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2016 Minor League Thread

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My personal awards:

Hitter of the Year: Francisco Mejia

- This one is pretty easy. When you have the longest hitting streak in MiLB in over 50 years, you are doing something right, never mind that he did it between 2 leagues. The decision to finally hold him back and have him play against guys his own age paid off, and he's one of the best prospects in baseball now because of it, as well as some personal maturing.

Pitcher of the Year: Shawn Morimando

- This one, on the other hand, was not easy. No one really separated themselves from one another, with Morimando, Clevinger, Pannone, Merryweather, and Kaminsky all being fairly similar, production wise. So I chose to go with the guy who played in the higher levels, and who didn't spend a considerable chunk of time in the MLB (Clevinger).

Reliever of the Year: Shawn Armstrong

- He got off to a shaky start, but he was unhittable down the stretch this year. He sacrificed velocity for movement this year, opting to go with his cutter more than his 4-seamer, but it didn't change the results. He still strikes out an absurd amount of hitters, but he still has no idea where he is throwing anything, which he will have to clean up before he stays at the MLB level. Good thing for him is, while its felt like he's been in the organization for 10 years, he's still only 25 years old.

Newcomer of the Year: Tyler Krieger

- Very rarely do you see guys debut in full season ball as a professional. Krieger, who didn't play last year due to a shoulder injury, completely skipped short season ball and went straight to full season A ball in Lake County. All he did was hit .313/.385/.427 in his first 70 professional games in Lake County, resulting in a mid-season promotion to High A Lynchburg. Krieger lived up to his pre-draft billing as a pro hitter in his 1st season.

Short-Season Hitter of the Year: Andrew Calica

- This one was also easy. All Calica did was rake in his first 50 pro games, after being drafted by the Indians in the 11th round of this years draft. .382/.474/.556 slash posted between Mahoning Valley (40 games) and Lake County (10 games). Calica falls in line with the Indians recent profile for college players drafted in the middle rounds; high plate discipline, high contact rate, gap-to-gap hitters.

Short-Season Pitcher of the Year: Triston McKenzie

- This one wasn't easy...it was a no-brainer. My personal #3 prospect coming into this season (behind Zimmer and Frazier), all McKenzie did was K 104 batters in just 83 innings, while only walking 22 batters...oh, and he did this as an 18 year old between 2 levels, as he earned a late promotion to Lake County.


2016 Indians Farm All-Stars:

C: Francisco Mejia
1B: Bobby Bradley
2B: Tyler Krieger
SS: Yu-Cheng Chang
3B: Yandy Diaz
OF: Greg Allen
OF: Anthony Santander
OF: Bradley Zimmer
DH: Nellie Rodriguez
UTIL: Mark Mathias

SP: Michael Clevinger
SP: Shawn Morimando
SP: Rob Kaminsky
SP: Thomas Pannone
SP: Julian Merryweather

RP: Billy Strode
RP: Leandro Linares
RP: Cameron Hill
RP: Perci Garner
CL: Shawn Armstrong
 
Personal Top 30 prospects heading into 2017:

1) Bradley Zimmer - OF

- Been cemented as the Indians #1 prospect since Lindor was called up last year, but his grasp on that spot is fading. It's nothing that Zimmer is or isn't doing, it's more what McKenzie and Mejia are doing. But Zimmer is still exactly as advertised. High on-base, high slugging, a lot of extra-base hits, a lot of steals, plus defense at all 3 OF spots, plus arm from the outfield, works deep into counts which results in a lot of walks and a lot of Ks. Has a smooth and easy approach at the plate that hopefully leads to a higher contact rate and lower K rate as he continues to mature as a hitter.

2) Triston McKenzie - RHP

- Has the makeup, pitchability, body frame, and projectability of someone who can become a top 5, if not the top prospect in all of baseball. I am that high on him. He just turned 19 a month ago, has already dominated 3 levels of pro ball so far (Rookie, Short A, Full A), has 3 plus pitches, locates well, and his stuff projects to keep getting better and better. He is a string bean at 6'5, 170 lbs, but if he fills out like his frame suggests, and he adds ~5 MPH (currently sits 88-92 with his fastball) on his arsenal as a result, he has a legit chance to be the #1 prospect in baseball IMO. Everything else he does is that good.

