Cleveland Sports Forum

The Cleveland Indians farm system had several players break out last season across all levels.

Some, like debuters Andrew Calica, Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale immediately contributed with insane numbers after being drafted. Others, like Matt Esparza, Oscar Gonzalez and Conner Marabell, exploded with huge seasons in their sophomore efforts after a slow feeling-out process in their initial campaigns. Then there were hot shots like Francisco Mejia and Anthony Santander (please come back to us!), who just needed a little extra seasoning at the lower levels before putting forth the best seasons of their young careers.

So what defines a breakout player?

To me, it’s someone who had a slow start to their career whether it was a tougher transition than they expected or they were hampered by injuries, but the potential is still there to rise to the occasion. There’s also the under-the-radar type who has been quietly putting up good numbers but just hasn’t been given much attention in any of the prospect rankings (current top prospects Greg Allen and Yandy Diaz come to mind).

Here are 10 prospects who I feel will have their stock rise big time in 2017

Pitchers

Brady Aiken

You don’t just go and become the number one overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft for no reason. Aiken’s talent is unquestioned, the real concern is his health.

You should know the story by now, that Aiken was selected first overall by Houston Astros in 2014, but failed to sign after the team panicked during his medicals. Those concerns came to fruition in 2015 when he went under the knife for Tommy John surgery. The Indians drafted him anyways with their first round pick and he debuted in June of 2016.

Aiken has talent, but he wasn’t there physically last year, which is to be expected from Tommy John surgery recipients. His fastball velocity started out in the upper 80s when he’d previously peaked in the upper 90s. While his velocity started to return by the end of the season, his prospect status took a major hit as he was dropped off the MLB Pipeline top 100 and took a tumble in the Indians prospect rankings as well.

As long as Aiken can stay healthy, I think there’s a very good chance he returns to form in 2017. Mike Clevinger’s ERA was 9.53 in his first taste of pro action following his TJ surgery so there’s no reason to panic. I fully expect Aiken to have a solid season this year, hopefully starting out in the full season Lake County’s Single-A rotation.

Micah Miniard

An eighth-round draft pick in 2014 out of Boyle County High School in Kentucky, Micah Miniard has all the measurables that make scouts drool. The right-hander stands 6-foot-7, can reach the upper 90’s with his fastball and is still just 20 years old.

While he’s flown under the radar, taking it slow in his first three seasons, Miniard took a big leap forward in 2016, becoming the Opening Day starter for Low-A Mahoning Valley on a team that featured top pitching prospects Triston McKenzie and Juan Hillman. Miniard was excellent, holding a 2.38 ERA over seven starts before being promoted to Single-A Lake County.

His performance earned some attention and he debuted as the No. 30 Indians prospect on MLB Pipeline this past February. If he can continue to develop and harness his athleticism, there’s some serious potential for him to make a big leap in the prospect rankings.

Dylan Baker

Dylan Baker has been one of the unluckiest players in the Indians farm system. After debuting with a perfect six innings in 2014 at High-A, he was shelved with a broken ankle. He came back in 2015 with five innings of no-hit ball in his first start and was promptly forced to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Baker missed the remainder of 2015 and all of 2016 after needing a clean-up procedure plus some bone spur removal. What’s interesting is the fact that the Indians chose to stash him on the 40-man roster once he became eligible last year and he’s remained there ever since.

The 6-foot-2 Alaskan appears healthy now. He won the conditioning test for all Indians pitchers at the Goodyear facility this past February and has finally stepped back on the mound in some spring training minor league games for Akron. His days of being a starting pitcher are likely over, but he has a live arm and could earn a roster spot via the bullpen route.

Regardless, 2017 is likely a make or break season for Baker.

Ben Krauth

Ben Krauth couldn’t have started his professional career better. After being drafted in the 16th round out of Kansas in 2016, the southpaw promptly threw 30 scoreless innings.

Krauth doesn’t blow away hitters, but he displayed spectacular control as a long relief option out of the AZL and Mahoning Valley bullpen and was forcing batters to swing at his pitches. He was even promoted to Single-A Lake County before the season was over.

The former Jayhawk will continue being promoted as long as he’s successful and it wouldn’t shock me to see him get tested out as a starter this year instead of just piggy-backing with another starter who has a limited pitch count. Krauth was stretched out up to four innings last year and it’ll be interesting to see how the 23-year-old performs against some more experienced bats this year, but the potential definitely is there for continued success.

