Indians prospect Lonnie Chisenhall has the type of swing that evaluators and coaches don't need to see to believe in.
View full sizeIndians third-base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall gets a few words of wisdom from former major-league infielder and manager Johnny Goryl during a pre-game workout for the Akron Aeros in July. Chisenhall is considered the Indians' best young hitting prospect, now that Carlos Santana is now with the big-league team.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Class AA Akron third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall is far from the biggest, fastest or strongest player in a minor-league infield. But he has the type of swing that evaluators and coaches don't need to see to believe in. They can close the eyes, listen to the thwack, and know.
"The kid can hit," said one National League scout who covers the Eastern League. "I'm not sure where the kid will end up in the field, but he can hit."
The scout spoke as Chisenhall took batting practice before a recent game against Trenton at Canal Park. Chisenhall ripped liners in all directions, seemingly with ease.
Another NL scout on site that night said: "That's a good-looking left-handed swing. How much power he's going to have, I don't know -- but he's going to hit."
Chisenhall's ability to get the bat through the zone cleanly and "square the baseball" is what makes him one of the top position-player prospects in baseball. He entered the season ranked No. 26 on renowned evaluator Keith Law's Top 100. The only member of the Indians' system ahead of him was catcher Carlos Santana, at No. 3. Santana debuted with the Indians in June and, barring injury or the unforeseen, has put the minors in his rear-view mirror.
Chisenhall participated in last week's MLB XM All-Star Futures Game in Anaheim, Calif. He entered the game in the top of the sixth inning as a defensive replacement and finished 0-for-1 with a walk and an RBI grounder. He was the 14th Aero selected in the 12-year history of the event.
"I'm not a big fan of the talent in Cleveland's system, but I like Chisenhall," a third scout said. "Now that Santana is up, I put Chisenhall at the top of their list of hitters."
Lonnie Chisenhall has yet to hit .300 for a season in the minors, but scouts agree he has all the tools to be successful at the plate.THE CHISENHALL FILE
Uniform number: 8
Position: Infielder, Akron Aeros
Ht./wt.: 6-2/190
Bats/throws: Left / Right
Born: Oct. 4, 1988
Hometown: Newport, NC
Career notes: Chisenhall was a first-round (29th overall) selection by the Indians in the June 2008 draft and is the youngest player on the 2010 Aeros. He spent the majority of his first professional season with Class A Kinston before earning an August promotion and batted .467 (14-30) in seven playoff games to help the Aeros capture the 2009 Eastern League Championship. He participated in the 2010 MLB XM All-Star Futures Game and this year’s Eastern League All-Star Game.
— Dennis Manoloff
That's even though Chisenhall, projected to be the Indians' third baseman of the future, entered the season as a .269 hitter in 191 minor-league games and was batting .267 in 66 games with the Aeros this season through Wednesday.
Being a left-handed hitter, age 21 in the Eastern League and a former first-round pick serve as gloss. The Indians selected Chisenhall 29th overall in 2008 out of Pitt (N.C.) Junior College.
"The tools are there," the scout said. "If he keeps working at the game, the average will be where it needs to be."
Putting in the time should not be a problem. Chisenhall grew up in a household that loved baseball. He credits at least some of his seamless swing mechanics to endless hours of whiffle ball.
"If we weren't playing baseball or watching it, we probably were sleeping," he said.
Among the lessons Chisenhall learned from the elders was to stay calm when struggles come -- and in baseball, they most certainly will come. Even the great ones endure rough stretches. Chisenhall's even-keel approach paid off during an extremely slow start to this season.
"It's a long year, and I'm normally a slow starter, for whatever reason," he said. "If I go 0-for-4 in a 520 at-bat season, I've got time to make up for it. The key is to understand why you go 0-for-4."
To that end, Chisenhall views his seasons in 10 at-bat blocks. He logs the results, making sure to note when he made solid contact and where the ball traveled.
"Everybody wants to hit .300/25/100," he said, "but if that's all you're trying to do all season, you're not focusing on what you really need to do each day. If seven out of every 10 at-bats are solid contacts, or quality at-bats, then I'm pretty sure everything will take care of itself by the end of the year."
Chisenhall has an excuse for the April/May difficulties, but refuses to use it. A shoulder strain eventually forced him out of the lineup. He missed several weeks for rest and rehab; he said it feels fine now.
"The injury affected him," Indians farm director Ross Atkins said. "It affected his rhythm and ability to consistently perform. Lonnie's been solid so far, and we expect his second half to be even better based on where he is developmentally from the fundamental and physical standpoint."
A healed shoulder means the 6-1, 200-pound Chisenhall can resume hitting with power. Last year, he had 18 homers, 26 doubles and two triples in 99 games at advanced-Class A Kinston and added four long balls in 24 games at Akron. Through Wednesday, he had eight homers, 12 doubles and one triple for the Aeros.
Asked how much developing power he might have, Chisenhall said: "I can't worry about labels. I'm more concerned with RBI and average with runners in scoring position than I am with homers."
Third base is relatively new to Chisenhall. He began playing there in the fall of 2008.
"Learning how to play the position is difficult for anybody, I would think -- especially at this level," he said. "I embrace the challenge. I know I can't just go out one day and have it click. It's going to take time, and there will be mistakes. But the mistakes I'm making can be corrected easily."