The last two seasons have been disappointing for the Cleveland Indians and have led to the trades of their two CY Young pitchers (CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee), along with a few other players (Victor Martinez, Casey Blake, Ryan Garko, etc.). These trades have stocked the Indians farm system with a plethora of pitchers (Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Justin Masterson, etc.), catchers (Carlos Santana and Lou Marson), and other position players (like Jason Donald).

Connor Graham

One of those young pitchers the Indians acquired is Connor Graham, who came to Cleveland from Colorado in the deal for reliever Rafael Betancourt. He was a 5^th round pick in 2007 out of Miami (OH) University. The 6’6 righty was immediately sent to Double-A Akron and their playoff push (and eventual winning of the Eastern League title), which was his first time above A ball. In 24 games (23 starts and 118.2 innings) overall in 2009, Graham was 8-7 with a 3.72 ERA, while allowing 5 homeruns, a .239 batting average, and 66 walks to 126 strikeouts. Graham throws in the low to mid 90s with his fastball, which is his best pitch. His slider and fastball project to be plus pitches, though he has some control problems with the slider. He is working on a third pitch and many think that the development of a third pitch will determine if he will project as a starter or reliever.

If Graham can limit his control problems and the walks, he could be a front-line starter. Graham’s stuff makes it hard to get a hit off him and he rarely gives up a homerun. Even though he walks a lot of batters, he effectively limits the damage and does not allow the big inning. In the Arizona Fall League, Graham is 1-1 in 11 outings with a 6.08 ERA. He has walked more batters than he struck out (18 BB/ 16 K) and allowed a .280 batting average. He only allowed 1 homerun. Some think that he should focus on fine tuning his fastball and slider so that he can quickly become a back-end of the bullpen reliever.

Zach Putnam, a 2008 7^th round draft pick, moved quickly since moving to the bullpen. The Big Ten pitcher of the year in 2008 out of Michigan has five pitches but has settled with only regularly using three. A two-way player in college, many felt Putnam could move quickly once he focused full-time on pitching. In his first full season, he reached Double-A Akron. Scouts think he works best off his sinker which would make him useful in the bullpen. Though he started 5 games while in High-A Kinston, he moved to the bullpen full-time once he was promoted to Akron. His numbers there were good: 4-2 with a 4.13 ERA in 33 games (56.2 innings) with 2 saves, 18 BB/ 57 K, and a .261 average. However in the AFL, Putnam started 5 games (12.1 innings) and was 0-1 with an 8.76 ERA. Opponents hit .333 off of him, though he only walked 3, compared to 18 strikeouts. With the instability of the Indians bullpen the past two years, it wouldn’t be crazy to see Putnam pitching out of the Cleveland bullpen in 2010. Putnam’s goal after signing was to be a September callup in 2010. He’s well on his way to reaching that goal.

Josh Judy

The Indians have two other relievers pitching in the AFL that could see time in the big leagues in 2010. Josh Judy started out in High-A Kinston and moved up to Double-A Akron, pitching very well at both levels. Overall in 2009, Judy was 4-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 41 games (54 innings). He accumulated 14 saves, a .201 opponents batting average, and 18 BB/ 70 K. Judy, a 34^th round pick in 2007 out of Indiana Institute of Technology, has carried that momentum into the AFL. As a member of the Peoria Saguaros, he is 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in 11 games (17 innings). Opponents only hit .210 off him with just 8 BB/ 20 K. Carlton Smith, the younger brother of former Indians first round pick Corey Smith, has moved from a starter in 2008 with High-A Kinston to a reliever in Double-A Akron. The 21^st round pick in 2004 out of Okaloosa-Walton College pitched very well in 2009. He was 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 37 games (79.1 innings). Smith had 3 saves to go with an opponent average of .230. Smith was also named to the Eastern League All-Star team. He has struggled though in the AFL. Smith is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 games (14 innings). He has walked 4 and struck out 6, with opponents hitting .333 against him.