some names worth keeping an eye on. Here’s a look at the top five unsigned prospects.

1. Eric Anderson, rhp
Normal (Frontier)
Born: Oct. 19, 1990. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 210.

If not for his injury history, Anderson probably would not be pitching in the Frontier League. He had labrum surgery during his freshman year at Missouri in 2010 and Tommy John surgery in 2012. He missed time for Missouri this year as well. Anderson says he’s pain-free, but some teams may be scared off by the lengthy medical report.

Stuff-wise, Anderson throws up no red flags. He sat at 92-93 mph with Normal, touching 95. He pairs his fastball with an promising hard slider, but both pitches play up because of the outstanding extension he gets. He’s shown a solid changeup in the past, but he didn’t need it as much in one-inning stretches with Normal.

“It’s the longest arm extension I’ve ever managed,” Normal manager Brooks Carey said. “It gets up on you. He had three or four outings where I had goose bumps and was thinking, ‘What is he doing here?’ ”

Anderson went 1-1, 2.65 with seven saves for Normal this year. He struck out 40 in 34 innings while walking nine.


2. Chris Sweeney, of
Evansville (Frontier)
Born: Sept. 21, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195.

Technically, Sweeney is a retread hoping to get a second shot at affiliated ball. But the nondrafted free agent the Royals signed out of NCAA Division III King (Pa.) College in 2013 had just 69 at-bats before he was released. As a senior, Sweeney led all D-III hitters with a .496 average, a .942 slugging percentage and 114 total bases. This season with Evansville was the first time he had batted more than 250 times in a season.

Sweeney responded by hitting .297/.369/.577 with 21 home runs as a 23-year-old, showing an all-fields approach and impressive power.

“He runs a 6.6(-second) 60-yard dash (which is double-plus on the scouting scale) and he has a right fielder’s arm,” Evansville manager Andy McCauley said. “He just needed at-bats.”

Because of his limited at-bats, Sweeney’s pitch recognition is behind some of his contemporaries, but his hand-eye coordination makes up for some of those deficiencies.


3. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1b/3b
Quebec (Can-Am)
Born: Nov. 26, 1989. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 230.

Fuenmayor, the 2014 BA Independent Leagues Player of the Year, signed with the Blue Jays for $750,000 as a 16-year-old coming out of Venezuela in 2006. His career never got off the ground with Toronto, however, and they eventually released him when he failed to make it out of low Class A in seven pro seasons.

But because he signed so young, Fuenmayor still was quite young at the time as his release. He went to the travel-team Frontier Greys in 2013 and landed in Quebec in time for that season’s playoffs. In his return to Quebec this year, Fuenmayor was a revelation. His power potential has always been apparent, but thanks to a better approach this season and a willingness to cut down his swing with two strikes, he started striking out less and hitting for average.

Fuenmayor still has an excellent arm, but he doesn’t really have the footwork to project as a third baseman in affiliated ball. If he lost some weight, a corner outfield spot might become a sporadic possibility, but for now, he’s a first baseman. His power, improved approach and relative youth should give him another shot at affiliated ball. He’s playing in Venezuela this winter, which will give scouts another look at his improvements.


4. Tanner Witt, 2b
Rockford (Frontier)
Born: Jan. 25, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 185.

A closer/outfielder at Kansas State, Witt moved to second base this year because his Rockford manager James Frisbie knew that an undersized second baseman would be more appealing to an affiliated club than an undersized corner outfielder.

Witt has plenty of arm for second base and decent hands, but he does need to continue to improve his footwork and his ability to turn the double play. At the plate, he’s shown consistent ability to get on base, dating back to his days at Kansas State. He has a reasonably short stroke with gap power. He’s a tick above-average runner but without much ability to steal bases.


5. Chris Peacock, rhp
Wichita (American Association)
Born: April 19, 1989. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 210.

Like many of the hardest throwers in the independent leagues, Peacock struggles with his control. But with a 92-95 mph fastball that touches 97 on occasion, he has enough arm speed to often work out of the jams he puts himself in.

A University of Mobile product who struggled mightily in 2013 in the Pecos League, Peacock was much better after the jump to the American Association this year. He throws a below-average splitter and a 84-86 mph cutter/slider that could use some more tilt.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

The standouts among already signed players is a much lengthier list, led by a name that has already gotten plenty of attention.

1. John Holdzkom, rhp
San Angelo (United)/Amarillo (Amer. Association)/Pirates
Born: Oct. 19, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-7. Wt.: 225.

The story already has been told, but everyone else on this list aspires to one day have a story similar to Holdkzom’s. The big righthander improved his control and quickly went from a 95-98 mph flamethrower who couldn’t find the plate to one who was entrusted with pitching key innings as a setup man for the Pirates during their playoff run. He even appeared in the Wild Card Game.


