Plenty of Bonus Baseball in the Circle City
Lineups on Sunday the 14th for the Indians and Clippers (Michael L. Sküpin)
Team Previews & Game Review
Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians AAA) at Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates AAA)
Columbus lines up a talented roster that includes former top-100 prospects RF/1B CJ Kayfus and SS/CF Kahlil Watson (2021 1st round pick by Miami) as well as current top-100 prospects SS Angel Genao (#78 prospect) and 1B/OF Ralphy Velazquez (#38 prospect, 2023 1st round pick). Kayfus has struggled a bit this season, slashing .266/.362/.329/.691, while Watson leads Columbus in XBHs and SBs, which culminates to an .861 OPS. AAA league average OPS typically sits between .750-.800.
Catcher Cooper Ingle (#143 prospect) received the start in LF as Cleveland experiments with trying to find a spot for his bat in the major league lineup. Ingle, an offensive catching prospect, is blocked from the Majors by the best defensive player in the game, Patrick Bailey, and a savvy, veteran backup in Austin Hedges. Ingle is batting .286/.423/.513/.936 for the season. Per TJStats, his underlying numbers are very good, with stats including xwOBA, xSLG, O-Swing%, SwStr%, Whiff%, Barrel%, Hard-Hit%, and BB% all deep red. These stats indicate that he’s a patient hitter that draws a lot of walks, doesn’t swing and miss often, and makes good, hard contact.
Cooper Ingle Advanced Underlying Metrics via TJStats
Home team Indianapolis Indians countered with fringe top-100 prospect OF Jhostynxon García and former top-100 prospects 2B Termarr Johnson (4th overall pick in 2022) and UT Nick Yorke (2020 1st round pick). Johnson has had a slow progression through the minor leagues. The 22 year old was drafted on the strength of his hit tool, but has a .241 BA throughout his professional career (.183 this season). His career .371 OBP has helped steady his offensive profile that lacks power but has a speed component (11-12 SB, 2nd on the team).
García was acquired this past off-season from Boston in return for SP Johan Oviedo. García has struggled in 46 career MLB PA (.190/.261/.238/.499). Yet, he offers plenty of upside with power and defense in the outfield.
Jhostynxon García Advanced Underlying Metrics via TJStats
Sunday’s game featured LHP Kolby Allard starting for the Clippers. Allard has Major League experience as he’s pitched 345.2 career innings with four teams. For the Indians, RHP Noah Davis, with 62.1 career Major League innings with three teams, started in hopes of slowing down the Clippers. The Indians lineup also featured OF Ronny Simón, who entered the day 7th in AAA in hits, as well as rehabbing Major League catcher Joey Bart (recovering from a left foot infection).
The game was delayed by strong winds (15+ mph) and heavy rain. When the weather cleared, the Clippers trotted out an all left-handed lineup to counteract Davis. 3B Milan Tolentino scorched a two-run HR way beyond the right field fence in the 2nd inning to put Columbus on the board. Tolentino would also provide two excellent defensive plays to help keep the Indy offense off the board. An RBI by Kayfus would give Columbus a 3-0 lead until the 6th inning. Allard had allowed one baserunner through 5 innings when he allowed back-to-back singles, then a three-run HR to Johnson, which would tie the game. The Indians offense wouldn’t provide much punch the rest of the game. Ultimately, they would only have one baserunner reach second base during the first 9 innings.
The bottom of the 11th provided drama. Indians catcher Derek Berg, who replaced Bart, executed an excellent bunt to move Johnson to 3rd base. After intentionally walking Simón and Enmanuel Valdéz to load the bases with one out, The Password hit into a 6-2-3 double play to end the inning. Columbus scored on a sacrifice fly by Ingle in the top of the 12th, giving them a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the 12th inning, SS Keiner Delgado hit a line drive that was inches from a potential 2B that was called foul. Delgado struck out to end the at-bat. With runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs, Fletcher hit a towering, warning track flyout to end the game.
Despite the 48 minute rain delay, 7,706 patrons were in attendance for the 3 hour 19 minute game. Columbus finished the weekend with the 5th best record in AAA (38-30) while Indianapolis ended up with the 3rd worst record (28-41) in the league. Indianapolis was without a couple prospects as Pittsburgh had made a couple promotions recently – Patient, power hitting 1B/OF Esmerlyn Valdéz (#83), hard throwing pitcher (96th percentile fastball velocity) Antwone Kelly (#381 and rising), C/1B Rafael Flores Jr. (#387), and another hard throwing pitcher (97th percentile fastball velocity and 96th percentile Stuff+) Wilber Dotel (#458 and rising).
