Akron Aeros Carolina Mudcats Columbus Clippers

Paulino Minor League Player of the Week and Minor League Roundup

By Sean Tuttle

Arizona League Indians infielder, Dorssys Paulino, has been named the Indians Minor League Player of the Week, August 13-19. In addition to this honor, he was promoted to Short-Season Class-A Mahoning Valley of the New York-Penn League.

The Bani, Dominican Republic native was signed as a Non-Drafted Free Agent by the Indians on July 2, 2011 as a 16-year old out of La Academia. Dorssys doesn’t turn 18 years old until November 21st. He was ranked the 7^th best prospect in the Indians system by Baseball Prospectus entering the 2012 season.

Paulino, 17, hit .560 (14-25) for the week with three doubles, a triple, three home runs, and nine RBI’s while posting a 1.713 OPS. On August 13th against the Diamondbacks rookie club, Paulino tied a season high by going 4-for-5 with two runs, a double, three RBI’s and followed that with a three-hit game the next night with two home runs and a season-high five RBI’s.

For the 2012 season, he is batting .355 (61-172) with 42 runs scored, 14 doubles, six triples, six home runs, and 30 RBI’s while posting a 1.015 OPS. He is second in the Arizona League in batting (.355), second in hits (61), third in slugging pct. (.610), third in total bases (105), tied for third in runs (42), fourth in extra-base hits (26), tied for fourth in triples (6), and fifth in doubles (14).

The promotion of young Paulino only shows that the Tribe wants him to experience life at a higher level before the end of the season. The 17-year old will most likely be bounced around the A level clubs for the next two years before any considerations of moving him up to Akron or Columbus come into play. There is no need to rush this young talent up through the system. Time is on the Indians side with this young prospect, and it is his time to soak in the learning.

Minor League Roundup

As of Aug 22nd, the Columbus Clippers (AAA) currently sit in second place in the Western Division of the International League with an overall record of 68-63. They are 10 games behind first place Indianapolis, and two and a half games out of the Wild Card spot. The Clippers are currently on a two game winning streak. In the month of August, infielder, Cord Phelps is batting .370 (27-73) with seven doubles, five home runs, and 14 RBI’s. Outfielder, Vinny Rottino, is batting .438 (14-32) with three doubles, and three RBI’s in his last 8 games, raising his average from .273 to the current .302 mark. Outfielder, Russ Canzler, drove in two runs Tuesday night, giving him 71 on the season which is good for fifth best in the IL. Infielder, Juan Diaz’s first inning grand-slam on Aug. 20th was the sixth this season by a Columbus batter (Mills, Goedert, Canzler, Rohlinger, Carlin) and was his third this season (last: Aug. 3rd with Akron) and 4th in his career. In his last 39 games, Outfielder, Tim Fedroff, is hitting .327 (49-150) with nine doubles, four triples, six home runs, and 18 RBI’s.

The Akron Aeros (AA) currently remain atop the Western Division of the Eastern League with an overall record of 75-53. They lead Bowie by seven and a half games. They are currently on a two game losing skid. In his last 30 games, Infielder, Matt Lawson, is batting .388 AVG (45-116) with 13 doubles, a triple, a home run, and 11 RBI’s. Over his last 38 games, Infielder, Adam Abraham, is batting .331 (46-139) with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBI’s to raise his batting average from .213 to the current .260 mark. Over his last 52 games, outfielder, Thomas Neal, is batting .346 (62-179) with 12 doubles, eight home runs, and 30 RBI’s, raising his average from .273 to the current .308 mark. Right-handed pitcher, Shawn Armstrong, has only allowed one earned run in his last 16.0 innings pitched dating back to his promotion to Akron on July 14th.

The Carolina Mudcats (A) currently sit in third place in the Southern Division of the Carolina League with a second half record of 28-30 and an overall record of 60-68. They are eight and a half games behind first place Winston-Salem. Outfielder, Delvi Cid, is batting .313 (15-48) with four doubles, a home run, and four RBI’s in 15 games. Over his last 31 games, outfielder, Bo Greenwell, is hitting .303 (36-119) with six doubles, a triple, a home run, and 10 RBI’s and has a hit in 25 of those games. Infielder, Giovanny Urshela, has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games (.348 AVG., 23-66, six doubles, three home runs, seven RBI’s). Infielder, Tyler Cannon, is batting .300 (15-50) in the month of August with three doubles and three RBI’s in 15 games. Left-handed pitcher, Mike Rayl, is 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA (4 ER/24.0 IP) in four August starts and has won five of his last six starts.

The Lake County Captains (A) currently sit in third place in the Eastern Division of the Midwest League with a second half record of 31-25 and an overall record of 62-63. They are two and a half games behind first place Bowling Green. Over his last 45 games, Infielder, Jerrud Sabourin is hitting .329 (52-158) with 10 doubles, a triple, a home run, and 24 RBI’s. Infielder, Jose Ramirez, is hitting .388 (45-116) with five doubles, a triple, and four RBI’s over his last 30 games. Outfielder, Bryson Myles, is batting .329 (28-85) with five doubles, a home run, and 12 RBI’s. Outfielder, Jordan Smith, has hit safely in 19 of his last 23 games (.307 AVG, 27-88, four doubles, a triple, a home run, and 20 RBI’s).

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers (A) currently sit in fourth place in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League with an overall record of 27-33. They are nine and a half games behind first place Auburn. They are currently on a two game losing streak. Mahoning Valley fell to Batavia last night by a score of 4-1. Infielder, Dorssys Paulino, went 1-for-3 in his Scrappers debut with a run scored. Outfielder, Hunter Jones, went 1-for-3 with an RBI and infielder, Joey Wendle, went 1-for-4. Catcher, Richard Stock, went 1-for-3. Right-handed pitcher, Luis Morel (2-4, 4.46), took the loss, tossing six innings, allowing six hits, four runs, none of which were earned, allowed one walk, and recorded nine strikeouts. Right-handed pitcher, Josh Martin, tossed two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

The Arizona League Indians (Rookie) currently sit in second place in the Central Division of the Arizona League with an overall record of 27-22. They are three and a half games behind the first place AZL Dodgers. The Indians knocked off the Dodgers in game one of a doubleheader by a score of 7-6 in 11 innings, but game two was rained out. Outfielder, LeVon Washington, went 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI’s. Outfielder, Anthony Santander, went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk. Infielder, Juan Herrera, went 1-for-2 with two runs scored, two walks, and a RBI. Right-handed pitcher, Hector Rondon, earned a no decision, tossing one inning, allowing a walk and a strikeout. Right-handed pitcher, Breily Puerta (4-1, 3.86), earned the win, tossing 3.2 innings, allowing two hits, three walks, and six strikeouts in relief.

Recent Transactions

August 14

Loek Van Mil transferred from Akron to Columbus

Juan Diaz transferred from Akron to Columbus

Justin Toole transferred from Akron to Carolina

Jesus Aguilar transferred from Carolina to Akron

Mark Bradley transferred from Lake County to Carolina

August 18

Antwonie Hubbard transferred from Lake County to Carolina

Cole Cook transferred from Carolina to Akron

August 20

Activated Patric Tolentino from 7 Day DL in Akron and transferred to Lake County