Akron Aeros

The Confines of Canal Park can not Contain Carlos Moncrief

May 21, 2013 | Ronnie Tellalian

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

May 14, 2013 | Ronnie Tellalian

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.

Urshela a Rising Star in the Indians Organization

May 7, 2013 | Ronnie Tellalian

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

April 30, 2013 | Ronnie Tellalian

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

Inconsistent Aeros have a Rock in T.J. House

April 23, 2013 | Ronnie Tellalian

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.

Top Prospects fill Aeros Opening Roster

April 9, 2013 | Ronnie Tellalian

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

Setbacks and Success Has Salazar Ready to Make Another Step

February 27, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry

During Spring Training the DTTWLN staff will profile and examine the coaches and players that make up and are vying to be part of the 2013 Cleveland Indians—A Team With A New Direction. Today, we examine one of the young players on the 40-man roster that is a part of the Indians’ minor league system.

By Mike Brandyberry

Sometimes one step back can lead to two steps forward. For Indians minor leaguer Danny Salazar, he’s moved backward and forward enough to dance the salsa, but each setback has resulted in greater success.

Salazar had his best season as a professional in 2012, splitting time between High-A Carolina and Double-A Akron and rebounding from Tommy John surgery. The shoulder surgery caused Salazar to miss most of the 2010 and 2011 seasons. However, since Salazar has been cleared with a clean bill of health, he has actually picked up a couple miles per hour on his fastball. He attributes the added velocity to the work in his rehabilitation.

“That is a product of the rehab program and the work,” Salazar said. “If you start thinking about the surgery and the work to get back, it’s real tough. If you just get ahead and start working out, you are going to be stronger.”

Fedroff Continues to Battle for Big League Opportunity

February 26, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | 4 Comments

During Spring Training the DTTWLN staff will profile and examine the coaches and players that make up and are vying to be part of the 2013 Cleveland Indians—A Team With A New Direction. Today, we examine one of the young players on the 40-man roster that is a part of the Indians’ minor league system.

By Christian Petrila

After five full seasons in the minors, Indians outfielder Tim Fedroff took a massive step toward making his long-awaited Major League debut when he was added to the 40-man roster on Nov. 20.

Fedroff was a seventh round pick for the Indians back in 2008 and has been nothing short of a consistent hitter throughout his time in the minors. For his minor league career, Fedroff is hitting .296 with 23 home runs and 204 RBI in 495 games, but last season was when he really began capturing the attention on many Indians fans.

Move to Bullpen Lands Haley on Big League Radar

February 25, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry | One Comment

During Spring Training the DTTWLN staff will profile and examine the coaches and players that make up and are vying to be part of the 2013 Cleveland Indians—A Team With A New Direction. Today, we examine one of the young players on the 40-man roster that is a part of the Indians’ minor league system.

By Mike Brandyberry

Sometimes a major adjustment lends major results. For Indians’ relief pitcher, Trey Haley, it may have saved his professional career.

Haley was a second round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, but continued control issues and a lack of progression through the Tribe’s minor league system forced him to the bullpen. However, once transitioning to the bullpen, Haley has thrived and regained his place as a top prospect in the Tribe’s system.

“I think it was just a combination of growing up as a player,” Haley said. “Out of high school I was working on so many things. I think that work has helped me get to where I am now.”

In 2012, the 22-year old, hard-throwing, right-hander had his best season as a professional. Haley split his season between High-A Carolina, where he had a 1.04 ERA in 17.1 innings, and Double-A Akron where he was 3-1, with a 1.76 ERA in 15.1 innings.

Armstrong Has a Simple 2013 Goal: Cleveland

January 31, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry

By Laurel Wilder

Shawn Armstrong’s goal for the 2013 season is simple: To finish his climb through the Indians organization and make it to the majors.

For the 6-foot, 2-inch, 210 pound right-handed pitcher from Bridgeton, N.C., that goal does not seem far off.

The Indians drafted Armstrong in the 18^th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina University. Though he is relatively new to the Indians system, with 2012 being his first full season, Armstrong has risen through the minor ranks at an alarming speed.

Armstrong,22, started his 2012 season pitching for Low-A Lake County, but quickly moved up to pitch for High-A Carolina and ended his season playing for Double-A Akron. The only other player recently to move through the Tribe system at that speed is current Indians right-handed relief pitcher Cody Allen.

“I loved it,” Armstrong said of his rapid move through the organization. “Playing at every level, getting to meet all the different staff and players was a good experience for me, because it was a learning experience. I got to have three different pitching coaches’ perspectives of pitching…It kind of made my season just fly by. I looked up and it was September and we were playing for a championship in Trenton.”

Akron Aeros Announce $1.65 Million Video Board Project

January 22, 2013 | Mike Brandyberry

By Ronnie Tellalian

The Akron Aeros are coming off one of the best seasons in recent memory. Finishing with an Eastern League best 82-59 record, the Aeros won the EL Western Division. They defeated Bowie in the Division Series, and then bested Trenton to win the EL Championship. In the wake of that great year, the Aeros turned a new page in the front office when former Washington Post Chief Revenue Officer Ken Babby purchased the team. Immediate changes were under way, including a new 25-year lease on Canal Park that calls for $3.5 million in stadium upgrades.

Babby brought the Akron media together today to announce the first big step in those upgrades. The Aeros began construction this afternoon on a brand new $1.65 million dollar HD video board. The new board will replace the old board in right field. It features a crisp HD screen that measures 26-feet by 68-feet, a full five times larger than the old board. The screen on the old board covered 450 square feet while the new board totals 2,314 square feet. This new board is designed and engineered by Daktronics and will be one of the largest in all the Minor Leagues, and the largest in Double-A.

Despite Their Reputation, the Indians are Drafting Better

December 23, 2012 | Mike Brandyberry

By Bob Toth

Last week, I looked into the Indians’ recent draft woes, how it has impacted the present roster, and what the team has done in the recent drafts to hopefully correct the poor drafting and development over the last several years. If you missed the story last week, follow this link – Dispelling the Indians’ Draft Woes

One of the difficult aspects of drafting young players is that there is no way to predict their futures. Even being the very first person drafted is no assurance of superstardom. It cannot even guarantee a moderate level of success professionally.

It really is an impossible task to attempt to judge a draft shortly after it has happened. It is challenging to forecast the ceilings of such young players and the impact that their development, injuries, or their personal lives may have on who they become on and off the field.

It is all just educated guessing.