Written by Al Ciammiachella

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Tony Wolters, SS-CAR: 4-5, RBI, R

Wolters got off to a brutal start to the 2012 season. The lefthanded hitting middle infielder began the season as a 19-year old, turning 20 in early June. He had skipped the low-A Midwest League entirely, going straight from the short-season New York-Penn League in 2011 to the notoriously pitcher-friendly Carolina League to open 2012. He hit just .130/.231/.159 in the month of April, with two doubles as his only extra base hits in 69 at bats. That's a .390 OPS for you math majors out there. He had a much better May, posting a .767 OPS and followed that up with a so-so June with an OPS of .666. He's been flat-out scorching in 12 July games, hitting .400/.431.582 with 2 HR and four doubles to raise his overall season line to a respectable .262/.321/.377. Wolters is one of several 17 to 20 year old middle infield prospects in the low minors with the Indians, joining guys like Francisco Lindor, Ronny Rodriguez, Dorssys Paulino, Robel Garcia and Jose Ramirez. It's a good problem to have, as all prospects of course do not pan out, so depth is a good thing. Of all of those guys, Wolters is probably the best bet to become a major leaguer at second base, as Lindor and Rodriguez are shortstops long-term, Paulino is 17 and Garcia and Ramirez don't have much experience above the NYPL. Wolters is a high-energy, max-effort guy who's overall package plays above the sum of his tools. He's fun to watch on the field, and a leader in the clubhouse off of it. He and Francisco Lindor played up the middle together for Team USA while they were both in high school, and it's possible that they will re-create that pairing at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario a few years down the road.

 

Cory Kluber, SP-COL: 8 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 6 H, 5 K, 4 BB. Kluber was uncarachtaristically wild yesterday, and that plus the 2 HR he gave up prevented him from getting the win in a 10-inning Clippers victory. In his last 10 starts, Kluber has posted a 3.04 ERA with 60 K and 20 BB in 68 IP.

Cody Allen, RP-COL: W (3-2), 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K.  Allen has allowed just 1 ER in his last 12 IP, with 11 K and 2 BB in that timeframe. For the season between Carolina, Akron and Columbus, he has a 1.87 ERA, 53 K and 9 BB in 43 1/3 IP.

Jared Goedert, 3B-COL: 2-2, RBI, R. Goedert came on as a pinch hitter yesterday and still managed to pick up a pair of hits including the game winning, walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th. He's got a 10-game hitting streak going, and is hitting .405/.421/.541 during the streak.

Tim Fedroff, LF-COL: 1-2, BB, R.  Fedroff has played in 26 games for the Clippers since being called up from AA Akron, and has an impressive .326/.406/.517 line for the Clip Show. If he hit righthanded, fans would be clamoring for a promotion to the Indians to play LF at the Jake.

T.J. House, SP-AKR: W (6-2), 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 K. House didn't walk a batter yesterday, and lowered his AA ERA to a solid 3.95 in 86 2/3 innings with the Aeros. His K rate has dropped since his promotion to AA, as he's struck out 57 hitters in those 86 2/3 IP after striking out 26 in 25 high-A innings earlier in the season.

Shawn Armstrong, RP-AKR: IP, K. Armstrong has made two apperances with the Aeros since being called up from Carolina last week, and has yet to give up a run. He's struck out 5 in 3 1/3 IP, and allowed just 2 hits.

Preston Guilmet, RP-AKR: S (15), IP, 2 K. Since the end of April, Guilmet has given up just 2 ER in 25 IP with the Aeros. His season ERA is down to 1.75, and he has 35 K and just 9 BB in 36 IP.

Adam Abraham, 1B-AKR: 1-2, HR (10), RBI, BB, R, K. Abraham is hitting a steady .246/.331/.421 in 86 games with the Aeros this season. He has 10 HR, 22 doubles and 41 RBI. He's limited to a corner IF spot defensively, so he needs to rake to be considered a prospect.

Michael Goodnight, SP-CAR: 6 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 6 K. Goodnight walked 5 in his last start on July 12, but bounced back in a big way last night when he went 6 2/3 without issuing a single free pass. He's 2-8 on the year with a 4.43 ERA, and has 67 K and 47 BB in 101 2/3 IP for the Mudcats.

Cole Cook, RP-CAR: IP, 2 H. Cook extends his scoreless inning streak to 8 out of the Mudcats bullpen. Orel Hershiser isn't shaking in his cleats just yet, but it's a nice run for the 23-year old righty after giving up 5 ER in his Carolina League debut.

Ronny Rodriguez, 2B-CAR: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R. Rodriguez has been struggling of late, hitting just .162/.200/.351 in his last 10 games for the Mudcats. He had a .961 OPS in June, but has been unable to keep that momentum going here in July.

Tyler Naquin, CF-MVS: 1-2, RBI, BB, 2 R, HBP. Naquin is 14-49 (.286) in 13 July games, and is hitting .301/.427/.411 overall for the Scrappers.

Joe Wendle, 3B-MVS: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, SB. Wendle has 2 hits in back-to-back games, and has raised his season line to .337/.417/.506 in 22 NYPL games.

Charlie Valerio, C-MVS: 2-4, HR (3), RBI, R, K. Valerio was signed as an international free agent in 2010, and the switch-hitter is hitting an impressive .306/.388/.449 with 3 HR and 20 RBI in 27 games with the Scrappers.

Dillon Howard, SP-AZL: 3 1/3 IP, 4 ER, K, 4 BB. Howard has had a rough beginning to his professional career, allowing 13 ER in 17 1/3 IP in the complex leagues. He's struck out 14 (good) and walked 10 (bad).

Trey Haley, RP-AZL: 2 IP, 4 K, BB. The 6'3, 180lb Texan has loose, easy velocity in his wiry frame, but 99 MPH is no good if you can't stay healthy.

Jorge Martinez, DH-AZL: 2-5, 2 K. Martinez actually lowered his batting average with a 2-5 effort yesterday. He's hitting .415/.437/.659 with 3 HR, 7 doubles and 2 triples in 18 Arizona League games, and the 19-year old switch hitter is primed for a call up to the Scrappers at some point this summer.