Cleveland Sports Forum

Adam Scott another AA starter who is pushing for a roster spot along with fellow lefty Konnor Pilkington Fortuntely another quality lefty there, Logan Allen Jr. is not draft-eligible. Juan Hillman is yet another LH starter with Akron who's done well but I think they'd leave him available.

Friday:

Columbus
Oscar G HR 12, 25th total and a single 308/896
Arias HR 11 3rbi
Kwan single double 571/1500
F. Perez 1/3 0 3 3 3 0 kind of like his major league game; someone else let the 3 score

Akron:
Rocchio 2b 285/824
Scott 6 0 0 0 2 8 2.72

Lake County:
Christian Cairo didn't do much in Lynchburg but much better here in brief time single, double, homer, steal 360/927
Gaddis 5 2/3 8 4 3 0 10 4.15

Lynchburg:
Halpin 3 singles, tops 300, Did I mention in the list of those to be added to the Top 30 list?
Burgos triple 306/897 after promotion
Torres 4 2 1 1 3 7 5.57

Arizona
3rd rounder Fox single walk steal 368 856 OPS

I see lots of headlines in MILB.COM about various guys hitting their 20th or one hitting his 25th homer. Meanwhile Oscar Gonzalez is at 26. Have not seen a list of minor league overall HR leaders; Oscar is in the mix. Valera and Noel are about 10 behind but both missed a number of games so rate per AB are not much worse.

Oscar 26 in 392 AB, 412 total plate appearances 1 in 15; 1 in 16
Valera 17 in 240 AB 301 total plate appearances 1 in 14; 1 in 17.5
Noel 15 in 224 AB 237 total plate appearances 1 in 15; 1 in 16
and in Arizona Sanquintin 8 in 150 AB; 163 total 1 in 19; 1 in 20

Sunday:

Offense:
in 2 games Kwan totals 2 singles, homer, 3 walks 591/1640 in AAA
in 2 games Arias 2 singles double walk 276/778
Lavastida single homer in AAA: 250/968

Victor Nova single and double in Akron; 294, 782 much better than in Lake County

Bracho 7th homer 185 596

in Lynchburg the outfielders take center stage:
Halpin 2 singles, walk steal 301/817
Burgos two singles, triple steal 333/809 at this level
Planez 15th homer walk 249/715
Tolentino, not an OF, 2 hits, 188 since promotion

Pitching:
Hillman AAA debut 2 1/3 5 3 3 2 2
Hill 1 2/3 4 2 2 0 2 DFA awaits
Gose 1 1 0 0 1 3

Lake County:
Hickman 6 1 0 0 2 9 4.66

Lynchburg:
Wolf 5 3 2 2 2 2 demotion from top 30 looms

MILB.com names Kwan the player of the week in the AAA East. A birthday present to the 5-9 LH who turned 24 yesterday.

Kwan opened the year with his Akron debut but after 3 games going 3 for 8 he went on the IL
didn't return until nearly the end of June and in his first 5 games back was 2-14.
Hit safely in 17 of the next games to the end of July, 28-80 .350 avg withe 3 doubles 2 triples 3 homers with 7 strikeouts and 7 walks: 402/550/952
remained in Akron through the end of August his monthly line was 91-24-32-14 7 doubles 4 homers 11 walks 12 strikeouts 352/438/560/998

in his first week in Columbus, hit safely all 6 games, in fact multiple hits in the first 5: 22-8-13-7 3 doubles 2 homers 3 walks 2 strikeouts:
591/640/1000 1640.

and on the BA list, too

10. Steven Kwan, CF, Indians
Team: Triple-A Columbus (East)
Age: 24

Why He's Here: .591/.640/1.000 (13-for-22), 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO

The Scoop: Very quietly, Kwan has put together a very loud performance in the upper levels of Cleveland’s system. Known more as a slash-and-burn player at Oregon State, Kwan has tapped into a great deal of power in his third full season as a pro (not counting the Covid year). In 1,346 plate appearances between college, two stops in summer ball and his first two seasons with Cleveland, Kwan hit six home runs. This year, he’s clubbed nine in just 57 games. Moreover, he’s one of just five players in the minors with 250 or more plate appearances and a slash line of better than .350/.400/.500. (JN)

