Cleveland Sports Forum

3. Triston McKenzie, rhp |

Born: Aug. 2, 1997. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 165. Drafted: HS—Palm Beach, Fla., 2015 (1st round supplemental). Signed by: Juan Alvarez.

Background: McKenzie presented scouts with a difficult assignment in 2015. He had an excellent track record and present stuff, but he was listed at a rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165 pounds. While some questioned how much weight his frame will ever carry, the Indians drafted McKenzie 42nd overall. He rewarded them in 2016 by excelling at short-season Mahoning Valley and then low Class A Lake County.

Scouting Report: McKenzie stands out as much for his pitchability as for his stuff. He earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. That, along with his control, helps his stuff play up even more. His fastball can get up to 95 mph, but he more typically works in the low 90s. More strength would help him maintain his velocity deeper into games. He uses his height to his advantage and pitches down in the zone. He gets good depth on his curveball, which is a swing-and-miss offering. His changeup lags behind his other two pitches but has the potential to be an above-average offering as he gets more comfortable throwing it.

The Future: McKenzie’s combination of upside and advanced pitchability has many excited about his future. He could likely handle starting the 2017 season at high Class A Lynchburg, but the Indians can bring him along more slowly with an assignment to Lake County

4. Brady Aiken, lhp

Born: Aug. 16, 1996. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 205. Drafted: HS—San Diego, 2015 (1st round). Signed by: Mike Soper.

Background: Aiken emerged as the best prep player for the 2014 draft, and the Astros made him the No. 1 overall pick. They agreed to sign him for $6.5 million before withdrawing the offer when a post-draft physical revealed an elbow issue. Aiken ultimately turned down a reported $5 million offer and chose to pitch for IMG Academy’s postgrad team in 2015. He left his first start of the year and required Tommy John surgery. The Indians selected Aiken 17th overall in 2015, and he finally made his pro debut in 2016.

Scouting Report: Aiken was slow out of the gate as he returned to playing in competitive games for the first time in more than two years. His fastball velocity, in the upper 80s and reaching 91, was down from what it had been in high school. But as the summer went on and he got stronger, his velocity ticked up, and he sat in the low 90s at instructional league. His curveball can be a plus offering and his changeup gives him a third promising pitch. At his best, he can locate his fastball well to both sides of the plate and has advanced feel. He has an ideal pitcher’s frame, plenty of athleticism and earns praise for his makeup and maturity.

The Future: Aiken understandably had some hiccups at the outset of his pro career. After a normal offseason, he should be ready for an assignment to low Class A Lake County

5. Bobby Bradley, 1b |

Born: May 29, 1996. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 225. Drafted: HS—Gulfport, Miss., 2014 (3rd round). Signed by: Mike Bradford.

Background: Competition in the Mississippi high school ranks is not as stout as in other parts of the South, but that hasn’t held Bradley back. He won the Rookie-level Arizona League triple crown in 2014 by hitting .361 with eight home runs and 50 RBIs. He led the Midwest League with 27 home runs in 2015 and hit 29 more in 2016 to top the Carolina League—he also led in RBIs (102) and walks (75)—to claim the circuit’s MVP award.

Scouting Report: Bradley was one of the younger players in his draft class and he has continued to be among the younger players in his leagues. His inexperience has been exposed at times, but his impressive raw tools shine through more often than not. He creates excellent bat speed that turns into prodigious power. Like most young hitters, he gets pull-happy at times, but he can hit the ball out to all fields. Both his strikeout and walk rates improved a touch last season, though he is still learning how to handle advanced offspeed offerings. He is a well below-average runner. Defensively, Bradley has an average arm and is limited to first base.

The Future: Bradley will advance to Double-A Akron in 2017 for his first exposure to the upper minors. His power gives him the potential to become a middle-of-the-order hitter in the major leagues in time.

6. Yu-Cheng Chang, ss
Born: Aug. 18, 1995. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 175. Signed: Taiwan, 2013. Signed by: Allen Lin/Jayson Lynn.

Background: A prominent amateur player in Taiwan, Chang was one of the top amateur free agents to sign out of Asia in 2013. He has made steady progress in the minor leagues and earned all-star honors in the Carolina League in 2016. He reportedly received heavy interest in trade deadline talks and was set to be a part of the deal with the Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy that ultimately fell apart. Instead, he helped high Class A Lynchburg reach the Carolina League finals, going 14-for-28 in the playoffs.

Scouting Report: A switch-hitter, Chang has solid all-around offensive tools. He hits well from both sides of the plate and exhibits a good feel for the barrel. He has more power than his lean, 6-foot-1 frame suggests, and he is beginning to learn how to tap into it more often. His swing is more geared for hitting line drives, but he produced 51 extra-base hits in 2016, more than doubling his career total. Chang’s arm and speed both grade as above-average. That, combined with his athleticism and infield actions, gives him a chance to stick at shortstop, where the Indians believe he can develop into a capable defender. Some believe he will outgrow the position, which would necessitate a move to second or third base.

The Future: For now, Chang will continue his development at shortstop. He’ll likely move up to Double-A Akron to start the 2017 season.

