Written by Tony Lastoria

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As we get set to move into Tony's Top 50 Indians prospects, a couple of familiar names show up in today's quintent of player profiles. Michael Aubrey, the Indians 1st round pick in the 2003 draft, and a guy who got some time playing with the big league club last season. And T.J. McFarland, the team's 4th round pick in the 2007 draft out of high school, and a kid that made great progress last season. We're halfway home Tribe fans.

My 2009 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More book is now available.  Click on the hyperlink for all the details, and to order it just go to my website and click on the form to the top right to complete the order with a check or credit card.  If you wish to send a check or money order by US Mail, please contact me at tlastoria@indiansprospectinsider.com and I will verify the order and provide my full mailing address for you so send payment. 
 
We continue today with #55-51 in the Indians Top 100 Prospect Countdown.  Here are the earlier rankings: 
 
100. Brian Juhl (C)   
99. Brad Hinkle (RHP)   
98. Mark Thompson (SS)   
97. Adam Davis (C/INF)   
96. Adam White (OF)   
95. Jerad Head (INF/OF)   
94. Brock Simpson (1B/OF)   
93. Ryan Blair (OF)   
92. Dustin Realini (INF/OF)   
91. Shawn Nottingham (LHP)   
90. Cirilo Cumberbatch (OF)   
89. Michael McGuire (RHP)   
88. Sung-Wei Tseng (RHP)   
87. David Roberts (RHP)   
86. Jason Smit (INF)   
85. Marty Popham (RHP)   
84. Jose Constanza (OF)   
83. Adam Abraham (INF)   
82. Isaias Velasquez (2INF)   
81. Gary Campfield (RHP)   
80. Heath Taylor (LHP)   
79. Rich Rundles (LHP)   
78. Dallas Cawiezell (RHP)   
77. Robbie Alcombrack (C)   
76. Carlos Moncrief (RHP)   
75. Nate Recknagel (C/1B)   
74. Karexon Sanchez (INF)   
73. Roman Pena (OF)   
72. Kyle Landis (RHP)   
71. John Drennen (OF)   
70. Todd Martin (1B)  
69. Santo Frias (RHP)  
68. Michael Finocchi (RHP)  
67. Kevin Rucker (OF)  
66. Matt Meyer (LHP)  
65. Bo Greenwell (OF)  
64. Paolo Espino (RHP)  
63. Jonathan Holt (RHP)  
62. Vinnie Pestano (RHP)  
61. Kevin Dixon (RHP) 
60. Randy Newsom (RHP) 
59. Chris Nash (1B) 
58. Carlton Smith (RHP) 
57. Lucas Montero (OF) 
56. Steven Wright (RHP) 
 
55. Michael Aubrey - First Baseman 
Born: 04/15/1982 - Height: 6'0" - Weight: 195 - Bats: Left - Throws: Left

(Due to a formatting issue, Aubrey's stats are listed at the bottom of the page)

History:  Aubrey was a 1st round pick by the Indians in the 2003 Draft out of Tulane University.  He made his major league debut in Cleveland on May 17th, and hit home runs in his first two major league starts. 

Strengths & Opportunities:  When healthy, Aubrey is a superior defender and good hitter with gap power.  Over the years, he has been one of the best in the Indians system at making consistent, hard contact.  Staying on the field to showcase that talent has always been a problem for him as he has endured many long spells on the disabled list with leg and back issues and he missed huge chunks of every season except for last year where he was able to play in a career high 112 combined games at Double-A Akron, Triple-A Buffalo and Cleveland.  He has a laundry list of injuries and setbacks over his career, which have eroded his skills significantly.  In 2005, chronic back issues limited him to just 28 games and his season ended in May.  In 2006, for the second straight year he was lost early in the season when he injured himself sliding into second base and suffered a surface fracture on his right knee joint and played in just 14 games.  In 2007 he had nagging, abdominal, groin and hamstring issues that caused him to miss over half the season.   

Outlook: At this point, age and injuries have caught up with Aubrey where he no longer profiles to be an All-Star caliber hitter and defender like he was coming out of college.  His bat is now suspect at the major league level, and he is just no longer the player now that he was pre-injury and coming out of college since the injuries have eroded his skills.  He profiles now as a good organizational player, but his days as a good major league prospect are behind him.  The Indians removed him from the 40-man roster this offseason and outrighted him to the minors where he looks destined to be a fixture at first base and designated hitter for Triple-A Columbus for most if not all of the 2009 season. 

54. Delvi Cid - Outfielder
Born: 07/19/1989 - Height: 6'2" - Weight: 170 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007	17	DSL Indians	R	65	262	37	79	8	2	1	24	28	49	21	.302	.378	.359	.737
2008	18	GCL Indians	R	35	127	17	38	3	0	0	11	17	28	14	.299	.384	.323	.707
		Career		100	389	54	117	11	2	1	35	45	77	35	.301	.380	.347	.727

History:  The Indians signed Cid as an undrafted free agent in December 2006 out of the Dominican Republic. 

