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Photo: Matthew Carper/Courtesy Columbus Clippers This series is based on a voting exercise from Justin Lada, Joe Coblitz and Willie Hood on the top 10 players at each position in […]
Photo: Matthew Carper/Courtesy Columbus Clippers
This series is based on a voting exercise from Justin Lada, Joe Coblitz and Willie Hood on the top 10 players at each position in the Cleveland Indians’ farm system. Each position rank is worth a point in voting (#1 rank is 10 points, #2 is 9, #3 is 8, etc.).
The positions covered in this series will breakdown this way: Catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, corner outfield, centerfield, right handed starting pitchers, left handed starting pitchers, and relievers.
Age: 26
Throws: Left
Bats: Left
Highest level reached (most games played): AAA Columbus
Marabell is a good defender at all three outfield positions and has played a little at first to increase his versatility. He has also shown great offensive prowess at every level from AA Akron down, but has struggled in both 2018 and 2019 in Columbus. In 2018, he played in the Arizona Fall League to help work on this and in 2020 was part of the alternate camp, but we have yet to see results against advanced opponents.
Given how long Marabell has been successful, it’s hard to imagine him not getting a shot in the big leagues, although it might not be with Cleveland. Given their outfield issues at the big league level, he certainly deserves a shot and long term could fit nearly any team as a bench outfielder. His low ranking here is due to his low ceiling while his high floor keeps him on the list at all.
Age: 24
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Highest level reached (most games played: High-A Lynchburg (300+ games since 2017)
Carter has been in Cleveland’s system for six years and has spent three of them in High-A, passing 300 games at that level in 2019. He has an interesting combination of speed/pop, shows he’s willing to work a walk but does strike out a fair bit. He’s played all three outfield spots but has settled in more in right field. Given his length of service at High-A and his age, plus younger outfielders starting to creep in that direction, his time in the system could be limited at this point. He makes the list due to performance and at least some interesting tools combination, but it’s a shallow list and there’s a good chance when we do this exercise again that he’s with a different organization.
Age: 20
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Highest level reached: SS Mahoning Valley
Holland was drafted out of high school in 2018 and was young for his level for each of his first two seasons and that gives him some excuse for his overall poor offensive performances. Many of Holland’s attributes are good, but not great, including his base running ability, defense and plate discipline. His primary lacking is an absence of power with just seven doubles and one home run over his first 79 games. It’s been a long time since Holland officially played in a game, so he could be a completely different player when he emerges in 2021, but as of now, he doesn’t project to be a big leaguer.
Age: 25
Throws: Right
Bats: Left
Highest level reached: Double-A Akron (90 games)
Longo tried to change his swing to hit more fly balls in 2018 and 2019, trying to get to some more pull side power. In high school, college and early in the minors he was a hitter who had some pop but really hit more line drives and used the whole field. The Mayfield native puts the ball in play plenty, avoids strikeouts and can work a walk. But his age and struggles (maybe due to injuries in 2019) have gotten him stuck in the system a little. He should still have some time with no options ahead of him, though the year off at his age couldn’t be good for him. He makes a shallow top 10 because of some solid-floor tools and being advanced enough over some of the higher ceiling, but far away/extreme risk OFs below him on this list. He could get a big league cup of coffee some day, but without more power consistently it won’t be much more.
Age: 20
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Highest level reached: SS Mahoning Valley
Drafted in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Johnathan Rodriguez was one of the younger players selected. He remains raw at the plate and displays an average approach at the plate. As suggested, his rawness translates to a high strikeout rate, but his near 10% walk rate is a good indicator that future success at the plate could be on the way. Defensively, Rodriguez has average speed and a strong above-average rightfield arm. Overall, Rodriguez will continue to require time to develop. Still, there are some intriguing tools, including his arm and potential for average to above-average power, if he continues to get stronger and becomes more selective at the dish.
Age: 22
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Highest level reached: AA Akron
A true one tool player, Gonzalez may still have enough power to become a decent big leaguer. Across his two full seasons, he’s averaged more than 20 doubles and 10 home runs, but unlike many power hitters, he never walks. While most of my viewing of Gonzalez came from unofficial games, his power was always apparent. However, most of his most similar comps, like Henderson De Oleo and Henry Pujols, have already been released. His lack of speed, poor base running and sloth-like approach to fielding slate him as a future DH and, if he can’t control his K’s better, a AAA DH.
Age: 25
Throws: Right
Bats: Left
Highest level reached: Triple-A Columbus (51 games – 2019)
Starting in 2018, Tom started hitting more fly balls and subsequently, his power ticked up. He uses his lower half more efficiently in his swing now, too. He can play all three outfield spots though he profiles best in left field. He has plenty of pop, though he doesn’t run much anymore. Still it’s a good profile for a fourth outfielder who can play a corner and hit some balls in the gaps and over the fence and not strike out. He was left off the 40 man roster last winter and didn’t go in the Rule 5 draft, somewhat surprisingly but could go this winter. Even in an organization that is devoid of good OF options, he’s still probably not in line for a shot with the players who are in front of him.
Age: 22
Throws: Left
Bats: Left
Highest level reached: High-A Lynchburg (61 games)
After repeating Low-A Lake County to start 2019, Benson (pictured at top) tore through the league in the first half but struggled mightily again upon his promotion to Lynchburg. His swing and miss issues make it hard to picture him being able to get to his loud tools at the MLB level. Still he’s #3 among corner outfielders in a system that’s missing high-end talent at the position right now because he has big time power, is a good runner, plays a great right field and is a relentless worker/high character player. Despite all that the path to being a successful major leaguer looks for Benson is an uphill battle unless he curbs his strikeout issues.
Age: 25
Throws: Left
Bats: Left
Highest level reached: MLB
Acquired as the centerpiece of the Yan Gomes trade, Daniel Johnson was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals. The New Mexico State product is a multi-tool player with the ability to flash all of his skills from time to time. The left-handed-hitting outfielder made his MLB debut this past season, garnering just 12 AB’s, but that should change in 2021 as the Tribe searches for outfield help.
Johnson is an average bat with some concerns; he will be a platoon bat long term. He has above-average raw power potential, and as his nickname, “Jet,” would indicate he has plus speed. Unfortunately, Johnson hasn’t been able to maximize his speed on the basepaths, but it shows up clearly as he ranges around the outfield, making defensive plays. The young outfielder is armed with a double plus throwing arm that can touch mid-to-upper 90’s from the outfield.
Age: 19
Throws: Left
Bats: Left
Highest level reached: SS Mahoning Valley
Probably the only player that has any shot of big league superstardom on this list, Valera has great power and a great arm, is a good base runner and fielder and has decent contact ability. While he has played a lot in center so far in his career, it is likely that he ultimately moves permanently to a corner spot, probably right, as he progresses through the system. As an 18 year old in short season, he was one of the top offensive performers and finished 2019 in Lake County. Now playing in the instructional league, he is again one of the top offensive performers despite playing alongside and against many (including #3 and 4 on this list) older players. With this extra experience along with playing at the alternate camp last summer, we could see Valera skip multiple levels in 2021.
Tony Lastoria
Justin Lada
Willie Hood
Joseph Coblitz
Arthur Kinney
IBI Staff
