Cleveland Sports Forum

former second round pick, the almost always injured Levon Washington, signs with Indy League Sioux City Explorers.

Indians sign Kelvin DelaCruz to a minor league contract. I think I just posted something about him in the winter league folder. An imposing lefty who excelled in short season ball and not much beyond. But like Joe any minor leaguer who I like once I like forever

Baseball America has posted its Top 100 Prospects.

One of the biggest ascents of anyone of the list is Francisco Mejia, from not among the top 100 last year to No. 28 and rated No. 1 among catchers. He rates an 80 [out of 80] for arm; 60 for hitting, 45 for power; 50 for fielding; and 30 for speed.

Meanwhile Zimmer drops from No. 31 rank last year to No. 62. His scores are: 60 for fielding, 55 for arm, 55 for power, 55 for speed; but a modest 45 for hitting.

Triston McKenzie debuts on the list at No. 68. Fastball: 60, Curve: 60; Changeup 50; Control 50

Bobby Bradley fell off the list although "still one of the best power prospects" but his 235 average and his 30% strikeout rate could not be overlooked.

The departed Clint Frazier moves up from No. 44 last year to No. 39. While co-departee Justus Sheffield is at No.91, last year No. 81.

BA also lists the top 20 at each position, top 70 RHP and top 25 LHP. Indians someone in all categories:

C: Mejia No. 1
1b: Bradley No. 8
2b: Mark Mathias No. 16
ss: Yu Cheng Chang No. 13
3b: Yandy Diaz No. 14
CF: Zimmer No. 11
CF: Greg Allen No. 15
corner OF: Will Benson No. 20 [Clint Frazier No. 4]
RHP: McKenzie No. 22
LHP: Brady Aiken No. 17 [Sheffield No. 10]

This year's managers:

Chris Tremie --- Columbus
Mark Budzinski ---- Akron [former Tribe minor league OF]
Tony Mansolino ---- Lynchburg
Larry Day ---- Lake County
Luke Carlin ---- Mahoning Valley [vet played a little for us in Columbus]
Anthony Medrano ---- Arizona [he may have played a bit in very low minors but I may have the wrong guy in mind]

I remember Medrano from ST in Florida. Was like a player/coach in AA. One of JoeZ's favorites.

I don't think so Seagull!

Well we know you like nearly everyone Joe, so it was a good assumption.

Wellllllllll, Only the ones that have a decent chance to at least make a major league appearance. I think I'm batting well over .500

Now it's waiting time to see how many Cubans defect during the WBC. I'll have a chance to really fatten that average.

If it does happen, maybe the front office can be active participants for a change. I hope Yandy Diaz has had an effect on their mindset.

BA's Minor League Prospects book arrived in the mail over the weekend, always full of interesting facts and opinions. The top 10 was posted on line months ago, so I know what to expect there [Mejia,Zimmer,McKenzie,Aiken,Bradley,Chang,Benson,NolanJones,Gonzalez,Allen]

Among surprises: Logan Ice rated as our No. 12 prospect. 2016 draftee is described as an extremely advanced defensive catcher; hit for nearly no average last year with Mahoning Valley but he walks a lot and could debut in High A Lynchburg this year.

MLB has updated their top 30 prospects for each team. (MLB Pipeline)

Sorry for the way it looks.

Player + 22894 COMMENTS
1
BRADLEY ZIMMER
OF
2
FRANCISCO MEJIA
C
3
TRISTON MCKENZIE
RHP
4
BOBBY BRADLEY
1B
5
BRADY AIKEN
LHP
6
NOLAN JONES
3B
7
WILL BENSON
OF
8
ERIK GONZALEZ
SS
9
GREG ALLEN
OF
10
YANDY DIAZ
OF/3B
11
YU-CHENG CHANG
SS
12
JUAN HILLMAN
LHP
13
WILLI CASTRO
SS
14
ROB KAMINSKY
LHP
15
ADAM PLUTKO
RHP
16
SHANE BIEBER
RHP
17
SHAWN MORIMANDO
LHP
18
TYLER KRIEGER
2B
19
MARK MATHIAS
2B/3B
20
GABRIEL MEJIA
OF
21
AARON CIVALE
RHP
22
LOGAN ICE
C
23
RYAN MERRITT
LHP
24
TIM COONEY
LHP
25
SHAWN ARMSTRONG
RHP
26
JULIAN MERRYWEATHER
RHP
27
NELLIE RODRIGUEZ
1B
28
OSCAR GONZALEZ
OF
29
ANDREW CALICA
OF
30
MICAH MINIARD
RHP

Breaking down the Indians' Top 30 Prospects

Cleveland expects to get plenty of help from farmhands in 2017

By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | February 22nd, 2017

The Indians came within one win of ending the franchise's 68-year World Series drought in 2016, ultimately falling to the Cubs in extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series.

But while their season may have ended in disappointment, it was still a banner season for the Tribe, which won 94 games, the second most in the American League, en route to its first division title since 2007 and the team's first pennant since 1997.

• Cleveland's 2017 Top 30 Prospects list

Cleveland received significant contributions from its prospects along the way, most notably Tyler Naquin, who emerged as the club's everyday center fielder while hitting .296/.372/.514 with 14 home runs. On the mound, right-hander Mike Clevinger further established himself as a part of the team's future, while southpaw Ryan Merritt tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against Toronto to propel the Indians to their sixth AL pennant.

The acquisition of Andrew Miller from the Yankees at the Trade Deadline came at a steep cost for the Indians, however, as they were forced to part with a pair of top prospects in Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield. Yet, the Tribe's farm system remains strong heading into 2017, boasting four Top 100 prospects in Bradley Zimmer (No. 22 overall), Francisco Mejia (No. 40), Triston McKenzie (No. 57) and Bobby Bradley (No. 95), as well as plenty of positional and pitching depth.