Francisco Perez

If you don’t know who Francisco Perez, don’t be too hard on yourself. The 19-year-old Dominican import hasn’t pitched above the Arizona Rookie League yet in two seasons, but those two seasons have been very impressive.

Standing 6-foot-2 and already hitting the mid-90s as a southpaw, Perez blew opposing batters away last year to the tune of a 2.69 ERA and a rock solid 1.02 WHIP in 13 starts for the AZL Indians, good enough to garner him Pitcher of the Year honors for the level.

There’s no need to rush Perez, so don’t expect him in Cleveland anytime soon, but don’t be shocked if he takes a big leap this season and finally gets his name on some prospect rankings.

Position Players
Luke Wakamatsu

Taken in the 20th round of the 2015 draft, Luke Wakamatsu was considered a downright steal. Most teams expected him to play college ball at Rice so he plummeted in the draft, but the Indians took a chance and a $290,000 signing bonus convinced him otherwise.

The son of Kansas City Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu possesses a huge frame (6-foot-3) for the shortstop position and could develop some extra pop in his bat, but first he’ll have to stay healthy. He was expected to have a big year in 2016, but a shoulder strain limited him to just 17 relatively unproductive games.

Wakamatsu appears ready for a fresh start this year and the 20-year-old is hoping for a big bounce-back season offensively to get himself back on the radar among scouts and fans alike.

Todd Isaacs

Another late draft pick, the 19th round of the 2015 draft, Todd Isaacs had a very solid under-the-radar season last year for Low-A Mahoning Valley.

After a rough 2015 debut which saw him bat .214 over 37 games for the AZL Indians, Isaacs blossomed in 2016 hitting a very impressive .333/.384/.514 while manning the Scrappers outfield.

The Indians didn’t quite know what they had in Issacs last year, initially batting him 9th in the order and using him for late game pinch runner duties, but by the end of the year, he was batting second and was a consistent contributor. Strikeouts are a bit of a concern as he whiffed 45 times compared to just eight walks, but hopefully that’s something he can work on to really help him stand out this upcoming season.

Ka’ai Tom

Another 2015 draft pick, this time in the fifth round, Ka’ai Tom was well on his way to breaking out last year before his season was derailed with a fluke injury. The speedy outfielder was batting .323 and had walked 23 times compared to just 13 strikeouts over 28 games when he injured his shoulder diving back to first base on a pick-off attempt.

If he had stayed healthy, Tom would likely have been included in the talented core of players who were promoted midseason to High-A Lynchburg like Francisco Mejia, Tyler Krieger, Thomas Pannone, Matt Esparza, Connor Marabell and Willi Castro.

Tom appears ready to go and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Indians promote him to High-A to start the season where he can join some of his teammates from last year. As long as he can stay in the lineup, expect some serious production and a rising stock. His bat is simply too good for the lower levels at this point.

Ulysses Cantu

Many mock drafts last year had Ulysses Cantu going as early as the second round, and all the rankings had him listed as one of the top 100 players available, but for some reason, team after team passed him by when it was go-time.

The Indians eventually picked him up in the sixth round with the 152nd overall selection, but they weren’t exactly able to see him at his best when he debuted with the AZL Indians last summer. Normally a third baseman, Cantu was bothered by an arm injury which limited him to first base and DH duties for the season, where he batted a pedestrian .202 with just one home run and two doubles in 30 games.

Cantu’s arm appears to be healthy now and I fully expect his offensive production to skyrocket. He definitely has plus power potential despite his stocky 5-foot-11 frame, and he should be getting some steady reps at third base this time around as well. As long as he did the right things this offseason, things can go nowhere but up for Cantu in 2017.

Jose Fermin

Who? Jose Fermin was the No. 28-ranked international prospect when the Indians signed him as a 16-year old in 2015. He debuted at shortstop for the DSL Indians last year but was shut down for the rest of the season after a home plate collision with an opposing catcher caused a knee injury.

Thankfully, Fermin was able to avoid surgery and he not only appears to be fully healthy, but he’s been playing with the big boys in minor league spring training. Despite playing at the DSL level last year, he’s been getting some reps with the High-A club this spring and has been holding his own, reaching base safely 6 times in 16 at bats thus far.

Having just turned 18 years old two days ago, Fermin is the furthest away from the big leagues of any prospect listed here, but he could definitely be one to keep an eye this year at whatever level he winds up playing.

