RubberDucks' Zimmer off to stellar start

Bradley Zimmer has barely skipped a beat, despite making a new home hundreds of miles away.

The Indians' third-ranked prospect collected three more hits and drove in three runs on Saturday night as Double-A Akron rolled to a 12-2 road win over Erie.

Zimmer singled in the first inning and swiped second as part of a double-steal with Todd Hankins. In the second, he delivered a two-run single and came home on Jordan Smith's double as the RubberDucks erupted for six runs.

The 22-year-old outfielder produced his third single of the night in a five-run fourth that stretched Akron's lead to 11-1.

The California native made his Eastern League debut on Thursday, doubling and scoring. He followed that up with his first Double-A homer on Friday, capping a two-RBI night.

The 2014 first-round pick earned a promotion after compiling a .305/.401/.488 slash line in 77 games with Class A Advanced Lynchburg. Zimmer earned a spot on the Carolina League All-Star team and played for the U.S. team at the Futures Game on Sunday.

"I've been trying to be more aggressive and get pitches early on that I can really drive," he told MLB.com. "Because once you get to this level, there's guys with good arms and you'll maybe see one, maybe two good pitches. So you've got to be ready to hit."

For the season, Zimmer is hitting .313 with 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 33 stolen bases in 80 games.

"He's more athletic than we even thought," Indians scouting director Brad Grant told MLB.com. "It's been a lot of fun to see how quickly he has been able to adjust to professional baseball."

Hankins finished with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Anthony Gallas slugged a solo homer, his 10th, for the RubberDucks.

Akron starter Charles Brewer (1-0) allowed an unearned run on one hit and two walks while striking out four over five innings.

Jason Krizan drove in a run and scored a run in the loss for the SeaWolves.