New additions focus on rehab

Johnson, Weglarz try to shake off injuries as they eye big leagues

By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Sunday, Jun 05, 2011

Nick Johnson was signed as an insurance policy.

A veteran insurance policy for the Indians in case young first baseman Matt LaPorta struggled this year. But there was one condition: Johnson had to get healthy first.

Johnson, whom the Indians signed to a minor-league contract in February, is in the first phase of figuring that out now. He joined the Aeros along with outfielder Nick Weglarz on Friday when they returned home for a weekend series with the Binghamton Mets.

If Johnson can recover from wrist surgery, his eighth stint on the disabled list in nine seasons, and makes it to Cleveland this season, he'll earn $750,000 and the Indians will have a club option worth $2.75 million for the 2012 season.

But he also has a July 1 ''out clause'' in his contract if things don't work out by then.

Johnson, 32, is a career .270 hitter in the major leagues with the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals. But he's recovering from multiple surgeries on his right wrist, the last involving a tendon being removed by Dr. Thomas Graham at the Cleveland Clinic that had been causing him pain when he swung.

Weglarz, the Indians' fifth-best prospect according to Baseball America, is making his way back from a torn left meniscus that he suffered in spring training while running the bases. Like Johnson, the 23-year old Weglarz also has a history of injuries that have derailed his professional career.

As Weglarz ticked through the series of medical issues that have hampered him the past five years, even he had trouble keeping them straight. There was a hamate bone injury in 2006 that cost him the season, a stress fracture in his left leg toward the end of the 2009 season that required surgery to insert a steel rod, a right thumb injury last year in which he suffered a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament while sliding into a base and then the meniscus tear this spring.

''I wasn't happy last year when I was hurt because I knew I was close,'' Weglarz said. ''Going down in the spring is frustrating, really frustrating. Especially seeing all the guys you've played with making their big-league debuts and teammates breaking camp and leaving to go play while you sit and rehab. But at the same time, you can't let it get you down. Baseball's a tough game, and very humbling.''

Fair or not, both Johnson and Weglarz are often described as ''injury-prone.''

''That bothers me,'' Weglarz said. ''It's not like I'm tweaking my hamstring every two weeks and missing days all the time. It's been legitimate surgery and being out for stretches kind of injuries that have happened while I'm playing the game. There's nothing I could do to prevent them.''

And so, both Nicks are with the Aeros looking to put their long injury histories behind them and get on with their baseball careers. Weglarz will make his first start this afternoon. Johnson has already played in back-to-back games.

He went 0-for-2 Friday and also had an error at first base and dropped another ball that likely would have been a double play. On Saturday, he went 1-for-3 with two walks as the Aeros' designated hitter. He struck out looking with the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning.

He went 0-for-2 Friday and also had an error at first base and dropped another ball that likely would have been a double play. On Saturday, he went 1-for-3 with two walks as the Aeros' designated hitter. He struck out looking with the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning.


That's what I call an impressive debut

Tony's dialy game summaries:

Four Home Run Game Gives Kinston an 8-1 Win

Kinston blasted four homers to beat Winston-Salem 8-1 Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem. The home run total set a season high and came against the league's best home run hitting team. It was the most round trippers Kinston has hit in a game since they put up six against Myrtle Beach on April 25th, 2010. With the win the K-Tribe (28-26) has now won 14 of their last 18 games. Kinston ends the night 3 ½ games back of first place Myrtle Beach.

Down 1-0 going into the second inning, Adam Abraham drew a one-out walk from Winston-Salem's starting pitcher Ryan Buch. Abner Abreu then hit his fourth home run of the season. The shot to left field gave Kinston a 2-1 lead. Jeremie Tice got into the long ball act in the top of the fourth inning, sending a shot over the outfield seating in right field. It was Tice's second home run of the season, both bombs coming since he was taken off the DL on May 21st. The shelling continued in the top of the fifth inning. After Roberto Perez legged out an infield single, Tyler Cannon hit his first home run in the Carolina League. The former University of Virginia star's big hit put Kinston up 5-1. Later in the inning, after a Tyler Holt walk, Casey Frawley hit a two-run homer. The second round tripper of the inning and fourth of the game was Frawley's seventh of the season. The K-Tribe added a seventh inning run on Tice's double to center that brought Frawley in from second. Abner Abreu went 3-for-4 with two RBI on the night. Frawley and Tice each went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Kinston starter Clayton Cook was stellar, matching his longest outing of the season. Cook allowed just one run in seven innings while striking out a season high nine and walking four. The righty's sixth win of 2011 sets the standard for Kinston pitching so far this season. Cooks outing came one night after his teammate T.J. House set the teams long outing with seven and one third innings pitched. Chris Jones worked a perfect final two innings to cap Kinston's 8-1 win. Dash starter Ryan Buch (1-1) took his first loss of the year.

The K-Tribe takes on the Dash in the final game of the series Sunday afternoon in Winston-Salem. Game time 2pm, Giovanni Soto will get the start on the mound for Kinston.

