Life On The Farm: Cleveland Indians (# 7)

An overhauled system, will it yield dividends?

Graduated To Majors: Matt LaPorta (OF, # 2), Michael Brantley (OF, # 9), Trevor Crowe (OF, # 15), Luis Valbuena (2B, # 10), Michael Aubrey (1B, UR, now with Orioles), Jon Meloan (RP, # 18, now with Athletics), Jeff Stevens (RP, # 19, now with Cubs), David Huff (SP, # 8), Scott Lewis (SP, # 21), Tony Sipp (RP, # 17)

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

1 - Carlos Santana: C
AA: .290-.413-.530, 428, 23-97, 90-83, 2-2
Quick Take: Not too many blemishes on his track record and still amongst the finest prospects in the game.

3 - Nick Weglarz: LF
AA: .227-.377-.431, 339, 16-65, 75-78, 2-3
Quick Take: Struggled to hit for average, but all his other stats looked solid.

4 - Adam Miller: RHP
DNP
Quick Take: Finger injury may end his career.

5 - Beau Mills: 1B
AA: .267-.308-.417, 516, 14-83, 31-95, 1-2
Quick Take: For a slugging 1st base prospect, he forgot the slugging part.

6 - Lonnie Chisenhall: 3B
Hi A: .276-.346-.492, 388, 18-79, 37-80, 2-1
AA: .183-.238-.387, 93, 4-13, 7-16, 1-0
Quick Take: 21 at the end of the season has made a rapid rise through the system.

7 - Kelvin De La Cruz: LHP
Hi A: 2-2, 2-0, 1.50, 12-6-1-2-19
R: 3-3, 0-2, 9.39, 7.2-10-1-5-5
Quick Take: Tightness in his left forearm set a great start to a season on a setback.

AAA: Columbus Clippers (IL)
Breakout Hitter: Jordan Brown (# 25): .336-.381-.532, 417, 15-67, 30-64, 2-4
Disappointing Hitter: Stephen Head (UR): .246-.291-.368, 280, 6-31, 17-34, 1-2
Breakout Pitcher: Frank Herrmann (UR): 44-0, 2-3, 2.96, 76-83-3-13-50
Disappointing Pitcher: Chuck Lofgren (UR): 17-17, 6-10, 5.31, 98.1-94-15-33-62
Quick Take: Brown excelled in AAA, yet inexplicably did not receive a big league call-up. Herrman was the best of a bad AAA pitching crop. Head was a highly touted prospect from Ole Miss that is close to flaming out. Lofgren just hasn't been able to revive his previous prospect status.

AA: Akron Aeros (EL)
Breakout Hitter: Carlos Santana (# 1): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Jared Goedert (UL): .224-.309-.348, 313, 5-37, 34-47, 1-0
Breakout Pitcher: Josh Tomlin (# 28): 26-25, 14-9, 4.16, 145-149-21-27-125
Disappointing Pitcher: Matt Meyer (UL): 23-0, 0-1, 7.36, 22-27-2-20-22
Quick Take: Santana is amongst the best prospects in the game. Tomlin had a solid season in his first exposure at AA and looks to be on the way to Cleveland in the next year. Goedert really struggled to hit while Meyer struggled badly at AA.

Hi A: Kinston Indians (CL)
Breakout Hitter: Matt McBride (UR): .405-.453, .667, 126, 6-36, 11-15, 0-0
Disappointing Hitter: Roman Pena (UR): .204-.311-.310, 313, 5-37, 46-85, 7-10
Breakout Pitcher: Paolo Espino (UL): 22-21, 9-6, 2.59, 118.1-89-9-34-101
Disappointing Pitcher: Gary Campfield (UL): 38-0, 1-2, 6.02, 49.1-44-7-47-60
Quick Take: McBride got a promotion to AA and looks like a solid player. Espino went from relieving in Low A to starting in High A and starting well. Pena really struggled and showed a very raw game. Campfield showed electric stuff with little command.

Lo A: Lake County Captains (SAL)
Breakout Hitter: Abner Abreu (# 16): .305-.351-.488, 246, 7-30, 11-68, 3-3
Disappointing Hitter: Karexon Sanchez (UR): .234-.350-.375, 453, 11-57, 70-136
Breakout Pitcher: T.J. House (# 14): 26-26, 6-11, 3.15, 134.1-127-8-49-109
Disappointing Pitcher: Danny Salazar (UL): 21-20, 5-7, 4.44, 107.1-114-10-40-65
Quick Take: Abreu showed well in his first attempt at full-season ball, while House had a solid debut for left hander. Sanchez showed on base ability but little else. Salazar had some issues, but most of the Captains had solid pitching seasons.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Carlos Santana: C
May make debut as soon as next year.
2) Nick Hagadone: LHP
If healthy, lefty from Boston can be a front end starter.
3) Nick Weglarz: OF
Profiles as a solid league average starting OF at worst.
4) Lonnie Chisenhall: SS/3B
If he can stay at short, his bat is above league average.
5) Jason Knapp: RHP
Righty has huge ceiling if arm problems are behind him.
6) Alex White: RHP
1st round pick in 2009 had a chance at being # 1 overall coming into the season.
7) Jason Kipnis: OF/2B
2nd rounder hit .306 in his pro debut at SS.
8) Jason Donald: SS
Top prospect from Philly will look to have a bounce back season.
9) Beau Mills: 1B
Power bat looks to bounce back and have a power season.
10) Hector Rondon: RHP
Got a midseason promotion to AAA and showed solid enough to contend for a spot in spring training.

Dropped From Top 10: Miller (# 4), De La Cruz (# 7)

Final Overview: Still a pretty stacked system that added quite a few high impact players. System is very deep with a lot of talent at a lot of different positions, led by a star in Santana. The high upside arms (Knapp and Hagadone) will define just how far this system can take the Indians. A top 5 farm system in my eyes.