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Cleveland Indians'
preseason minor league report
Posted: Fri March 31, 2000 at 3:03 p.m. EST JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- SportsTicker's baseball staff has targeted three rookies that will, might and could make an impact for Cleveland at the major league level in 2000. YOU WILL DEFINITELY SEE: Jacob Cruz (OF) Only a pair of injuries prevented Cruz from contributing to the powerful everyday lineup in Cleveland last season. After an early June callup, Cruz was on the verge of winning a full time spot on the roster by batting .330 in 88 at-bats before he tore ligaments in his thumb. Earlier, a strained ribcage muscle prevented him from making the club out of spring training and delayed his minor league season by two weeks. With Kenny Lofton on the sidelines to start the 2000 season, Cruz will get some valuable playing time early in the season. In 54 games at Triple-A Buffalo, Cruz batted .272 with seven homers and 31 RBI. He hit three more homers and drove home 17 runs in his 32-game stint with the Indians. Cruz, acquired from the Giants in the Jose Mesa deal in 1998, is a "pure" lefthanded hitter with decent power. He's hit for average (.307 in 6 years), has shown a firm grasp of the strike zone and has hit fellow lefthanders better than righthanders the last three years. Cruz seemed to quiet critics' concerns about his lack of over the fence power with 31 homers at Triple-A in 1998, though many were struck in homer-friendly parks in Buffalo and Fresno. He's mostly an opposite field hitter and has such a classic swing that he hits few balls in the air. The second team All-American from Arizona State is considered a fine corner outfielder with a plus arm and playable speed. He has played all three outfield since coming over to the Indians. The 26-year-old was a Double-A Texas League All-Star in 1995 (.297, 33 2B, 13 HR, 77 RBI) and a Triple-A Pacific Coast League All-Star in '97 (.361, 45 2B, 12 HR, 95 RBI, 18 SB), a season in which he hit in 25 straight games, reached base in a minor league-high 54 straight games and batted .409 with runners in scoring position. A 50-50 SHOT: Russell Branyan (3B) The Indians still love the awesome power that Branyan's bat can provide despite his problems last season. If he gets off to a good start, don't be surprised if Cleveland again calls Branyan's number when a need arises. The most prolific home run threat in the minor leagues, Branyan has averaged a home run every 13 at-bats over his minor league career. However, will he become a feared major league slugger or the player who, in two separate slumps last season, went a combined 3-for-103 with 61 strikeouts at Triple-A Buffalo? Only a midseason promotion prevented Branyan from eclipsing the all-time minor league record of 220 strikeouts. He batted just .168 after June 15 and he was further exposed with 19 whiffs in 38 major league at-bats. Branyan still had his bright moments, though. He homered three times in a game twice, 17 times in his first 47 games and in his first Cleveland at-bat. The Warner Robbins, GA native doubled off the "Green Monster" in the Futures Game in Boston and was the International League All-Star Game MVP. The just-turned 24-year-old led the league in HR/AB ratio (1/13.17), and he was third in home runs (30) despite a .211 average and a minor league-high 187 strikeouts -- 11 shy of the all-time league record -- in 395 at-bats. The lefthanded hitter has some serious holes in his swing. He tried to pull too many pitches last season, further complicating his problems. The slugger really struggled in home games at Buffalo, batting just .173 with nine home runs there. He struck out 56 times in 97 at-bats with runners in scoring position and Branyan batted just .124 with 55 whiffs in 97 at-bats when batting cleanup. Ironically, his glove work, which had been the Tribe's biggest concern, has come along nicely. He's has a smooth, fluid motion around the bag and a great arm, improving his glove work each season. His footwork still needs some fine-tuning. The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder was a seventh-round draft pick in 1994. He was the Class-A South Atlantic League MVP in 1996 (.268, 40 HR, 106 RBI) and followed that up with an All-Star season in the Class-A Carolina League (.290, 27 HR, 75 RBI in 83 games), winning the All-Star game MVP as well. THE LONG SHOT: Danys Baez (RHP) In an organization devoid of front-line pitching at the minor league level, the Indians tried to buy an ace this winter when they signed Baez. He wasn't ready to crack the club this spring but he could be summoned some time during the season. The Cuban defector with vast potential chose to sign with the Indians over other clubs because of the Indians immediate need for pitching and their commitment to Latin America pitchers. He received a major league contract worth $14.5 million over four years, believed to be the largest contract ever given to an amateur player. Baez is a power pitcher with a 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and a mid-90s fastball. He throws a good breaking ball but his changeup needs work. Baez is listed at 19 but is probably closer to 22. Baez has a college degree in physics and was the number three starter for his Cuban club. A member of the Pan Am Team that played in Manitoba, the big righthander defected during the games, established residency in Coast Rica and had a try out arranged for all interested parties. He will come to spring training with Cleveland but won't be rushed. Cleveland projects the big righthander to be a starting pitcher for the long term.© 1999 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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