Bats beat Clippers, 6-5

Brent Clevlen gave the Bats the lead in the bottom of the eighth, misplayed a critical fly ball in the ninth and hit a walk off homerun in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Bats their sixth straight victory, 6-5.

Clevlen went 3-for-5 batting out of the nine-hole with five runs batted in and two homeruns. His two run homerun in the eighth and leadoff homerun in the tenth, more than made up for a poorly played Lonnie Chisenhall fly ball in the ninth inning. The Chisenhall fly ball turned into a two RBI double and sent the contest into extra innings.

In the third inning Columbus shortstop Luis Valbuena extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest current streak in the International League, with a single slapped down the left field line. In the same frame Matt Klinker walked in a run and an infield single by Chad Huffman brought Valbuena around to tie the score at 2-2.

The Columbus offense was at it again in the sixth when Chad Huffman drove in Jason Kipnis from second base with an RBI single.

The Clippers travel back to Columbus on Sunday to face the Bats in their home park. Bats RHP Scott Carroll (3-2, 4.57) will take the mound for Louisville, with RHP Zach McAllister (7-1, 2.42) toeing the rubber for the Clippers. The game Sunday is the first of a three game set in Columbus that concludes with a double-header Monday.

Five-run Third Does In Aeros

Right-hander Austin Adams allowed five runs in the top of the third inning as the Akron Aeros went on to lose game two of a three-game series to the Binghamton Mets 7-4 Saturday at Canal Park.

Adams suffered the loss for the Aeros lasting 2.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits, walking four and striking out five.

Lefty Roy Merrit pitched two scoreless innings of relief and got the win for Binghamton striking out one while walking none.

The Aeros (26-31) took the lead in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run from Beau Mills.

The B-Mets (18-35) answered back in the top of the third inning. Jose Coronado led off with a walk and advanced to third on a Jonathan Malo double. Reese Havens singled home Coronado to tie the game 1-1. Bubba Bell followed with an RBI single to give Binghamton a 2-1 lead. With the bases full, Allan Dykstra rapped an RBI single to make it 3-1. Adams went on to walk home a run and then hit Jean Luc Blaquiere and force another run home to give Binghamton a 5-1 lead.

The Aeros loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom of the frame, but could not score.

The B-Mets scored runs in the top of the fourth and seventh innings to take a 7-1 lead.

The Aeros scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Cristo Arnal RBI groundout and a Tim Fedroff RBI single.

Akron rallied for a run in the bottom of the ninth, but drew no closer as the B-Mets went on to the win.

The Aeros will look to salvage the finale of this three-game series Sunday. Akron will give the ball to left-hander T.J. McFarland, who is 1-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 2011. He will face right-handed pitcher Collin McHugh, who is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA this season. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m.

Lumberkings Saw Down the Captains 7-2

Clinton used the long ball on Saturday night at Classic Park to even their weekend series with Lake County with a 7-2 win. Mickey Wiswall went 3-for-4 with two homeruns and three runs batted in to lead the way.

Wiswall singled to centerfield to reach in the first inning. The Lumberkings made it 1-0, when Kalian Sams singled in Wiswall. Stefan Romero doubled in Sams pushing Clinton in front, 2-0.

In the third inning, Wiswall hit his first homerun of the game with a solo shot to right field to make it 3-0 Lumberkings.

Clinton hit a pair of two run homeruns in the fifth inning. Wiswall hit the first blast to straight away centerfield, his fifth of the season. Sams hit his seventh of the year as the L’Kings jumped ahead 7-0.

The Captains avoided the shutout scoring a pair of runs in the eighth inning. Giovanny Urshela drove in LeVon Washington who singled to make it 7-1. Washington had a pair of singles and extended his hit streak to eight games. Alex Monsalve made it 7-2 with a sacrifice fly to center to score Carlos Moncrief.

James Paxton (2-2) earned the win tossing five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, walking four and striking out nine. Jordan Cooper (1-2) suffered the loss allowing seven runs, six earned on eight hits, walking one and striking out six, which matches his career high.

Lake County and Clinton will wrap up their weekend series Sunday afternoon from Classic Park at 1:00PM. Taking the mound for the Captains in the finale will be RHP Cole Cook (2-5) matched up against RHP Forrest Snow (1-7) for the Lumberkings.

Captains land six All Stars
The Midwest League announced their mid-season All Star teams today and the Lake County Captains have six representatives on the Eastern Division squad. Pitchers Mike Rayl, Mike Goodnight and Clayton Ehlert will be joined by outfielder Anthony Gallas, catcher Alex Monsalve, and infielder Argenis Martinez at the All Star game on June 21 at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, IA which is the home of the Quad Cities River Bandits. Captains manager Ted Kubiak will manage the team and will be assisted by Captains coaches Jim Rickon and Jeff Harris. Last season the Captains sent five players to the Midwest League All Star game in Fort Wayne.

[Why Martinez? He's batting 209 with nothing interesting in his secondary stats; I guess they like his defense]

Sunday box scores follow. One win, by Akron, everyone else loses. Highlights and lowlights:


Rob Bryson season debut, 1 perfect inning for Lake County.
Chen Lee with two shutuout innings for Aklron,
Karexon Sanchez 3 hits, 2 steals at Akron.
Carrera and Agillar both exit games early, injured?
McBride and Mills each with 2 hits
Roberto Perez 2 hits for Kinston. Monthly OPS: 523, 724, 1033.
Moncrief HR, Outfield assist, Caught stealing.