Brady Aiken yesterday in his final spring start. 5(IP) 4H 0R 0ER 0BB 3SO

Ice 2-2 2B

Gabe 1-3

Plutko 5(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 0BB 5SO

Bradley 2-4 2B RBI

Zimmer 1-3 2B

Tomlin 4(IP) 6H 2R 2ER 2BB 3SO

Papi 3-4 2R 2B HR RBI

2017 Cleveland Indians Minor League Spring Games Recap: March 31

ARTHUR KINNEY

RubberDucks 4, Clippers 3

CLIPPERS BATTERS (NO POSITIONS NOTED IN BOXSCORE)

Erik Gonzalez - 0-1, 2 BB, 1 K
Yhoxian Medina - 0-2
Ronny Rodriguez - 2-3
Eric Stamets - 0-2
Bradley Zimmer - 1-3, 1 2B
Greg Allen - 1-2, 1 K
Giovanny Urshela - 1-3, 2 K
Joe Sever - 0-2
Richie Shaffer - 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
Nellie Rodriguez - 1-4, 1 K
Mike Papi - 3-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Adam Moore - 0-2, 2 K
Eric Haase- 0-2, 2 K
Jordan Smith - 0-0, 1 RBI, 1 BB, additional plate appearance
Taylor Murphy - 1-2, 1 2B, 1 K
Todd Hankins - 0-4, 2 K

CLIPPERS PITCHERS

Josh Tomlin - 56 pitches, 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R (both earned), 3 K
Kyle Crockett - 16 pitches, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (earned), 2 K
Robbie Aviles - 23 pitches, 1 IP, 3 H, 1 K
Paul Hendrix - 10 pitches, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Dominic Demasi - 14 pitches, 1 IP, perfect, 1 K
Matt Whitehouse - 12 pitches, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB

RUBBERDUCKS BATTERS

Jodd Carter (CF) - 0-4, 2 K
Tyler Krieger (starting DH) - 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B
Francisco Mejia (backup DH) - 0-1
Dorssys Paulino (starting LF) - 2-3, 1 R
Todd Isaacs (backup LF) - 0-1
Bobby Bradley (DH) - 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Daniel Salters (C) - 1-2
Will Benson (RF) - 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Yonathan Mendoza (1B) - 1-4, 1 R, 2 K
Ivan Castillo (SS) - 1-3, 2 K
Erlin Cerda (2B) - 1-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 CS
Jorma Rodriguez (3B) - 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 E, additional plate appearance

RUBBERDUCKS PITCHERS

Trevor Bauer - 99 pitches, 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (all earned), 4 BB, 8 K
Adam Plutko - 57 pitches, 5 IP, 3 H, 5 K

Hillcats 5, Captains 0

HILLCATS BATTERS

Willi Castro (SS) - 0-4
Conner Capel (LF) - 0-4
Ka'ai Tom (CF) - 3-4, 2 2B, 1 K
Martin Cervenka (starting DH) - 0-4, 3 K
Jose Vicente (backup DH) - 0-2
Gian Paul Gonzalez (backup DH) - 0-1
Sicnarf Loopstok (starting C) - 1-2, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E
Simeon Lucas (backup C) - 0-1, 1 K
Anthony Miller (1B) - 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B
Alexis Pantoja (starting 2B) - 0-2, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB
Miguel Eladio (backup 2B) - 0-1
Junior Soto (RF) - 1-3, 1 RBI
Elvis Perez (3B) - 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

HILLCATS PITCHERS

Brady Aiken - 67 pitches, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 K
Michael Letkewicz - 11 pitches, 1 IP, perfect
Leandro Linares - 19 pitches, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Jordan Milbrath - 12 pitches, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

CAPTAINS BATTERS

Gabriel Mejia (starting CF) - 1-3
Trenton Brooks (backup CF) - 1-1
Samad Taylor (starting 2B) - 0-2
Kevin Bradley (backup 2B) - 1-2
Li-Jen Chu (starting C) - 0-2, 1 K
Miguel Jerez (backup C) - 0-2, 1 K
Logan Ice (starting DH) - 2-2, 1 2B
Jason Rodriguez (backup DH) - 0-1
Jose Medina (RF) - 1-3
Luke Wakamatsu (SS) - 1-3
Oscar Gonzalez (starting LF) - 0-2, 1 K
Hosea Nelson (backup LF) - 0-1, 1 K
Jonathan Laureano (starting 3B) - 1-2
Nolan Jones (backup 3B) - 0-0, 1 BB
Ulysses Cantu (starting 1B) - 1-2
Emmanuel Tapia (backup 1B) - 0-1