3) Francisco Mejia - C

- His season was well documented in here, so I don't have to go over it again. He has the best arm strength I have ever seen in person, at any level, MLB included (and I've seen a lot of baseball in person), has a very good approach from both sides of the plate for a young switch-hitter, keeps tapping into more and more power every season, and has seen his K rate drop. Still needs to refine his catching skills, mostly how he handles his pitching staff and blocks, but those come with time and maturity.

4) Brady Aiken - LHP

- Just like McKenzie, Aiken has all the makings of the #1 prospect in baseball, but his questions aren't how his body matures, its how does his health hold up and how does his arm rebound from his Tommy John surgery. When he is right, he has 4 plus pitches, which is rare for a young pitcher to have coming into pro ball. His velocity was down this year compared to where he was as a HS pitcher (88 to 90 this year, 92 to 94 in HS), but the hope is with a fully healthy winter and spring, that should rebound. And if that does happen, he is special. The guy was pitching with a recently reconstructed elbow and not his best stuff, yet still struck out 57 batters in just 46 innings pitched.

5) Bobby Bradley - 1B

- Perhaps the best young power hitter and run producer in all of MiLB, Bradley set a career high mark in HRs, RBIs, runs scored, doubles, and BBs while making what I believe is the hardest jump to make as a minor league hitter (Full A to High A). This is his 2nd straight season he's led his league in both HRs and RBI. Perhaps the hardest working player in the Indians system (he likes to watch and study a ton of video of himself) the hope is that his work will eventually lead to higher contact rates and lower K rates as he matures, as his batting average and total Ks both were career worsts this year.

6) Michael Clevinger - RHP

- We are all fairly familiar with Clevinger at this point, so this will be short. Plus stuff, just needs to keep progressing farther away from his Tommy John surgery and getting more and more comfortable with his new mechanics. When his command rounds into shape, he can be very special at the MLB level as a starter. If his health continues to be a problem, he can transition into a very good reliever as well.

7) Yu-Cheng Chang - SS

- Power hitting shortstops are the QBs of the current baseball climate. They are worth a ton, valued a ton, and are hard to find. The Indians have a few guys who could profile as a power hitting SS, but none have shown as much power a Chang. Only 20, he just recorded a 13 HR, 30 2B, 8 3B season that was shortened a bit due to injury in a league that usually saps power numbers. His defense has also continued to take steps forward at the SS position, but he has the bat profile to transition to 3B should he keep progressing and find himself blocked at the MLB level by some truffles guy.

8) Yandy Diaz - 3B/OF

- There is no position player prospect in the Indians system more MLB ready than Diaz. He is the walking definition of a professional hitter. He has arguably the best plate discipline, pitch recognition, and bat to ball skills in the Indians system. This year may have been his largest step in his progression as well. He was 2nd in the International League in batting average, and he did that while continuing to take steps forward in his power hitting. Set a career high in HR, 2B, and slugging, while still posting over a .400 on-base %. He also made himself more valuable by sacrificing time at 3B due to Gio Urshela and developing his skills in both LF and RF, as well as a few games at 2B. At this point, I would be shocked if he wasn't in Cleveland to start next season in the role we saw Jose Ramirez in to begin this season as the super utility man.

9) Greg Allen - OF

- There are very few "prototype lead off hitters" left in baseball. However, Allen is as prototypical of a leadoff hitter as there is in MiLB right now. A switch-hitter, he gets on base a ton, steals a ton of bases, scores a ton of runs, walks a ton, and Ks as much or less than he BBs. If last season put him on the map, this season established him as a legit prospect on the road to a nice MLB career. Set or tied career highs in batting average, on-base %, slugging %, hits, runs, walks, HRs, triples, and posted his 2nd straight 45+ stolen bases season. Him and Diaz are in a class of their own for pitch recognition, plate discipline, and bat to ball skills. He's also a plus defender at all 3 OF spots with a plus arm.