Starting pitching ranges from OK to awful. McAllister and Soto with bad days

McAllister 5.0 12 7 7 2 5

McFarland 6.0 4 3 3 2 4

Soto 5 9 6 5 5 4

Cole Cook 5 7 3 3 4 5

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Ciolumbus splits a pair of games. Kinston, now our hottest team, wins 11-1. The others get the night off.

Pomeranz 5 2 1 1 4 5
Kluber 6.1 6 3 3 2 9

For Kinston Chase Burnete with 4 hits, 4 rbi. Roberto Perez our hottest hitter in June has 3 hits, one a double and is up to 246; he's also considered an excellent defender. Delvi Cid 3 hits. At Columubs nightcap Phelps and Carrera with 2 hits apiece.


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Notes: LH starter Scott Barnes (3-1, 4.87) is 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA in his last three games, with 25 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings....3B Lonnie Chisenhall is 8-for-44 (.182) in his last 11 games, with two doubles, one triple, nine walks and nine strikeouts....Huffman's three-hit game ended a nine-game slump during which he was 4-for-33 (.121) with one double, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Valbuena is 23-for-57 (.404) during his hitting streak, with four doubles, nine RBI and nine runs. He has played the last four games at shorstop, and 25 there this season. He has played nine games in left field, eight at third base, one at second base and six at designated hitter.
Valbuena, 25, has played one inning in left field as a major leaguer -- last season with the Indians. He has played 164 major league games at second base, 34 at shortstop and 10 at third base. Valbuena hit .250 with 25 doubles, three triples and 10 homers in 103 games for the Indians in 2009. He slumped to .193 in 91 games last season, and also slipped defensively. Valbuena's first major league stint was with the Seattle Mariners in 2008, when he hit .245 in 14 games.

Wins for Columbus and Lake County. Here are the boxes

Jeanmar Gomez 7 innings, 1 run, 7 K.

Matt Packer 5 innings, 5 runs on 9 hits

Brett Brach 6 innings 3 runs

Michael Goodnight 6 shutout innings, 4 K, 1 walk, 3 hits. He should go to Kinston and Pomeranz should go to Akron

Valbuena 3 hits, including Hr#5, avg 311

Beau Mills 2 hits, 280; Chun Chen 2 hits, 283, HR 8

Holt and Abraham 3 hits apiece

Rodriguez, teenage IF in Lake County, triple, homer, single, 3 rbi E#9



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I notice Donald has only 33 at bats. Is he injured still or do they not have a place to play him?

He's injured. I don't recall if it's the same injury or a new one.

Not a lot of relatively unheraled players having breakout seaons for us in the first half of the minor league season. Michael Goodnight at Lake County clearly is one. 13th round pick out of U of Houston last summer, he's 6-4 215 RHP with these stats:

64 innings
38 hits
21 walks
60 strikeouts
4 homers

I'm pretty sure he was one of several signed to above-slot contracts last year. He's outperformed Kyle Blair and Cole Cook, his teammates and fellow over-slot draftees from 2010.

CIV- Thanks for the Donald info.

Here are Wednesday's boxscores. Highlights include excellent starting pitch performances by David Huff and Kelvin de la Cruz, good one by T.J. House, except his walks top his strikeouts. Rob Bryson with his 2nd inning of the season, working at Lake County. Our pitching at 3 levels was very stingy with basehits.


Chun Chen and Beau Mills with good days at the plate: maybe Beau will finally got a shot at AAA. Steven Wright terrible start for Lake County.


Huff 7 5 1 1 2 3
Putnam 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 3

dlCruz 6 1 0 0 3 3
Miller 1 1 0 0 0 1

House 6 2/3 2 1 1 4 0

Valbuena hitting 316, Kipnis 275, Chisenhall 261

Mills homers, singles, walks twice
Chen 2 doubles and a single
Weglarz double and 2 walks, doesn't get hurt

Tice 3 hits, homer
Several other K-Tribesman with 2 hits each including Roberto Perez who' now over 250

Levon Washington with his first professional homer
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Great game by Scott Barnes lefty at Columbus. 7 shutout innings, yields only 3 hits, fans 8 and walks only 2. Clippers win it 7-1. Kipnis with 3 hits, Valbuena with 2 (318) -- why not have him replace Everitt? Goedert homers. Chisenhall 0=5 drops to 256

Barnes with 60 K in 51 AAA innings
He's still only 23.

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Joe Gardner rocked and the Aeros pummelled 14-2. Garndenr made it 2 2/3 and the good news is only 4 of the 8 runs were earned. And that Eric Berger was worse: 6 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks while retiring 2.

Beau Mills a double. Jordan Henry three hits back to 267. Karexon Sanchez 2 hits, because of a 2-33 April he's still in the 230's but his stats for May and June are avg of 303 and OPS about 830

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