NO CAPTAINS PITCHERS LISTED

TOP 10 COUNTDOWN
2017 IBI Top 75 Prospects: #10 Juan Hillman
TONY LASTORIA

10. JUAN HILLMAN – LEFT-HANDED PITCHER
Born: 05/15/1997 – Height: 6’2” – Weight: 185
Bats: Left – Throws: Left

Facts & Info: Hillman was selected by the Indians in the 2nd round of the 2015 Draft out of Olympia High School (FL). He had a commitment to attend and play baseball for the University of Central Florida but the Indians pulled him away by signing him to a $825,000 signing bonus. He was a 2015 Perfect Game USA first team Preseason All-American selection and was named to the Florida All-Region First Team. Former Major League pitcher Tom Gordon became his legal guardian when he was a sophomore in high school. Last season he finished 2nd in the NY-Penn League in games started (15).

Stuff: Hillman is a well-built left-handed pitcher who has the stuff and feel for pitching to be one of the Indians next big pitching prospects. There is still a lot of projection to his body as he has a lean, athletic frame that should continue to get stronger as he matures and continues his strength and conditioning program. His stuff also has a lot of projection to it too as he is an advanced, polished arm with a nice three pitch mix that all has a chance to be above average. He has a solid average fastball that sits comfortably at 89-93 MPH and will touch 94-95 MPH at times, and really gets some good, late life through the zone with it. The Indians believe there is a chance for more velocity as he continues to fill out his frame and get stronger where he could see his average and top end velocity see a 1-2 MPH uptick. He does a good job of commanding and locating his fastball to both sides of the plate and is able to spot it to all four quadrants and just does a nice job of moving it up, down, in and out. He is not afraid to pitch inside with it to lefties or righties, and gets some swing and miss on it because of the good late running action and how he angles it well on hitters. His plus changeup is considered the best pitch in his arsenal as he shows a very good feel for it and commands it very well. He really repeats his arm speed and arm slot well to create some deception to it and make it look like a fastball coming out of his hand and it shows some very good late tumbling action. His curveball is another good offering for him that only grades out as average now because he is a little inconsistent with it, but has a chance to be plus because of his good feel for spin and the good 12/6 shape and depth it flashes.

Delivery & Intangibles: Hillman has a loose arm and a polished delivery with some very good, clean mechanics where he does a good job of staying balanced and compact throughout his delivery and has a good tempo and rhythm to it. He hides the ball well and creates some deception with his quick arm action. He throws from a high three-quarter arm slot and really gets some good downhill angle to all of his pitches. He is a strike thrower who commands all of his stuff very well for his age, and his pitchability is off the charts just with his advanced ability at his age of reading swings, setting up hitters, mixing his pitches and understanding of how hitters are trying to attack him. He has a strong work ethic and is a good makeup player.

Focus: Last season was Hillman’s first real taste of a full season where he started throwing in February and it was nonstop all the way through early September. He was learning a five day routine and his body had to adjust in many different ways to the grind of a seven to eight month season. He hit a lull velocity-wise late in the season because of general fatigue, and his numbers were impacted as a result. While he did a nice job overall of coming in and doing his work and having a strong, healthy season and put up some solid numbers, going forward it will be about learning to balance his body and his pitches so that he can stay strong the entire season and not have fatigue set in. The Indians really emphasized his strength and conditioning program this offseason so that he comes into this season even stronger and can handle the higher workload he will have this year. With his athleticism and frame he has the potential to add bulk and strength, which will not only help him stay stronger over the course of a season but could improve his chances for durability and also bump his velocity up a little. His struggles over his last nine starts of the season were also a byproduct of him leaving too many pitches up in the zone. Without the stuff to overpower hitters he has to consistently locate down in the zone, something he lost a feel for during the season, and is something that will be a main development point for him going forward. In addition to that the Indians want him to develop an even better feel for pitching on the mound to be even better at reading the swings of hitters better to see when they are aggressive and when they are not so that he sequences his pitches and locations to them better. His curveball is a main focal point in his arsenal as the Indians would like to see him add a little more power and depth to it. They want him to be more intent with it which they believe will allow him to be more consistent with his arm speed and release point which in turn will create more spin and improve the shape of it.

