Cleveland Indians Minor League Update: Class A All-Star Games

By Matt Bretz |

Cleveland Indians Minor League Update

Last night there were a couple Minor League All-Star Games played. The first one played was the Midwest League All-Star Game featuring the East vs West All-Stars. This Class A game featured a pair of players from the Lake County Captains. Left-handed pitcher Justus Sheffield and infielder Claudio Bautista played in the game for the East All-Stars. The Lake County coaching and athletic staff were also at the game, which saw the East All-Stars beat the West All-Stars 5-0.

Sheffield is in his first full professional season after being selected 31st overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 2014 MLB Draft. Sheffield has enjoyed a fine season posting a 6-1 record in 13 starts and 61 innings. He’s striking out over 10 batters per nine innings and despite a 4.72 ERA has a 3.11 FIP. He’s also 6th in the Midwest league with 70 strikeouts. Sheffield was the first prep arm the Indians selected in the first round since Adam Miller in 2003 (also selected 31st overall). In the game Sheffield threw a scoreless second inning, while striking out two.

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Claudio Bautista signed as an amateur free agent in 2011 out of the Domincan Republic. The 23 year old infielder is in his fifth season with the Indians and is enjoying a break out season. In his second stint with the Captains he’s hit .302/.350/.473 with 7 HR, 38 RBI, and 39 runs scored. He also has 19 doubles, which ranks 4th in the Midwest League. Bautista came in as a reserve at second base and went 1 for 2.

Notably missing from the game was Captains first baseman Bobby Bradley. Bradley ranks in the top three in the Midwest League in OPS (2nd), SLG (2nd), and HR (T-2nd). He did, however, miss a few weeks due to an early season injury.

The other Class A level had their All-Star game last night, which I talked about last night. Three members of the Lynchburg Hillcats started the game for the Carolina League All-Stars: Bradley Zimmer, Luigi Rodriguez, and Nellie Rodriguez (who got the start at DH). None of the three Indians prospects recorded a hit in the game, though Nellie Rodriguez did walk once in the game that was won 9-2 by the California League All-Stars.

Prior to the game, Nellie Rodriguez participated in the Class A Advanced Home Run Derby. He beat Astros’ prospect A.J. Reed 5 to 4 in the finals to win the derby. Nellie Rodriguez is 2nd in the Carolina league in home runs. In fact, four Hillcats are in the top 9 among home runs in the Carolina League (N. Rodriguez, L. Rodriguez, Zimmer, and Clint Frazier).

The Double-A and Triple-A All-Star Games are still to come. The Akron Rubberducks will look to send players to the Eastern League All-Star Game in Portland, Maine, and the Columbus Clippers will look to send players to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Omaha, Nebraska. Both games are scheduled for July 15th.

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