Getting to Know the New Guys – Nick Gallagher

A 16th round pick in 2017, Gallagher (pictured at top) missed his entire rookie season with injury so this is his first time getting into game action for the Indians. While it may have been the fact that he’s 20 years old (he was drafted as a junior out of Iowa) or that he followed Merritt, I was thoroughly impressed by the right hander. A starter in college, Gallagher pitched three innings in relief last Monday, striking out four without allowing a single base runner.

He did this with a terrific fast ball that hit mid to upper 90’s with a decent change and a tight slider. As mentioned earlier, players at this level are as willing to swing at anything as anyone, but Gallagher kept things within the zone and was still able to miss bats at an extreme rate. As a 20 year old, he likely would have jumped straight to Mahoning Valley last year if he had been healthy and that is exactly where I expect him to go once the season starts.

In Iowa, Gallagher was the ace of the staff in his final season, but with his skill set he could be an interesting reliever as well. While the Indians have many highly talented starters throughout the system, they don’t have many relief prospects who can jump into a game throwing mid-90’s with multiple offerings. I expect him to break out as a starter this season, but as his career advances he could become a great asset in the late innings.

Sunday updates, including debut of Gallagher, mentioned above.

Akron RubberDucks transactions:
RHP Jordan Milbrath promoted to Columbus
LHP Ben Krauth promoted from Lychburg to Akron

Clippers 1 Red Wings 0
Ogando 5.2(IP) 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 8SO
Allen 2-4 R 2B
Diaz 1-3 RBI BB

RubberDucks 9 Baysox 4
Bieber 6(IP) 10H 3R 3ER 0BB 5SO
Krieger 3-5 3R HR RBI
Loopstok 1-4 2R HR 2RBI BB
Paulino 2-5 2B 3RBI

Hillcats 6 Nationals 4
Lovegrove 2(IP) 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 3SO (W)
Collins 2-5 R HR 2RBI
Tapia 1-4 R HR RBI
Capel 2-5 2RBI SB

#Captains 10 Hot Rods 2
Gallagher 3.1(IP) 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 3SO (SV)
Laureano 2-4 R 2B HR 4RBI
Jones 2-5 R 2B 3RBI
Wade 2-4 2R 2B RBI BB

Akron RubberDucks RHP Shane Bieber (Walk) check after today's start:
2018 - 25(IP) 0BB
No walks over last 37.1 straight innings (2017-18)
Career - 216.1(IP) 12BB (2 walks intentional)

Indians 2017 16th Round Draft Pick out of Iowa RHP Nick Gallagher made his pro-debut tonight for Lake County. Gallagher was impressive and even earned the save in the #Captains 10-2 victory overthe Hot Rods.
- 3.2(IP) 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 3SO (SV)

(Not sure why he didn’t include them in rundown, but Hentges and Morgan both started yesterday. Morgan was pretty decent and got the W. Hentges was smacked around. I’m sure they will be in BA rundown Civ posts)

I note gladly that Yandy doubled his season extra bat hit total with a pair of doubles on Friday.
And Chang came to life with 4 hits and 3 doubles the next day,
And Capel kept at it over the weekend, 5 for 14 with 5 RBI, a couple doubles, a steal in two tries. For the season 323/386/468; he's the Position Player of the First Two Weeks. Could make the Hot Prospect List coming out today for his last week's work: 419/419/548 2 steals.

Our early Bob Feller Award winner would I guess be Bieber but Garza's 15 2/3 shutout innings with 19 K is pretty decent too.

