Very few baseball players bring the same raw tools and physicality to the field as Benson, the 14th overall pick in 2016. He’s still very raw and that lack of refinement showed during his pro debut.
While his tremendous bat speed produces 70 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale, Benson has a loopy swing at times. He doesn’t always get his hips closed and get consistent separation, and he struggles to recognize spin. But he improved his timing during the season and worked on driving the ball to all fields. With elite bat speed, Benson squares up balls when he makes contact.
Defensively, Benson gets good jumps and reads in the outfield and shows a plus arm. He moves well for his size with long strides that make him an average runner. Benson is a good teammate and works extremely hard.
“He’s probably one of the hardest workers on the field,” Indians manager Anthony Medrano said. “You don’t have to tell him twice . . . He’s out there working all the time and does it on his own. You can tell that he wants to get better.”
Re: Minor Matters
6152Picked by the Astros in 2014 with the No. 1 overall pick, Aiken did not sign after Houston lowered its signing bonus offer due to medical concerns. The San Diego native instead enrolled in the post-graduate program at IMG Academy but tore his UCL in his first start, requiring Tommy John surgery.Despite the injury, Cleveland selected Aiken 17th overall in 2015 just three months after his surgery, signing him for $2,513,280.
Aiken made his pro debut on the first day of the AZL season. The rust was evident in nine appearances, but he stayed healthy and went on to pitch better after an August promotion to short-season Mahoning Valley.
Aiken’s arm speed has not completely come back. His fastball sits 88-89 mph and touches 91. Most impressive was his ability to get so much spin on his breaking ball so soon after surgery, with solid depth on a low-70s curveball that helped him get swings and misses.
“He’s been through a lot and overcome a lot of situations,” Indians manager Anthony Medrano said. “He’s a great kid, a competitor and wants to get better. The arm strength is building . . . next year is going to be a real eye-opener for him”
Aiken made his pro debut on the first day of the AZL season. The rust was evident in nine appearances, but he stayed healthy and went on to pitch better after an August promotion to short-season Mahoning Valley.
Aiken’s arm speed has not completely come back. His fastball sits 88-89 mph and touches 91. Most impressive was his ability to get so much spin on his breaking ball so soon after surgery, with solid depth on a low-70s curveball that helped him get swings and misses.
“He’s been through a lot and overcome a lot of situations,” Indians manager Anthony Medrano said. “He’s a great kid, a competitor and wants to get better. The arm strength is building . . . next year is going to be a real eye-opener for him”
Re: Minor Matters
6153With first-round picks from both the 2015 (Brady Aiken) and 2016 (Will Benson) drafts on its roster, the Indians were the most interesting AZL team to watch. Another gem from the recent draft was Jones, who signed for $2.25 million out of a suburban Philadelphia high school. Jones is expected to outgrow shortstop and spent most of his pro debut at third base, his expected future home.
Jones made adjustments in the field during the year, improving his footwork and learning how to read hops, and his plus arm will be more than enough for the hot corner. At the plate, he projects as a gap-to-gap hitter who drives balls to all fields with some over-the-fence power. He has good bat control, a fluid stroke and good plate discipline, and he improved the ability to pick up spin as the season progressed. His swing still has a lot of moving parts, and he needs repetition to solidify his approach at the plate.
While he doesn’t have teammate Benson’s sky-high ceiling, Jones is a better bet to reach his solid-regular projection.
Jones made adjustments in the field during the year, improving his footwork and learning how to read hops, and his plus arm will be more than enough for the hot corner. At the plate, he projects as a gap-to-gap hitter who drives balls to all fields with some over-the-fence power. He has good bat control, a fluid stroke and good plate discipline, and he improved the ability to pick up spin as the season progressed. His swing still has a lot of moving parts, and he needs repetition to solidify his approach at the plate.
While he doesn’t have teammate Benson’s sky-high ceiling, Jones is a better bet to reach his solid-regular projection.
Re: Minor Matters
6154No AZL player this season personifies the label of high-risk, high-reward more than league MVP Gonzalez. Signed for a $300,000 in 2014, he possesses plus raw power and an accurate, 70 arm on the 20-80 scouting scale.
Gonzalez struggled to hit in his first pro season in the Dominican Summer League but started to show flashes of big-time potential this season, when he led the league in slugging percentage (.566) and tied for the lead in homers (eight).
