News from around the Indians' minor-league system. Statistics are through Thursday.

Triple-A Buffalo
STATUS: The Bisons are 15-19 and moved up to fourth place in the International League North Division, 91/2 games behind division-leader Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

WHO'S HOT: Second baseman Josh Barfield is batting .286 (12-for-42) with seven runs scored, five RBI and a home run in his past 10 games. . . . First baseman Michael Aubrey is off to a good start in his first stint at Buffalo, batting .286 (6-for-21) with three runs scored and three RBI. . . . Right-hander Rick Bauer has a 0.73 ERA in 12 games this season and is tied for third in the league with six saves.

WHO'S NOT: Right-fielder Brad Snyder is batting .167 (4-for-24) in his past seven games. . . . Catcher Wyatt Toregas is hitting .238 (5-for-21) in his past six games.

ROSTER MOVES: The Indians designated Jason Michaels for assignment Tuesday when they called up outfielder Ben Francisco. To fill Francisco's spot in Buffalo, the Indians signed free-agent outfielder Bronson Sardinha to a minor-league contract. Sardinha is a former first-round pick (34th overall in 2001) of the New York Yankees, and spent seven seasons in their system before signing with the Seattle Mariners. He batted .323 (10-for-31) with a double, triple and five RBI in eight games with Triple-A Tacoma before coming to Buffalo.

Double-A Akron
STATUS: The Aeros continue to climb in the standings, improving to 15-18 and moving into a tie for third place with the Erie SeaWolves in the Southern Division, five games behind the division-leading Harrisburg Senators.

WHO'S HOT: Catcher Chris Gimenez is batting .417 (5-for-12) in his past five games and .304 (7-for-23) in his past 10 with six runs scored, a home run and three RBI. He has a six-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .368. . . . Left-handed pitcher David Huff has found his form in his past three starts, posting an 0.96 ERA. In his past 182/3 innings, he has limited the opposition to two earned runs on seven hits and five walks. He struck out 19.

WHO'S NOT: First baseman Matt Whitney is hitting .158 (6-for-38) in his past 10 games with one RBI.

ROSTER MOVES: Right-handed pitcher Sung-Wei Tseng was sent down to Class-A Kinston after going 0-0 with an 8.80 ERA in nine games with the Aeros. In his place, right-hander Erik Stiller was called up from Kinston, where he was 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA. In nine games,spanning 191/3 innings, he struck out 27 and walked nine.

High Class-A Kinston
STATUS: The K-Tribe won 7-of-10 games to improve to 13-17 and climb from last place to third in the Carolina League Southern Division, 51/2 games behind division-leading Myrtle Beach.

WHO'S HOT: Second baseman Jared Goedert is batting .317 (13-for-41) with seven runs scored, two home runs and eight RBI in his past 10 games. . . . First baseman Beau Mills is hitting .306 (11-for-36) with seven runs scored, two home runs and eight RBI in his past 10 games.

WHO'S NOT: Right fielder Cirilo Cumberbatch is batting .206 (7-for-34) in his past nine games.

DID YOU KNOW? Shortstop Jared Head is hitting only .174 (8-for-46) in his past 10 games but still has managed to be productive with nine RBI.

Low Class-A Lake County
STATUS: The Captains continue to be the one Indians' minor-league team to find early success, improving to 20-13 and remaining in first place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division.

WHO'S HOT: Catcher Douglas Pickens is batting .385 (5-for-13) in his past five games with two runs scored, three RBI and a home run. . . . Right-handed pitcher Vinnie Pestano has a 0.71 ERA. In 122/3 innings, he has limited the opposition to one earned run on nine hits and four walks, and he has struck out 13 batters. He is tied for second in the league with eight saves.

WHO'S NOT: Right fielder Matthew Brown is batting .154 (4-for-26) in his past eight games. . . . Shortstop Mark Thompson is hitting .105 (2-for-19) in his past eight games. . . . After a hot first month, third baseman Karexon Sanchez has cooled, batting .125 (4-for-32) in his past nine games.
— Stephanie Storm