2. Nick Sarianides, rhp
Trois Rivieres (Can-Am)/Diamondbacks
Born: Aug. 29, 1989. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 200.

A 28th-round pick of the Indians in 2009, Sarianides was released by the club after the 2011 season. He didn’t have much more success in his first two years in independent leagues, but it all clicked for the righthander this year. He pairs a 91-94 mph fastball with a vulcan changeup that serves as his out-pitch. Picked up by the Diamondbacks and sent to low Class A South Bend, he held righthanders to a .221 slugging percentage.


3. Matt Nevarez, rhp
Wichita (American Association)/Pirates
Born: Feb. 26, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 220.

The Pirates didn’t sign many indy players this year, but they made the ones they did sign count. In addition to Holdzkom, Nevarez had plenty of success in a brief stint with Double-A Altoona at the end of the year, going 1-1, 1.35 in six appearances.

A well-traveled righthander who has spent time in the Rangers, Astros and Rays organizations, Nevarez’s fastball sits at 93-96 mph. He’s developed a useful 87-90 mph cutter with good late life and a decent changeup when he stays on top of it.


4. Danny Carela, rhp
Windy City (Frontier)/Braves
Born: Sept. 18, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 230.

A former Mets and Phillies farmhand, Carela lost 30 pounds, which allowed him to turn his plus 93-95 mph fastball into a plus-plus 95-98 mph pitch that has hit triple digits, a useable changeup and a slurvy slider. His delivery has some violence which leads to control problems at times. But when he throws strikes, he has enough stuff to blow hitters away. Carela hasn’t been able to figure out how to throw strikes consistently yet, but if he ever does, he has the arm to be a power reliever.


5. Alfonso Yevoli, lhp
Washington (Frontier)/Diamondbacks
Born: Jan. 12, 1990. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 225.

When Yevoli signed with the Diamondbacks at the end of the year it was his third try at affiliated ball. Yevoli has always had a good arm, but the Diamondbacks have worked on getting him more direct to the plate and have helped him add a cutter to give him a pitch to pair with his 94-95 mph fastball. That new wrinkle may let him stick for the first time.

Thursday games:

CLE AFL Lindor, Francisco SS 5 0 0 0 .290
CLE AFL Wolters, Tony DH 4 1 1 0 .154 BB (1)
CLE DL Ciriaco, Audy PH-DH 1 0 0 0 .000 [he doesn't count]
CLE DL Rodriguez, Ronny PR 0 1 0 0 –
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos RF 5 0 0 0 .409
CLE VL Monsalve, Alex C 2 0 1 0 .429
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 5 0 3 2 .407
No pitchers of note

BA "draft report cards". Overall rating for "Best Draft"--- Cleveland NO. 1. Royals No. 2

Best Pure Hitter: No. 5, Bradley Zimmer [note I believe Tyler Naquin and Clint Frazier have made this list previously]
Best Power Hitter: Nope, Bobbie Bradley not on the top 5
Best Defensive Player: No. 5 SS Alex Pantoja [also a pretty good baserunner; hitting is questionable]
Best Pro Deubt, HIgh School Players: No. 4 [yes 3 guys were better?] Bobby Bradley
Most Intriguing Background "Human Interest" No. 4 Bobby Ison [why's that? I guess I'll find it when I read more]

I think we win No. 1 based on the depth since none of our individuals rated at the very top of their categories.

Interesting note: WE signed 8 high school kids of our 30 draft signings, which ranks behind only the Mets and the Marlins, and we're traditionally going after nearly all college players. We also have 6 J.C. players so our 16 college signees is acutally second lowest behind the Rangers.

Summary: "Armed with three of the first 308 picks, the Indians got an impressive haul of talent, offering upside and probability in position players and pitchers".

the categories described are: Here are the winners in each; I'll copy the text of the report later

Best Pure Hitter: Zimmer (Papi and Bradley also noted)
Best Power Hitter: Bradley
Fastest Runner: Greg Allen (Jodd Carter an OF also noted)
Best Defensive Player: Pantojas (Allen also noted)
Best Fastball: Justin Merryweather (Sheffield and Hockin mentioned)
Best Secondary Pitch: Sheffield
Best Pro Debut: Bradley, obviously
Best Athlete: Zimmer and RHP Dominic DeMasi
Closest to the Majors: Zimmer and Papi
Most Intriguing Background: Ison "was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down in 8th grade with Guillain-Barre syndrome [a.k.a Sandy Koufax disease]
Best Late Round Pick: pitcher Robinson [no first name listed]

Great First Impression From Bradley


October 17, 2014 by Stephanie Storm



CLEVELAND—Bobby Bradley made it clear to his major league suitors before the 2014 draft that if they didn’t see him as a first- or second-round pick, then don’t bother.

