CLE AA Bradley, Bobby 1B 3 0 0 0 .213
CLE AA Ice, Logan C 3 0 1 0 .306
CLE AA Krieger, Tyler LF 4 0 1 0 .255 SB (15)
CLE AA Mathias, Mark 2B 4 0 0 0 .226
CLE R Rodriguez, Johnathan RF 5 1 2 2 .286 3B (2)
CLE AA Civale, Aaron 5.0 6 4 4 1 4

Oh, well, Morgan Freeman is the voice of God, so he obviously makes the top 10 list of any organization.

NYPL notes: Scrappers' Freeman feeling fine

Indians' No. 12 prospect tops leaderboards after offseason injury

By Craig Forde / MiLB.com

Coming back from a torn labrum in his left shoulder suffered during the offseason, Tyler Freeman, the Indians' No. 12 prospect, found it tough getting back into the swing of things.

During extended spring camp, the 19-year-old middle infielder pushed through enduring pain as he struggled to regain his form at the plate.

About to break camp with Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley in June, Freeman started feeling good once more, and that has rolled right into his season with the Scrappers. The California native has led the New York-Penn League in hitting for much of the season, currently sitting atop the heap with a .359 average through 32 games.

"I was rehabbing, and extended was kind of the time to test it," he explained. "In the beginning, I did struggle trying to find a swing again. Toward the end I started to pick it up and find my swing. I just needed reps, more than anything. Mentally, that was the biggest part of it. You feel like it's not healed because it's always sore. It's always hurting. That's what you have to battle through -- adversity -- and have a strong mind knowing that it is getting better. Time will help heal it."

An absolute force at the plate out of the gate, Freeman collected two hits in his season debut and, after posting an 0-fer in his second game, rattled off a 13-game hitting streak with nine multi-hit efforts.

In total, the Scrappers shortstop/part-time second baseman has hit safely in all but six games this season, batting primarily from the No. 2 spot.

Video: Freeman triples for the Scrappers

"I feel great," the 71st overall pick of the 2017 Draft said. "Coming from the [Rookie-level Arizona League] was a little bit of a change. I'm still playing baseball -- it's still nine innings -- so the game hasn't changed itself. It's been really fun and [I'm] trying to help my team win in any way possible."

While the game hasn't changed, the level has. Freeman is glad to take each day with the Scrappers as a chance to learn more, especially as he faces more advanced pitchers.

"The hardest part, coming from the AZL, these pitchers will throw 2-0 breaking balls, and I'm not really used to that. But that's where you learn to become a mature hitter," he said. "The biggest part is the mental game. You're not always going to be the hottest hitter, the hottest infielder. You'll make errors and you'll strike out. That's where the mental game has to step in ... knowing you're here for a reason. You have to have a strong mind."

In addition to batting average, Freeman currently leads the league in hits (46) and doubles (12) and is second in runs (24) and RBIs (22) while posting a .963 fielding percentage. Although it took battling through pain and discomfort to get him where he is, he's having no problem enjoying the moment.

"To me, it doesn't feel like a job," he said. "I'm playing baseball and that's all that I've lived for. Playing this game always makes me smile. You're doing your best to play to the best of your abilities, obviously, but you are having fun while doing it. Not many people can say they're having fun while doing their job. Luckily, I'm one of the people who can say that."
In brief

Outstanding Oviedo: While some things are lining up similarly to last season for Mahoning Valley pitcher Luis Oviedo, others are not. That's a positive for the 19-year-old right-hander. The Indians' No. 18 prospect leads the league with 50 strikeouts over 39 innings. Last year, he finished second in the Arizona League with 70 punchouts in 51 2/3 innings, just three shy of teammate Juan Mota. While he remains strikeout-oriented, his league-best 0.92 ERA is in stark contrast to the 7.14 ERA posted in 2017. Oviedo has also put together a tidy 0.82 WHIP, second best in the NYPL and a vast improvement over his 1.63 mark last season.

Indians Prospective @indiansPro

#Indians 2017 top International prospect 17yr old George Valera who made his professional debut in the Arizona Rookie League this year had surgery for a fractured hamate bone. Valera who only played in 6 games is most likely done for the season.

OF Connor Marabell promoted from Akron
LHP Tyler Olson activated by Columbus
RHP Alexi Ogando placed on restricted list
UTL Todd Hankins placed on the 7-day DL
OF Dorssys Paulino activated from 7-day DL assigned to Akron

- -

PawSox beat ClipShow 6-3

Allen 1-3, SB
Yandy 0-3, BB
Haase 0-4
Chang 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Marabell with solo homer in his debut.

- -

Akron was getting shelled but game was suspended. To be finished tomorrow.

- -

Hillcats lost to Wood Ducks 5-4

Morgan 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K ... hasn’t been same of late.
Longo 0-5, 2K
Collins 1-3, 2B, R. Played catcher again.
Capel 2-3, R, RBI, BB

- -

Scrappers 1 Cyclones 0 (5 innings/rain shortened)

Draper 5(IP) 2H 0R 0ER 2BB 5SO
Fermin 1-2 RBI
Pujols 1-2 R
Freeman 1-2

- -

AZL Tribe 1 beat the AZL Brewers 4-1

Yannuzzi does not disappoint. 4 IP, 2H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
20th round draft pick, Jake Miednik had another scoreless inning. 1 K. ... 1.93 ERA in his early career.
Santiago 1-4, R
Marcos Gonzalez left game early. Hope he’s ok. He’s been doing great this year. .351
Wade 1-3, R, RBI
Cardenas 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI ... hitting 300

- -

AZL Indians 2 beat the ChiSox 18-3 ... 18? This should be fun, let’s see....

