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- Sean Casey- Sean and Jordan may not be the most talented guys but they both will hit for high averages. They won't hit many homeruns but they take pride in what they do and get the most out of their talents.
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. Adam has been dealing with blisters lately... sound familar.
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.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 pid=455111
4. David Huff- Born 8/22/1984
Starting Pitcher
6' 2" 190lbs
Bats Left
Throws Right
2007 Stats: 4-2 2.72 ERA with 46 K's and 15 BB in 59.2 innings pitched
The 2006 first round pick out of UCLA has gotten off to a great start in his pro career despite getting injured after only 11 games last season. He is not the most overpowering stuff but he has pinpoint control and a really good curve that helps lead to a lot of strikeouts. He is currently in AAA and made 3 starts with 0-1 4.50 ERA in 3 starts.
MLB Comparison- Barry Zito- His college pitching was the same as Barry and so they are pretty similar in style. David has better control and his curve is probably not as dominating as Barry's was it is still very good. Let's hope he can pitch like the Cy Young Barry Zito and not the 127 million dollar Barry Zito.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=David%20Huff&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=453307 5. 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/ 6. 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 7. 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/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. 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=44604410. Nick Weglarz- Born 12/16/1987
Outfielder
6' 3" 245lbs
Bats Left
Throws Left
2007 stats- .276 batting average 23 homers 82 RBI and 82 WALKS
He might be the best power prospect in the system as a 19 year old he smashed 23 homers at low single A Lake County... most 19 year old prospects don't start the season until June and play for their teams short season team. This year at Kinston the 20 year old power prodigy is keeping the same approach. He has even drawn more walks then strikeouts and has an OBP over .400!!!!
MLB Comparison: Jason Bay- Both are natives of Canada and have great power. I think Weglarz may have a little more power and Bay is more athletic but I can see these players being very similar and putting up similar stats.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Nicholas%20Weglarz&pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=475676
