Written by Al Ciammiachella

Al Ciammiachella

Aguilar 6 800x580Jesus Aguilar, 1B-CAR: 3-4, 2 HR (9), 4 RBI, 3 R.

On June 21, Aguilar was named to the World Roster for the MLB Futures Game in Kansas City during all-star weekend. Since he was selected, Aguilar has gone 8-15 with 3 HR, a double, 7 RBI, two walks and 5 runs scored. Aguilar has given the selection committiee no reason to question their choice. On the back of that outstanding 5 game stretch, Aguilar has pushed his overall season line up to .310/.394/.515, and his .908 OPS is fourth among players currently in the Carolina League. Aguilar will celebrate his 22nd birthday this Sunday, and the righthanded slugger has as much raw power as anyone in the Indians organization. Aguilar is a much more well-rounded player this season, both at the plate and in the field. You can really see how much work he put in to get in better shape this offseason, and it's paid off in a big way. He's a better overall hitter, using all fields when he used to be a dead-pull guy. He's a much better defender, and while he's not elite he's at least average, something you couldn't say a year ago when he looked like a future DH. Big, Bad Jesus Aguilar is one of the hottest prospects in the system, and if he keeps this up for a full season he's a lock to be a top-10 guy this winter.

David Huff, SP-CAR: 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 5 K, 3 BB. Huff has had back-to-back solid starts, giving up a total of 3 ER in his last 11 IP. His ERA on the season is 4.24, and he now has 42 K and 12 BB in 63 2/3 IP.

Cody Allen, RP-COL: IP, 2 K. Allen is the Columbus version of Vinnie Pestano this season; he's recorded a K in 12 straight relief apperances. Overall, he's struck out 29 in 24 2/3 IP for the Clippers this year.

Russ Canzler, RF-COL: 1-5, K. The reigning minor league player of the week "only" had one hit yesterday, but still has a .990 OPS in his last 10 games.

Gio Soto, SP-AKR: L (5-4), 6 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 4 K, 4 BB. Not a terrible start for Soto, but not a great one either as he walked 4 hitters in his 6 innings of work. His ERA is up to an even 4.00 in 81 IP for the Aeros, with 72 K and 30 BB. The 21-year old lefty was acquired for a half-season of Jhonny Peralta back in 2010.

Bryan Price, RP-AKR: 2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 K. Strange outing for Price, who missed bats but also didn't miss bats, with 4 K but 2 HR allowed in his 2 IP.

Thomas Neal, RF-AKR: 2-4, HR (5), 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 K.  He must love the warmer weather, as Neal has put together the best month in the Indians org here in June. He's hit all 5 of his HR this month, and has a .294/.364/.574 line in 20 games. Moved to the cleanup spot last night, he responded with a pair of XBH including a HR.

Jeremie Tice, LF-AKR: 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, K. Tice is hitting .381/.391/.619 in 5 AA games, and hasn't missed a beat since being called up from high-A Carolina.

Juan Diaz, SS-AKR: 1-4, HR (6), RBI, R, 2 K. Diaz is 5 for his last 14 with a HR and a 2B, but is still hitting just .240/.280/.373 on the season for the Aeros.

Francisco Jimenez, SP-CAR: W (6-6), 7 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 4 K, 2 BB. In his last 10 starts, Jimenez has gone 4-4 with a 3.67 ERA, recording 31 K and issuing 21 BB in 54 IP.

Gio Urshela, 3B-CAR: 2-4, HR (3), RBI, 2 R. Urshela has quietly been one of the hottest hitters in the organization lately, as he's put up an outstanding .395/.410/.684 line in his last 10 games. That includes 2 HR, 5 2B and 6 RBI, and he's brought his season OPS up to .677. He's an elite defender, so if he can keep this up with the bat then he's a solid prospect.

Carlos Moncrief, RF-CAR: 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB, 2 K. Like last year, Moncrief's main issue is pitch selection/approach at the plate. He has a solid .801 OPS, but has struck out 83 times and walked just 30.

Tyler Cannon, C-CAR: 2-3, 2 2B, BB, R, K. Cannon is getting some significant time behind the plate, and is now hitting .269/.319/.426 with a HR and 15 RBI in 36 games for the Mudcats.

Jeff Johnson, RP-LCC: W (4-3), 1 2/3 IP, 2 K. In his last 10 outings, Johnson has thrown 12 innings, allowed 5 ER and struck out 15 while walking 5.

Jordan Smith, RF-LCC: 2-6, RBI, R. The 9th-round pick in 2011 has his season line up to .292/.346/.432 with 3 HR and 14 doubles in 58 games for the Captains. He's a line-drive hitter with gap power, but his smooth, level swing doesn't generate a lot of backspin so he struggles to hit HR.

Bryson Myles, CF-LCC: 1-4, 3 RBI, K, CS. Myles only got one hit last night, but it was a big one as he stroked a game-tying, 2 RBI single in the top of the 9th inning. He went on to hit a SAC fly in the 12th to help the Captains win 5-2 in extras.

Jerrud Sabourin, 1B-LCC: 2-5, 2B. The former Hoosier is hitting an impressive .375/.444/.500 in his last 10 games, with 5 2B and 10 RBI.

Jacob Lee, RP-MVS: 2 IP, R (0 ER), H, 3 K, BB. Lee was a 9th round pick out of Arkansas State University, and has now struck out 7 and walked just one in 5 innings of work for the Scrappers.

Tyler Naquin, CF-MVS: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, R. In addition to the impressive day at the dish, Naquin gunned down a runner at 2B to show off his impressive throwing arm. He's recorded 3 hits in half of his games for the Scrappers so far this year.

Juan Romero, DH-MVS: 1-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, R, 2 K. Romero has played in 6 games for the Scrappers, and he's struck out in 13 of his 26 AB. He's also popped a league-leading 4 HR and has a 1.052 OPS. When he makes contact, it's LOUD contact as he has more HR (4) than singles (3).

Matt Packer, SP-AZL: IP, R (0 ER), 2 H. He's back! The rehabbing Packer made his first appearance of 2012 yesterday in the Arizona League.

Dillon Howard, RP-AZL: L (0-2), 3 1/3 IP, 5 R (1 ER), 5 H, 5 K, 2 BB. Last year's 2nd round pick was let down by his defense in the complex league, something that happens fairly often at that level.

Eric Haase, C-AZL: 1-3, 2B, R, BB, K. Haase is one of my favorite guys in the org, and he's hitting .353/.389/.647 in 4 games in the complex league this year. He's a sleeper prospect, but a guy I think is a future big-leaguer for sure.

Jorge Martinez, 3B-AZL: 2-4, RBI. Martinez continues to impress in the Arizona League, as he has at least one hit in all 5 games he's played and is 11-21 overall (.524) with a HR and 2 doubles.