The 18-year-old Gulfport, Miss., native was more than happy to play collegiately at nearby Louisiana State.

Still, the Indians took a chance on drafting the 6-foot-2, 215-pound first baseman in the third round. The caveat? Cleveland offered the athletic Bradley a top-two-rounds bonus of $912,500.

The gamble already has paid dividends. Bradley won the triple crown in the Rookie-Level Arizona League, hitting .361/.426/.652 with eight home runs and 50 RBIs in 39 games.

“He had as about as good of an initial experience in professional baseball as you can have,” assistant farm director Carter Hawkins said.

“Certainly the performance numbers are striking. But what really stuck out about him was that whatever coordinator went in there, whatever scout saw that team, (they talked about) the way he went about his business, and that he was one of the louder, more encouraging players to his teammates.

“Bobby’s ability to have a team-first approach as he was winning the triple crown was pretty impressive.”

Bradley’s maturity as a hitter immediately jUmped out to the Indians.

“He has an outstanding approach at the plate,” Hawkins said. “For a power guy, he was patient, he waited for his pitch and then he’d drive the ball from gap to gap. He really didn’t try to get outside of himself, despite the fact that he had a lot of tools to flash every day.”

Defense is the area Bradley has the most work to do. He made six errors, three of which came in one game.

“He made a lot of strides at first base as well,” Hawkins said. “He made some adjustments over the course of the year, continuing to improve his footwork and understanding of the requisite play that he needs to play the position at a higher level.”

“He has an outstanding approach at the plate,” Hawkins said. “For a power guy, he was patient, he waited for his pitch and then he’d drive the ball from gap to gap. He really didn’t try to get outside of himself, despite the fact that he had a lot of tools to flash every day.”

I can recall Joez at a ABJ forum reunion in Akron saying that about a young catcher the tribe was grooming named Victor Martinez! How right you were Joe!

Yeah, funny how when you pick the best hitting prospect in the system it usually works out that way. He was really hitting the "V" in Akron.

From top prospects alert:

Categories: 2015 MLB Prospect Rankings | Tag Tags: 2015 Prospect Rankings, Colorado Rockies | Comments No Comments

Cleveland Indians 2015 Top 20 Prospect Rankings

Calendar October 14, 2014

By: JP Schwartz

Twitter: @Jaypers413

Every year around this time I like to rank each team’s top overall prospects. My criteria are based on A: Past Performance and B: Future Potential (50% of each per prospect)

Disclaimer: I am not a professional scout, nor did I attend any minor league games this year. These lists are the product of my own research of online scouting reports and scouting videos, as well as statistics, and are compiled purely for entertainment purposes.

Send your questions or feedback to me on twitter @Jaypers413

To qualify for these lists, a prospect must have no more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

CLE Indians
1: Francisco Lindor SS
2: Clint Frazier OF
3: Bradley Zimmer OF
4: Justus Sheffield LHP
5: James Ramsey OF
6: Bobby Bradley 1B
7: Mitch Brown RHP
8: Grant Hockin RHP
9: Tyler Naquin OF
10: Mike Papi OF/1B
11: Francisco Mejia C
12: Adam Plutko RHP
13: Yu-Cheng Chang SS/3B
14: Ryan Merritt LHP
15: Cody Anderson RHP
16: Jesus Aguilar 1B
17: Dorssys Paulino OF
18: Yandy Diaz 3B
19: Greg Allen OF
20: Alexis Pantoja SS

SAturday games:

CLE AFL Smith, Jordan RF 5 1 1 1 .256 2B (2) [no reason for him to be on the 40-man]
CLE AFL Wolters, Tony C 5 0 1 0 .167 [40 man roster addition?]
CLE DL Ciriaco, Audy 3B 4 0 0 0 .000
CLE DL Naquin, Tyler LF 3 1 1 0 .333 [don't think he has to be protected this winter yet]
CLE VL Moncrief, Carlos RF 3 0 0 0 .345 BB (5)
CLE VL Monsalve, Alex C 0 0 0 0 .429 BB (1)
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 3 0 0 0 .389 [40 man roster addition]


CLE AFL Head, Louis 1 1 0 0 1 1 4.15
CLE AFL Maronde, Nick 3 2 1 1 1 2 9.95
CLE DL Paredes, Edward 0 0 0 0 1 0 --
CLE VL Rodriguez, Ramon 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 1.69

[ Moved Urshela article to the Winter Ball folder. ]

Why wasn't Urshula on the top prospect list that was published a couple of posts ago?

Sunday games:

CLE VL Medina, Yhoxian 2B 1 0 0 0 .000
CLE VL Monsalve, Alex C 1 0 0 0 .375
CLE VL Padron, Raul PH 1 0 0 0 .000
CLE VL Urshela, Giovanny 3B 5 1 2 4 .390 HR (2)
No pitchers