Future: Hillman had a solid showing last season in his first full season in the organization. He opened the season in extended spring training to continue to build his routines, refine his mechanics and improve his stuff and then went to Short-A Mahoning Valley when their season started and had a good year. He was young for the league as the NY-Penn League is often filled with a lot of recently drafted college players who are older, but he more than held his own. In fact, through his first six starts he was sensational going 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA (30.1 IP, 21 H, 4 R (3 ER), 0 HR, 8 BB, 26 K) before hitting a wall and over his final nine starts went 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA (32.2 IP, 45 H, 32 R (28 ER), 5 HR, 16 BB, 21 K). It was a complete reversal as he went from 3rd in the league in ERA over his first six starts to worst in the league in ERA over his last nine starts. Even still, it was a very productive and encouraging year for him as he has now made the transition to pro ball with getting into the routine of preparing for games, handling the travel, facing the competition and the overall lifestyle in general. Now, he needs to get the mental and physical part of the game down as this season he will be pitching his first full season and should throw about 120 or so innings. He is advanced for his age so could move quickly, and projects as a solid middle of the rotation starter with the upside to be more. He should open the season at Low-A Lake County and spend a majority of the season there, though with a strong showing could see some time at High-A Lynchburg late in the year.

Who would've guessed

JUAN HILLMAN: Delivery & Intangibles: Hillman ...his pitchability is off the charts .... He has a strong work ethic and is a good makeup player.

Notes on the rosters:

Jordan Smith lives on. Finally made it to AAA for an opening day after a woeful midseason debut with the Clippers in 2016

Rob Kaminsky despite a very solid 2nd half, returns to Akron.

Tyler Krieger aggressively promoted to Akron/

Andrew Calica aggressively promoted to Lynchburg, as was McKenzie.

Dylan Baker is guaranteed not to suffer an opening day injury since he's remaining in Arizona.

Also not yet assigned are last year's top picks, Will Benson and Nolan Jones nor Arizona League MVP OF Oscar Gonzalez.

Whoever picked that list of breakout players has names several of us have chosen, including my longshot OF Todd Isaacs.

Bieber and Civale are college kids who could've been bumped to Lynchburg but instead they are part of a very impressive Lake County rotation along with Brady Aiken, Justin Hillman and Micah Miniard. All 5 are serious prospects.

Some talent in the lineup with Ice, a great defender, and Chu, an impressive hitter, both listed as catchers. Wakamatsu at SS and Mejia and Isaacs in the outfield. The rest of the infield is pretty weak until Nolan Jones and some of the other 2016 draftees leave Arizona.

None of the high school picks are starting with full season teams, which isn't unusual.

Cannot find 5 starters among the names on the Lynchburg roster. Besides McKenzie there's breakout prospects Matt Esparza, Pannone and Brock Harston. the Hillcats had the most impressive opening day roster in 2016 and the team produced as anticipated. The lineup in Lynchburg isn't much to talk about either. Willi Castro and Calica are the only prospects. [I don't see Mark Mathias; must be on the DL?]

Perci Garner a surprisingly solid 2016 got him to the majors and the 40 man roster. Now he starts 2017 back in Akron.

Akron offense should be strong since the entire Lynchburg roster is here now, except for supposedly injured Anthony Santander stashed away by Baltimore and absent Mathias. AA is often considered a major test for hitters. Let's see what Bobby Bradley does. He won another MVP last year but his average was below 250 and his Ks were pretty near astronomical. He's joined in the IF by prospects Krieger and Chang. Mejia behind the plate.
Greg Allen in center flanked by once-a-prospect Dorsyss Paulino who traditionally only hits well in warm weather, and failure-to-date Mike Papi whose only confirmed offensive skill is drawing walks.

Rotation: Kaminsky, Merryweather, Lugo, Pasquale, Peoples.

