Guardians Baseball Insider

Minor League Baseball has returned for the first time since 2019, and underwent several structural changes to give it a new format across all levels. The Columbus Clippers, now members of the Triple-A East Midwest Division, began the 2021 season on the road against division-rival Louisville, the affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Constructed with a roster featuring Indians Baseball Insider’s No. 2 prospect Nolan Jones, No. 12 shortstop Gabriel Arias — who came over from San Diego in the Mike Clevinger deal at the Trade Deadline last season — and several intriguing pitchers, Columbus trailed for just 15 innings all week en route to four wins over the Bats. Rain postponed the series finale on Sunday, however, which will give the Clippers two days off before their home-opener on Tuesday for their first game at Huntington Park since Sept. 11, 2019.

Week in Review

5/4: W 6-3 at Louisville W: McCarty (1-0); L: Shipley (0-1); S: Parker (1)
5/5: W 2-1 at Louisville W: Siri (1-0); L: Warren (0-1); S: Johnson (1)
5/6: L 9-0 at Louisville W: Gutierrez (1-0); L: Allen (0-1)
5/7: W 10-0 at Louisville W: Siri (2-0); L: O’Brien (0-1)
5/8: W 6-3 at Louisville W: Dowdy (1-0); L: De Leon (0-1); S: Parker (2)
5/9: Postponed

Player of the Week

INF Owen Miller: 9-20, 4 RBI, .500 OBP

Also acquired at the Deadline last season, Miller made his Triple-A debut after playing 130 games at Double-A Amarillo in 2019. Miller hit a 2-run single in his first at-bat of the season, and carried a hot bat with him as he started at designated hitter and all spots in the infield aside from shortstop. The right-handed bat leads the Clippers with a .450 batting average, and finished his week with five hits in his last two games, including a 3-run double on Saturday.

Who’s Hot

INF Ernie Clement: 6-21, 4 2Bs

Clement had his first taste of Triple-A baseball late in the 2019 season, but should receive regular playing time this season. The former fourth-round pick out of Virginia found the gaps often last week behind a team-leading four doubles, capping his week on a 3-game hitting streak. Clement saw time in the middle infield and made a throwing error at shortstop Thursday, but his versatility was further on display with a start in left field Saturday.

LHP Scott Moss: 4 IP, 4 Ks, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R

Moss may not have been the starter who pitched deepest, but he was closest to untouchable. The left-hander, who had four starts at the Triple-A level prior to this season, quickly acclimated himself by retiring the first seven Bats. After a leadoff double to Dwight Smith Jr. in the bottom of the fourth, Moss rebounded with three-consecutive strikeouts to finish the inning. Perhaps Moss would’ve gone further if not for his offense having scored six runs in the top of the fifth inning, prompting the former Florida Gator to finish his workout in the bullpen as Clippers manager Andy Tracy turned the ball to right-hander Dalbert Siri.

Who’s Not

INF Nolan Jones: 2-20, 11 Ks

It’s plenty early and last week marked Jones’ first game action at the Triple-A level, but the adjustment wasn’t quite there yet. Jones began the season with strikeouts in his first five at-bats and committed an error at third base Saturday. He did knock in the go-ahead run on a double in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 2-1 win, but it was the first of just two hits in the week.

LHP Logan Allen: 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 K

Allen didn’t make it out of his second inning of the season as Louisville roughed him up for six hits in a 7-run frame. He was rather sharp working through his first inning on eight pitches, but the train derailed as he also walked a pair. Allen didn’t struggled to find strikes as 25 of his 39 pitches were in the zone, but opposing hitters made sure to take advantage of anything left over the plate.

Transactions

5/4/ – RHP Jordan Stephens placed in 7-day IL
5/5 – C Rene Rivera contract purchased by Cleveland
5/6 – C Angel Lopez assigned to Columbus
5/7 – RHP Justin Garza assigned from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus

Coming Up

5/11 – HOME vs. Omaha 6:15
5/12 – HOME vs. Omaha 6:15
5/13 – HOME vs. Omaha 12:05
5/14 – HOME vs. Omaha 7:05
5/15 – HOME vs. Omaha 7:05
5/16 – HOME vs. Omaha 2:05