Cleveland Indians Top 20 Prospects, Part 2

Written by: Al Ciammaichella on 6th March 2009

Cleveland Indians Top 20 Prospects, Part 2 | read this item

Here it is…what you have all been waiting for. These players represent cream of the crop in the Indians farm system. Several should make their debuts in Cleveland this coming summer, so best to learn them now and be ahead of the curve when you see them on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. If you missed Part 1 yesterday, check it out here.

1. Matt LaPorta-1B/OF
One of the top power prospects in the minors, LaPorta was seen as the crown jewel in the C.C. Sabathia trade last year. LaPorta’s bat is ready to contribute right now, and he could be the answer to the corner OF issues that have plagued the Tribe in the past few years. The Indians are working on getting LaPorta to stay back on the ball and not try to pull everything, and he has shown improvement in this area already. If he can master that skill, look out. Worst-case scenario, he becomes a three true outcomes player with a ton of power. Best case, he learns to drive the ball to all fields and hits .300+ in addition to his 35+ HR ever year. LaPorta will begin the year as a 24 year old in AAA Columbus, and can likely force his way to Cleveland with a strong start. Ben Francisco and his .770 OPS are not likely to block him for long.

2. Carlos Santana-C
Stolen from the Dodgers in the Casey Blake deal along with Jon Meloan, Santana is a Victor Martinez clone behind the plate. Santana won the MVP in the A+ California League in 2008 despite being traded out of that league in July. Upon his arrival in the pitcher-friendly Carolina League, scouts expected his numbers to come back to Earth somewhat. Santana responded by hitting better in Kinston than he had in Inland with the Dodgers organization. He reminds many of a young Victor Martinez, and if you see him hit you will understand why. Their batting stances are almost identical, with Santana’s hands loading from the same high and forward position as Martinez. Both are switch hitters, both are converted infielders who can hit in the middle of the order from behind the plate. Santana will start his age 23 season at AA Akron.

3. Nick Weglarz-OF
I am as big of a Weglarz fan as you will find outside of his immediate family. His power/patience combo at such a young age makes my heart sing. The only reason I have him below Santana is because Weglarz might outgrow the outfield and end up at 1B, which lessens his impact slightly. He is already 6’3”, 255 and just qualified to buy alcohol in the States this past December. None other than Indians prospect guru Tony Lastoria compared Weglarz to a young Jim Thome. His size, patient approach and prodigious power make that comparison an accurate one. Weglarz has tremendous plate discipline; he takes walks, and more importantly has the patience to wait for his pitch and drive it. He only hit 10 HR last year in Kinston, but traveled to Bejing with the Canadian Olympic team and put on a power display there by hitting a couple of moonshot HRs. He will also play for Team Canada in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Wegz will begin 2009 as a 21-year old in class AA Akron.

4. Beau Mills-1B/3B
Mills is the second of the Indians A+ MVP’s, as he was given the honor by the Carolina League for his performance in Kinston last year. His bat will play in the majors someday; the only question is where he will slot in the field. Drafted as a 3B, he had some arm troubles that required surgery and has since had some time at 1B. As an organization, the Indians have a lot more depth at 1B than 3B, which is why the team is reluctant to move him across the diamond full-time. Mills will be the 3rd member of an AA murderers row in Akron this year (seriously, get your Areos tickets now!) Mills put up an impressive .879 OPS in the pitcher-friendly Carolina League last year and has been impressive so far this spring, so look for him to break out this year in Akron and really establish himself as an elite prospect this summer.

5. Adam Miller-RHP
Miller has been a tease to Indians fans for years now. Blessed with a million dollar arm, Miller has simply been unable to stay healthy and on the field. In 2006, Baseball Prospectus called him the best pitching prospect in baseball not named Felix Hernandez. In 2007, Sports Illustrated put him in their “Dream Rotation” along with Cole Hamels, Tim Lincecum, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Phil Hughes. At this point, the Indians are going to move Miller to the bullpen to see if he can stay healthy, but they are not closing the door on a move back to the rotation at some point down the road. If Miller can stay healthy, he can be a game-changer from the top of the Indians rotation. If not, we will be left wondering what could have been. I think Miller should start 2009 in the Indians bullpen, but there is a chance he will begin in AAA Columbus in order to polish his routine warming up in and pitching out of the bullpen.

6. Wes Hodges-3B
Hodges came off the assembly line of hitters in Georgia Tech as a 2nd round pick in 2006. Hodges had a solid year at the plate for Akron in 2008 and followed it up with a very strong showing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Hodges has come under fire for his work at 3B, but his athleticism and hard work should allow him to become at least an average 3B. Even if he is a tick below average, his bat should play. As I mentioned in yesterday’s article, Hodges and Luis Valbuena are likely in a battle for an IF spot in Cleveland in 2010, with the winner determining the eventual positions of Jhonny Peralta and Asdrubal Cabrera. Hodges will start at AAA Columbus to add a little more seasoning, but he is just about ready to contribute at the major league level.