10) Will Benson - OF

- There is no higher ceiling position player in the Indians system than Benson...there is also no bigger bust risk too. While his rookie campaign was not the prettiest if you look at certain numbers, he was exactly as advertised; monster power mixed with tremendous speed for his size. 6 HRs, 10 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 10 SBs, 22 BBs, 31 runs, and 27 RBI in just 44 games is monster production, but it is hard to ignore the 32.6% K rate and .209 batting average. His peripherals actually compare well to Clint Frazier's rookie campaign, which is nice to hear, but he requires much more time and much more patience with his progression than Frazier needed. But the potential is monstrous. Not many 6'6, 220 lb 18 year old OFs out there in MiLB right now who project to hit 20-30 HRs and steal 20-30 bases. Kid can be scary good, but can also flame out, so patience is a must.

11) Nolan Jones - 3B

- By far the safer bet for high schoolers from this past years draft, Jones had a bit of a rude greeting to professional baseball. While I still am high on him, mostly because I believe he will be a plus defender and plus hitter at 3B (a position of weakness in the Indians farm), he still needs time to progress and pan out. He is a goofy, string bean build right now, but has the frame to hold a lot of good weight, which I believe can lead to 20+ HR a year power. He was also a SS in HS, so defense should come natural to him at 3B.

12) Juan Hillman - LHP

- I really hoped to see progression from him this year, but was a bit let down. K rate down, BB rate up, no noticeable advances in his stuff. I still have high hopes for him because of his background and his support system around him, so hopefully next year leads to some better results, but I need to see it. Changeup is still very good, but his fastball needs to be better for that pitch to be more effective.

13) Tyler Krieger - 2B

- I love switch-hitters. Krieger, however, is one of the rare switch-hitters who hits better as a righty than a lefty, which is rare to see. He was nothing short of spectacular this year, considering it was his first taste of pro ball. Works deep into counts, a trait the Indians currently value in their college hitters, has plus speed, and projects to be serviceable as a 2B, even after his shoulder problems. Would like to see him make more contact, as he K'd a little too much for my taste, and would like to see him be a little better on the base paths. As most of you know if you read any of my rambling shit in here, I love MiLB.tv, and every time Lynchburg was on I was 100% watching. Krieger ran himself into too many outs, something he will need to clean up if he wants to keep hitting at the top of the order.

14) Anthony Santander - OF

- This might be a bit long. By far my personal favorite prospect in the Indians system. The Indians haven't had a homegrown switch-hitting prospect like Santander since Victor Martinez nearly 15 years ago (yes, Santana, but he wasn't homegrown). Why do I like him so much? He is as good as a righty as he is as a lefty, which you almost never see from a young switch-hitter. The Indians should be counting their lucky stars, because they have 2 of those guys in Mejia and Santander right now. His season he just had made me much more comfortable with losing Frazier, a rare right-handed hitting OF in our system. Not only did he finally stay healthy, but his change in swing mechanics paid off in a major way. A 21 year old switch-hitter just had a 40 double, 20 HR, 95 RBI season, and yet you can't find anyone talking about him, which is crazy to me. And his slash lines were absurd (.296/.388/.493 vs LHP, .287/.359/.494 vs RHP). While he certainly isn't the best defensive OF there is, he is serviceable and should be just fine in the corners. I'd expect, with him staying healthy and hopefully remaining healthy, that he sees more innings in the field next season in Akron, and hopefully he rounds his defense into form to match his offense. He is never going to be a blazer on the base paths, but he is a big dude who should add some more good weight and add more power, which would be scary IMO. Willing to bet I'm much higher on him than most, but goddamn is it hard to find power hitting switch hitters who can play in the OF and whose numbers aren't skewed from certain sides of the plate.

