Cleveland Sports Forum

I think is mostly a left fielder, but he's played all over. Johnson seems more likely to be a CF or RF candidate.

perhaps I posted this a while back since it's BA's top 30 prospect review from about August 1. Anyway, some of the comments are interesting:

These comments are limited to guys on the preseason top 30:

Hurting

One of the breakout performers of last season, RHP Jean Carlos Mejia got off to a good start in 2019 with Lynchburg. He had a 36-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33 innings before he suffered an abdominal strain in early June.

RHP Lenny Torres, the Indians’ supplemental first-round pick in 2018, had Tommy John surgery in May. He will return to action in 2020, when he will still be just 19 years old.

RHP Nick Sandlin, the Indians’ second-round pick in 2018, last year raced to Akron after signing and then quickly pushed to Columbus this spring. He figured to be in the mix to reach Cleveland in the second half but suffered a forearm strain. The injury is not expected to require surgery but its timing relative to the end of the minor league season means he is likely done for the year.

2B Richie Palacios, the Indians’ third-round pick in 2018, suffered a torn labrum at the end of spring training. He underwent surgery to repair the injury and is out for the year.

Falling


LHP Sam Hentges isn’t falling precipitously. While he ranked among the Indians’ Top 10 Prospects entering 2019, someone had to drop out to make room for first-round pick Daniel Espino. Hentges has scuffled a bit while moving up to Akron, where he’s getting hit a bit more and his strikeout rate is down. His changeup has been more consistent this year, while he’s landing his breaking ball for strikes a bit less often. Hentges is still 22 and has time to work out those issues.

C Eric Haase very briefly spent some time in Cleveland this year but has mostly been the starting catcher in Columbus. He has continued to show impressive power—he’s already hit 20 home runs for the third year in a row—but hasn’t been able to break through the Indians’ catching duo of Roberto Perez and Kevin Plawecki. Haase still has a chance, but he’s 26 and Cleveland has in the last year dealt two upper-level catchers (Yan Gomes and Francisco Mejia and he still hasn’t been able to find a way to consistent big league time.

Rising


Injuries this spring forced the Indians to dip into their rotation depth and RHP Zach Plesac, a 12th-round pick out of Ball State in 2016, emerged. He worked to improve his delivery and a tighter arm action has helped him to both increase his velocity—his fastball sits 94 mph and touches 97 mph—and improve his plus breaking ball. Some of Plesac’s peripheral numbers in the big leagues indicate he’s outperforming his ability, but he’s had to learn on the job in Cleveland and there’s reason to believe he’ll be able to make further improvements and adjustments.

The phrase "video-game numbers” gets thrown around a lot in sports, but there are a lot of gamers who would love to be able to put up RHP James Karinchak’s numbers in The Show. He this year changed the grip on his curveball to great effect. In 13 innings between Akron and Columbus, the 23-year-old struck out 32 batters, walked three and held opponents to five hits. That otherworldly start to the season had Karinchak streaking to Cleveland before he suffered a strained hamstring in mid-May and then suffered a setback during his recovery. He figures to return to the mound soon and could still get to Cleveland in the second half if all goes well.

BA's final, just about, Top 100 revision of 2019. Nolan Jones up from 48 to 46; Tyler Freeman up from 80 to 71; IL McKenzie down from 70-83 [started the year around 40]; Valera 87-85. Still Omitted: Ethan Hankins.

I would imagine that if by any chance McKenzie is able to pitch he'll be sent to winter ball. If that doesn't happen then he'll drop out of the 100 altogether and drop to the lower half of our top 10.

it's minor league offseason, so BA is beginning the Top 20s for each minor league. Starting at the top with the International League. We have some candidates: Bradley [although his second half stats were dramatically down], Johnson and Tom [both of whom started the year in AA. Already posted a quick comment from BA on Tom as a fringe prospect which is still a lot more than he rated before this season] Karinchak may not have had enough innings to qualify for the list. Not sure if Civale did either.

OK, so here's someone I forgot had played in the minors this season. No. 5 on the list which is full of big talents:

5. Oscar Mercado, OF, Columbus (Indians)
Age: 24. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 197. Drafted: HS—Tampa, 2013 (2/Cardinals).

Mercado was dealt to the Indians last season, made his big league debut on May 14 and has showed a well-rounded skill set ever since getting to Cleveland. Mercado uses his plus speed on the basepaths and in center field, where he’s an above-average defender.