Lenny Torres’ second outing is successful too. 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Rocchio 1-4, BB, R
Delgado 1-3, 3 BB, 2 R
Naylor 1-4, BB, 2 R, RBI
DeOleo 0-2, BB, R, RBI
YainerD 4-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 4 R
Wilson 2-4, 3B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, SB

- -

DSL Indians 12 Rays 4

Hernandez 5(IP) 5H 1R 1ER 0BB 2SO
Planez 1-4 2R HR 4RBI
Peralta 2-2 R 2B RBI 3BB
Tena 3-5 R 2B RBI SB (I don’t know much about this guy but I seem to type his name a lot. Might need to start paying attention)

- -

DSL Rangers 10 Indians/Brewers 0

Martinez 2(IP) 1H 1R 1ER 0BB 3SO
Planchart 3-4 (I seem to type this guys name a lot too)
De La Cruz 1-3 BB
Made 1-4

Lake County was off, BTW. After rain out last night. They’ll be well rested.

I think the one at bat for Marcos Gonzalez is probably a good sign; he's been out of the lineup for several weeks, so I'll assume this is just equivalent of a rehab appearance.

I wonder if they think much of Conner Marabell? He keeps moving up and keeps hitting well, but no one talks much about him. Sometimes they promote their organizational players ahead of the prospects since they don't really worry that much about their development.
He had a pretty weak 2017, with OPS of 646 at 3 stops. This year he hit a nice 295/346/478 for Akron. Doesn't walk a lot, doesn't steal a lot, doesn't strike out a lot. Plays some LF, more RF, not center.

After you mentioned it, I haven't seen Gonzalez's name in a minute. Went and looked, missed last 19 games. Not sure how I missed that. He's a kid I like. Walked more than he struck out last year as a 17 year old. And steals bases.

My friends at Baseball America like him, too. He was listed in their top 30 preseason based on his DR stats and amateur history

Yeah ... as I've repeated before. Ted Williams #1 rule of hitting ... wait for a good pitch to hit. ... You get a 17 year old willing to be patient and work the count he is already ahead of the game. He's worth keeping an eye on methinks.

Jonathan Lopez seemed to have a little more pop, but of the two Gonzalez may end up better player.

I have nearly completed the list of Arizona players I am going to post. There are a whole lot of them hitting over 300 or with OPS over 800.

Several have very good walk totals including: Ruben Cardenas OF age 20 14K to 8 BB. Bryan Lavastida C age 19 13/11. Valera age 17 in his few games 3/3. Rocchio age 17 4/4. Raynel Delgado age 18 17/20. Marcos G age 18 is 3/2. Johnathan Rodriguez RF age 18 is 17/25.

Akron finished their suspended game early today, and they were tuned up by Altoona (see what I did there?) 10-2

Andrew Miller pitching in rehab game gave up 4 earned in 1/3 of an inning. He now has a 108 ERA in AA this year.
Lovegrove gave up 2 earned in 1 inning.
No highlights in this one. Few scattered hits. Bradley and Castro combined to go 0-7.

DSL Tribe lost 7-6 to DSL Pirates today.

Tena 3-4 with a walk and stolen base. (here's that name again)
Noel 1-4 with walk and run

-

DSL Coop Ind/Brew team beat the Rays 8-7

Planchart had 2 walks and run.

Couple more early games today. Akron is playing their regularly scheduled game, and Lynchburg too.

--

Hillcats beat Wood Ducks 3-1

Plesac with a gem. 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K.
Karinchak closed it out for the save. 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K ... 1.01 ERA now
Clement 2-5, R
Longo 2-4. Back to 300

--

Ducks beat the Curve 5-1

McKenzie with another nice outing. 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Bradley 1-3, 2B, BB, R, 2 RBI
Castro 1-4, 2B, RBI

Karinchak needs to cut back on those walks.. He's basically unhittable and puts up a ton of strikeouts but he's got to improve the control to be a serious prospect.
McKenzie is pitching well but not nearly as impressive as he was in the Carolina League, walks are up, strikeouts are down. And I suppose he's on a reduced pitch count due the long layoff but the main question for him is if he can sustain his stuff through 100 pitches and for a long season. That tall skinny thing.

Oh, another gem today ...

Captains 1 Whitecaps 0

Mejia 7(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 10 SO
Sandlin 1(IP) 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 2 SO
Nelson 1(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 0BB 2 SO
Perez 2-3 R 2B BB

-

Clippers 3 PawSox 1

Allen 0-4
Yandy 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Marabell 1-4

-

Scrappers beat Brooklyn 2-1

Another gem. ... Mota 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Fermin 1-3, BB
Freeman 1-3, R
Nelson 2-4, RBI