Indians 24/7 Top Prospects1. Jordan Brown- Born 12/18/1983
1B or Outfield
6?0? 205lbs
Bats Left
Throws Right
2007 stats- .333 average 161 hits 36 double 2 triples 11 homeruns 76 RBI?s 11 SB
2006 stats- .290 average 137 hits 26 doubles 7 triples 15 homeruns 87 RBI?s 4 SB
He only has two years of professional baseball under his belt but already 2 MVP Awards one for the Carolina league and one from the Eastern League. Jordan Brown may not be the most talented prospect in the farm system but he is in my opinion without a doubt our top prospect. He is a hard worker and plays the game hard and he plays the game right. The reason he is the top prospect is b/c he performing at a high level and deserves credit. Every team needs a player like Jordan Brown.
MLB Comparison- Nick Markakis- I've realized Jordan has a bit more in common with Nick then Trot but all three are similar players. They don't have the most talent in the world but they work hard at what they do and play the game right.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jordan%20Brown&pos=1B&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=488740 http://indians.scout.com/2/674279.html 2. Adam Miller- Born 11/26/84
Starting Pitcher
6? 4? 200lbs
Bats Right
Throws Right
2007 Stats- 5 wins 4 loses 4.82 era 68 K 21 BB in 65.1 innings 1 complete games
2006 Stats- 15 wins 6 loses 2.75 era 157 K 43 BB in 153.2 innings 1 complete game shutout
Adam Miller has top prospect but talent and I?m not questioning his work ethic but it just seems he can?t stay healthy. I don?t think its right to call him the top prospect if he wasn?t healthy for most of the season. In 2004 Adam could hit 101 mph on the radar gun but has since been living in the mid 90?s. He hasn?t been fared too well in the AFL so far with an era at 9.00 but the talent is still there. He also has a major league ready slider. Personally I?m getting a bit tired of hearing about him. If he can?t handle the workload of a starter a move to the bullpen may become necessary.
MLB Comparison- Josh Beckett, this is a hard one Beckett is a little bigger then Miller and more annoying. But they are both hard throwing pitchers from Texas who early on in the careers have dealt with injuries.
http://indians.scout.com/a.z?s=264&p=8&c=1&nid=3070877 http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Adam%20Miller&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=449089 3. Trevor Crowe- Born 11/17/1983
Centerfield
6?0? 190lbs
Bats Switch
Throws Right
2007 Stats- .259 average 134 hits 87 runs scored 26 doubles 4 triples 5 homeruns 50 RBI?s 28 stolen bases
He got off to a horrendous start at AA Akron but finished the year strong hitting over .300 after the break. He was teammates of Jordan Brown in college and was teammates at Akron this past year. He has tremendous speed and defense. He is your prototypical lead off hitter. He could be the Indians starting LF by August of 2008. He will probably start the year at AAA Buffalo unless he is traded this off-season for a big power bat.
MLB Comparison- Johnny Damon, he and Johnny are similar type players and I don?t think he is as messed up in the head as Damon is but he is going to be a harder worker like Damon. Good lead off guy and great leader.
http://firstinning.com/players/Trevor-Crowe-752/ http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Trevor%20Crowe&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=460067 4. Chuck Lofgren- Born 1/29/1986
Starting Pitcher
6? 4? 215lbs
Bats Left
Throws Left
2007 Stats- 12 wins 8 losses 4.58 era 130 K 71 BB in 151.1 innings pitched.
2006 Stats- 17 wins 5 losses 2.32 era 125 K 54 BB in 139.2 innings pitched.
The top left handed pitching prospect in the farm system is Chuck Lofgren. The interesting thing about Lofgren is he may actually be a better hitter then he is a pitcher, which is frightening b/c he is one great pitcher. Playing baseball at Barry Bond?s old high school he broke the all time homerun champs single season high school homerun record. In his contract with Indians it allowed him to DH once a week until he got injured and he?s been made into a full time pitcher. He?s got 95-97 MPH fastball and will start this upcoming season in Triple A Buffalo.
MLB Comparison- Sam McDowell, at least according to scout.com prospect magazine. I think he comes the closest in comparison with Chuck then any current player in baseball.
http://firstinning.com/players/Chuck-Lofgren-a http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Chuck%20Lofgren&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=455111 5.Wes Hodges- Born 9/14/1984
Third Baseman
6? 2? 185lbs
Bats Right
Throws Right
2007 Stats- .288 average 113 hits 22 doubles 3 triples 15 homeruns 71 RBI in 393 AB.
Wes Hodges is the prototypical third baseman. He makes good contact and has decent power and great defense. The Indians drafted him in the 2cd round in 2006 and it turned out to be a steal. He was slated to be a sure first round pick possibly going as early as in the top ten but injury to his leg hurt that chance. After signing with the Indians they gave him time to heal and this year in his first full season he surely impressed.
