Cleveland Sports Forum

Once again Bieber makes the Hot Prospect list.

4. Shane Bieber, RHP, Indians
Team: Triple-A Columbus (International)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.61, 14.2 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 15 SO, 0 BB, 0 HR

The Scoop: As unbelievable as it seems, Bieber matched a career high when he walked two hitters in his Triple-A debut. He’d done that just one other time in three professional seasons, all the way back on May 31 of last year. He’s gone walk-free in 35 of his 46 career appearances, and hasn’t issued a free pass in his last three starts, a span of 21.1 innings. His above-average stuff and elite control should get him to Cleveland soon. (JN)

And a few more --

Indians Prospective @indiansPro

Lake County Captains transactions

OF Austen Wade placed on 7-day DL

INF Ernie Clement placed on 7-day DL

OF Jose Medina promoted from Mahoning Valley

INF Jesse Berardi promoted from Mahoning Valley

Brady is listed as starter tonight so he might have been just brought up for a spot start.

Morgan is starting for Lynchburg tonight, the first of 4 games against the Pelicans.

And all day today the Pelicans have been trying to get the Book on Eli.

Pelicans must have read the book of Eli cause they touched him up a bit. 3 earned on 5 hits in 5 innings. 5 K. ... Longo had a double and a homer.

Yandy and Mejia both had two hits this evening, all 4 hits were singles.

Clement and Wade were both injured in a collision at West Michigan on Sunday.

Morgan gave up 2 first inning solo homers, only 1 run the next 4. Not a terrible debut.
Longo is starting to show his power, that's his 2nd homer in a week, and second homer of the season.
Not sure if any of them have major league talent, but we're seeing some pretty decent hitting from outfielders at Akron, Lynchburg and to a degree Lake County.

BA lines from Monday, mostly catchers:

CLE AAA Chang, Yu SS 4 1 2 2 .260 2B (11)
CLE AAA Haase, Eric DH 4 1 1 3 .230 HR (3)
CLE AAA Mejia, Francisco C 4 1 2 1 .193
CLE HiA Capel, Conner CF 4 1 0 0 .284 BB (21) [Longo surges ahead in avg and OPS]
CLE HiA Ice, Logan C 4 0 1 1 .188
CLE HiA Morgan, Eli 5.0 5 3 3 2 5 5.40

First BA chat I've dropped in on this season, a couple Indians questions are answered:

Frank (Boston): What is Shane Bieber's ceiling?
Ben Badler: Midrotation starter. I think he’s probably a No. 4 SP with a chance to play above that in his best years.

sallyleaguer (nc): What's going on with Indian prospect Triston McKenzie?
Ben Badler: Rehabbing in Arizona, threw a few days ago.

Only 17, George Valera Is Growing Into His Own

By Bill Mitchell on May 22, 2018

GOODYEAR, Ariz.—By the age of 13, Indians minor league outfielder George Valera was well on the way to having the rest of his teen years figured out. Born and raised in New York, where he lived with his parents and siblings, Valera was a good student and had scholarship offers to several quality high schools. He was also turning into a pretty good baseball player.

But then Valera's life turned upside down. His father was in a serious accident in which he was struck by a truck, and the metal rods inserted in the senior Valera's arms and legs caused him to be sensitive to cold temperatures. The decision was made to move the entire family to their ancestral home in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, where George's mother and father both lived through part of their youth before their families migrated to the states.

Needless to say, the differences between New York and San Pedro de Macoris were drastic, with the move being quite a culture shock for Valera. While he spoke Spanish with his parents at home in the states, he had really never learned formal Spanish.

“At the beginning it was like the worst,” Valera said. “(I) didn't know how to speak as well, and I didn't have any friends.”

However, Valera adapted quickly to one part of life in the Dominican Republic.

“What really got me into loving the Dominican Republic was the baseball,” Valera said. “It was way better baseball, way more aggressive. Everyone was competing in baseball every day, the sun's out all of the time, and it was just amazing fun.”

Valera pointed out that in the Dominican Republic he had more opportunity to compete against older players, which helped him develop his baseball skills and acumen faster than he would have back in New York.

This advanced level of baseball and the frequency in which he got to play the game helped Valera develop into one of the top hitters for the 2017 international class, when at 16 he signed with the Cleveland Indians for a $1.3 million bonus.

Since reporting to the Indians' minor league complex in Goodyear, Ariz. in March, the lefthanded hitter initially played in minor league spring training games and now is in extended spring training in preparation for his professional debut this summer, likely with one of two Arizona League teams that the Indians will field.

Valera has already impressed observers with his advanced skills at the plate, showing a compact stroke, whippy bat speed and outstanding plate discipline.

“I've seen him enough to know that he can hit,” said a scout for a National League organization covering the backfield games during extended spring training. “He is one of the best hitters down here.”

At this point in his development, Valera is more of a pure hitter than a slugger—and that's alright with him.

“I want to be a contact hitter, gap-to-gap type of guy,” Valera said. “Of course, I want to keep getting stronger. I want to get mentally stronger as well.”

Valera continues to add strength to his 6-foot, 170-pound frame, so more power should come with physical maturity. AZL Indians first-time manager Jerry Owens sees Valera's burgeoning power as inevitable.