7. Will Benson, of
Born: June 16, 1998. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 215. Drafted: HS—Atlanta, 2016 (1st round). Signed by: C.T. Bradford.

Background: Benson began his senior year of high school by helping USA Baseball win the gold medal in the 18U World Cup in Japan. He ended it by being drafted 14th overall by the Indians. His spectacular senior year also included him leading The Westminster Schools to their first baseball state championship since 1975. He was a star basketball player for the Wildcats who earned second-team all-state honors as a forward.

Scouting Report: On the diamond, Benson stands out most for the elite bat speed his quick hands and strength produce. He turns that bat speed into well above-average lefthanded raw power. He is still learning how to get to that power more consistently and has worked to simplify his swing as a professional. When he struggles, he fails to use his lower half and his bat path gets too steep. He is an excellent athlete and runs well for his size, recording some plus times in the 60-yard dash, but he is slower out of the box and may lose a step as he physically matures. Benson has a plus arm and is a solid defender in right field.

The Future: As a big, athletic, lefthanded-hitting outfielder from Atlanta, Benson is often compared with Jason Heyward, whom the Braves drafted 14th overall. Benson has a long way to go to reach that ceiling and will likely make his full-season debut at Class A Lake County in 2017.

8. Nolan Jones, 3b
Born: May 7, 1998. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Bensalem, Pa., 2016 (2nd round). Signed by: Mike Kanen.

Background: Jones was regarded as one of the best prep hitters in the 2016 draft class, but he slipped to the second round, where the Indians were happy to be able to take him at No. 55 overall. He signed for $2.25 million, making him one of five players drafted after the first round to sign for more than $2 million.

Scouting Report: Jones has advanced consistency in his approach and contact skills, especially for a prep hitter from the Northeast. That helped him stand out on the showcase circuit in the summer of 2015, and continued to push him up draft boards in the spring. His easy lefthanded swing generates plus raw power now, but he projects to have more as he physically matures. He has plenty of room to add strength to his lanky frame as he begins to work in a professional training environment. He is an average runner. Jones was a shortstop in high school, but his size made it likely he would soon outgrow the position and profile better at third base. The Indians quickly moved him to the hot corner, and he should be able to develop into an average defender with steady hands and a plus arm at his new position.

The Future: While he has the defensive tools to develop, it will be up to his bat to carry him through the minor leagues. Jones will join fellow 2016 first-day prep pick Will Benson at low Class A Lake County in 2017.

9. Erik Gonzalez, ss/2b

Born: Aug. 31, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2008. Signed by: Andres Garcia.

Background: Gonzalez played every position but pitcher and catcher at the outset of his career. When Francisco Lindor was promoted from high Class A Carolina in 2013, Gonzalez got a chance to fill the hole left at shortstop. He fared better than expected playing the position full-time and reached the big leagues in 2016. But with Lindor now firmly established as Cleveland’s shortstop, Gonzalez returned to his roots as a utility player, and he appeared at four positions in 21 big league games.

Scouting Report: Gonzalez has made effective adjustments to his offensive game, enabling the righthanded hitter to incorporate his above-average speed and tap into the pop his bat speed and wiry strength produce. He is an aggressive hitter and rarely walks, limiting his chances as a top-of-the-order hitter. Gonzalez has outstanding defensive skills. His quickness and plus arm strength allow him to make highlight-reel plays at shortstop, but he is also prone to making mental mistakes. He’s versatile enough to play anywhere in the infield and has gotten some work in the outfield.

The Future: If he can develop more consistency, Gonzalez has the tools to be an everyday shortstop—just not for the Indians. Regardless, his versatility is an ideal fit for the big league roster.

10. Greg Allen, of
Born: March 15, 1993. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 175. Drafted: San Diego State, 2014 (6th round). Signed by: Ryan Thompson.

Background: Allen excelled on the field and in the classroom at San Diego State and was named the school’s male student-athlete of the year as a junior. Since the Indians drafted him in the sixth round that year, he has made a smooth transition to pro ball and steadily climbed through the minor leagues, reaching Double-A Akron and ending the year with an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Allen’s game is built around his plus speed. He has good on-base skills, having led the high Class A Carolina League in on-base percentage (.424), and his approach at the plate is geared toward making contact, limiting his power potential. He is a disciplined hitter and walks about as often as he strikes out. He is a good baserunner and has led the Indians system in stolen bases in each of the last two seasons. Allen’s speed plays well in the outfield, where he is a plus defender. He takes good routes, has an above-average arm and the speed to cover plenty of ground.

The Future: Allen came to the organization at the end of a stretch where it had selected a center fielder with its top draft pick for three straight years. While that has made for a crowded organizational depth chart, his defense is a separator. He’ll likely begin 2017 back at Akron and could push his way to the big leagues with another strong season.

Well, Civ, without pouring a ton of time into this, let me give you my list just off the cuff. My list will be a balance of how sure I am that the player will be a good major leaguer and just how good I think they will be. I guarantee you I will have you rolling your eyes at me...