MLB Comparison- Mike Lowell, he and Wes are very similar not to flashy but the play a solid Third Base and are becoming more and more valuable in the free agent market.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Wes%20Hodges&pos=3B&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=453238 http://thebaseballcube.com/players/H/Wes-Hodges.shtml 6. Scott Lewis- Born 9/26/1983
Starting Pitcher
6? 0? 185lbs
Bats Switch
Throws Left
2007 Stats- 7 Wins 9 losses 3.68 era 121 K 34 BB in 134.2 innings
2006 Stats- 3 Wins 3 losses 1.48 era 123 K 28 BB in 115.2 innings
Scott Lewis could become an amazing pitcher if he can stay healthy. In college he was a definite first round pick but the need for Tommy John Surgery crushed those chances so the Indians rolled the dice in the 4th round and it has worked out well so far. He hasn?t had any injuries since joining the Indians even though he works on a very strict pitch count, which doesn?t usually allow him to factor into many wins. When healthy he can throw his heater in the upper 90?s with the best curveball in the Indians system. He?s got the stuff to be dominating but b/c of the injury history his safest bet might be in the bullpen.
MLB Comparison- Scott Kazmir, both are very similar in size at six feet tall and have similar stuff the only question mark for Lewis is can he stay healthy?
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Scott%20Lewis&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=460260 http://firstinning.com/players/Scott-Lewis-689/ 7. Beau Mills- Born 8/15/1986
Third Baseman
6? 3? 220
Bats Left
Throws Right
2007 Stats- .261 average 64 hits 20 doubles 1 triple 6 homeruns 42 RBI in 245 AB.
The Indians first draft choice from the 2007 draft and is a big time power prospects. He is already a huge guy at 6? 3? 220 and should only get stronger as he is only 21 years old. They were considering the possibility of moving Beau to 1B b/c of a suspect arm over at third but he?s made the adjustment and looks like he could stay there.
MLB Comparison- Jim Thome, when I first saw him (Beau that is) he looks like the skinny Jim Thome that we all saw when he played third in ?95.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Beau%20Mills&pos=1B&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=460699 http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/2101 8. Matt McBride- Born 5/23/1985
Catcher
6? 2? 215lbs
Bats Right
Throws Right
2007 Stats- .287 average 119 hits 37 doubles 2 triples 8 homeruns 66 RBI 1 SB.
Matt McBride after the trade of Max Ramirez for Kenny Lofton became the Tribes top catching prospect and he is deserving of the honor. He has a good bat and a strong arm and runs well for catcher with great baseball instincts. He?s probably going to start the year at Akron and could make it to the majors by 2009.
MLB Comparison- Brian McCann, he is part of this new breed of catchers that are better athletes and very offensive skilled.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Matt%20McBride&pos=C&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=473724 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOIeeYJ-APo 9. Jeffrey Stevens- Born 9/5/1983
Relief Pitcher
6? 1? 220lbs
Bats Right
Throws Left
2007 Stats- 6 wins 3 losses 2.81 era 102 K 25 BB in 83.1 innings
Jeff Stevens will always be remembered as ?the nobody? we got for Brandon Phillips but he may turn into a good pitcher after being converted into a reliever. Terry Pluto now of the Plain Dealer has really been giving Jeff Steven his praises this year saying he could be the Jensen Lewis of this year given the opportunity and I have to say I agree with him.
MLB Comparison- Jensen Lewis, like Terry Pluto said he could be the Jensen Lewis of 2008 and could make a great impact on the team if someone from our pen falters or if injuries occur.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jeff%20Stevens&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=459999 http://firstinning.com/players/Jeffrey-Stevens-a/10. Josh Rodriguez- Born 12/18/1984
Shortstop/ Second Base
6' 0" 175lbs
Bats Right
Throws Right
2007 Stats- .262 129 hits 20 doubles 9 triples 20 homeruns 82 RBI 21 SB in 493 AB
Taken in the second round of the 2006 draft he was one of better offensive middle infielders in the entire draft but a couple minor injuries in college were enough to scare some teams off. The Indians took him and he has done great so far. He has a good combination of power and speed. He can play short but is probably better suited at second base. In an organization like the Indians that doesn't have as many middle infield prospects he has a shot at a fast rise to the majors if he stays healthy and keeps producing.
MLB Comparison- Ray Durham- Along time ago when Durham was in his prime he was actually a good player he had a little bit of pop. 15-20 homeruns a year was what he could produce with 30 stolen bases and I think Josh could be a player like him.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Joshua%20Rodriguez&pos=SS&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=446044