Gonzalez has a strong, athletic frame, moves well for his size with average speed and has potential right-field tools. He needs to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline and not spin off pitches, as well as become much more consistent at the plate. A rotational swing and lack of plate discipline is most concerning to observers.
Gonzalez is not just a dead pull hitter, showing the ability to hit home runs the opposite way. “When he hits it, it goes a long way,” Indians manager Anthony Medrano said. “He hits it hard. The ball comes off his bat very well.”
Gonzalez struggled to hit in his first pro season in the Dominican Summer League but started to show flashes of big-time potential this season, when he led the league in slugging percentage (.566) and tied for the lead in homers (eight).
Gonzalez has a strong, athletic frame, moves well for his size with average speed and has potential right-field tools. He needs to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline and not spin off pitches, as well as become much more consistent at the plate. A rotational swing and lack of plate discipline is most concerning to observers.
Gonzalez is not just a dead pull hitter, showing the ability to hit home runs the opposite way. “When he hits it, it goes a long way,” Indians manager Anthony Medrano said. “He hits it hard. The ball comes off his bat very well.”
Re: Minor Matters
6155Drafted 42nd overall in 2015, McKenzie simply dominated NYP hitters at Mahoning Valley, allowing just three earned runs and striking out 55. He earned a promotion to low Class A Lake County on Aug. 3, where his ERA rose (3.18) but his walk and strikeout rates spiked.
Long and lanky, McKenzie still has plenty of room for projection, and he pitches beyond his years. Throwing with an easy, repeatable delivery, his 90-92 mph fastball plays up due to his extension and natural deception. He touched 95 mph this summer and could reach that velocity more consistently as he fills out. McKenzie can elicit ugly swings with his curveball, which plays off his fastball well and has depth. Both his curve and changeup have above-average potential.
Physically raw but advanced in terms of his pitching feel and makeup, McKenzie has a high ceiling as a potential frontline starter.
“He was to me the best pitching prospect (in the league),” State College manager Johnny Rodriguez said. “He’s got the age, the body, the build, and he’s tough on the mound. His fastball and his secondary stuff have very good finish and action, and he doesn’t get rattled. The one time we almost got to him, you could tell he just continued to pitch.”
Long and lanky, McKenzie still has plenty of room for projection, and he pitches beyond his years. Throwing with an easy, repeatable delivery, his 90-92 mph fastball plays up due to his extension and natural deception. He touched 95 mph this summer and could reach that velocity more consistently as he fills out. McKenzie can elicit ugly swings with his curveball, which plays off his fastball well and has depth. Both his curve and changeup have above-average potential.
Physically raw but advanced in terms of his pitching feel and makeup, McKenzie has a high ceiling as a potential frontline starter.
“He was to me the best pitching prospect (in the league),” State College manager Johnny Rodriguez said. “He’s got the age, the body, the build, and he’s tough on the mound. His fastball and his secondary stuff have very good finish and action, and he doesn’t get rattled. The one time we almost got to him, you could tell he just continued to pitch.”
Re: Minor Matters
6156After working primarily out of the bullpen his first two seasons at Northeastern, Civale transitioned to the weekend rotation in the spring and flourished. The well-built 6-foot-2, 215-pound righthander went 9-3, 1.73 with a 121-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 114.1 innings en route to a third-round selection by the Indians.
Civale continued to pitch at a high level in the NYP, where he was limited to three innings and 55 pitches per start. The righthander exhibits excellent feel for manipulating the baseball, cutting and sinking his fastball while also throwing a true four-seamer that sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph with a high spin rate. He adds a hard, tight-breaking slider that produces swings and misses and a firm 84-86 mph changeup.
Civale commands that five-pitch arsenal well, though at times he can lean on his cutter a little too much. He fits a starter’s profile with his varied pitch mix and advanced feel for pitching.
Civale continued to pitch at a high level in the NYP, where he was limited to three innings and 55 pitches per start. The righthander exhibits excellent feel for manipulating the baseball, cutting and sinking his fastball while also throwing a true four-seamer that sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph with a high spin rate. He adds a hard, tight-breaking slider that produces swings and misses and a firm 84-86 mph changeup.
Civale commands that five-pitch arsenal well, though at times he can lean on his cutter a little too much. He fits a starter’s profile with his varied pitch mix and advanced feel for pitching.
Re: Minor Matters
6157in NYPL chat:
Mike (Chicago): Where would Aiken and Grooms have ranked on your list? Projections for both?