#1 Yandy Diaz
Our top prospect in my opinion. No doubt in my mind he will be a good every day MLB player. I'm just convinced. And potential to be special hitter.

#2 Triston McKenzie.
Has top of the rotation ability so got to have him near top of the list. He's just so young that I can't fall totally into love with him yet. I've been burned too many times by young arms.

#3 Frankie Mejia
This will be a huge year for Frankie. I want to see if he can come close to repeating his success when he reaches AA. Star potential, obviously.

#4 Greg Allen
This is where it starts getting tough. A few guys bunched together here for me. But I love the strides Allen is making and is making a believer out of me.

#5 Shawn Armstrong
Weird having a reliever here I know, but of the guys left he's the one I'm most certain of that he will be a long time major leaguer and has closer stuff so I'm putting him here.

#6 Rob Kaminsky
Good spot for him here. He is a lefty that has had some decent success at AA, and is still just 22. I think he has a career ahead of him.

#7 Bradley Zimmer
He gets the nod here cause of all his tools and his willingness to walk. But obviously still has some work to do. Has to get his average up. Not hitting in AFL is a red flag. Not the best pitching in the world there. No great feat to draw some walks. I'm actually not feeling that great about putting him this high. Just a gut feeling, think he's overrated.

#8 Bobby Bradley
Again, a guy I fear is terribly overrated. But his power is so great he has to find a spot. If Mike Napoli can be a sought after guy who earns big money from someone every year then Bradley can too.

#9 Brady Aiken
Obviously not a ton of work to go by, but he has so much potential you almost have to find a spot for him in the top 10. He will be another year removed from surgery this year so anxious to see what he does and see what his stuff looks like.

#10 Erik Gonzalez
I do think he will be an every day player for someone, and soon. Like now. And stick around the league. But he doesn't do anything well enough to expect anything special from. Just a decent major leaguer who kicks around a while. .329 OBP last year in AAA. Struck out far more often than he walked. Got thrown out almost as much as he stole. Just nothing special. But he's good defensively and can play a few positions and hits for average so he should be a fine player.

I like Krieger and Gabe Mejia. Just missed my list.

Some guys that I like that is just too early in their careers for me to place in my top 10 ... Calica, Civale, Bieber, & Krauth.

A few others who I'll be keeping an eye on ... Jodd Carter, Marabell, Santander, & Mathias.

Put all that together and you have my top 20...

These splits of Zimmer's are indicative of a platoon player only. Terrible vs lefties:

vs RHP as LHB 124 413 355 97 22 5 14 50 54 122 273 .374 .482 .855
vs LHP as LHB 68 143 112 20 3 1 1 12 23 48 179 .343 .250 .593

He strikes out too much against everyone and he walks plenty against everyone. No major distinction.
But his power vs lefties is feeble: 1 homer and 3 doubles and 1 triple in 143 plate appearances.

The only player I think you're missing is Chang. I cannot see anyway Zimmer can be a major contributor with his awful splits. Thanks for reminding me of Santander and Krieger and Mathias. I'll add them to my questions to BA.

I know you like Chang, Civ. No offense, just me personally I would rate Gonzalez and Krieger both ahead of him. And probably Mathias too. I didn't forget him. He'd just probably be 21 or 22 on my list.

BA Chat has started, with me:

Elliot (Youngstown OH): Failed trade of Cleveland's No. 1, No 6. and No. 10 prospects for a Lucroy was one of the best deals ever not made. Roberto Perez' defense alone, let alone some unanticipated offensive success, did more than make up for Lucroy. I guess that's not a question!

Teddy Cahill: While this isn't really a question, it's a good starting point. The Indians' system would look a lot different if Lucroy had waved his no-trade clause in July. But, he didn't, and the Indians held on to a few really good prospects. Impossible to know how it would have impacted the big league team in '16 and '17, but the farm system is deeper as a result.

I missed the "2020 lineups" feature. I'll have to look back for it. Here's a question though:

Phil (Durham NC): Hey Teddy. One would expect Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez to battle it out in spring training for starting catcher, despite Gomes's contract. But looking ahead to 2020, you list Gomes still as the expected starter. If Mejia makes his debut in '18, how is he not the opening day catcher two years later? Thanks!

Teddy Cahill: The simplest answer is that Gomes will likely still be under contract in 2020 (he has team options for 2020 and 2021). When we make out our future lineups, we try to account for players that will still be on long-term deals. It's possible Gomes will be gone by then, but a $9 million option should be a pretty reasonable deal if Gomes is able to stay healthy.

[and recollect how to hit]

More from BA

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Francisco Mejia
Best Power Hitter Bobby Bradley
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Yandy Diaz
Fastest Baserunner Gabriel Mejia
Best Athlete Will Benson
Best Fastball Julian Merryweather
Best Curveball Triston McKenzie
Best Slider Shawn Morimando
Best Changeup Adam Plutko
Best Control Ryan Merritt
Best Defensive Catcher Logan Ice
Best Defensive Infielder Erik Gonzalez
Best Infield Arm Erik Gonzalez
Best Defensive Outfielder Greg Allen
Best Outfield Arm Bradley Zimmer