Jake Westbrook (24) has compiled a fine 7-1 record at Buffalo with a 2.81 ERA, and has seen some action with the big club during the year. He performed well out of the bullpen and in his first couple of starts for Cleveland, but ran into trouble after that and was returned to Buffalo. Jake's big pitch is a sinking fastball, and when he keeps the ball down he can be very effective. Ryan Drese (25) has more than adequate velocity and has a strong presence on the mound. Drese has not pitched a lot before this year due to injuries, but his stock shot up dramatically after a strong spring training performance. He recently made his big league debut during a brief call up to Cleveland and pitched very well. Drese is 4-1 with a 4.85 ERA at Buffalo this year. He is a very strong candidate for a slot in the Indians 2002 rotation. Tim Drew (23), the Indians 1st pick in the 1997 draft, also was impressive in Spring Training and is 6-4 with a 3.81 ERA at Buffalo this year. Drew also has seen some action in Cleveland during the year with less than impressive results. Drew reported to camp this year bigger and stronger with more zip on his fastball. He will also compete for a position on the Indians 2002 staff. Jamie Brown (24) has suffered from a myriad of back and arm miseries and will miss the entire 2001 season. He has some ability, but his health may derail his career. Kyle Denney (24) put up unbelievable numbers at Kinston this year, going 5-3 with a 2.05 ERA, striking out 80 and allowing only 32 hits in 57 innings. Alas, he went down with an arm injury and is out for the year. He also is a little old for Hi-A ball, so we'll have to see how he does at higher levels. Kyle Evans (22) could only get in 30 innings this year before arm surgery. He's highly regarded by the Indians, so let's hope he recovers fully and quickly. Wilson Sido (25) has gotten better as the year has progressed at Kinston. He's now 7-2 with a 2.68 ERA, and has strong strikeout per inning and hits allowed per inning ratios. At Columbus Fernando Cabrera (19) has been brilliant considering his age. He's definitely a prospect. Jason Davis (22), a draft-and-follow signing from the 1999 draft, is 12-5 and has been eating up innings with the Red Stixx. Davis is a power arm who could progress quickly in the next couple of years. The Indians signed Ryan Prahm (22) in 2000 as an undrafted free agent and he is cruising along 3-1 with a 1.37 ERA at Columbus to land on the radar screen. Carlos De La Cruz (19), out of our Dominican program, has been sharp in 4 starts since the Indians promoted him to Columbus. De La Cruz is 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA in 4 starts. Devin Rogers (23) is struggling mostly because of control, issuing almost as many walks as strikeouts.

On to Short-Season-A Mahoning Valley. Nick Moran (21) is making his debut after the Indians selected him in the 4th round in this year's draft. He is holding his own and we'll be able to more fairly evaluate him next year. Dan Denham (18), J D Martin (18), Jake Dittler (18) and Travis Foley (18) are all at Burlington and enjoying early success, especially Martin. Martin is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA, and in 31.2 innings has struck out 46 while allowing only 6 walks and 14 hits. In one of his games he pitched 5 innings and struck out 14, allowing no hits and no walks. Martin has vaulted onto Baseball America's hot prospect list at number 8. Denham has a 2.00 ERA in 18 innings but has struggled a little with control, with 15 walks. Foley has struck out 39 in 30.1 innings, allowing only 9 walks. He's pretty raw but the Indians feel he might be a steal considering where he was drafted. He has a ton of upside. Dittler signed late and has not pitched much yet, but his ability is comparable to the other 3.

The Indians were already deep in pitching and this draft made them even deeper, even without signing Alan Horne. Westbrook, Drese and Drew are candidates for the parent club in 2002. I like Drese best out of that group because he has better pure stuff and is extremely confident. The kids at Burlington, Denham, Martin, Dittler and Foley all are significant prospects. Foley might be the sleeper in the group, he's raw, but if he can master some other pitches to go along with his fastball he could really explode. Moran has been solid at Mahoning Valley since signing. De La Cruz, Cabrera, and Davis all have potential to advance rapidly. Prahm has also been excellent at Columbus, he could turn out to be a great free agent signing. Kyle Evans might still be heard from if he can overcome his arm woes, and Wilson Sido has been nearly unhittable lately at Kinston. Kyle Denney posted unbelievable numbers but has his skeptics and the injury, along with his age make him a long shot.