Michael Lananna: Both would’ve ranked fairly high, although Aiken is the trickier of the two. He hasn’t returned to his pre-Tommy John velocity, and his command, breaking stuff, etc., is still all coming along, too. Don’t think there’s reason to panic with him, but it’ll be worth watching how his stuff looks going forward.
Mike (Chicago): Where would Aiken and Grooms have ranked on your list? Projections for both?
Michael Lananna: Both would’ve ranked fairly high, although Aiken is the trickier of the two. He hasn’t returned to his pre-Tommy John velocity, and his command, breaking stuff, etc., is still all coming along, too. Don’t think there’s reason to panic with him, but it’ll be worth watching how his stuff looks going forward.
Re: Minor Matters
6158Dave (Akron, OH): Thanks for the chat! Did any other Scrappers come close to making the list? Calica and Mejia really raked the ball, and a few pitchers, such as Hillman, were pretty well thought of coming in. Thanks!
Michael Lananna: Gabriel Mejia was in consideration. He did put up good numbers, is a switch-hitter and he’s a plus-plus runner. But there are questions with his bat, whether he’ll hit enough at the next level. He’s very small, has very little power and more of a slap-type swing, especially lefthanded. His arm is also fringy, although he has the range and speed for center field.
Calica put up strong numbers as well, but he isn’t particularly toolsy. He’s got an excellent approach at the plate and great discipline, but he’s probably a fourth outfielder.
As for Juan Hillman, his stuff was fringier this summer than the reports were on him coming in—fastball sitting more in the 86-90 mph range. He’s still only 19, and you’ll surely see him in the Indians’ organizational top 30, but he didn’t quite merit the top 20 in the NYP this summer.
Michael Lananna: Gabriel Mejia was in consideration. He did put up good numbers, is a switch-hitter and he’s a plus-plus runner. But there are questions with his bat, whether he’ll hit enough at the next level. He’s very small, has very little power and more of a slap-type swing, especially lefthanded. His arm is also fringy, although he has the range and speed for center field.
Calica put up strong numbers as well, but he isn’t particularly toolsy. He’s got an excellent approach at the plate and great discipline, but he’s probably a fourth outfielder.
As for Juan Hillman, his stuff was fringier this summer than the reports were on him coming in—fastball sitting more in the 86-90 mph range. He’s still only 19, and you’ll surely see him in the Indians’ organizational top 30, but he didn’t quite merit the top 20 in the NYP this summer.
Re: Minor Matters
6159Midwest League Prospects.
NO.3 FRANCISCO MEJIA
After hitting .243 at Lake County in 2015, Mejia repeated the MWL this season with aplomb. In fact, he was in the middle of his historic 50-game hit streak when the Indians promoted him to high Class A Lynchburg.
The switch-hitting Mejia’s improvement at the plate stemmed from moving away from a pull-happy, homer-centric approach to letting the ball travel deeper in the hitting zone and using the opposite field. He’s still a free-swinger, but he does a better job with pitches on the outer half. He’s an above-average hitter with average power presently, and his .347 average would have tied Cedar Rapids’ Luis Arraez for the best in the MWL if he had the requisite number of plate appearances.
Like most catchers, Mejia is a below-average runner. A plus arm and quick release help him shut down the running game, and he threw out 43 percent of basestealers. He has made strides with blocking balls, where he grades as solid-average, but his receiving, while improved, needs work. [which is a lot more positive than another BA writer a while back who said he's a lousy catcher and will wind up at 2nd or 3rd base
NO.3 FRANCISCO MEJIA
After hitting .243 at Lake County in 2015, Mejia repeated the MWL this season with aplomb. In fact, he was in the middle of his historic 50-game hit streak when the Indians promoted him to high Class A Lynchburg.
The switch-hitting Mejia’s improvement at the plate stemmed from moving away from a pull-happy, homer-centric approach to letting the ball travel deeper in the hitting zone and using the opposite field. He’s still a free-swinger, but he does a better job with pitches on the outer half. He’s an above-average hitter with average power presently, and his .347 average would have tied Cedar Rapids’ Luis Arraez for the best in the MWL if he had the requisite number of plate appearances.
Like most catchers, Mejia is a below-average runner. A plus arm and quick release help him shut down the running game, and he threw out 43 percent of basestealers. He has made strides with blocking balls, where he grades as solid-average, but his receiving, while improved, needs work. [which is a lot more positive than another BA writer a while back who said he's a lousy catcher and will wind up at 2nd or 3rd base
Re: Minor Matters
6160More good news on McKenzie who wasn't in the league long enough to qualify for ranking:
Dan (Indianapolis IN): Where would you have placed McKenzie on this list? Thanks Vince.
