NBA Rookie Hazing: Cavalier Style
July 10, 2009While We’re Waiting – backup QBs, players to watch, and humor
July 11, 2009It’s a happy day in Tribe land – at least thus far. Not only are the Indians coming off of a win where the bats were working and the bullpen actually came through, but their latest signing likely has the front office in a decent mood as well.
Second-round pick Jason Kipnis, an outfielder from Arizona Sate, has agreed to terms with the team. This is a pretty big deal for a few reasons. One, the kid is pretty darn talented. He recorded a batting average of .384 with an on-base percentage of .497 thanks to 51 walks and only 32 strikeouts as a Junior with the Sun Devils.
Already a midwesterner (from Illinois), Kipnis was Pac 10 Player of the Year and was a first-teamer in back-to-back seasons. Baseball America ranked him as a to 60 prospect thanks to his ability to hit for power (16 HRs last year) as well as speed (four triples, 24-for-28 on stolen base attempts in 2008).
But another reason why this is pretty solid is that this is the second time that Kipnis was drafted. He was on the Tribe’s radar last year, but was selected in the fourth-round by the San Diego Padres.
When he was drafted last year, Paul DePodesta – former assistant to John Hart in the late 1990s – had these thoughts:
Jason has played both CF and LF for ASU, though he has become the primary CF as the season has continued. He is a left-handed hitter who hits at the top of their lineup and has had a monster year, hitting .363 with a .484 obp and .677 slg. He’s a pesky player who is a very tough out, hitting the ball to all fields and running the bases aggressively (24 bases so far this year). Over the summer last year, Jason hit .318 with a .505 obp and a .591 slg while stealing 24 bases. Despite a limited projection in terms of physical size, he plays very hard and is surprisingly strong – 13 homers this year and 9 over the summer.
Kipnis weighed his options, but decided to come back for another year. In a recent interview, he had the following to say regarding his decision:
Looking at it, it was a better position and a better situation for me. Financially is one of the reasons you have to look at. But as a person and a player, I could use another year of college under Murph. I’m glad I made that decision. […]
I think what it all comes back to is guys can look back at how much progress they made in only one year. You really start to learn the game and what it’s about.
Whatever he learned, the team loves it. Brad Grant has touted his plate discipline (the same thing that had the team enamored with Michael Brantley) and hustle. Going forward, the team sees Kipnis as an everyday centerfielder with the ability to play the corners when needed.
With all of this said, the Indians have now inked 19 of their top 20 draft picks from 2009. The one player who remains unsigned to this point is top pick Alex White.
As we mentioned not all that long ago, White may be looking for more money than the Indians were hoping to pay. Negotiations reportedly started about a month ago, and the player taken two spots after White (AJ Pollack) has already signed for $1.44 million.
Last season’s first-round selection Lonnie Chisenhall signed for $1.1 million.
7 Comments
I’m sure our minor league instructional system will ruin him soon enough.
Ha. Like they’ll try to turn him into a third baseman or something?
They’re actually planning on turning him in to a 2nd baseman as I understand it Scott
Oh wow. I was just joking. Thats fabulous…
Grooming him for CF after the Sizemore trade.
The next Trevor Crowe or Brad Snyder?
Thanks Shapiro/Antonetti. (Shapetti)
My issue of the day with the Indians at this moment is with their scouting department:
How can so many great pitchers come out of Ohio and the Indians don’t seem to go for them.
Off the top of my head I can name three that if they were on the Indians right now we’d be marketably better at least.
Chad Billingsley – Defiance, OH: 24th pick in the 2003 draft 1st round … our pick Michael Aubrey w/ pick 11
Derek Holland – Newark, OH: 25th round
and what made me realize this topic
Jonathan Sanchez – Ohio Dominican 24th pick in the 2004 draft 1st round … our pick Jeremy Sowers (ugh) at 6
… I know finding players in the draft isn’t easy but when you continue to wiff and wiff and wiff on players you kill the team from even having a shot to compete