He traveled to Cleveland last winter to revamp his swing, and the results have helped make him one of just a handful of rookies with double-digit totals in doubles, homers and stolen bases.
His AAA numbers:
AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
119 24 35 10 1 4 15 16 32 14 3 .294 .396 .496

Bradley fits in reasonably high a No. 13

13. Bobby Bradley, 1B, Columbus (Indians)
Age: 23. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 225. Drafted: HS—Gulfport, Miss., 2014 (3).

Bradley led the IL in home runs and perhaps that was no big surprise. The power always has been there and he’s willing to go to the opposite field so it’s more than one-dimensional.

The batting average ticked up a bit and that was one of the things he was working on. The strikeout rate (34 percent of plate appearances) remained out of control and that’s something the Indians might just have to live with.

His Clippers coaches have given him praise for adjustments. He puts together professional at-bats, something he’s had to do because pitchers often avoid feeding him fastballs.

Bradley has made strides with defense, but he’s still fringe-average at best at first base.

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
402 65 106 23 0 33 74 48 153 0 0 .264 .344 .567

Arizona fall League underway and our guys are underwhelming.

Nolan Jones 2 singles 3 walks and 7 K in 17 AB. OPS 368
Gavin Collins 1 single in 7 AB OPS 393
Ernie Clement 1 single in 5 AB OPS 400
Angulo 1 inning 1 hit 2 K no runs
Kirk LH McCarty 3 innings 3 hits 1 run 1 walk 4 K
Teaney 1 2/3 2 hits 2 runs 3 K

Tuesday in Arizona:

CLE AFL Clement, Ernie DH 4 0 1 0 .222
CLE AFL Angulo, Argenis 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 Sv (1)
CLE AFL Teaney, Jonathan 1.2 2 2 2 4 1 10.80 He's been pretty consistently awful throughout his career.

Jones No. 6 on the EAstern League prospect list

6. Nolan Jones, 3B, Akron (Indians)
Age: 21. B-T: L-R. HT: 6-4. WT: 185. Signed: HS—Bensalem, Pa., 2016 (2).

Jones did not disappoint in his first stint of action in the upper minors with Akron. He began to hit for power, and in the month of August he drew 22 walks in 27 games.

Jones has plenty of raw power, and his bat profiles as a hit-over-power tool. He has a big move to load his hands during his swing, but he is able to repeat it and should grow into even more power. Jones is very patient at the plate, although at times he appears too passive, getting himself into pitchers' counts.

Jones has a plus arm and is athletic enough to stick at the hot corner as he matures. His ceiling is that of a middle-of-the-order bat, and his defensive play should add value.


Good so he will likely stick at 3rd

a couple of my questions on the Eastern League chat:

Elliot (Youngstown OH): Daniel Johnson excelled with Akron before his promotion and nearly as good results in AAA. Not good enough for the top 20? Major league prospect?
Justin Coleman: He had a nice year in the upper minors, no doubt. Not a top 20 guy but I do like him. A ML prospect with tools, sure.

Elliot (Youngstown OH): While Plesac and Civale soared through Akron to Columbus to major players in Cleveland's top notch rotation, Sam Hentges had a rough year. What happened? And is he still a prospect to become a big league starter?
Justin Coleman: Sam Hentges is a tough one-- athletic, long levers, doesn't throw many strikes. There is stuff, but it was a rough year for him. He is a prospect but needs to control the strike zone better next season, otherwise it looks like a bullpen arm.

Elliot (Youngstown OH): Aaron Civale didnt' last long in Akron and his stats have improved at each of the 3 levels he's pitched at this year. Is he capable of staying at the same level as his fellow 2016 draftee Shane Bieber?
Justin Coleman: Not sure if he is on the Shane Bieber level, but his stuff works in the rotation. It's another nice arm for them.

boy it sure pays to get the questions in early, he only answered about a baker's dozen and I got in 4:

Elliot (Younstown OH): James Karinchak wasn't here long but he strike out nearly every better he faced. Major league closer?
Justin Coleman: He was money in the EL but struggled with his control in the International League. Not ready to place a big league closer tag on him just yet, but his FB and CB combo work really well. Could be a really good pen arm for Cleveland.

Great job Civ!

that's what I get paid for

in Arizona yesterday:

CLE AFL Clement, Ernie 2B 5 1 2 1 .286
CLE AFL Jones, Nolan 3B 4 2 1 0 .176 BB (3), SB (1)