2018 Minor League Thread

[BimboColesHair]

3B Nolan Jones promoted to Lynchburg
RHP Luis Oviedo promoted to Lake County
RHP Dakody Clemmer promoted to Lake County
LHP Adam Scott promoted to Lake County

Would really like to see Freeman finish out the year in LC. Too good for the NY-Penn league.

 

[EdMonix11]

Henry Martinez promoted to Columbus.

Reliever. His stats aren't terribly sexy but he's touching 100 mph.

 

[EdMonix11]

Bobby Bradley was also promoted to Columbus

 

[PIP]

Might as well...

 

[Derek]

3B Nolan Jones promoted to Lynchburg
RHP Luis Oviedo promoted to Lake County
RHP Dakody Clemmer promoted to Lake County
LHP Adam Scott promoted to Lake County

Nolan Jones last game at Lake County

3-4 2 HRs

Finished at .279/.393/.464 with 16 HR in 90 games

Reminder that he had just 4 HR in 94 games prior to this year. Power is really starting to come in.

 

[AZ_]

Nolan Jones last game at Lake County

3-4 2 HRs

Finished at .279/.393/.464 with 16 HR in 90 games

Reminder that he had just 4 HR in 94 games prior to this year. Power is really starting to come in.

I said it when he was drafted, if the power comes he’s going to be special.

Big time ceiling.

 

[Urban]

Sawchik on Nolan Jones

"When the Indians drafted Nolan Jones in the second round of the 2016 draft, he was rated as one of the best pure prep hitters in the class. The question was about his power. As I wrote last week, teams ought to value hit tools over power tools when evaluating prospects in this era when launch angle and power have shown to be capable of being taught. Then-Indians director of amateur scouting Brad Grant was optimistic, saying after the 2016 draft he believed Jones would hit for power. Well, Jones has begun to do just that. A two-homer game last week pushed his total at Low-A Lake County to 16 and earned him a promotion to High A, where he promptly swatted a three-run homer.

He’s posted excellent walk rates to date in his minor-league career, 16 percent, in short-season ball last summer and 16 percent in Lake County. He’s improved from hitting 2.2 ground balls per fly ball in his first exposures to pro pitching in 2016 and 2017, to 1.6 this season. He’s getting the ball in the air more often, and his HR/FB ratio has spiked to 25 percent this year, an elite mark for a 20-year-old. His sweet left-handed swing is one to watch. It’s not a stretch to think he has the most offensive potential in the system."

 

[AZ_]

Sawchik on Nolan Jones

"When the Indians drafted Nolan Jones in the second round of the 2016 draft, he was rated as one of the best pure prep hitters in the class. The question was about his power. As I wrote last week, teams ought to value hit tools over power tools when evaluating prospects in this era when launch angle and power have shown to be capable of being taught. Then-Indians director of amateur scouting Brad Grant was optimistic, saying after the 2016 draft he believed Jones would hit for power. Well, Jones has begun to do just that. A two-homer game last week pushed his total at Low-A Lake County to 16 and earned him a promotion to High A, where he promptly swatted a three-run homer.

He’s posted excellent walk rates to date in his minor-league career, 16 percent, in short-season ball last summer and 16 percent in Lake County. He’s improved from hitting 2.2 ground balls per fly ball in his first exposures to pro pitching in 2016 and 2017, to 1.6 this season. He’s getting the ball in the air more often, and his HR/FB ratio has spiked to 25 percent this year, an elite mark for a 20-year-old. His sweet left-handed swing is one to watch. It’s not a stretch to think he has the most offensive potential in the system."

All but like two of his HRs have been to the opposite field.

 

[Urban]

All but like two of his HRs have been to the opposite field.

How does his defense project at 3B? I saw a comment said he has quite a few errors, not that that necessarily tells the entire story.

Edit- they cited his 2017 errors. 22 over 450 innings & 53 G

This year, 19 over 697 innings & 81 G

 

[Derek]

How does his defense project at 3B? I saw a comment said he has quite a few errors, not that that necessarily tells the entire story.

Edit- they cited his 2017 errors. 22 over 450 innings & 53 G

This year, 19 over 697 innings & 81 G

Young guys tend to make a lot of errors, Lindor had 22 the season he spent at Lake County and 18 the next year playing mostly at Carolina (now Lynchburg).

Now, at 6'4", if his frame really fills out, he could end up moving across the diamond. For now, he's a 3B with good tools for the spot.

 

[AZ_]

How does his defense project at 3B? I saw a comment said he has quite a few errors, not that that necessarily tells the entire story.

Edit- they cited his 2017 errors. 22 over 450 innings & 53 G

This year, 19 over 697 innings & 81 G

Have never seen him play, so its tough for me to say with any certainty.

He grew up as a shortstop, and if his arm can play at 3B (and most believe it can), then I think the Indians can develop him into a guy who can handle it. But he's a pretty big dude and will grow.

As Derek said, he could have a home across the diamond or in a corner OF spot.

 

[Derek]

Obviously this guy moved a lot faster through the system, and in no way do I expect Nolan Jones to match his career, or even come close really, but it's tough for me to not see a young Jim Thome when I see this lanky 6'4" kid playing 3B, mashing HR, and drawing a ton of walks for the Indians organization.

 

[Ob1]

Wait, we have a reliever who is touching 100 MPH and has a 67.50 ERA in cbus (after one game haha). Does anyone know anything more about this guy?

 

[AZ_]

Wait, we have a reliever who is touching 100 MPH and has a 67.50 ERA in cbus (after one game haha). Does anyone know anything more about this guy?

He got lit up in his first Triple-A action.

But yeah, he throws pretty hard.

 

[BimboColesHair]

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.