2017 IBI Top 75 Prospects: #9 Yandy Diaz
TONY LASTORIA
9. YANDY DIAZ – THIRD BASEMAN/OUTFIELDER
Born: 08/08/1991 – Height: 6’2” – Weight: 185 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

Facts & Info: Diaz is a defector from Cuba that the Indians signed as an undrafted free agent in January 2014. In 2015, he finished 1st in the Eastern League in walks (78), 1st in on-base percentage (.412), 4th in batting average (.315), 4th in OPS (.819) and was top 10 in several other offensive categories. Last season, he finished 2nd in the International League in batting average (.325), 1st in on-base percentage (.399), 9th in slugging percentage (.461) and 3rd in OPS (.860 and also finished 3rd in the organization in batting average (.318). He also had a very good showing playing winter ball in Venezuela over the offseason where he hit .371 with 2 HR, 18 RBI and 961 OPS in 40 games.

Offense: Diaz is not a bat that is going to produce big power numbers, but he’s a productive bat who puts up good at bats by working counts, patiently waiting for a pitch to drive and getting on base. He displays a consistent low effort line drive swing and some great hand-eye coordination and above average pitch recognition skills that give him excellent bat-to-ball ability. He doesn’t try to do too much with his swing by trying to yank everything and instead looks to drive the ball the other way to the right-center gap. He combines a high contact rate with a low strikeout rate and great feel for the strike zone to be a tough out for any pitcher. His great approach takes his bat to another level as he shows such extreme patience and a good understanding of the strike zone which results in a lot of walks – and when combined with his high hit rate makes him an on-base machine. His plate discipline is unbelievable as there is such little swing and miss from him, he lays off well located strikes early in the count, he doesn't chase very many pitches out of the zone, he recognizes spin very well and he has an advanced feel for how pitchers are trying to attack him. He just keeps things simple where he is patient to wait for a pitch to come into the zone and if it doesn’t he is satisfied with taking a walk. While he doesn’t project to hit for much power and very many home runs, he has some strong forearms and wrists and has some good muscle tone to him so there is some strength to impact the baseball. His power is fringe average but the Indians believe with his very good bat speed, innate ability to consistently square up the baseball and the way the ball jumps off his bat that he could have solid average power and pile up a lot of extra base hits by pounding the ball in the gaps.

Defense: While the bat has been impressive for Diaz, what really makes him attractive is how versatile he is and how he can fit in at several different positions. Up until last season he was primarily a third baseman only with the Indians, though came into the system rather seasoned at many positions around the diamond during his time in Cuba. Knowing his versatility, his unique skill set and their need at the Major League level, the Indians moved him around the diamond last season and he answered the challenge well logging in 52 games in the outfield, 52 games at third base and 5 games at second base. He is a reliable defender who makes the routine play and grades out average defensively at third base with the upside to be a little more and has a chance to be average in the outfield. He shows some solid hands, good instincts, some good lateral quickness to his left and right and a strong throwing arm. His athleticism shows in the outfield as he is able to range to balls well and in the infield he does a nice job of coming in on slow rollers and throwing on the run to first base. His athleticism and experience at so many defensive positions provides him the versatility to handle any position on the diamond except catcher, though he would be limited some if used in center field and at shortstop.

Speed & Intangibles: Diaz has a long, lean build with tons of athleticism and is an average runner, though because of some good instincts on the bases he grades out as a slightly above average baserunner. His consistency day in and day out with his work before games is off the charts as he has developed a very good routine to prepare himself for the daily grind of baseball – which is a big reason why he has been such a consistent offensive performer over his career. He shows an ability to adapt and make adjustments, and is a silent leader on the field. He has a good heartbeat to handle high pressure situations as he thrives in them and shows the ability to come through in the clutch. While he missed two months early in the 2014 season because of a left wrist fracture, he has proven to be a durable player who can handle the workload of playing every day over a long six month season.

Focus: Diaz showed some improved power last season, but some of that has to be taken with a grain of salt as he did it in the bandbox that is Huntington Park. The Indians have worked with him to tap into his power a little more as they feel he has the ability to impact the baseball a little more than he has to this point in his career. He carries one of the higher hard hit percentages in the organization, but he doesn’t hit for much power because he doesn’t get a lot of balls into the air. During batting practice when things are more relaxed he shows some aggression and drives the ball to all parts of the field with ease, but doesn’t carry it into games as he mostly just tries to work the ball the other way and doesn’t try to pull balls much for more impact. The Indians would like to see him elevate the ball a little more so some of his hard hit balls can plug the gaps, get over the head of outfielders or even over the wall. It is a balancing act because his swing is so good and consistent that they don’t want to lose what he does so well already, but what they want him to do is get himself into a better position to drive balls and find a way to create a little more angle at his contact point which could allow for more line drives and get more loft and backspin on the ball. They would also like to see him try to pull some more balls early in the count that he can drive rather than settle for taking the ball the other way. The end result is not necessarily for him to hit more home runs, but to pile up a lot more doubles and see his extra base hit totals rise. His lack of a true defensive position hurts him some, but he is coming along as a potential everyday option at third base. He still needs to work to pick up a better feel for the position, smooth out some of his inconsistencies, stay focused and move on from mistakes quicker and just get innings and experience at the position so he can grow.

