Written by Al Ciammiachella

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Dylan Baker, SP-LCC: 5 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 7 K, BB.

That stat line for Baker is a little deceptive. He threw four perfect frames to open up the game yesterday, and didn’t allow a run until there were two outs in the 5^th. He wound up allowing four earned runs, but pitched much better than his 7.50 ERA would seem to indicate. The seven strikeouts in 5 IP are much more indicative of how dominant Baker was last night. He’s got to avoid that big inning of course, but the four perfect innings gave Indians fans a glimpse of Baker’s potential. He’s a big (6’2” 215lb) righty with impressive stuff who just turned 21 on April 6. There’s a concern that he’ll eventually end up in the bullpen because of a lack of a reliable third pitch, but the Indians are going to give him every chance to develop a changeup and stick in the starting rotation. His fastball sits between 92-94 and has touched 97, and his curveball is a true plus pitch that has excellent 12-6 downward break. Baker is an intriguing arm and a guy who could really break out in the system this year, and will be a fun guy for Indians fans to watch right down the road in Lake County.

David Huff, SP-COL: 4 2/3 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 4 H, 4 K, 5 BB: Huff’s 1^st start of the year for the Clippers, and he struggled with his command. High pitch count prevented him from getting through the 5^th inning.

Nick Hagadone, RP-COL: 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K, 2 BB. Two scoreless outings so far this season for Hagadone, and he’s racked up 5 K in 2 1/3 IP. He’s also issued three walks, which is less encouraging.

Tim Fedroff, CF-COL: 2-5, 2 1B, 2 R. Fedroff is now 5-23 to open the season with two RBI and three runs scored from the top of the Clippers lineup.

Adam Abraham, 1B-COL: 1-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, R, 2 K. It only took Abraham 6 AB with the Clippers to drill his first AAA home run. Not a flashy guy, but a steady presence in the middle of every lineup he’s been in since being drafted in the 13^th round back in 2008.

Toru Murata, SP-AKR: W (1-0), 7 IP, ER, 3 H, 9 K. Murata didn’t walk a batter last night and the only run he allowed was on a solo HR in the top of the 2^nd inning. The 9 K in one game represents a career high for the righty out of Osaka, Japan.

Jose Ramirez, 2B-AKR: 1-3, R, BB. Off-night for Ramriez, who had just one hit. He’s hit in all five games so far this season, and recorded more than one knock in three of those five contests. All of those hits have been singles, but he’s also walked twice and struck out just once. Pretty impressive for a 20-year old in his first full season outside of the complex leagues.

Carlos Moncrief, RF-AKR: 2-4, 2 1B. Moncrief has hit in four of the Aeros five games so far this season, and is 5-19 overall.

Chun Chen, 1B-AKR: 1-4, 3B, RBI. I can’t imagine the circumstances that led to Chen hitting a triple, but I imagine that a sinkhole in the outfield was somehow involved.

Ronny Rodriguez, SS-AKR: 2-4, 3B, RBI, R, K. Rodriguez is 4-14 to open the AA season, but has struck out once in each game without drawing a walk. He’ll get to play SS exclusively with Jose Ramirez at 2B, and we’ll see if the consistency in the field can help him get more comfortable at the plate in 2013.

Roberto Perez, C-AKR 1-3, HR (1), RBI, 2 R. Perez hit just one HR in 95 games with the Aeros in all of 2012, and he’s equaled that total in just the 5^th game of the 2013 season. He was showing off some impressive power in Arizona this spring, and if it can carry over to the regular season it would be significant for the defense-oriented backstop.

Francisco Lindor, SS-CAR: 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, 3 SB. In four games this season, Lindor is 7-14 with a double, 2 RBI, 5 SB, 3 BB and one strikeout. I’m having a lot of trouble containing my exuberance over Francisco Lindor, and can’t wait to see him when the Mudcats play in Potomac on April 29.

Tyler Naquin, CF-CAR: 2-5, R, 2 K. Naquin is 6-16 with a HR to open his first full season as a professional, and by all accounts is playing solid defense in CF. He’s been on base in all four of the Mudcats games this year.

Joe Wendle, 2B-CAR: 3-4, 2B, BB, 2 R. Wendle has come charging out of the gate this season, going 6-15 with a HR and 5 RBI. And that includes an 0-4 in the season opener against Winston-Salem. He’s one of three Mudcats currently hitting .400 or higher.

Bryson Myles, LF-CAR: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R. Myles is another Mudcat hitting over .400, as he’s hit in all three games this year and is now 5-12 with a double and two runs driven in. This Mudcat team is going to be a fun one to watch this season.

Francisco Velara, RP-LCC: IP, H, 2 K. Three strikeouts over two scoreless innings for the hard-throwing righty out of the Dominican Republic so far this season.

Dorssys Paulino, SS-LCC: 2-4, R, 2 K, CS. Paulino is now 5-20 to open the season, with 8 K and one walk in 5 games with the Captains.

Eric Haase, C-LCC: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R, K. You’re going to see this name a lot in this column in 2013. Haase is 6-19 (.316) with a pair of XBH, and is a potential impact player on defense as well as at the plate.