15) Adam Plutko - RHP

- Plutko continues to be as steady as there is in our farm. He eats a ton of innings, is consistent as hell, and should be in line to see the MLB team next year should we see some injuries or regression. While he had a fairly fluky year in BBs allowed based on what he has done in years past, he still held his normal K/9 rate and gave up less hits than innings pitched, which I think is big for a pitch to contact guy, which Plutko is. His changeup is still his best pitch by far (and one of the better pitches in our system), and his fastball is getting a little bit better ever year, but he's still a guy who isn't going to blow you away with his stuff. Hopefully he see's a nice regression in his BB numbers next year.
 
Top 30 continued:


16) Shawn Morimando - LHP

- Morimando put himself on the MLB map this year with his season. Like Plutko, he's very steady and eats a ton of innings, which is always valuable. Also, like Plutko, his stuff will never blow you away, but it is good enough to get the job done, as he has multiple pitches he feels comfortable with throwing in any count. His BB rate dropped a bit this year, which was always one of his problems. Hopefully that trend continues. He's also one of the better pitchers in our farm at keeping the ball in the yard, which I like. By far our most ready LHP starter prospect, and should be in line, like Plutko, to see some action in Cleveland next year.

17) Erik Gonzalez - SS

- Gonzalez entered the season as what I viewed as the Indians most likely trade asset. A SS who plays great defense who has flashed some decent power at times and is blocked at the MLB level by a superior player...it just seemed like he was destined to be moved. However, by keeping him, his value to the Indians may have increased, as he just put together maybe his best season as a pro yet. Set career highs in HRs and slugging %, while also remaining one of the rangiest SS in MiLB. Still have some concerns about his plate discipline and contact rate, but at this point you have to take the good with the bad with him being 25 and close to a finished product.

18) Mark Mathias - 2B/3B

- Another recent mid-round college bat, Mathias is the same profile as Tyler Krieger. Both came to the Indians touted as pro ready hitters, but with questions surrounding their defensive position due to shoulder injuries they had in college. Mathias pulled a rare move of skipping over Low A ball entirely, and going directly from Short-Season ball as a rookie to Advanced A ball as a 2nd year player, and ended his season in AA Akron. Like Krieger, Mathias works deep into counts, is a gap-to-gap hitter, and can play multiple positions on the infield, though 2B is where he is his best at. One of a record 3 Indians prospects to hit 40 2Bs this year (along with Santander and Connor Marabell), Mathias saw no drop in his production, even with his fast promotion up the farm. He gets on base a lot, he hits a ton of doubles. That was his profile coming into the season, and what it is going out. He also played more of a utility role this year (games at 3B, SS, and 2B), which ups his value a bit as a prospect.

19) Rob Kaminsky - LHP

- No Indians starting pitcher prospect was better than Kaminsky the last month + of the season. Finally healthy, Kaminsky looks to be regaining his form that made him a top prospect before the Indians acquired him from the Cardinals last year. He struggled with back issues early this season, but finally got healthy around the AA All-Star break. He posted a 7-2 record with a 2.29 ERA in 10 starts following the All-Star break, and saw his K rate climb and BB rate decline over that stretch. In the games I watched the last month or so, his fastball was sitting 92/93, his curveball regained its form, and his slider had more bite than I had yet to see from him since hes been in our farm. Still some questions about his size and effort and how it will effect his health moving forward, but he deserves to remain a starter moving forward.

20) Aaron Civale - RHP

- The Indians 2016 drafted college pitchers were absolutely unhittable this year. Between Civale, Shane Bieber, and Tanner Tully, only 14 ER were given up in 107.2 innings pitched (1.17 ERA). But out of those 3, Civale has the best stuff and is the better prospect. His slider may already be one of the best pitches in the Indians farm, but I was more surprised with how his fastball profiled. Not a flamethrower by any means, his fastball sat 91/92, but it had very good arm-side sink, which makes his slider look that much better. I expect Civale to breeze through the system like Adam Plutko before him.

21) Shane Bieber - RHP

- If Civale has the best stuff out of the 2016 drafted college starters, Bieber has the best control, and it isn't even close. Already billed as probably the best command and control pitcher in the 2016 draft, Bieber walked just 2 hitters in 24 IP in his rookie campaign. Nothing he throws jumps off the page at you, but he can throw anything at anytime, which is what makes him good and hard to hit. He has very easy mechanics, is very smooth, and I think he can add a few MPH on his stuff, which would take his ceiling to another level. He should also fly through the system very quickly.