Future: Diaz had his best season as a pro last season and put himself on the doorstep of a Major League opportunity. He handled his early season transition to Triple-A well and ended up putting up a great stat line on the year with an 11.3 BB%, 16.8 K% and a career best .136 ISO and 149 wRC+. He’s a career .307 hitter in the minors with a .403 on-base percentage, and that ability to hit, get on base and limit strikeouts (career 13.7 K%) provide an interesting skill set at the plate that makes him an intriguing option for the Indians. In just two full seasons of action he has raced through the system and now has a cult following in Cleveland anticipating his Major League debut. Unfortunately, he did not get a call in September last season because the Indians had six outfielders and didn’t have at bats to give him, plus he didn’t need to be rostered in the offseason as a Rule 5 protect, so the Indians made the unpopular decision to not bring him up for the stretch run. Regardless, he has moved quickly through the system and established himself as a legitimate Major League depth option in the outfield and infield this season for the Indians and because of an injury to Jason Kipnis found his way onto the opening day roster. When Kipnis returns he will probably go back to Triple-A Columbus at least for a few weeks to correct his service time, but a strong showing right out of the gates may make it hard not to have him stick around in a super utility role.

Ranking History: #13 (2016), #29 (2015)

Once again gotta love those intangibles. Like all our prospects he's off the charts. They need to redraw the charts.

Speed & Intangibles: Diaz has . . . tons of athleticism . . . . His consistency day in and day out with his work before games is off the charts as he has developed a very good routine to prepare himself for the daily grind of baseball – which is a big reason why he has been such a consistent offensive performer over his career. He shows an ability to adapt and make adjustments, and is a silent leader on the field. He has a good heartbeat to handle high pressure situations as he thrives in them and shows the ability to come through in the clutch.

This is Tony's first reference to "heartbeat" that I've encountered. I don't think I'd personally want a heartbeat that's off the charts.

2017 IBI Top 75 Prospects: #8 Greg Allen

TONY LASTORIA

8. GREG ALLEN – OUTFIELDER
Born: 03/15/1993 – Height: 6’0” – Weight: 175 –
Bats: Switch – Throws: Right

Facts & Info: Allen was selected by the Indians in the 6th round of the 2014 Draft out of San Diego State University and signed for $200,000. At San Diego State University he led the Aztecs in steals in 2012 (12), 2013 (25), and 2014 (25) and led the Mountain West Conference in steals in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 he finished 2nd in the Midwest League in stolen bases (43) and was 1st in the organization as well. Even though he spent the last six weeks of the season with Double-A Akron last season, he still finished 4th in the Carolina League in batting average (.298), 1st in runs (93), 8th in walks (58), 1st in hit by pitches (19), 2nd in stolen bases (38), 1st in on-bases percentage (.424), 6th in OPS (.825) and 2nd in lowest total plate appearances per strikeout ratio (8.47). He also finished 8th in the organization in batting average (.295) and 1st in stolen bases (45).

Offense: Allen is a table-setting bat that is a prototypical leadoff hitter who possesses a wide range of offensive skills and is dynamic player who can impact a game in many different ways. One of the more interesting things about him is his exceptional eye at the plate and his ability to manage the strike zone which has allowed him to be an on-base machine his entire career racking up a .386 on-base percentage over three seasons. He is a very patient hitter who is very disciplined in his approach where he will work deep into counts and wait for a pitch he can put a good swing on. He shows some good strike zone awareness and some good pitch recognition skills which makes him a tough out and has allowed him to have an exceptional strikeout to walk ratio in his career where he walks just as much as he strikes out and does a good job of making consistent contact. He has a nice line drive swing from both sides of the plate where he shows some very good bat-to-ball ability and uses a whole field approach. As a switch-hitter he is amazingly consistent as his career numbers to date are rather similar from both sides, and is just a very smart hitter who knows his swing, analyzes opposing pitchers well and develops a mature plan of attack on a daily basis. While he is thin and has a wiry frame, he has some deceiving strength and some good fast twitch athleticism that allows him to surprise a little with his power. While his power only grades out as below average, he has the ability to rip balls into the gaps when he squares them up and can hit the occasional home run.

