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Indians Indians Archive Around the Farm: July 16
Written by Al Ciammiachella

Al Ciammiachella

Luigi Rodriguez 2 710x800Luigi Rodriguez, CF-LCC: 3-5, HR (8), 3 RBI, 2 R.

In his last two games, Rodriguez is 7-9 with 2 HR, 5 RBI, a double and four runs scored. In the two games prior to that, he was hittless but reached base six times via the walk. Rodriguez is really putting all of his tools on display, and the 19-year old really has looked like a young Kenny Lofton at the plate in the past week. That's an (extremely) aggressive comp for Rodriguez, and it's clearly a high-end projection rather than an honest assessment of where I think he eventually ends up, but the tools are there. Rodriguez has surprising power for a kid his size, and it's only going to get better as he adds strength to his 5'11, 160lb frame. He's a switch hitter with outstanding speed, and has more plate discipline than most international kids his age and experience level. His season line currently stands at .282/.350/.424 with 8 HR, 15 doubles and 39 RBI. It's not a blow you out of the water line that makes you think he's one of the top prospects in baseball, but it's nothing to scoff at either. He doesn't have the defense needed to play CF yet, as the converted 2B is still adjusting to life in the grass. And for a guy with his speed, you'd like to see more than 17 SB (in 24 attempts) at this point in the season. There's an awful lot to like here, and even if (when) he doesn't quite pan out to be the next Kenny Lofton, there's still an extremely useful player here that can hit at the top of a major league lineup for a long time.

Bryan Price, RP-COL: IP. Price worked a clean inning in his AAA debut, setting down the side in order in the 9th yesterday, needing just 13 pitches to do so.

Cord Phelps, 2B-COL: R, K. Phelps is having a so-so year at AAA Columbus, posting a sub-.800 OPS (.783)  in his second tour of duty in the International League.

Jason Donald, 3B-COL: 1-3, HR (3), RBI, 2 R, K, CS. Donald is a potential trade chip at the deadline this year, but as nothing more than a throw-in. He's hitting .257/.357/.391 with 3 HR and 20 RBI in 47 AAA games this season.

Rafael Perez, RP-AKR: IP, H. Perez gave up a hit this time, but still only needed 14 pitches to retire the side in his 2nd rehab outing for the Aeros.

Preston Guilmet, RP-AKR: S (14), H, 3 K. Guilmet gave up a leadoff double, but managed to strike out the side to nail down his 14th save in a 1-run Aeros victory last night.

Juan Diaz, SS-AKR: 2-4, 2 2B, RBI. Diaz was the only Aeros batter with more than one hit last night, and raised his season line to .256/.305/.407 with 8 HR and 40 RBI in 73 games with the Aeros.

Grant Sides, RP-CAR: 2 IP, K, 2 BB. Sides has worked in 8 games for the Mudcats, allowing just 1 run in 10 1/3 IP with 10 K and 5 BB.

Francisco Lindor, SS-LCC: 1-2, 2B, 4 BB, R. Lindor has worked 8 free passes in his last four games for the Captains. His batting average has tumbled to .266, but his OBP has pretty much held steady at .361 thanks to all the walks.

Jake Sisco, SP-MVS: 6 IP, R (0 ER), 3 H, 4 K, 3 BB. Sisco lowered his season ERA to 2.03 in 31 IP for the Scrappers, and was in line for the win until the bullpen blew it in the bottom of the 7th.

Luis DeJesus, SP-MVS: W (3-0), 5 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 5 H, 5 K, BB. The 20-year old righty was the Indians 11th round pick in the 2011 draft, and is 3-0 with a 1.36 ERA in 33 IP for the Scrappers this year. He's struck out 24 and walked 8, and opposing hitters are batting just .185 against him.

Joe Sever, 3B-MVS: 4-7, 2B, RBI, 3 R. The Pepperdine alum raised his season line to .386/.440/.455 in 12 games with the Scrappers. He's driven in 8 runs, and both walked and struck out 4 times.

Joe Wendle, 2B-MVS: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R. Division II kids can hit too. The West Chester University grad is hitting .329/.413/.494 with 7 doubles, 3 triples and 12 RBI in 21 games for the Scrappers.

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