Vincent Lara-Cinisomo: Probably top 10. There are some terrific pitchers that just missed the top 20, but I think McKenzie ranks right along with Alcantara and Diplan.
Dan (Indianapolis IN): Where would you have placed McKenzie on this list? Thanks Vince.
Vincent Lara-Cinisomo: Probably top 10. There are some terrific pitchers that just missed the top 20, but I think McKenzie ranks right along with Alcantara and Diplan.
Re: Minor Matters
6161BA's doing the Carolina League today.
Here's a question, I'll get to the rated players in a second.
Warren (New London): I'm curious about the two Lynchburg second basemen, Mark Mathias and Tyler Krieger. Mathias played other positions after Krieger joined the team; was that because Krieger is a better defender or because Mathias is? Who plays 2B at Akron next year? Thanks for the chat!
Lacy Lusk: Thanks for the question. I had the sense Mathias is someone who has played his way into a longer look, so his versatility could help him even further. A lot of managers and scouts love the way he plays the game. Krieger could be in the same mold.
Here's a question, I'll get to the rated players in a second.
Warren (New London): I'm curious about the two Lynchburg second basemen, Mark Mathias and Tyler Krieger. Mathias played other positions after Krieger joined the team; was that because Krieger is a better defender or because Mathias is? Who plays 2B at Akron next year? Thanks for the chat!
Lacy Lusk: Thanks for the question. I had the sense Mathias is someone who has played his way into a longer look, so his versatility could help him even further. A lot of managers and scouts love the way he plays the game. Krieger could be in the same mold.
Re: Minor Matters
6162Mejia was No. 3 in the Midwest League,he's No. 5 here
5. Francisco Mejia, c, Lynchburg (Indians) |
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Age: 20. B-T:: B-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012.
Through a period that included a promotion from low Class A Lake County, a reported trade that would have sent him to the Brewers organization and an illness, Mejia had the mental toughness to compile a 50-game hitting streak.
Mejia shrugged off trade rumors and maintained a consistent swing from both sides of the plate. Some scouts give his arm 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale as well.
“He’s consistent in the cage and in the way he plays the game,” Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said. “He made offensive and defensive strides. We’ve always known he has the hit tool and a plus arm, but he needed to work on how to call a game. He did a great job with that, and he didn’t let anything get to him all season.”
Salem manager Joe Oliver, a former major league catcher, also is a fan of Mejia’s. “He’s got the best arm I’ve seen in a long time,” Oliver said. “I’ve only seen him a few games behind the plate, but I’m really impressed with the way he throws. It seems like he handles the pitchers really well, too, and he moves well behind the plate.”
5. Francisco Mejia, c, Lynchburg (Indians) |
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Age: 20. B-T:: B-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012.
Through a period that included a promotion from low Class A Lake County, a reported trade that would have sent him to the Brewers organization and an illness, Mejia had the mental toughness to compile a 50-game hitting streak.
Mejia shrugged off trade rumors and maintained a consistent swing from both sides of the plate. Some scouts give his arm 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale as well.
“He’s consistent in the cage and in the way he plays the game,” Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said. “He made offensive and defensive strides. We’ve always known he has the hit tool and a plus arm, but he needed to work on how to call a game. He did a great job with that, and he didn’t let anything get to him all season.”
Salem manager Joe Oliver, a former major league catcher, also is a fan of Mejia’s. “He’s got the best arm I’ve seen in a long time,” Oliver said. “I’ve only seen him a few games behind the plate, but I’m really impressed with the way he throws. It seems like he handles the pitchers really well, too, and he moves well behind the plate.”
Re: Minor Matters
61637. Bobby Bradley, 1b, Lynchburg (Indians) |
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Age: 20. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 225. Drafted: HS—Gulfport, Miss., 2014 (3).
The league’s MVP led the way in home runs (29) and RBIs (102) and ranked fifth in slugging (.466). Though he ranked second in the Carolina League with 170 strikeouts, his power and improvements hitting the opposite way are expected to take him far.
“He has big-time power,” Wilmington manager Jamie Quirk said. “He’s obviously a good worker. He’s a swing-and-miss guy, but in this day and age, no one cares about that.”
Opposing managers said Bradley was able to give in a little and hit the ball the other way. He also improved defensively.
