Written by Al Ciammiachella

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Around the Farm takes a quick look at how some of the prospects around the Indians system played in yesterday’s games. As always, the positions listed below are where the players were playing in yesterday’s games.

 

Alex White, SP-COL: 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 K.

Another very good outing for White yesterday, as he struck out 7 and didn’t walk a batter.  White doesn’t have a decision on the year, but he boasts a 2.00 ERA and has struck out 20 while walking just three batters.  He hasn’t walked anyone in his last two starts. He has more strikeouts than baserunners allowed. I’m running out of ways to say that White has pitched really, really well to open the season. If he continues to dominate in Columbus and Jenmar Gomez has a couple more starts in Cleveland where he struggles, the calls for White to get a shot at the MLB rotation will just keep getting louder.

 

Giovanny Urshela, 3B-LCC: 1-5, HR (1), 5 RBI, R, 3 K

Urshela got off to a blazing start in 2011, but cooled off a little in the past week. He was hitless in his last eleven at bats going into the 2^nd game of the doubleheader last night, but snapped out in a big way with a 3-run HR to left in the bottom of the 1^st inning to stake the Caps to a 3-0 lead. Despite the slump, Urshela still sports an impressive .327/.373/.481 line on the young season. Pretty good when you consider that comes along with gold glove caliber defense at the hot corner. If Urshela can continue to show some pop in addition to his plus-plus glove and solid hit tool, you could be looking at one of the real breakout prospects in the organization this year.

 

• Zach Putnam, RP-COL: IP, H, K. Putnam with 5 consecutive scoreless innings and a 5/1 K/BB ratio on the year.
• Josh Judy, RP-COL: W (2-1), IP, ER, H, BB. Judy snaked Putnam’s win, but the Clipper offense bailed him out in the bottom of the 9^th.
• Cord Phelps, SS-COL: 2-4, BB, K. Phelps continues to hit no matter where he plays in the field, and he also turned in an errorless game at SS.
• Jason Kipnis, 2B-COL: 1-3, 2 BB, K. Kip continuing to slowly bring his average up after a poor start; line is now at .261/.375/.370. Lack of pop is surprising, as he has just 4 XBH.
• Luke Carlin, C-COL: 3-4, HR (2), 2B, 2 RBI, R. Luuuuuuuuuuuuke now hitting a robust .379.
• Austin Adams, SP-AKR: L (1-1), 4 2/3 IP, R (0 ER), 4 H, 7 K, 2 BB. Solid start for Adams, but Akron was shut out on the offensive side. For the season, 17 K in 15 2/3 IP.
• Tim Fedroff, LF-AKR: 2-4, BB, K, CS. Fedroff was the only Aero with more than one hit yesterday. Now hitting .293 on the season.
• Marty Popham, SP-KIN: 4 IP, 3 K. Four perfect innings for Popham yesterday. He hasn’t allowed a run since giving up 4 ER in a single inning back on April 8.
• Jose Flores, RP-KIN: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K. Flores now with 12 K in 6 IP for the K-Tribe.
• Doug Pickens, C-KIN: 3-4, RBI. Pickens is making the most of his limited opportunities. He’s hitting .389 (7-18) and has hits in 4 of the 5 games in which he has appeared.
• Cole Cook, SP-LCC: 5 IP, R (0 ER), 3 H, 4 K, BB. Cook pitched well, and was in line for his first professional win until the bullpen imploded on him.
• Kyle Blair, SP-LCC: W (1-0), 6 IP, ER, 5 H, 4 K. Blair managed to pick up his first professional victory last night with an outstanding performance. He allowed a solo HR in the 2^nd inning, but that was the only blemish in an otherwise sterling performance.
• Carlos Moncrief, CF-LCC: 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 R, SB, K. Big day for the speedy converted pitcher; still hitting just .224.