Here's BA report for Sunday' they seem to skip the Saturday games

CLE AA Castro, Willi SS 4 2 1 0 .161
CLE AA Krieger, Tyler DH 5 3 3 1 .173 HR (1)
CLE AA Mathias, Mark 2B 5 0 2 0 .250
CLE AAA Allen, Greg CF 4 1 2 0 .229 2B (4)
CLE AAA Chang, Yu SS 3 0 0 0 .240
CLE AAA Haase, Eric C 3 0 0 0 .308 BB (4)
CLE AAA Mejia, Francisco LF 4 0 0 0 .213
CLE HiA Capel, Conner CF 5 0 2 2 .323 SB (7)
CLE HiA Collins, Gavin 3B 5 1 2 2 .227 HR (1) I'd like to see more
CLE HiA Ice, Logan C 3 1 0 0 .222 BB (4)
CLE LoA Benson, Will RF 3 1 0 0 .214 BB (11) he's still walking
CLE LoA Gonzalez, Oscar LF 4 0 1 0 .286 BB (2) a rare walk for Oscar
CLE LoA Jones, Nolan 3B 5 1 2 3 .217 2B (1)
and the pitchers, as requested
CLE AA Bieber, Shane 6.0 10 3 3 0 5 1.04 W (3-0) lots of hits, kind of like Civale's last start
CLE HiA Hentges, Sam 3.2 6 4 4 3 3 2.29 not very good at all
CLE LoA Morgan, Eli 5.2 4 2 2 3 4 1.74 W (1-0) lots of guys on base and especially too many walks.

Our minor league home run leader is Sicnarf Loopstok who hit his 3rd yesterday for Akron

Kind of weird to see the comment "too many walks" next to any of our decent pitching prospects.

we say "good control Brady" if Aiken walks 4 in 6 innings

no one makes the Hot Sheet. Capel was very good but without any homers he was a long shot, Garza was great but it's hard for guys not on the preseason Top 30s to be rated; they used to have a "helium watch" for the up and comers but not yet this year. Nor does there appear to be a chat feature to bring up other names.

Aiken?

I said "decent pitching prospects"!

CLE AA Bradley, Bobby 1B 4 0 0 0 .103
CLE AA Krieger, Tyler 2B 3 1 1 0 .182 BB (3)
CLE AA Mathias, Mark DH 4 2 1 0 .250 3B (2), SB (3)
CLE AAA Allen, Greg LF 2 0 0 0 .216
CLE AAA Haase, Eric DH 4 0 0 0 .286
CLE AAA Mejia, Francisco C 4 0 1 0 .215
CLE LoA Benson, Will RF 3 0 0 0 .200 BB (12)
CLE LoA Clement, Ernie SS 3 0 2 0 .339 2 BB (4)
CLE LoA Gonzalez, Oscar DH 4 0 1 0 .283
CLE LoA Jones, Nolan 3B 4 0 0 0 .185
CLE AA Civale, Aaron 5.0 5 5 4 1 6

Here's something you don't see often. My man Mitch Longo has a 9 game hitting streak going. But is only hitting .268 over the 9 games.

.


Matt Present @matt_present

@LynHillcats Hitting Streaks

Longo - 9 (11-41, .268)
Capel - 8 (15-35, .429)
Tapia - 8 (11-31, .355)
Collins - 6 (8-27, .296)

None of those guys had a chance to extend their streaks Monday since Lynchburg had the day off -- bus trip I assume. The other results:

Columbus lost by forfeit score 9-0. Adam Plutko was hurt by his standard bugbear: 3 homeruns, first of this season; last year 24 in 136 innings!
Mejia and Diaz each with a single.

Akron was dumped 8-4. Civale's line was posted above. The offense was paced by former prospect but still young Dorsyss Paulino with a single and double; Mathias a triple; Krieger a single and a walk.

Only Lake County won, with 2 runs in the 9th, 2-1. Remember Juan Hillman? He had a fine night on the hill, man: 5 1 1 0 2 6 6.94
Followed by Gregori Vazquez 4 2 0 0 1 5 1.06.
Ernie Clement with a pair of singles and a pair of rare walks. Austen Wade a single and a double. Not so hot were Will Benson, who did draw another walk, and didn't strike out but at 0-3 is now hitting 200 , OPS is OK at 768. Nolan Jones was 0-4 with 2K; he's hitting 185 OPS 667

on the mound today:

Columbus: Morimando 1-2 8.22
Akron: Thomas B. Dewey, or is it Ted B. Danson?
Lynchburg: Plesac 1-1 4.08
Lake County: Perez 0-0 5.19

Lynchburg Hillcats @LynHillcats
1 hour ago
Justin Garza named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week...AGAIN!

Indians Prospective @indiansPro

Akron RubberDucks transaction:

RHP Jordan Milbrath assigned to Akron from Columbus

Lynchburg Hillcats transactions:

OF Trenton Brooks to 7 day DL

LHP Ben Krauth assigned to Lynchburg from Akron

(that was a short stay in Akron. Did he even get in a game?)