Strengths & Opportunities:  Cid has little power at this stage of his development, but he has shown the ability to hit for average.  He has a good approach at the plate for his age, and will need to use that as the foundation to build and develop his plate discipline to be a little more patient and draw more walks.  He is strictly a slap-hitter right now, but he has the frame at 6'2" 170 pounds to put on more weight and get stronger as he matures.  He should start to fill out in the next year or two and begin pounding the gaps much more consistently and hitting the ball with authority where his blazing speed will be put on display with many more extra base hits.   

Cid is considered the fastest baserunner in the Indians system grading out as an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale, and he is also an extremely gifted defensive center fielder where he displays good instincts, route-running and uses his plus-plus speed to track down just about everything in the gaps.  He is a gold glove caliber defender.  While he has awesome raw speed, he needs to learn how to be a smarter baserunner by reading the ball of the bat better, getting better secondary leads, and reading a pitchers move to get better jumps on steals.  He also needs a lot of work at the plate, but is to be expected with such a young, talented player with the raw abilities he has.  

Outlook:  Cid is a players to watch this year and to keep on your radar as he has tremendous potential as a fielder and runner.  He has a good chance of opening the 2009 season as the starting center fielder at Single-A Lake County. 

53. Clayton Cook - Right-handed Pitcher
Born: 07/23/1990 - Height: 6'3" - Weight: 175 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB/9	K/9	WHIP
2008	17	GCL Indians	R	1	2	2.52	11	6	0	25.0	20	7	2	8	26	2.9	9.4	1.12
		Career		1	2	2.52	11	6	0	25.0	20	7	2	8	26	2.9	9.4	1.12

History:  Cook was a 9th round pick in the 2008 Draft out of Amarillo High School (TX).  Cook dominated as a senior in high school last year striking out 170 in just 98 innings going 12-3 with a 1.98 ERA.  He had committed to playing at Oklahoma, but he signed with the Indians quickly by agreeing to a signing bonus just over $100,000. 

Strengths & Opportunities:  Upon signing with the Indians, Cook got to work right away with the Indians rookie level Gulf Coast League (GCL) club and impressed in his professional debut.  He pitched well beyond his years and impressed the Indians with his composure and maturity on the mound at such a young age considering he was 17 years old for most of his time on the GCL club.  Cook showcases a fastball that touches the low 90s, and also primarily throws a curveball as his main secondary pitch.  His long frame combined with good arm action should allow him to add more velocity as he matures.  He handles himself professionally and comes to the field everyday ready to work.  He had a good delivery when he reported to the Indians, so they spent more time educating him on taking care of himself, learning how to attack hitters, and just kind of acclimating him to professional baseball.   

Outlook:  Even with the impressive showing in his debut, Cook still has a lot to learn about getting into a routine and needs more development before he is ready for a full season assignment.  He will open the 2009 season in extended spring training and will report to one of the short season league teams in the summer. 

52. TJ McFarland - Left-handed Pitcher
Born: 06/08/1989 - Height: 6'3" - Weight: 190 - Bats: Left - Throws: Left

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB/9	K/9	WHIP
2008	19	GCL Indians	R	3	4	5.07	12	10	0	55.0	70	31	3	15	38	2.5	6.2	1.55
		Career		3	4	5.07	12	10	0	55.0	70	31	3	15	38	2.5	6.2	1.55

History:  McFarland was a 4th round pick in the 2007 Draft out of Amos Alonso Stagg High School (IL).   

Strengths & Opportunities: His fastball sits around 91-92 MPH and has topped out as high as 94 MPH in high school.  His fastball is a two-seamer, so he gets good sink on the pitch.  He also throws a slider and changeup, with the slider having the makings of a good breaking ball and the changeup still a work in progress.  He throws all three pitches for strikes and really trusts his fastball.  He is not scared of contact, and as he matures as a pitcher will likely be more of a groundball type pitcher because of the sinking action he gets with his fastball.  The main focus for McFarland is adjusting him to the professional game where as a starter he follows a normal five day routine.  He also needs to continue refining his mechanics with his secondary pitches, commanding the zone with his fastball in and out to hitters, and repeating his delivery. 

McFarland hurt his elbow as a high school junior but avoided Tommy John surgery.  He did not pitch with the Indians in 2007 because he complained of some elbow soreness shortly after signing so the Indians felt it best to be extremely cautious with their new prized top draft pick.  The elbow problem turned out to just be tendonitis, which was the result of throwing too many innings earlier in the year in high school.  He was a 100% in the spring and all throughout extended spring training and through the Gulf Coast league he was the most consistent pitcher down in Winter Haven in the summer.  He really impressed with his showing in the Gulf Coast League, and if not for one bad outing the numbers would be even better than what they were. 

Outlook:  McFarland showed good progress last year, and given his draft standing should open the 2009 season in the Single-A Lake County rotation. 