22) Micah Miniard - RHP

- Came to the Indians raw as hell. He's 6'7, was skinny as a rail, and didn't have a go-to pitch when he was drafted in 2014, but had an incredible amount of projection based on his size alone. He continues to get better and better year by year. Career high in K/9 this year, as well as a career low in ERA, all you can hope for with Miniard is that he keeps progressing. He's predominantly a fastball/curveball pitcher right now, but he is trying to develop a changeup, which with his frame would be a great weapon to have, and could potentially become his best pitch. He should be a member of what will most likely be the most exciting starting group in the farm next year, as I'd guess the starting 5 at Lake County next year features him, McKenzie, Aiken, and Hillman to start the year in 2017.

23) Matt Esparza - RHP

- The most under the radar starting pitching prospect in the Indians farm. His K:BB ratio his first 2 years as a pro has been scary good. One of the rare starting pitchers who features a splitter in his pitching arsenal, he also throws a decent low 90s fastball and an average curveball. Will be curious to see how his stuff holds up as he moves up level by level.

24) Thomas Pannone - LHP

- Always a good strikeout pitcher, he finally broke out this season. He was dominant in both levels he was in this year (Full A and High A), and made good strides with his entire pitch selection. Mostly a fastball/curveball pitcher before this season, mixed in a changeup that gave him a different look and helped keep hitters off balance most of the year, resulting in career lows in ERA and WHIP.

25) Nellie Rodriguez - 1B

- Strongest guy in the system. Massive raw power. Nellie rates so low for me because he is a RH 1B only, which hurts a players value. He set a career high for HRs this year with 26, and set a career high in total walks, but also set a career high in Ks and K%. He needs to make more contact if he wants to differentiate himself from Jesus Aguilar.

26) Mike Papi - OF/1B

- Papi's struggles as a pro have been well documented. However, he just put together his best pro season yet, and finished the season on an absolute tear in AA. The power that was talked about before he was drafted finally showed up. Set new career highs in HRs, slugging %, OPS, RBI, runs scored, ISO, and wRC+. He may have the best OF arm in the system, and can also play some 1B as well. The hope is that how he ended the season was a sign of things to come, as Papi living up to his pre-draft billing would be a major shot in the arm for the farm.

27) Ka'ai Tom - OF

- Tom was on his way to perhaps being in my top 20 after this year, before suffering a season ending injury. Like all the college bats recently drafted by the Indians, Tom has terrific plate discipline and pitch recognition and puts the ball in play. At the time of his injury, he was posting a slash of .323/.446/.434 and had an absurd 8 OF assists in 28 games. He's talented, but has been injured a few times already in his short career. Hope he can put together a full year in 2017.

28) Andrew Calica - OF

- Calica's first 50 pro games couldn't have gone any better for him. There's a reason he won the Cape Cod leagues batting title last summer. I'd expect him to start in High A Lynchburg next year, and I'd expect to see him manning CF and hitting 3rd for them.

29) Julian Merryweather - RHP

- A bit old for his current level of play, which is why you won't see him on many top prospect lists for the Indians, but stuff plays, regardless of age. Sits easy in the mid 90s, has a nice smooth and repeatable delivery that doesn't point to any looming health issues, and mixes in a decent changeup to go with his fastball. He needs a 3rd pitch though, as his slider has not exactly been a pitch to worry about yet. If he can develop one more off speed pitch, he should come on people's radar a bit more, especially as he begins to play higher levels that match his age.

30) Logan Ice - C

- Ice had a difficult rookie campaign. However, he did a terrific job managing a very young Mahoning Valley pitching staff early on, and showed the arm and defensive skills that made him a highly touted prospect coming into last years draft in the first place. A switch-hitter with decent pop, the hope is that the bat will eventually be average, which will allow the defense to play.