Tuesday:

Columbus
Kwan single and walk; Palacios single and 2 walks and steal; Gonzalez and Arias each a single
F Perez 2 1 0 0 1 4
[I'd like to see him get a chance to reduce his 20.25 major league ERA in place of Alex Young]
Nelson 1 2 2 1 0 1 DFA awaits

Akron now 68-40
Rocchio single and triple
Valera 2 rbi single
Brennan 3 singles
Logan Jr. 4 2/3 3 0 0 2 7 2.52; the starters here have been terrific of late including Pilkington, Scott and Battenfield

Lake County
Noel double and 2 homers; 5 RBI now 330 1042 OPS at Lake County; actually down a little from his Lynchburg stats

Lynchburg
Planez double and 2 singles
G Rodriguez 3 singles

Arizona
Jake Fox 3rd round IF 2 singles and a walk hitting 385 in 26 AB 3rd steak
SS Frias triple and walk hitting 313 929 OPS 2nd steal
Luis Durango two singles and league leading 27th steal [2nd place is 16]

nearing the end of the minor league season, but still a week or two to go, so thinking about award winners.

Surprising number of contenders for the Lou Boudreau award for best position player: Rocchio and Valera have cemented themselves as top propsects by handling agressive assignments to High A and moving to success in AA. But based on stats alone Oscar Gonzalez and his 300+ average and 26 homers should take home the prize. Noel and Tena and Kwan share the award for Players of 4 Letters.

As for the Bob Feller award, this year pitchers have not been our biggest stars. Danny Espino racks up lots of strikeouts and is sure to be the top ranked pitching prospect,, but for quality of consistent performance I think the winner will have to Logan Allen the Younger.

BA on Wednesday games:

CLE AA #4 George Valera, OF 5 0 1 2 0.252 2B (3),
CLE AA #5 Bo Naylor, C 4 0 0 0 0.178 BB (34),
CLE AAA #6 Gabriel Arias, SS 4 0 1 0 0.276 2B (23),
CLE AA #7 Brayan Rocchio, SS 4 2 2 0 0.270 3B (4),
CLE LoA #9 Angel Martinez, SS 4 1 0 0 0.254
CLE LoA #14 G Rodriguez, SS 4 1 3 0 0.236
CLE MAJ #15 Owen Miller, SS 4 0 1 0 0.251
CLE AAA #16 Richard Palacios, 2B 1 0 1 0 0.294 2B (30), 2 BB (44), SB (16), E (9),
CLE HiA #20 Jose Tena, IF 3 1 1 0 0.288 BB (24),
CLE HiA #21 Aaron Bracho, 2B 4 0 0 0 0.184
CLE R #22 Isaiah Greene, OF 3 0 0 0 0.280 BB (26),
CLE AAA #23 Bryan Lavastida, C 3 0 0 0 0.297 BB (37),
CLE HiA #25 Jhonkensy Noel, 1B 4 2 3 5 0.371 2B (13), 2 HR (17), in 228 at bats; therefore SLG is 654
CLE AAA #29 Oscar Gonzalez, OF 4 0 1 1 0.314 E (5),

CLE AA #10 Logan Allen, LHP 4.2 3 0 0 2 7 2.06

pretty quiet day in the minors too

CLE AA #4 George Valera, OF 4 0 1 0 0.252
CLE AA #5 Bo Naylor, C 4 0 1 0 0.179 2B (12),
CLE AAA #6 Gabriel Arias, SS 4 0 0 0 0.273
CLE AA #7 Brayan Rocchio, SS 3 1 1 0 0.271
CLE LoA #9 Angel Martinez, SS 3 0 0 0 0.251 BB (38),
CLE LoA #14 G Rodriguez, SS 4 0 1 0 0.236
CLE AAA #16 Richard Palacios, 2B 4 0 0 0 0.290
CLE HiA #20 Jose Tena, IF 5 0 1 0 0.286
CLE AAA #23 Bryan Lavastida, C 4 0 1 0 0.296
CLE HiA #25 Jhonkensy Noel, 1B 5 0 1 0 0.367 2B (14),
CLE AAA #29 Oscar Gonzalez, OF 4 0 0 0 0.311

