The Confines of Canal Park can not Contain Carlos Moncrief

The Akron Aeros have gone through some growing pains in 2013. A young team with a lot of new faces has thus far meant inconsistency for Akron. There have been ups and there have been downs but one point of positive production for the club has been right fielder Carlos Moncrief.

Playing in his first season in Double-A, the 24-year old Moncrief is quietly having a very solid year. His .250 batting average on the season would be the highest of his minor league career. He displays good patience at the plate with an 11% walk rate and he is striking out less than ever. Last season at Carolina he struck out in 31% of his plate appearances, an awful number; this season he has nearly cut that in half to 19%. His defense has also come on strong, and he has a cannon of an arm in right field. Moncrief has cut down three runners already on the bases; at Lake County in 2011 he racked up 18 outfield assists. Read More

Chun Chen has Dominated Eastern League Pitching

The Akron Aeros’ roster has been filled with many new faces in 2013. Young prospects from Carolina and Lake County have plugged the lineup day in and day out. One face that has remained the same is Aeros’ first baseman/designated hitter Chun-Hsiu Chen. In his third season at Akron, the 24 year old Chen is becoming a veteran mainstay in the middle of the lineup. His ability to get on base, put the bat on the ball, hit for power, and drive in runs have helped the Aeros stay in the divisional race. His presence has protected some of the younger hitters and taken pressure off others. He may soon be the next in line to get a call up to Columbus, but for now Aeros’ fans can come to Canal Park and watch one of the best all-around hitters in the Eastern League.

Chen was signed by the Indians in 2008 out of Taiwan at the age of 19. He started his Indians career in the Rookie League where he batted .261 in 38 games. He played in Mahoning Valley, the Indians short season single A team, in 2009, and moved up to Lake County to begin the 2010 season. He shined as the Captains catcher, batting .312 with six home runs in 58 games. His bat won him a promotion to High A Kinston Indians (now the Carolina Mudcats) where he hit six home runs in 52 games with a .320 batting average. He was promoted to Akron to kick off 2011.

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Urshela a Rising Star in the Indians Organization

Giovanny Urshela is one of the youngest players on the Akron Aeros’ roster. Only top prospects Ronny Rodriguez and Jose Ramirez are younger than the 21 year old Urshela on the Akron Aeros. He stands as one of six Aeros players on the Indians top 20 prospect list. The Cartagena, Columbia native signed with the Indians as a free agent at the age of 17. He spent all of last season playing for a Carolina Mudcats team that was skippered by current Aeros Manager Edwin Rodriguez. For the Mudcats he batted .279 with 14 home runs in 113 games. He plays third base, but can play up the middle as well, in fact, with Jose Ramirez out of the lineup on Sunday for the Aeros, Urshela made the start at shortstop.

Urshela has been a steady hitter for the Aeros as of late. On April 30 he hit a solo home run, a single, and scored two runs. On May 3 he singled, doubled, scored a run and drew a walk. He then hit three singles over the next two games to give him a total of five hits in three games. He raised his batting average from .244 to .271 in one week. He earned Cleveland Indians Minor League Player of the Week honors in the third week of April on the strength of 10 hits, seven RBI, and a .333 batting average. He is making a strong case for another Player of the Week award. Read More

A New Approach Helps Jesus Aguilar at the Plate

First base has long been a weak point for the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe has suffered through some more than questionable characters over the last few years. Casey Kotchman, Matt LaPorta, and Andy Marte bring up some horrifying memories. Long has the farm system been filled with sub-par first base talent like Beau Mills, Lars Anderson, Russ Canzler, and Michael Aubrey. It seems an endless string of poor decisions has plagued the Indians with less than mediocrity at a high offensive position.

All is not lost however, as a new first base candidate has emerged from the ranks. Jesus Aguilar is just 22 years old starting the season at first base for the Akron Aeros. He has a solid bat, power, and an ever improving glove. This season he ranks at the Indians number nine prospect according to Baseball America. He proves to be the best the Tribe has to offer at first base in their minor league system.

Aguilar has played very well for the Aeros thus far.  Through 21 games he holds a nice batting line of .280/.355/.390. His batting average is at a good level for a power hitting first baseman in Double-A. His on-base percentage is very good, showing plate discipline to go along with his power. With all this talk of power, it seems odd that he holds a slugging percentage of .390. This number is well below his .443 career average, and even further below his last season’s total of .461. Read More

Waiting on the Prospects of the 2008 MLB Draft

While much of the country watched closely as their favorite NFL teams stocked up this weekend on new prospects who could pay immediate dividends on their respective football teams, it is easy to lose track of players and drafts in Major League Baseball due to the expansive minor league system utilized in the sport.

It has been five years now since the drafting of the class of 2008. One of the more intriguing players to watch for the Cleveland Indians from that class this season will be Lonnie Chisenhall.

The former first round pick (29th overall) in that 2008 draft, Chisenhall made his first Opening Day roster for the Indians this season, after appearing at the major league level in each of the previous two years. He was given the starting nod after the team parted ways with Jack Hannahan after the completion of the 2012 season. Hannahan had been presumably keeping the seat warm at the hot corner for Chisenhall for the last two years.

Chisenhall is one of several players worthy of note in the Cleveland organization that has ties to the 2008 draft class.

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Inconsistent Aeros have a Rock in T.J. House

The Akron Aeros went 3-4 on the week, improving their record to an Eastern League worst 6-11. The Aeros have struggled at times on the mound and at the plate. They have pitched well and hit well but have yet to do both consistently. A young roster of new players has led to some inconsistent play but the talent on this roster suggests they will put it all together soon.

The inconsistency has plagued both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. They hold a team batting average of .259, Chun Chen leading the team with a .308 average. 21 year old third baseman Giovanny Urshela is second with an even .300 average. On the pitching side, Toru Murata leads all Aeros starters with a 2.60 ERA, while T.J. House leads in wins with two and strikeouts with 27. On Thursday against the Bowie Bay Sox, the Aeros smashed out 11 runs but lost the game after giving up 13 to the home Bay Sox.

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Ronny Rodriguez Mans Shortstop as the Akron Aeros Kick Off the 2013 Season

The Akron Aeros season is underway and the defending Eastern League Champions look to add another banner to Canal Park. They started the season at home with a four game series against the Binghamton Mets. They lost 2-1 in each of the first two games, looking feeble with the bats but solid on defense. The sticks came alive in the last two games as Akron scored a combine 18 runs, but they came away with only one win.

They split a two game series with the Altoona Curve and won only one out of three against the Bowie Bay Sox. Through ten games the Aeros record stands at a division worst 3-7. Things are looking up for the Aeros despite the slow start. Their lineup is filled with young talent and top prospects. One of those is listed as the Cleveland Indians #7 prospect, 20-year old Ronny Rodriguez.

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Top Prospects fill Aeros Opening Roster

The Akron Aeros open the 2013 season as the reigning Eastern League Champions. The defending champs have plenty of young talent to take the field and make a push for a repeat. The Akron lineup is one filled with speed and power. Their rotation has experience and youth.  A new manager, a new atmosphere, and a slew of top Indians prospects promise a fun and exciting season at Canal Park.

Akron is skippered by former Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez. He is an incredible leader that knows most of their players quite well. Rodriguez managed the Indians High-A affiliate Carolina Mudcats last season and many of the players filling this Aeros roster spent significant time with the Mudcats under his management. Mirroring the Tribe, the atmosphere around the Aeros clubhouse is high energy and upbeat. Read More