With David Price and R.A Dickey winning the AL and NL Cy Young’s respectively tonight, here is my choice for Indians minor league pitcher of the year
The Field
RHP Corey Kluber: Racked up an impressive line of 128 strikeouts, compared to just 49 walks in 125.1 innings of work before being called up. He also pitched well in Huntington Park, the Clippers home, which is a very hitter friendly park. He showed enough in 2012 that he can be an effective back end starter in the majors.
W-L ERA Innings K BB
11-7 3.59 125.1 128 49
LHP TJ House: His rough 2011 in Kinston forced the Indians to keep him in the Carolina league to start 2012, but he quickly forced his way to Akron and excelled. Making 27 starts on his way to an impressive 10-5 record, he’s given the Indians confidence in his ability to compete for a spot at the major league level soon and have some success. He’s also put together a good 2012 Arizona Fall League performance.
W-L ERA Innings K BB
10-5 3.56 149.1 116 50
RHP Preston Guilmet: 70 saves and recording the final out for two championships in four pro seasons is a pretty good resume. He has a funky, over the top delivery that makes up for a fastball that tops out around 90-91, but also plays his great splitter off of that, which is helped by his delivery. Guilmet has no fear and is dependable. Maybe more like a Joe Borowski type closer with slightly better stuff. Certainly a guy who can get pressure packed outs.
W-L ERA Innings K BB SV
2-2 2.39 52.2 51 13 25
RHP Danny Salazar: Salazar had tommy john surgery and missed all of 2010 and some of 2011. He also had elbow problems early in the year at Carolina. He responded by earning a promotion to Akron. He has a plus fastball that can touch 100 and easily sits at 92-95. His delivery has been much more free and effortless since the surgery and showed a potential plus slider at Akron. He got AA hitters out right away in his promotion. Absolutely proved why he’s the Indians top pitching prospect.
W-L Innings K BB
5-2 87.2 76 27
RHP Mason Radeke: Radeke had a very quietly good season for the Captains. He was a reliever early in the year, though sort of piggybacking off of a starter and still piling up innings. Most impressive was his ability increase his innings 70 innings from his first to second pro season. He has a good feel for a slider and changeup and seems like a guy who could continue to develop more as he progresses. A dark horse to become a very solid pitching prospect for the Indians in the future.
W-L ERA Innings K BB 8-7 3.28 115.1 119 26
Indians minor league pitcher of the year:
LHP TJ House: his durability and the ability to put a tough 2011 behind him was extremely impressive. He has continues his stellar year by pitching well in a tough Arizona Fall League circuit. He’s never going to be an ace and his ceiling is probably a number three guy in a rotation. But he’s a left hander who doesn’t have to rely on command to get by. He has enough velocity on his fastball but the Indians feel his slider has the chance to be an out pitch for him, and he has an idea how to pitch and isn’t afraid of contact. If the Indians go with a younger team in 2013, it wouldn’t be a shock to see House make his major league debut at some point next year.
You can read more of Justin’s Indians minor league coverage at LakeCounty-Sentinel.com