Guys to watch who could enter my top 30)

Oscar Gonzalez - OF
- Monster RH power potential, too much swing and miss

Todd Isaacs - OF
- Dynamic RH bat, good speed, too much swing and miss

Gabriel Mejia - OF
- Leadoff or 9 hole, switch-hitter, fastest guy in the system, 0 power

Tanner Tully - LHP
- Control and command, low ceiling due to lack of raw stuff

Sam Hentges - LHP
- Incredible swing and miss stuff, lot of potential, just had Tommy John

Dorssys Paulino - OF
- Was once a top prospect, good pop and speed, still just 21, talent is there just needs to put it all together

Willi Castro - SS
- Very young, played in levels way above his age, good defender, tremendous speed and power potential, too much swing and miss

Ryan Merritt - LHP
- Innings eater, LHP who throws a lot of strikes, low ceiling with limited stuff

Samad Taylor - 2B
- Switch hitter, some pop, tremendous speed, good defender at 2B or SS, questions on ceiling

Francisco Perez - LHP
- Francisco's are doing well in our system
 
Playoffs started tonight...

Columbus lost 5-4

Yandy Diaz went 4-5 with a HR
Zimmer went 1-3 with a BB
Gomes caught 5 innings, went 0-2 with a BB
Plutko went 7 IP, gave up 2 ER, K'd 4

Akron won 12-8

Allen went 1-5 with a 3B and a BB
Papi went 3-5 with a HR and 3 RBI
Rodriguez went 2-3 with a 2B and 2 RBI
 
BimboColesHair said:
Playoffs started tonight...

Columbus lost 5-4

Yandy Diaz went 4-5 with a HR
Zimmer went 1-3 with a BB
Gomes caught 5 innings, went 0-2 with a BB
Plutko went 7 IP, gave up 2 ER, K'd 4

Akron won 12-8

Allen went 1-5 with a 3B and a BB
Papi went 3-5 with a HR and 3 RBI
Rodriguez went 2-3 with a 2B and 2 RBI
Click to expand...
No playoffs for A?
 
BimboColesHair said:
Playoffs started tonight...

Columbus lost 5-4

Yandy Diaz went 4-5 with a HR
Zimmer went 1-3 with a BB
Gomes caught 5 innings, went 0-2 with a BB
Plutko went 7 IP, gave up 2 ER, K'd 4

Akron won 12-8

Allen went 1-5 with a 3B and a BB
Papi went 3-5 with a HR and 3 RBI
Rodriguez went 2-3 with a 2B and 2 RBI
Click to expand...

So good to see Papi on a tear to finish the year. Assuming he starts at AA next year, he could have a big season.
 
Columbus won 6-4 (series tied 1-1)

Zimmer went 1-3 with a grand slam
Gomes went 1-3 with a HR
Diaz went 2-4 with a BB

Akron lost 3-1 (series tied 1-1)

Allen went 0-4
Rodriguez went 1-4

Lynchburg won 5-4 in 14 innings (series tied 1-1)

Krieger went 3-7 with a 2B
Mejia went 3-7 with a HR and 2 RBI
Chang went 4-6 with 2 2B
Bradley went 2-8 with a walkoff RBI single
 
Lynchburg won 3-1 and won their series 2-1...onto the Mills Cup

Yu-Cheng Chang went 2-3 with a HR and 2 RBI
Santander went 1-4 with a 2B
Sean Brady went 5.1 IP, K'd 7, gave up 0 ER
 
Akron won 9-4 (lead series 2-1)

Papi went 3-5 with a HR and 5 RBI
Rodriguez went 2-4 with a 2B
Allen went 1-3 with 2 BB
Gomes went 1-4 with a 2B, an RBI, and a BB
 
Akron wins 1-0 in 10 innings and wins their series 3-1

Mike Papi went 2-4 with a 2B and scored the winning run
Pitching went 10 innings and gave up 1 hit
 
BimboColesHair said:
Akron wins 1-0 in 10 innings and wins their series 3-1

Mike Papi went 2-4 with a 2B and scored the winning run
Pitching went 10 innings and gave up 1 hit
Click to expand...

To add to this, Akron only had 3 hits total.
 
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