Down on the Farm Report: Hector Rondon

With the 2009 Cleveland Indians season quickly trickling down the drain, it is time once again to look to the future, because the future is all Tribe fans' got. The current starting rotation at the big league level is pretty weak, so don't be surprised to see Top Prospect Hector Rondon sometime later this summer donning an Indians uniform. Rondon was selected last season to the Futures All Star game at the tender age of 20 and hurled three shutout innings in big league camp this past spring training. The young Venezualan is just 21 years old and has had success at each level in the minors. Rondo sports a plus fastball that hovers in the 92-94 MPH range that can top out at 97. He primarily likes to throw the hard stuff, but also mixes in an improving slider with a curveball and changeup that he is trying to improve upon. Hector recently had some arm issues, but they have seemed to be nothing major.

Right-handed Hector Rondon has successfully returned from right bicep tendinitis, returning to action this past Sunday to go four shutout innings. When Rondon left his start early about two weeks ago there was a lot of concern up and down the Indians' organization for their prized right-hander, but thankfully the injury was not serious and he essentially missed one start and did not even have to go on the disabled list. As a precautionary measure, his pitch count was limited on Sunday, which is why he only went four innings. Indiansprospectinsider.com

That must have been a big sigh of relief to the organization as there really is a lack of top quality arms anywhere close to making the majors by 2010. Rondon is a lanky 6'3, 160 lbs, so he has plenty of room to fill out his slim frame. He is currently 6-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 60 1/3 innings. Those stats may be a bit inflated due to his brief stint in the bullpen. With the Big League Tribe's bullpen in shambles back in May (and even worse now), the Indians brass looked to Rondon as a potential impact arm to help this season. The experiment did not work out well. Here is more from indiansprospectinsider.com from Ross Atkins about why Hector was returned to starting duty...

On Hector Rondon: "When we considered him as a bullpen option and talked about who the best arms are in the system who could help the major league team now, he was the clear choice. I think what we did was exhaust the process in thinking about is this best for the organization, and while we were considering that he was a viable candidate and a more immediate candidate having thrown out of a bullpen in a professional setting. It was two outings, and he pitched well and threw well and was better than his lined indicated. As we took time to further consider that while moving him and pitching him in the bullpen we also considered what it meant long term for him and what it meant long term for our organization and ultimately decided that Hector can help us in either role, be it starting or in relief as he continues to [work out of the starting rotation]. I think we are looking at it now from a more global perspective. By no means is he not a bullpen option. I think what he is now is just an option as a major league pitcher. Hector will continue his development, and we could see him at some point this year or next year, it is difficult to say. He has handled it exceptionally well, which was one of the reasons that we decided to try it because we knew he would be able to handle it and it wouldn't affect him negatively."

Or they realized that this guy may need to be in the rotation by season's end. Rondon apparently did not do too well warming up so quickly out in the pen, due to his regimen having to change from transforming into a reliever from his regular starting duties. His velocity was not as good and his control was erratic. One of the outings he came in with runners on, forcing the Aero to pitch immediately from the stretch. The Tribe went ahead and fast-tracked last years 6th round pick Zach Putnam to the bullpen (which has had mixed results) and promptly returned Rondon to beginning games from the mound.

His 61 strikeouts over 60 1/3 innings stands out, as well as him only walking 13 batters. Currently on a strict pitch count, Rondon threw 4 plus shutout innings Sunday to lead Akron to another win. With clearly being the ace of the staff, I imagine that this 21 year old phenom will be promoted to Columbus as soon as the Indians management feels he is ready to be extended to his maximum throwing potential. If he mows'em down in Clipperville, look for Hector Rondon to be added to the rotation to see if he is a viable option for 2010.

Let's Blow this thing up

12 runs in an inning before even registering an out with a Boston lineup consisting of Rocco Baldelli, Jeff Bailey, Nick Green and George Kottaras is pathetic. Jeremy Sowers is a jobber and better be on a short leash as I would rather see David Huff get a shot as we pretty all much know what we have in Sowers. The bullpen is a disaster. Masa Kobayashi is down right embarrassing and should be cut today. Why is it so hard to find pitcher to pitch one inning? The organization has done a terrible job home growing their own relievers, deciding rather to turn every good arm into a starter. Teams like Red Sox and Angels seem to always have internal options to go to in their minors for relief work. The Tribe would rather go with journeyman stiffs like Vinnie Chulk and Matt Herges. I have no idea what they should do to make the situation tolerable in the late innings. They are making the decision now to turn starters in AA and A ball into relievers (Herrmann in Columbus, Putnam in Akron), but it probably is too late for 2009. The bullpen of agony has done some good deeds for their team mates, masking the hitting struggles of Mark DeRosa, Jhonny Peralta, and Grady Sizemore. The trio has performed well below expectations and need to right their respective ships quickly or the season will be officially lost for good. Our Indian summer may be ruined. I guess it can't get any worse.

Down on the Farm Report: Zach Putnam

With all of the transactions concerning the bullpen being made at the Major League level yesterday, an interesting move was made in Akron. As reported at Indians Prospect Insider, 2008 5th round pick Zach Putnam was called up from Kinston to pitch in the Aeros bullpen. He was previously starting for the Little Indians, going 2-0 with a 4.13 ERA in 24 innings where he struck out 23 batters while only walking 5. The University of Michigan Wolverine is on the fast track to the bigs as he tops his fastball out at 96 MPH, along with a slider and a solid splitter that can be used as a changeup.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound Putnam became the first in conference history to earn two spots on the All-Big Ten team, earning recognition as a pitcher and designated hitter his last two seasons in college. He was also Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, going 9-0 in 12 starts with a 2.58 ERA in his junior year. Over three seasons, he was 23-7 in 36 starts with a 3.12 ERA. He was also a tremendous hitter in college as well. Putnam hit .307 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs in 55 games. He was a career .307 hitter with 19 home runs and 114 RBIs in 132 games.
He helped Michigan win the Big Ten title in each of his three seasons and play in the NCAA Tournament each year. Maybe they could use him to pinch hit for Peralta!

In 2008, Putnam threw 9 2/3 innings in Mahoning Valley, striking out 8 while posting a 3.72 ERA. It shows how much the right hander is progressing to totally skip Lake County and only spend a month in Kinston. It will be interesting to see where his maturation goes as Double A will definitely be a test. With really no hope in Columbus right now in the pen, Putnam may be on the fast track to Cleveland sometime in 2009 after only one year out of college.