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KSU Notes – February 9
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Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
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Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
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Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
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Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
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Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
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Track HR Research
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Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:00 p.m. EDT, Aug 30, 2009
Alex White isn't used to being on the sidelines.
He's not used to watching a baseball game unfold without being right in the middle of the action.
Then again, it's the beginning of a lot of different experiences now that White, the Indians No. 1 draft pick (15th overall) in June, has begun his immersion into professional baseball.
Well, sort of.
Since the right-handed pitcher tossed 107 innings in 16 starts as a junior at the University of North Carolina, and then didn't sign with the Tribe until two minutes before the Aug. 15 deadline, it was deemed too late to join even a short-season squad.
So the Indians brass went with Plan B and told the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder to just hang out with the Double-A Aeros while he works to get his arm back in shape.
''It's an acclimation to pro ball while he's working out under our structured program,'' said Indians farm director Ross Atkins. ''It's a process in which we're getting to know him and he's getting to know us.''
So White spends his days throwing on the side in the Aeros' bullpen under the tutelage of Aeros pitching coach Ruben Niebla and his evenings dressed in an Akron uniform watching the game from the dugout.
''[Akron] is a very positive environment,'' Atkins said. ''The fact that the Aeros are going to the playoffs and are one of the better teams in [minor league] baseball right now with a lot of young prospects that [White] could be playing with for a long time, we felt it was the most appropriate orientation of pro ball for him.''
White will have a front-row seat as the Aeros venture into the Eastern League playoffs in a little over a week.
''This is a great group of guys,'' said White, who will remain with the Aeros until the beginning of Instructional League Sept. 16 in Goodyear, Ariz. ''This has been fun, and quite a learning experience.''
One that came within minutes of not happening, as White juggled phone calls between his agent Keith Grunewald and the Indians brass — specifically Chris Antonetti, the Indians' assistant general manager.
''The biggest thing was finding some middle ground on the money,'' said White, who ultimately signed for a $2.25 million bonus as the Indians surpassed Major League's Baseball's estimated slotting price for the 15th pick ($1.55 million). ''We got to where we wanted to be and I think they feel comfortable with what they gave me.''
Of course, it helped White to know he had another option if negotiations feel through.
''The University of North Carolina is a great school,'' said White, who just turned 21 Saturday. ''And being able to go back for a another year with that kind of education was a big factor. I would have had no regrets if I had to go back.''
Another potential stumbling block (although White insists it isn't) is the fact that Indians Scouting Director Brad Grant said right after signing White that the Tribe would quickly convert him into a reliever.
''I'll do whatever they want me to do,'' White said with a shrug of his shoulders. ''But I've always been a starter, and that's where I'm most comfortable. They haven't told me outright yet what they want me to do, and right now I'm working to be a starter and then we'll work backwards from there.''
Roster moves
The Aeros welcomed a familiar face in the bullpen Saturday, as right-hander Brian Grening rejoined the team from low Class-A Lake County. Grening, who owns the distinction of having pitched at four levels of the Indians' minor-league system this season, made two scoreless appearances for the Aeros in June. Grening was the Tribe's 38th-round pick in the 2008 draft out of Cal Poly. He takes the roster spot of right-handed pitcher Josh Tomlin, who was placed on the disabled list Saturday (retroactive to Friday) with a left calf strain.
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians and Aeros blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
Alex White isn't used to being on the sidelines.
He's not used to watching a baseball game unfold without being right in the middle of the action.
Then again, it's the beginning of a lot of different experiences now that White, the Indians No. 1 draft pick (15th overall) in June, has begun his immersion into professional baseball.
Well, sort of.
Since the right-handed pitcher tossed 107 innings in 16 starts as a junior at the University of North Carolina, and then didn't sign with the Tribe until two minutes before the Aug. 15 deadline, it was deemed too late to join even a short-season squad.
So the Indians brass went with Plan B and told the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder to just hang out with the Double-A Aeros while he works to get his arm back in shape.
''It's an acclimation to pro ball while he's working out under our structured program,'' said Indians farm director Ross Atkins. ''It's a process in which we're getting to know him and he's getting to know us.''
So White spends his days throwing on the side in the Aeros' bullpen under the tutelage of Aeros pitching coach Ruben Niebla and his evenings dressed in an Akron uniform watching the game from the dugout.
''[Akron] is a very positive environment,'' Atkins said. ''The fact that the Aeros are going to the playoffs and are one of the better teams in [minor league] baseball right now with a lot of young prospects that [White] could be playing with for a long time, we felt it was the most appropriate orientation of pro ball for him.''
White will have a front-row seat as the Aeros venture into the Eastern League playoffs in a little over a week.
''This is a great group of guys,'' said White, who will remain with the Aeros until the beginning of Instructional League Sept. 16 in Goodyear, Ariz. ''This has been fun, and quite a learning experience.''
One that came within minutes of not happening, as White juggled phone calls between his agent Keith Grunewald and the Indians brass — specifically Chris Antonetti, the Indians' assistant general manager.
''The biggest thing was finding some middle ground on the money,'' said White, who ultimately signed for a $2.25 million bonus as the Indians surpassed Major League's Baseball's estimated slotting price for the 15th pick ($1.55 million). ''We got to where we wanted to be and I think they feel comfortable with what they gave me.''
Of course, it helped White to know he had another option if negotiations feel through.
''The University of North Carolina is a great school,'' said White, who just turned 21 Saturday. ''And being able to go back for a another year with that kind of education was a big factor. I would have had no regrets if I had to go back.''
Another potential stumbling block (although White insists it isn't) is the fact that Indians Scouting Director Brad Grant said right after signing White that the Tribe would quickly convert him into a reliever.
''I'll do whatever they want me to do,'' White said with a shrug of his shoulders. ''But I've always been a starter, and that's where I'm most comfortable. They haven't told me outright yet what they want me to do, and right now I'm working to be a starter and then we'll work backwards from there.''
Roster moves
The Aeros welcomed a familiar face in the bullpen Saturday, as right-hander Brian Grening rejoined the team from low Class-A Lake County. Grening, who owns the distinction of having pitched at four levels of the Indians' minor-league system this season, made two scoreless appearances for the Aeros in June. Grening was the Tribe's 38th-round pick in the 2008 draft out of Cal Poly. He takes the roster spot of right-handed pitcher Josh Tomlin, who was placed on the disabled list Saturday (retroactive to Friday) with a left calf strain.
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians and Aeros blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
Comments
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north canton, oh
Posted 10:59 PM, 08/30/2009
The aeros organization is a complete joke. I wish agannis would sell the team. I dont go to games anymore.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:33 AM, 08/31/2009
The indian way - rule #1 get somewhat good and in a contract year - that way you will be traded immediatley.
Cleveland, OH
Posted 11:24 AM, 09/02/2009
wahooguy,
I'm assuming that is a joke?