7. David Huff-LHP
Huff is another southpaw candidate for the rotation in 2009. He hasn’t had a taste of big league action yet, despite being one of the best starters on last year’s Buffalo squad. Huff was on a tight innings leash last year after coming back from UCL issues the year before, which is likely the reason he never got any time in Cleveland. Huff won 11 games last year between Akron and Buffalo, and his 143 K’s to just 29 walks is a big reason why. Huff doesn’t get the fastball much over 92 MPH but gets a lot of strikeouts because he pitches smart and can throw all four of his pitches for strikes whenever he wants. Huff has been compared to Tom Glavine, which is a lot to live up to, but the comparison fits because of his control and intelligence on the mound. Huff is probably 2nd in line behind Aaron Laffey for the #5 spot out of spring training, but look for him to be the 1st starter called up if anyone on the big club goes down with an injury or is ineffective (I’m looking at you, Carl Pavano.)

8. Kelvin De La Cruz-LHP
De La Cruz pitched at three different levels in the system last year, starting at A- Lake County and working his way all the way up to Akron by the end of the season. He had more success as a Captain than with the Aeros or K-Tribe, but that can be expected from a kid who is only 19! To give you an idea of how successful he was in A-, his combined ERA and WHIP in Lake County was under 3.00. He already sits at 91-93 MPH with his fastball and should add velocity as he gets bigger and older…but at 6’5” he is already an intimidating sight on the mound. Tony Lastoria describes his curveball as a “12-6 hammer and a projectable plus-plus pitch.” Coming from a tall southpaw, that pitch will be his ticket to the bigs as long as he can control it. De La Cruz will open at A+ Kinston as their ace, and as a 20 year old has a shot to move up to Akron with a strong showing in the Carolina League.

9. Hector Rondon-RHP
Rondon is a power right-handed arm in an organization that doesn’t have many. He burst onto the scene last year with a strong showing in Kinston, highlighted by a scoreless inning in the Futures Game for the World Team in Yankee Stadium. Rondon has some serious giddyup on his fastball, and used his high-90’s heat to strike out more than a batter per inning last year in A+. His secondary offerings need work, and he tends to over-rely on his fastball, but as a 21 year old in AA Akron with plenty of depth in front of him, he will likely have at least a couple of years to refine his other pitches before the Indians come calling. Rondon finished 2nd in the Carolina league in strikeouts last year, and eighth in ERA. He will begin the season as the ace of the Aeros staff, and will likely spend the entire year in AA.

10. Michael Brantley-OF
Brantley was a guy that I moved around several times in these rankings before settling at #10. Brantley played all of 2008 as a 21-year old in AA Huntsville before coming over to the Indians as the PTBNL in the Sabathia trade. After the trade was finally completed, an unnamed scout commented that the Indians had “just gotten their Belle and Lofton all over again.” Brantley’s speed and on-base skills certainly remind us of Kenny, as he has compiled a .399 OBP in the minors to go along with 103 SB. His power has been non-existent thus far, but power is usually the last “tool” to develop in young players. Brantley is around 6’2”, 200lbs already and flashes some pop in batting practice, so the Indians are confident he will develop enough to provide enough gap power to be an effective leadoff hitter. No one will ever confuse his defense with that of Lofton, but with Sizemore in CF, he will be more than adequate in one of the corners. I am optimistic that Brantley can be the guy who moves Grady Sizemore into the 3-hole in the lineup, which would maximize both players’ value in my opinion. Some Indians insiders are quietly whispering that Brantley might just end up being the best player the Indians acquired this past summer. Considering that the top two spots on this list are occupied by players the Indians acquired this past summer, that is really saying something. He will start 2009 as a 21-year old in AAA Columbus and could be in line for a call-up to the Show at some point.

Topics: Adam Miller, Beau Mills, Carlos Santana, David Huff, Hector Rondon, Kelvin Del La Cruz, Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Nick Weglarz, Wes Hodges

Michael Taylor says:

March 6, 2009 at 10:37 am

Man, there is a lot to get excited about in the next few years. Just think of the power that is coming to be along side guys like Grady, Peralta, Victor (if resigned), and Hafner (crossing fingers), and each of them can work the strike zone to boot.
Nino Colla says:

March 6, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Can’t say I disagree with your listings Al. I’m excited to see just about all of these players develop, but aside from guys like Santana and Huff, I can’t wait to see how Kelvin De La Cruz fills out. He’s still so young but if the comparison’s to Fausto Carmona are true, having two pitchers like that from both sides of the mound is going to be deadly.
Al Ciammaichella says:

March 6, 2009 at 12:43 pm

Yeah, this is a big year for De La Cruz…if he can have anywhere near the type of success at Kinston as he did at Lake County last year, he will leap up the rankings.
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April 17, 2009 at 10:38 am

[...] of prospects who will likely make their way to Cleveland at some point in their careers. Five of my top 20 prospects in the organization are at Akron, and the 3-4-5 hitters in the Akron order are my 4-2-3 ranked [...]