Defense: Defensively, Allen is becoming one of the better defensive center fielders in baseball and has a chance to be an elite Gold Glove caliber Major League center fielder. He played second base early in college before moving to center field, so is still learning to play the position and has really come on well as it is now considered his best tool. He shows exceptional range with clean, accurate route running, plus instincts, lots of athleticism and great first step quickness. He is a vacuum as he rarely lets a ball drop by showing unique range coming in on balls and making highlight reel diving plays and shows off his elite speed and range with the way he tracks balls down in the gaps and goes back on them toward the wall. He has a calmness to the way he plays defense as he glides to balls into the gaps with ease and keeps everything in control. The arm is solid average and he has the versatility to play all three outfield spots. For his outstanding defensive efforts last season, he was the recipient of the 2016 Rawlings Gold Glove Award, an award handed out to just nine players in all the minors (one for each position) to recognize them for defensive excellence.

Speed & Intangibles: Allen has plus speed which allows him to impact a game both defensively and offensively. He makes pitchers uneasy with the amount of pressure he puts on them when he gets on base because he is such a big threat to steal, and he also puts pressure on the defense to get rid of the ball quickly with how well he gets down the line and is always looking for the extra base. One of the big things going for him outside of the plus eye, speed and defense is his exceptional makeup and advanced maturity as he is as professional as they come, truly cares about his teammates and has a very good presence in the clubhouse. The Indians love the way he prepares for games, approaches each at bat, his commitment to the finer points of the game and how coachable he is as a player. He listens well, takes instruction, is open-minded and is honest with his coaches which creates a very good environment for him to develop and improve. The strides he has made to date over his pro career are a testament to his outstanding work ethic, desire and trust in his coaches. He is a great teammate, shows good leadership skills and is someone other players gravitate to and like to be around.

Focus: Allen is very advanced in nearly all phases of the game as his defense, approach and bat are all very good. At this point, it is about developing the finer points of the game with him and just working to make him a little better in each of those areas. While he already shows such great ability in the outfield, there is still some upside to be even better considering he is still picking up some of the nuances for the position with positioning, reading swings and learning opposing hitter’s tendencies. The Indians have really challenged him to be more aggressive on the basepaths because they believe he can be an elite base-stealer at the Major League level and really impact the game even more in that area. He is still learning when to run and get better jumps, and is also working to use that speed in the short game by being a better bunter and learning how to bunt for more hits to add another dimension to his game and add even more pressure to the defense. The Indians have worked to open up his approach to use the whole field which has made him a more complete hitter and give him a chance to impact with the bat a little more by pulling some balls for power. The Indians believe there is some untapped power in his swing and with a little more intent, looking to drive balls more often and being a little more on time that he could really spray a lot more line drives down the lines and into the gaps.

Future: When the Indians dealt highly touted outfield prospect Clint Frazier to the Yankees in the Andrew Miller deal last July, all eyes immediately turned to Bradley Zimmer as the next big outfield prospect on the horizon in the minors. While that may be the case, Allen jumped onto the scene as someone who the organization is very excited about and has just as much of a chance to get to Cleveland at some point this season and be an impact player for them right out of the gates with his ability to get on base, his great speed and his outstanding defense. He put up his best minor league season to date last season with an outstanding 78-77 strikeout to walk ratio which helped him post an exceptional .416 on-base percentage for the season, was a fire starter on the basepaths swiping 45 bases and scoring 119 runs, and he even chipped in with some power ripping 37 extra base hits for a career best .118 isolated power percentage. With his offensive game taking a big step forward he has massive potential as an everyday Major League center fielder because of his ability to steal a lot of bases, play excellent defense, and hit from both sides of the plate - and looks like a prototypical leadoff hitter in the making who has the potential to be a future fan favorite and core player who can man center field for a long time in Cleveland. He will open the season with a return to Double-A Akron, but is on the fast track and should move up to Triple-A Columbus rather quickly and get a meaningful amount of games there and could be a late season roster addition in Cleveland if the right opportunity presents itself.

Ranking History: #24 (2016), #40 (2015)