Wolters among five Indians prospects headed to Arizona Fall League
The Indians have selected INF/C Tony Wolters, OF Jordan Smith and pitchers Dylan Baker, Nick Maronde and Louis Head to participate in the Arizona Fall League. They will be on the Peoria Javelinas, which also features players from the farm systems of the Royals, Braves, Cardinals and Rays.
Four of the five players in the Indians' system have spent time in Double-A Akron this season.
Wolters, who has spent the entire season with the RubberDucks, is batting .249 with 18 extra-base hits, including a home run, 34 RBI and 36 runs scored. Drafted in the third round in 2010, Wolters transitioned to catcher last year and has caught 47 percent of would-be base stealers (25 of 53). Wolters was in the AFL last year and batted .178 in 14 games.
Smith, who was selected in the ninth round in 2011, has also spent the entire season in Akron, where he is batting .247 with 28 extra-base hits, including two home runs, 47 RBI and 47 runs scored.
Baker has missed most of the year after fracturing his left fibula early in the season. Around three rehab starts for the AZL Indians, the right-hander has gone 3-2 with a 4.66 ERA in eight starts for the Single-A Carolina. Originally a fifth-round selection in 2012, Baker was fourth in strikeouts in the Midwest League (117) for Carolina last year.
Maronde was acquired by the Indians on July 12 from the Angels. Since joining the Indians, the left-hander has appeared in three games for Mahoning Valley and one for Akron. Maronde has appeared in 33 Major League games for the Angels over the last three seasons, compiling no record with a 7.13 ERA in 33 relief outings.
Head, who was selected in the 18th round in 2012, has split time between Carolina and Akron, where he has gone a combined 1-4 with 12 saves and a 2.85 ERA in 44 relief appearances. The right-hander has converted all three save opportunities with the RubberDucks, and is currently riding an 11 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings streak over his last seven outings. A native of Houston, Texas, Head was originally drafted by the Tribe in the 18th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
Akron manager Dave Wallace and Carolina's trainer Bobby Ruiz will represent the Indians Player Development staff. The Indians will have one more pitcher and one additional position player added to the AFL roster.