“His batting practice is pretty impressive,” Owens said. “He hits balls way up the net, out to right field and to right-center field. He's hit a couple of home runs to left field in batting practice. I know that the power is there … I think his mind is in the right place as far as wanting to be a good hitter first. He's got the pop and when he becomes disciplined, when he learns his swing and when he's able to control his bat and barrel through the hitting zone, the home runs are going to come.”

Valera has primarily played center field this spring. While not flashy, he's impressed observers with the instincts, jumps and reads he gets in the outfield. But ever since he signed with the Indians, it's been projected that his slightly below-average speed will dictate a move to a corner outfield spot in time, with his above-average arm being enough for either corner position. Valera doesn't buy that opinion.

“To be honest, I hope not,” Valera said, when asked about a possible move from center field. “That's why I'm working so hard, trying to get my legs stronger, trying to move quicker, trying to get better with reads, (getting) more experience, playing every day out here in Arizona, working extra with the trainers and coaches … I hope to stay in center field.”

Owens was a center fielder throughout his 14-year professional career, including parts of four big league seasons with the Chicago White Sox. He had the advantage of being a plus runner for the better part of his career, but he doesn't see the lack of blazing speed holding Valera back.

“George wants to get better every single day. I know he wants to play center field, and he believes in his mind that he's a center fielder, which to me is half the battle,” Owens said. “Speed isn't necessarily a 'must have' in center field. It does help, but jumps, reads and instincts … Understanding positioning and putting yourself in a good position to have success is also an important part of the equation in playing a good center field.”

While Valera has been in Arizona since early March and won't get back home until after the end of the Arizona League season, he hasn't completely put his life in the Dominican Republic behind him. He's taking online classes from his high school there to complete the course work needed to get his diploma.

The learning doesn't stop there, as he often heads to a nearby book store after practice to pursue his latest avocation—reading books. For Valera, improving the mind is as important as strengthening the body. It's all part of growing into adulthood.

“I always had someone to take care of me,” Valera said. “But now that I'm living by myself, I've got to man up and step up and do things right, like a man would do … I'm really trying to be a Hall of Famer. I'm 17 now, but that's my goal. Why? Because I want to be one to follow, an example to society that hard work pays off, and I promise you it will.”

Since I posted the article here is a couple recent videos on Valera from Twitter world.

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/998342891817832448

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/998958436942573569

And some news and notes on some other goings on --

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Kaminsky got a start today in extended spring. Struck out the side in the first but walked one. We could use a shot of some arms in upper system this year.
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I also read that Dace Kime is close to returning from his tommy john surgery.

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Lynchburg Hillcats transaction
RHP Justin Garza activated from the 7-day DL
RHP Justin Garcia assigned to Mahoning Valley

Garza faced a few batters for Lake County last night and then exited. Hope that was scheduled

Nope


Indians Prospective @indiansPro
13 hours ago
Lynchburg Hillcats RHP Justin Garza in his 1st start since being activated from the DL left with the trainer after only getting two outs in the 1st inning tonight.

Indians Prospective @indiansPro

Dragons 5 Captains 4 (Game 1)

Vasquez 4(IP) 4H 2R 2ER 1BB 2SO
Cantu 1-4 R HR RBI BB
Vicente 1-4 R HR RBI
Gonzalez 1-4 R HR RBI

Captains 2 Dragons 1 (Game 2)

Perez 5(IP) 2H 1R 1ER 2BB 4SO
DeJuneas 2(IP) 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 5SO
Gonzalez 2-3 R RBI BB
Laureano1-3 R HR RBI

.

Hillcats 8 Pelicans 2

Miniard 5.1(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 3BB 5SO
Wakamatsu 1-2 2R HR RBI 3BB
Longo 2-5 2B 2RBI SB
Capel 1-3 R RBI BB

.

RubberDucks 4 Thunder 3 (Game 1)

Chiang 6.2(IP) 7H 3R 3ER 0BB 6SO
Loopstok 1-3 2B 2RBI
Marabell 2-3 R RBI
Rodriguez 1-3 R RBI

RubberDucks 6 Thunder 3 (Game 2)

Speer 4(IP) 3H 1R 0ER 0BB 2SO
Bradley 3-3 R 3B RBI
Krieger 1-2 R 2B RBI BB
Marabell 1-3 R 2B RBI

.

Clippers 5 Mud Hens 3

Fife 7.2(IP) 7H 3R 2ER 2BB 4SO
Diaz 3-4 2B 2RBI BB
Barnes 3-5 2B RBI
Haase 1-4 R HR RBI

We were a Captains split of a double header from having a clean sweep as an organization yesterday. Would have been really something considering there were 2 double headers. But 7-1 on the day for all teams, not shabby.

Longo with a double and steal yesterday. He's been hot.

Marabell stays hot, 3-6 with a double in his 2 games.

Bradley with a tease again. 3-3 with triple. If things go as they have he will 0'fer today. Man I'd love to see him and Mejia get hot. Have to think it's coming. Yandy seems to have snapped out. 3 more hits and a double again today. Now we need these other two to.