A Minor Review of 2015: Cleveland Indians

Welcome to the annual series: ‘A Minor (League) Review of 2015.” This series is a great way to receive a quick recap of the ’15 minor league season for your favorite club(s), while also receiving a brief look toward the 2016 season and beyond. It can also be a handy feature for fantasy baseball players in keeper and Dynasty leagues.

A Minor Review of 2015: Indians

The Graduate: Francisco Lindor, SS: A member of one of the best rookie classes in recent memory, Lindor could end up being one of the best all-around players due to his defensive acumen, speed and hitting ability. Promoted to the Majors as a 21-year-old, Lindor immediately improved the club’s infield defence and hit much better than expected — both in terms of average and of power. The biggest knock on Lindor is that he doesn’t walk much, but he also keeps the strike outs down. He should be a star for the Indians for many years to come.

The Riser: Bobby Bradley, 1B: First base prospects are always so hard to project because power is often the last tool to develop and these players tend to be all bat (with little defence or base running value). However, I identified Bradley as a potential breakout players prior to ’15 and he made good on that with 27 home runs as a teenager in a league that dampens power outputs. The next highest home run output in the league was 16 by a 22-year-old prospect. With all this said, Bradley will still need to tighten his approach at the plate to realize his full potential after striking out more than 30% of the time.

The Tumbler: Francisco Mejia, C: Mejia didn’t have a terrible year — mainly because the bar for catchers’ offence is so low — but he’s seen his offence tail off each of the past two years after taking pro ball by storm in 2013. The young catcher is still a work-in-progress behind the plate so that adds pressure for him to be a solid hitter. Just 20, he needs to improve his approach at the plate. In doing so, he’ll more consistently tap into his above-average pop and see his on-base rate improve.

The ’15 Draft Pick: Triston McKenzie, RHP: This young hurler is highly projectable and has the type of pitcher’s frame that makes scouts and coaches drool at the through of his future potential. His secondary pitches already show a lot of potential and his low-90s heat could add “oompf” as he matures and adds weight and muscle to his frame. He has the potential to be a top-flight arm if he can stay healthy and on his current development track.

The Lottery Ticket: Brady Aiken, LHP: It’s not everyday that a former first overall pick in the draft gets listed as a lottery ticket. Aiken, though, isn’t your average cat. His massive contract with the Astros fell through due to health concerns and then he blew out his elbow preparing to re-enter the draft in 2015. The Indians gave him a large contract nonetheless and will wait out the rehab process. When healthy, Aiken has a top-of-the-rotation arm but not every pitcher comes back as good as they were before the injury.