Final Notes on Cleveland’s Recent Injuries
Over the weekend, Cleveland lost All-World 3B José Ramírez to a hamate fracture, as well as 2B/CF Angel Martínez and OF Chase DeLauter to injuries. Juan Brito and Kayfus have both spent time on the Major League roster this year and could be called up shortly, depending on the test results for Martínez and DeLauter. Cleveland had also called up former pitching prospect RHP Daniel Espino for his Major League debut. Espino is a notable call-up because he’s fought several injuries over the course of his professional career that stalled his progress. Per Prospect Savant, Espino has good underlying statistics (above average or better percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, Chase%, exit velocity, K%, Whiff%, and SwStr%) despite his 5.30 ERA in AAA.
Versatile utility player Daniel Schneeman offers Cleveland the opportunity for different directions in case the club needs to call up an infielder (2B/SS Gabriel Arias just completed his rehab and is expected to rejoin Cleveland). Cleveland fans might see Watson called up, as he’s already on the 40-man roster and has played well this year and offers positional versatility similar to Martínez. As Ingle isn’t on the 40-man, a corresponding move would be required to add him to the Major League roster.
The weekend showcased several high impact prospects who continue to hone their craft on their road to the Majors. While Velazquez struggled (9 Ks in 21 ABs), he’s only played in 19 games in AAA as a newly 21 year old. Baseball fans can expect to see many of these prospects in the Majors at varying points this year, and some, when they get called up, may be there to stay.
Weekend Lineups and Statistics
Lineup (6/12)
Columbus SP: Logan T. Allen (5 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K)
Indianapolis SP: Khristian Curtis (5.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 10 K)
ColumbusIndianapolis
7-Halpin DH-Johnson
5-Brito 2-Bart
DH-Ingle 9-Simón
2-Naylor 5-Valdéz
8-Watson 4-Yorke
9-Valera 6-K. Delgado
6-Genao 7-García
3-Huff 3-Cimillo
4-Tolentino 8-Fletcher
Lineup (6/13)
Columbus SP: Rorik Maltrud (5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K)
Indianapolis SP: Hunter Barco (5 IP, ER, H, 4 BB, 4 K)
ColumbusIndianapolis
8-Halpin 4-Johnson
4-Brito 6-K. Delgado
2-Ingle 7-Simón
7-Velazquez 5-Valdéz
DH-Watson 9-Yorke
9-Kayfus DH-García
3-Huff 8-Fletcher
6-Genao 3-Cimillo
5-Tolentino 2-Berg
Lineup (6/14)
Columbus SP: Kolby Allard (5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K)
Indianapolis SP: Noah Davis (5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K)
ColumbusIndianapolis
7-Ingle 4-Johnson
4-Brito 2-Bart
8-Watson 9-Simón
3-Velazquez 5-Valdéz
2-Naylor 8-García
9-Kayfus 6-Wendzel
6-Genao 3-Ross
DH-Nuñez DH-Cimillo
5-Tolentino 7-Fletcher
Series Stats: (notable performances and players)
Columbus: BAOBPSLGOPS
OF CJ Kayfus 5-14, R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, SB .357 .400 .429 .829
C Bo Naylor 4-18, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB .222 .364 .444 .808
OF Petey Halpin 6-22, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB, SB .273 .304 .409 .713
SS/CF Kahlil Watson 3-17, 4 R, 2 2B, 4 BB, 1-2 SB .176 .364 .294 .658
2B Juan Brito 5-21, R, 2B, RBI, 4 BB .238 .360 .286 .646
SS/3B Angel Genao 4-17, 3 R, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB .235 .350 .294 .644
1B/OF Ralphy Velazquez 3-21, 4 R, 2 2B, RBI, 2 BB .143 .250 .238 .488
C/LF Cooper Ingle 5-24, R, RBI .208 .200 .208 .408
Indianapolis: BAOBPSLGOPS
2B Termarr Johnson 5-23, 4 R, 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, SB .217 .333 .565 .898
OF Jhostynxon García 6-19, R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB .316 .333 .368 .701
OF Ronny Simón 6-21, 5 R, 4 BB, 3 SB .286 .423 .286 .709
C Nick Cimillo (1.165 OPS) and OF Dominic Fletcher (1.109 OPS) each had a hot week with INF Enmanuel Valdéz playing well against Columbus too (.830 OPS).
Stats sourced from:
https://prospectsavant.com/leaders
FN Bailey: Bailey leads Baseball Savant’s FRV by a large margin over the past several years
FN https://www.prospects1500.com/milb/minor-league-statistical-benchmarks/
FN Hamate fractures have varying lengths of recovery times but typically 5-7 weeks. Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday missed over 3 months this year because of the injury.