Among others Jorge Burgos with his first professional homer at Lynchburg

CLE HiA #11 Tanner Burns, RHP 5.0 4 0 0 1 4 3.64
CLE AA #17 Peyton Battenfield, RHP 5.1 7 3 3 1 6 2.17 L (7-1)
CLE AA #19 Joey Cantillo, LHP 1.2 2 0 0 2 3 2.35

Another big day at the plate for J Noel; his 7th Lake County homer and 2 singles. Total is now 18 homers in 237 at bats. Total OPS is 1071. Don't know anything about his defense; he's been playing more 3B lately and some 1B. 20 year old in Class A would not usually be at risk in Rule 5 but he could be an exception.

Johnathan Rodriguez hit 2 Lake County homers; batted in 4. Had been slumping, his LC avg is now 191 and OPS 623.
Left Lynchburg with a slash line of 314/363/450
21 year old RF

Gonzalez with his 27th homer overall. 2019 organizational leader was Bradley with 33
Kwan with his 10th in 235 AB. His overall avg now is 349 and his overall OPS is 987. Both far exceed 2019's bests [in AAA 405 and 1159]
Richie Palacios leads with 30 doubles; yesterday no doubles but 2 singles

young stars at Akron:
Rocchio two hits, 281/866 in AA. Preseason he was noted as one of the youngest players in his Class A advanced league. Now ditto in higher level
Valera his 2nd Akron homer, 18th homer in 259 AB. Although he missed about a month he leads with 63 walks. Same youngest player recognition for him
Naylor 3hits. 190. He was one of the AA youngest; won't hurt for him to return to Akron next year

Jose Tna 23rd double, hiting 280/798. Another of youngest in his league to start the season; has not been promoted
Christian Cairo double 306/848 for Lake County
Espino 5 2/3 innings, NO walks, 1 hit, a homer and 10K That makes 142K in only 85 innings 9 homers

Lynchburg lost 17-2 but some positives in the box score:
Planez 3 hits; up to 253/754. Since a terrible May his average is 284
Jorge Burgos 5th double 3 triple since his promotion. 297/873 in Lynchburg.
Some names to add to the team's top prospect lists.

in Arizona,
basestealer Durango didn't get a chance, his only hit was his 3rd homer
Isaiah Greene 9th double 301/819
9th rounder William Dion 3 shutout innings. Total is now 18 K in 9 scoreless innnigs, 1 hit 3 walks

in the minors today; nothing special but the following are note worthy

AAA: Kwan walked, Gonzalez singled
AA: Rocchio triple and 2 singles; Valerra two singles; Fermin double 2 singles; Cantillo 1 1/3 1 1 1 3 3
Hi A: Hickman 5 2/3 5 1 1 4 7 5.34
Lo A: Woff 4 6 2 2 2 1 5.35 he'll be exiting the top 30
Halpin two runners nailed; Valdes 2 doubles and walk; Burgos walk and 2 singles

10 MLB Prospects Excelling Against Older Competition In 2021 from BA

George Valera, OF, Indians
Opening Day Assignment: High-A Lake County
Opening Day Age: 20.47

Valera’s first years as a pro were beset by injuries. This year, he’s made up for lost time in a big way. The 20-year-old has shown patience—his 61 walks entering Thursday were tied with fellow Top 100 Prospects Zac Veen (Rockies) and Robert Hassell III (Padres) for the sixth most in the minors among players 20 years old or younger—and power this season. His on-base percentage is fourth among his age group with 300 or more plate appearances.