Just as the other Indians affiliates and the “Big Club” are approaching the middle of their seasons, the action for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, single-A short season affiliate, is just beginning. At this level, you can see many things. Talent ranges from breathtaking to head shaking and everything in between. With that in mind, this is where players start to find their footing in pro ball and where they start to figure out who they are. Everything is on the table, and truly, anything is bound to happen.
The 2015 season for the Scrappers was not perfect (31-43), as far as a win/loss is concerned, but in each game there were flashes and moments of baseball magic. Amazing plays dotted the games that were lost, proving that even in a rough match that there is still something to hold onto. Playing against some hot teams in the New York-Penn league, like Phillies affiliate Williamsport Crosscutters or Pirates affiliate West Virginia Black Bears, was not easy. They still managed to pull out some respectable wins against their division leaders, starting the season off with a 15-7 win against West Virginia, and ending the season with a 7-4 record against Williamsport.
MVP
When Ka’ai Tom walks up to the plate, I tell anyone around me the same thing, “Watch him hit.” With a .292 BA and 28 RBIs on the season, Tom has proven that he knows how to put the ball where he wants it. As a defender, he is quick to make a catch most would not expect. For being a recent draft pick by the Cleveland Indians (5th Round, 2015 draft), his confidence level is high and his game play reflects that in the best way possible. There are things that need some fine tuning, one being his throw to the plate from the OF, but so far he’s on track to being promoted to Lake County in the near future. Ka’ai is the type of player that you will talk about on the ride home from the game, and keep talking about as he climbs up the minor league ladder.
Future Stars
I could not pick just one player who I see as a future star in baseball. Willi Castro, had caught my eye from the beginning of the season. He still has a lot to learn about himself as a professional baseball player, but the thirst to learn and be the best is easily seen. Once he can find the balance between his natural talent and profession skill the potential for going all the way only increases for him. Mark Mathias, Anthony Santander, Juan De La Cruz, and Daniel Salters, all stick out in differently similar ways (If that makes sense?). Their bats are hard to miss, each posting averages of a .280 or higher. Where one has the ability to drive the ball down the line where he wants it, another has the pop to get extra bases and run guys in. The offense this season was the backbone for this team, not perfectly straight at times, but kept things together.
Under Appreciated
Personally, as far as the minor leagues go, I feel like 90% of them are under appreciated, especially at the lower levels. Most people do not even know that a short season single-A team exists, let alone who is on the team. All that aside though, there are a few guys who I feel should be recognized more than they are. Twelfth round draft pick, Ryan Perez, caught the eyes and ears of many, as he was the only switch pitcher in the 2015 class. Since his signing though, the talk has died down quite a bit. Since starting with Mahoning Valley, the young pitcher has only switched arms in a game once and has had a slow start to his professional career. That aside, numbers are not everything and with a 6.20 ERA, giving up 25 hits in 21 games, it takes a keen eye to see past them and find the real potential that lies in his 96 mph fast ball and sharp curve.
Cause for Concern
Kieran Lovegrove has had a rough start getting in the pros. Drafted in 2012 in the third round, his potential was limitless. Since then he has pulled together a 4-18 record, struggling with his command and hip issues, but has proven in spurts that he still has what the Indians picked him to do. Lovegrove has all the passion you could ever want in a player and a personality you would want in a starter. Unfortunately, the baseball years are moving forward without him and I fear he has a shrinking window to make up for lost time. With a surgery on his hip looming in the off season, one can hope that when spring training returns in 2016, he will return as a whole new flame thrower.
Best Bat: Ka’ai Tom
Best Glove: Mark Mathias
Worst Glove: Willi Castro
Best Wheels: Silento Sayles/Gabriel Mejia
Best chance to be an MLB pitcher: Brock Hartson
Best chance to be an MLB hitter: Mark Mathias
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