“He has a ways to go defensively from an athleticism standpoint,” Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said, “but he has learned a lot about being able to pick throws out of the dirt, field his position, feed pitchers on the 3-1 play and position himself in the right places on relays.”
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Age: 20. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 225. Drafted: HS—Gulfport, Miss., 2014 (3).
The league’s MVP led the way in home runs (29) and RBIs (102) and ranked fifth in slugging (.466). Though he ranked second in the Carolina League with 170 strikeouts, his power and improvements hitting the opposite way are expected to take him far.
“He has big-time power,” Wilmington manager Jamie Quirk said. “He’s obviously a good worker. He’s a swing-and-miss guy, but in this day and age, no one cares about that.”
Opposing managers said Bradley was able to give in a little and hit the ball the other way. He also improved defensively.
“He has a ways to go defensively from an athleticism standpoint,” Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said, “but he has learned a lot about being able to pick throws out of the dirt, field his position, feed pitchers on the 3-1 play and position himself in the right places on relays.”
Re: Minor Matters
616411. Justus Sheffield, lhp, Lynchburg (Indians) |
Age: 20. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Tullahoma, Tenn., 2014 (1).
The Yankees don’t have a Carolina League affiliate, but they have two of the league’s top prospects. Shortstop Gleyber Torres came over in the Aroldis Chapman deal, and the polished Sheffield was part of the trade that sent lefthanded reliever Andrew Miller to the Indians.
Sheffield signed for $1.6 million instead of joining his brother Jordan (a current Dodgers prospect) at Vanderbilt. He’s known for his bulldog attitude and poise on the mound. He can throw his heavy 93-94 mph fastball, curveball and changeup for strikes, and tops out at 96 with the heater.
“He’s got a great arm. This kid is legit,” Frederick manager Keith Bodie said. “He commands the ball pretty well for a young kid and has quality stuff. All of his pitches have some finish and some life.”
Age: 20. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Tullahoma, Tenn., 2014 (1).
The Yankees don’t have a Carolina League affiliate, but they have two of the league’s top prospects. Shortstop Gleyber Torres came over in the Aroldis Chapman deal, and the polished Sheffield was part of the trade that sent lefthanded reliever Andrew Miller to the Indians.
Sheffield signed for $1.6 million instead of joining his brother Jordan (a current Dodgers prospect) at Vanderbilt. He’s known for his bulldog attitude and poise on the mound. He can throw his heavy 93-94 mph fastball, curveball and changeup for strikes, and tops out at 96 with the heater.
“He’s got a great arm. This kid is legit,” Frederick manager Keith Bodie said. “He commands the ball pretty well for a young kid and has quality stuff. All of his pitches have some finish and some life.”
Re: Minor Matters
616515. Yu-Cheng Chang, ss, Lynchburg (Indians)
Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 175. Signed: Taiwan, 2013.
Along with Francisco Mejia and outfield prospect Greg Allen, Chang was part of the Jonathan Lucroy-vetoed deal that would’ve sent him to the Brewers. Instead, he finished putting together a solid season at Lynchburg. Chang showed why scouts are high on his power potential as he raised his slugging percentage 102 points from his 2015 season at low Class A Lake County.
“Chang had a nice year,” Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said. “He battled a wrist injury for a couple of weeks (toward the end of the season), but he made great strides offensively and in ranging laterally. He’s learning to be more of a leader.”
Chang has smooth hands that work in the field and at the plate. He has athleticism and a workable arm but may have to slide to third base or second if he gets much bigger, as one scout compared his frame to that of a young Jhonny Peralta. His power comes with some swing-and-miss tendencies, and some scouts grade him as a below-average hitter overall.
Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 175. Signed: Taiwan, 2013.
Along with Francisco Mejia and outfield prospect Greg Allen, Chang was part of the Jonathan Lucroy-vetoed deal that would’ve sent him to the Brewers. Instead, he finished putting together a solid season at Lynchburg. Chang showed why scouts are high on his power potential as he raised his slugging percentage 102 points from his 2015 season at low Class A Lake County.
“Chang had a nice year,” Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski said. “He battled a wrist injury for a couple of weeks (toward the end of the season), but he made great strides offensively and in ranging laterally. He’s learning to be more of a leader.”
Chang has smooth hands that work in the field and at the plate. He has athleticism and a workable arm but may have to slide to third base or second if he gets much bigger, as one scout compared his frame to that of a young Jhonny Peralta. His power comes with some swing-and-miss tendencies, and some scouts grade him as a below-average hitter overall.