Re: Minor Matters

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. – For the second time in as many seasons, Triston McKenzie’s season debut will be delayed because of injury. The Indians announced Tuesday that they expect McKenzie -- the Indians’ top prospect and MLB’s No. 41-ranked prospect overall according to MLB Pipeline -- to miss at least six weeks as he works through a strain in his upper back.

McKenzie will not require surgery at this point. Forearm soreness delayed McKenzie’s 2018 debut until June, but once he got on the mound he showed why he’s so highly regarded. The right-hander posted a 2.68 ERA and struck out 87 (with 28 walks) in 90 2/3 innings over 16 starts with Double-A Akron.

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Our prospects were overwhelmingly position players before last when the draft highlighted arms. Since McKenzie is becoming problematic, our only starting candidates anywhere near the majors are Sam Hentges who will debut in Akron and Aaron Civale who I assume will start the year with Columbus.

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BA highlighted lines from major league spring ganes Thursday

Daniel Johnson, OF, Indians. Johnson made his one hit count on Thursday, smashing a grand slam to right field in the sixth inning. Johnson is now batting .259/.375/.630 this spring.' [Maybe we'll be just as happy in the long run with the trading away of Gomes and we were with the trade getting Gomes [and Mike Avila for Esmil Rogers]. Jefry Rodriguez came with Johnson and if he could just get the ball over the plate more often he could be a help, too]

CLE MAJ Haase, Eric PR-DH 1 1 0 0 .333
CLE MAJ Johnson, Daniel CF-RF 2 1 1 4 .238 HR (1) [hitting 259 above or 238 here?]
CLE MAJ Mercado, Oscar CF 3 0 0 0 .375

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prospects still in camp and in action on Sunday:

CLE MAJ Haase, Eric C 2 0 1 2 .333 2B (2) [can't complain about his spring training results, but I guess he goes back to Columbus anyway]
CLE MAJ Mercado, Oscar PR-LF 1 1 0 0 .378 BB (1) [here's something he can improve upon: that's his first walk in 38 trips to the plate. In regular season play he's been far more patient; walked 13 times in his 32 games with Columbus last summer]

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Well, this sucks.

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Indians Prospective @indiansPro
Terrible news #Indians 21yr old (2B) prospect Richard Palacios has a torn labrum and will need posterior labrum surgery. Palacios is set to undergo surgery this upcoming Monday. A 3rd Round Pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Palacios had a tremendous 1st year

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Palacios was one of the numerous very good looking kids from last year's draft. Sorry to read that. Injuries can ruin a career before it gets underway.

Among those guys released yesterday, a couple of them: Jonas Wyatt and Grant Hockin were very impressive high school pitchers who were sabotaged by injuries.