23-year old lefty swinging 3B Lonnie Chisenhall was one of the Indians’ last cuts this spring as they are going with Jack Hannahan as the starting 3B…..for now.  Chisenhall has played in 12 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 18 for 50 (.360 avg, 1.085 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 4 homers and 8 RBIs.  He got his first taste of the majors last year with the Indians when he played in 66 games in which he was 54 of 212 (.255 avg, .699 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 7 homers, 22 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  If Chisenhall keeps raking, he’s going to get another shot with the Indians in 2012, sooner rather than later.

The Indians have six rookies (four pitchers) that could be ready to help them at some point in 2012.  Here is a look at them:

Nick Hagadone:  26-year old lefty reliever Nick Hagadone comes into this season as the Indians’ #3 prospect according to Baseball America.  Hagadone pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP.  He also pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 6-4 with 4 saves, a 2.79 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.  Hagadone has now pitched in 105 games (47 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 10-14 with 5 saves, a 2.86 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.  Hagadone is behind lefties Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp, but the Tribe could decide at some point to have three lefty relievers in the pen.

Chen Lee:  25-year old righty reliever Chen Lee comes into this season as the Indians’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America.  Lee pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 6-1 with 1 save, a 2.40 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Lee has now pitched in 133 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the minors for the Tribe and he is 15-11 with 3 saves, a 3.01 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP.  If  the need arises for the righty in the pen, the Indians might just give Lee his first shot at the show in 2012.

Zach McAllister:  24-year old righty starting pitcher Zach McAllister comes into this season as the Indians’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America.  McAllister pitched in 4 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP.  He also pitched in 25 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 12-3 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.  McAllister has now pitched in 126 games (114 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 51-37 with 1 save, a 3.47 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.  McAllister could get back to Cleveland if the need arises for a starting pitcher at some point in 2012.

Scott Barnes:  25-year old lefty starting pitcher Scott Barnes comes into this season as the Tribe’s #9 prospect according to Baseball America.  Barnes pitched in 18 games (17 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 8-4 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 82 games (77 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 31-23 with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  The Indians are an all righty starting rotation in 2012, so Barnes could get a look at some point in 2012.

Cord Phelps:  25-year old switch-hitting infielder Cord Phelps comes into this season as the Indians’ #15 prospect according to Baseball America.  Phelps played in 35 games for the Indians last year and he was 11 of 71 (.155 avg, .494 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  Phelps also played in 97 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 111 of 378 (.294 avg, .868 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 14 homers, 63 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  Phelps has now played in 382 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 416 of 1,443 (.288 avg, .810 OPS) with 213 runs scored, 28 homers, 192 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.  The Indians could give Phelps another chance at the show in 2012 as long as he earns it by playing well in AAA-ball first.

Russ Canzler:  25-year old righty swinging 1B/3B/OF Russ Canzler could get a shot with the Indians this year.  He played in 3 games for the Rays last year and he was 1 for 3 (.333 avg, .733 OPS) with 1 RBI.  He also played in 131 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 149 of 474 (.314 avg, .930 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 18 homers, 83 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  Canzler has now played in 738 games in his first 8 years in the minors and he is 698 of 2,490 (.280 avg, .820 OPS) with 377 runs scored, 84 homers, 405 RBIs and 41 stolen bases.  I think Canzler will be playing for the Indians at some point in 2012.

24-year old righty reliever Preston Guilmet did not come into this season as a highly thought of prospect with the Indians.  That is likely to change in 2012.  Guilmet has pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in A-ball so far this year and he is 1-1 with 30 saves, a 1.82 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.  He has only given up 37 hits and walked 9 batters in 49 1/3 innings this year while also whiffing 50 batters.  Those are impressive numbers.  He has now pitched in 89 games (15 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 11-8 with 41 saves, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.

28-year old righty reliever/starter Justin Germano has been released by the Indians so that he could sign with the Samsung Lions of Korea.  Germano pitched in 9 games (0 starts) earlier this year for the Indians and he was 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.  He pitched in 32 games (1 start) in parts of two years with the Indians and he was 0-4 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.  Germano was likely going to get called up when rosters expand on September 1st….so he must have really wanted to pitch in Korea.

The Indians have signed 28-year old switch-hitting infielder Argenis Reyes to a  minor league contract and he has been sent to AAA.  Reyes played in 63 games in Independent and AAA-ball last year and he was 65 for 225 (.289 avg, .710 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 2 homers, 20 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  He has played in 58 games in parts of two years in the majors in which he is 26 for 127 (.205 avg, .475 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 1 homer, 3 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  Reyes might get called up when rosters expand on September 1st if he plays well in AAA.