Zimmer, after finishing last season at Triple-A Columbus, is nearly ready for the Major Leagues and should arrive later in the year, as should Erik Gonzalez, Greg Allen and Yandy Diaz, all of whom rank among Cleveland's Top 10 prospects.

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2016 preseason list to the 2017 preseason list.

Jump: Willi Castro, SS (2016: 23 | 2017: 13)
Fall: Nellie Rodriguez, 1B (2016: 19 | 2017: 27)

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average.

Hit: Francisco Mejia (55)
Power: Bobby Bradley (60)
Run: Gabriel Mejia (80)
Arm: Francisco Mejia (70)
Defense: Erik Gonzalez (60)
Fastball: Julian Merryweather (60)
Curveball: Brady Aiken (60)
Slider: Shawn Morimando (60)
Changeup: Adam Plutko (60)
Control: Ryan Merritt (60)

How they were built

Draft: 22
International: 6
Trade: 1
Waiver claim: 1

Breakdown by ETA

2017: 11
2018: 7
2019: 7
2020: 5

Breakdown by position

C: 2
1B: 2
2B: 2
3B: 1
SS: 3
OF: 7
RHP: 6
LHP: 7

Comparing that list with Baseball America's. I've added the BA ranking to the right of the player's name

1
BRADLEY ZIMMER [2]
OF
2
FRANCISCO MEJIA [1]
C
3
TRISTON MCKENZIE [3]
RHP
4
BOBBY BRADLEY [5]
1B
5
BRADY AIKEN [4]
LHP
6
NOLAN JONES [8]
3B
7
WILL BENSON [7]
OF
8
ERIK GONZALEZ [9]
SS
9
GREG ALLEN [10]
OF
10
YANDY DIAZ [11]
OF/3B
11
YU-CHENG CHANG [6]
SS
12
JUAN HILLMAN [14]
LHP
13
WILLI CASTRO [15]
SS
14
ROB KAMINSKY [26]
LHP
15
ADAM PLUTKO [16]
RHP
16
SHANE BIEBER [21]
RHP
17
SHAWN MORIMANDO [19]
LHP
18
TYLER KRIEGER [18]
2B
19
MARK MATHIAS [13]
2B/3B
20
GABRIEL MEJIA [not in the top 31]
OF
21
AARON CIVALE [20]
RHP
22
LOGAN ICE [12]
C
23
RYAN MERRITT [22]
LHP
24
TIM COONEY [17]
LHP
25
SHAWN ARMSTRONG [31]
RHP
26
JULIAN MERRYWEATHER [23]
RHP
27
NELLIE RODRIGUEZ [25]
1B
28
OSCAR GONZALEZ [27]
OF
29
ANDREW CALICA [not in top 31, although described as a "plus hitter" and "his hitting ability should get him to the big leagues']
OF
30
MICAH MINIARD [28]
RHP

Biggest differences of opinion are over Chang and Ice who BA rates far higher; Kaminsky who dropped way farther with them. Gabriel Mejia who BA does list as "fastest baserunner" but I'm guessing that they consider that his only notable tool, and he'll be an old for Low A 21 year old this season; and Mathias who BA rates among the 20 top 2nd basemen in the minors.

Also on the BA list are:
Hoby Milner, the Rule 5 lefty who is not likely to stick at No. 24. Grade is only 40 but the likely of reaching that level is "medium" which is the same combo as Ryan Merritt, while everyone rated below him has higher ceiling but more unlikely to reach it. in AA in 2016 lefties hit 230 with 0 homers and 27 percent strikeouts against him

29. Jose Fermin, a soon to turn 18 year old, SS, who gets a 50 grade who is "steady defensive SS with good instincts; his speed and arm strength are average to slightly above average" "While not overly flashy his all around sill set makes him an intriguing prospect". OPS of 665 in Dominican in 2016; likely in Arizona in 2017.

30. Even younger SS Marcos Gonzalez, who starred in the Kindergarten World Series. Well not quite that young, h turned 17 last October. He's a 6-0 160 SS, that's one inch taller than Fermin. Signed for $250,000 didn't play pro yet. "He is a steady player with a chance to have above average tools across the board. His power is mostly to the gaps now with the chance to grow into more as he physically matures. He has avg speed and arm strength. He already has good defensive instincts and soft hands, giving him a good chance to stick at SS. Earns praise for his confidence and advanced tool set" Likely to debut in Dominican this year.

Write up on Gonzalez is pretty impressive. A good years of development before he has a chance to see Cleveland, but we may have yet another solid middle infielder on the way.

Best tool comparisons to the BA list; I can only give names not grade other than for our No. 1 prospect F.Mejia]:

Hit: Francisco Mejia (55) Mejia [60]
Power: Bobby Bradley (60) Bradley
Run: Gabriel Mejia (80) the same Mejia
Arm: Francisco Mejia (70) Catching arm Mejia gets the "perfect" score of 80; IF arm Erik Gonzalez; OF arm Zimmer
Defense: Erik Gonzalez (60) Defensive Catcher: Ice; Defensive IF Gonzalez; Defensive OF Allen
Fastball: Julian Merryweather (60) ditto
Curveball: Brady Aiken (60) McKenzie
Slider: Shawn Morimando (60) ditto
Changeup: Adam Plutko (60) ditto
Control: Ryan Merritt (60) ditto

BA also rates Best Strikezone Discpline: Yandy Diaz, who walked twice for the Tribe
and Best Athlete: Will Benson