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2018 Minor League Thread

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In case anyone is curious to see the progression of Benson's swing as a pro:

Rookie ball
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIRRHPdpA_k


2017 Spring training
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0rTmtMq1B0


Mahoning Valley 2017
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFG6gsJiy9o


Early 2018
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAYc8eH9uNY


Currently
http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=2355845983&topic_id=18601616&c_id=&sid=milb

Absolutely love where his swing is going in that last video. Everything looks smooth, short, controlled, and simple, after looking out of control and off-balance most of his pro career.

Can see how he changed his stance, hand placement, stride, you name it, and he has done it on the fly during an active season...not easy to do.

His previous swing absolutely capped him as a prospect for me, but I like where he is going with things. He generates power so easily, he is finally learning that he doesn't have to use his entire body to do so.

Next year is absolutely make or break for him, IMO.

At some point, he's got to produce.
 
All but like two of his HRs have been to the opposite field.

Indians 3B prospect with opposite field power?

I smell hall of fame!

s-l300.jpg
 
In case anyone is curious to see the progression of Benson's swing as a pro:

Rookie ball
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIRRHPdpA_k


2017 Spring training
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0rTmtMq1B0


Mahoning Valley 2017
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFG6gsJiy9o


Early 2018
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAYc8eH9uNY


Currently
http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=2355845983&topic_id=18601616&c_id=&sid=milb

Absolutely love where his swing is going in that last video. Everything looks smooth, short, controlled, and simple, after looking out of control and off-balance most of his pro career.

Can see how he changed his stance, hand placement, stride, you name it, and he has done it on the fly during an active season...not easy to do.

His previous swing absolutely capped him as a prospect for me, but I like where he is going with things. He generates power so easily, he is finally learning that he doesn't have to use his entire body to do so.

What a great breakdown. I definitely don't have a scout's eye, but I can see the progression. Early on, he's wild, and now he looks like he's swinging within himself. The ball is getting deeper in the zone. This is pretty cool.
 
Next year is absolutely make or break for him, IMO.

At some point, he's got to produce.

Absolutely.

But the kid deserves credit. He could have easily produced more this season had he not changed his swing mid-season (got off to a decent start to the year with his old mechanics), but I think this season is a necessary evil that he had to go through. He was not a good prospect with the swing in those earlier videos. Sacrificing stats to hopefully be a more well-rounded hitter in the future is a selfless move on his part.

Him changing things up makes him more intriguing to me, and buys him a pass for this season from me. He needs to play that HR swing off a lefty over and over again all winter because if he does that consistently he matters as a prospect again, cause that was something he could not do his 1st 2.5 years as a pro, staying on a pitch moving away from him and driving it to left.
 
Not the Indians, but the Blue Jays called up Thomas Pannone today.

He was in the Joe Smith trade, I know some posters liked him. He was suspended for 80 games back in March for a positive PED test.
 
Vlad Jr has to be the most prized player in a system.

At 19 years old and currently hitting .400 this season, he flew through the system and is already 11 games in at AAA and has a line of .441, .535, .853, 1.388. That's just downright unheard of.

I wish he was one of ours.
 
Vlad Jr has to be the most prized player in a system.

At 19 years old and currently hitting .400 this season, he flew through the system and is already 11 games in at AAA and has a line of .441, .535, .853, 1.388. That's just downright unheard of.

I wish he was one of ours.

He will make his MLB debut either this September or next Juneish, though the only question mark is, can he be an average 3B fielding in the pros. If he can do that, Hall of Fame may be in the cards for him.
 
Ernie Clement promoted to Akron..... his third level this season.

He's not a power bat but has great bat to ball skills and maybe a 70 runner.

38 walks to 28 K's this season-- lowest K rate in the minors, 9th lowest swinging strike %.

He's played 2B and SS this year but many think he'd be a very good CF (played it in college).

.846 OPS in A+ as a 22 year old.
 
Ernie Clement promoted to Akron..... his third level this season.

He's not a power bat but has great bat to ball skills and maybe a 70 runner.

38 walks to 28 K's this season-- lowest K rate in the minors, 9th lowest swinging strike %.

He's played 2B and SS this year but many think he'd be a very good CF (played it in college).

.846 OPS in A+ as a 22 year old.

Haven't seen much of Clement, but would his ceiling be a Whit Merrifield type?
 
This came up before, but what happened the Brady Aiken? He’s on the A ball roster, but is on a DL. Just curious...
 
Ernie Clement promoted to Akron..... his third level this season.

He's not a power bat but has great bat to ball skills and maybe a 70 runner.

38 walks to 28 K's this season-- lowest K rate in the minors, 9th lowest swinging strike %.

He's played 2B and SS this year but many think he'd be a very good CF (played it in college).

.846 OPS in A+ as a 22 year old.

2 HRs, 2 triples and 30 doubles in 533 career at bats.

Only weighs 170 lbs on a 6ft frame. They need to get him in the gym- no reason he can’t get to 190-195 fairly easily.
 
This came up before, but what happened the Brady Aiken? He’s on the A ball roster, but is on a DL. Just curious...
On the fast track. "All but guaranteed" to be ready for the playoffs.
 
Last edited:
This came up before, but what happened the Brady Aiken? He’s on the A ball roster, but is on a DL. Just curious...


Jordan Bastian

✔@MLBastian

· Aug 15, 2018
Taking Q’s for the next Tribe inbox. Submit here with #IndiansInbox or send to jordan.bastian@mlb.com with name/hometown. What’s on your mind?

Josh Cotton@JoshCotton13

What the word on Brady Aiken? Will he pitch at all this year? This almost seems like a redshirt year. That a fair statement? #IndiansInbox

3:12 PM - Aug 15, 2018

I guess that's one way to look at it, but the goal of the Indians' approach with Brady Aiken this season is based on rebuilding arm strength. In 132 innings for Class A Lake County last year, the lefty had 101 walks and displayed diminished velocity. When Cleveland took Aiken in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft, it knew he'd be a project given that he was returning from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.

The word from within the Indians' front office is that there has not been a specific injury keeping Aiken out of Minor League games this year. Due to the extent of his struggles last year, the team felt it was best to give him as much time as he required to go through strength training at its complex in Arizona. Aiken, 22, has thrown off a mound, but the team has held him out of games to this point.​
 
Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen from Fangraphs both agreed that Nick Sandlin will be the first 2018 drafted player to reach the bigs.... which is what I said on draft night.

The interesting part is that they think he's a guy who could start.... maybe not necessarily in a traditional sense but in more of the TB Rays "2nd pitcher" role-- a guy who goes through a lineup twice after "the opener" pitches the 1st.

Something to think about should the Indians want to experiment.... I do think his repertoire is deep enough and his command is good enough where he's probably more than just a one inning reliever. He's unique enough where the Indians organization could and should do some experimentation with him and his role.
 
Also another note, Rob Kaminsky has been doing well at Akron! Anyone know his velocity and whatnot?
 

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