51. Wyatt Toregas - Catcher
Born: 12/02/1982 - Height: 5'11" - Weight: 200 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2004	21	Mahoning Vy	A-	59	214	38	63	18	1	7	48	11	26	1	.294	.338	.486	.824
2005	22	Lake County	A	104	411	57	95	22	0	5	42	37	76	0	.231	.302	.321	.623
2006	23	Kinston	A+	44	146	25	49	14	0	4	23	20	28	0	.336	.418	.514	.932
		Akron	AA	48	163	21	42	10	0	4	29	14	33	1	.258	.319	.393	.712
2007	24	Akron	AA	86	284	36	71	16	0	6	39	27	45	3	.250	.317	.370	.687
2008	25	Akron	AA	47	162	22	48	9	0	12	35	17	20	0	.296	.371	.574	.945
	25	Buffalo	AAA	50	155	15	34	8	0	2	25	15	32	2	.219	.301	.310	.611
		Career		438	1535	214	402	97	1	40	241	141	260	7	.262	.330	.405	.735

History:  Toregas was selected by the Indians in the 24th round of the 2004 Draft out of Virginia Tech.  He struggled through an injury riddled season in 2007 with back and elbow problems, but was put on the 40-man roster after the season anyway.  The decision to roster him looked questionable in the early going at Triple-A Buffalo last year where he struggled offensively, so he was sent down to Double-A Akron in June and took the demotion in stride and instead of sulking he came out on a mission and smacked the ball over the place and put up the best offensive showing in his career.  Coming into last season, he had 26 career minor league home runs and a .395 slugging percentage in 341 career games, but upon being sent to Akron he hit 12 home runs in 47 games and mashed with a .574 slugging percentage which was almost 200 points above his career average. 

Strengths & Opportunities:  Toregas is an excellent defensive catcher that can control a running game.  He consistently averages 1.85 seconds on throws to second base, which is much better than the major league average of 2.0 seconds.   He is the best defensive catcher in the Indians system, and he has been ranked as the best defensive catcher in the league he played in the last three years.  He has a natural knack for calling a game, is a natural leader, loves to take charge of the pitching staff, and has a lot of pride as a catcher.  He moves well behind the plate, and he gives maximum effort and everything he has. 

When you can catch and throw like Toregas does it allows the Indians to give his offense more time to develop.  He has the potential to be an adequate hitter, which to go along with his outstanding defense that has Indians officials excited, makes him very valuable.  He has some pop, especially pull side.  Toward the end of the 2007 he learned to hit the ball to right field and made strides in using the whole field, and he became a better situational hitter moving runners. 

Right now, the key for Toregas is to get more consistent with his bat.  When he was sent down to Akron the Indians noticed his setup in his stance was a little different and causing him some problems, so they worked with him to get him to spread out more and use the whole field.  He spread out with a wider stance, and started to shorten up his bat path without sacrificing his power and actually ended up with more power.  He has shown the ability to hit left-handed pitching well, but has really struggled at times with right-handers so he will need to shore up his approach against them in order to be considered as more than a backup defensive-minded catcher. 

Outlook:  The Indians know Toregas has the ability to hit and the ability to compete at the major league level, and feel that if the bat comes along it is just a bonus.  His offensive performance late in the season solidified the Indians conviction that he is a major league player and is ready for a backup job on the 25-man roster if needed.  He has some competition on the 40-man roster with fellow minor league catchers Chris Gimenez and Carlos Santana being added to it this offseason.  Because of this, it pushes his value a lot further down the order because while he is the best short term solution as a backup to Victor Martinez in Cleveland, after this season his time and opportunity may have passed in the organization.  He should open the 2009 season at Triple-A Columbus and be the first catcher the Indians bring up if an injury befalls Martinez or Kelly Shoppach. 
 
All photos courtesy of Ken Carr except Clayton Cook's photo courtesy of Tony Lastoria and Michael Aubrey's photo courtesy of Carl Kline.
 
Up Next: #50-46

Michael Aubrey's stats:

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2003	21	Lake County	A	38	138	22	48	13	0	5	19	14	22	0	.348	.409	.551	.960
2004	22	Kinston	A+	60	218	34	74	14	1	10	60	27	26	3	.339	.438	.550	.988
	22	Akron	AA	38	134	13	35	7	0	5	22	15	18	0	.261	.340	.425	.765
2005	23	Akron	AA	28	106	17	30	5	1	4	20	7	18	1	.283	.336	.462	.798
2006	24	Kinston	A+	8	28	8	8	3	0	2	10	5	5	0	.286	.417	.607	1.024
	24	Akron	AA	6	26	3	7	2	0	1	2	2	4	0	.269	.345	.462	.807
2007	25	Kinston	A+	13	50	15	20	5	0	5	11	6	7	0	.400	.492	.800	1.292
	25	Akron	AA	52	206	22	51	11	0	7	34	10	35	0	.248	.290	.403	.693
2008	26	Akron	AA	25	103	14	29	10	1	2	16	8	12	0	.282	.330	.456	.786
	26	Buffalo	AAA	72	285	29	80	18	0	7	37	16	40	0	.281	.328	.418	.746
	26	Cleveland	MLB	15	45	2	9	0	0	2	3	5	5	0	.200	.280	.333	.713
		Career (Minors)		340	1294	177	382	88	3	48	231	110	187	0	.295	.362	.479	.845