While We’re Waiting… Reactions to the Mike Pettine hire
January 24, 2014Browns hit reset again with Mike Pettine
January 24, 2014
Top Cleveland Indians prospect Francisco Lindor was named as the tenth-best prospect in Minor League Baseball entering the 2014 season, per MLB.com.
The website released its top 100 rankings on Thursday night in an online show with their top prospect analysts. The full details and scouting reports are available at MLBPipeline.com. Other Indians listed were recent first-round pick Clint Frazier at No. 48 and right-handed starter Trevor Bauer at No. 73.
In the previous update back in late July, the three players were ranked No. 5, No. 56 and No. 42, respectively. Lindor continues to be billed for his incredibly high developmental floor. He’s expected to be an average MLB starter, at worst. But many players with higher best-case upside passed him in this ranking, led by top overall prospect Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.
Just over two weeks ago, Baseball America released its top 10 Indians prospect list. Lindor, Frazier and Bauer remained the top three in that order. Following those two were 2012 first-round pick Tyler Naquin and up-and-coming starting prospect Cody Anderson.
Lindor, 20, is generally expected to begin the season again with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. He concluded last year with 21 games for the recently rebranded team before being shut down for the season in mid-August. He’s one of several prospects — along with Naquin, infielder Joseph Wendle and others — to receive non-roster invitations to big-league spring training.
Frazier, 19, was the team’s No. 5 overall pick last June. He recently was quoted as saying “I want to be like Mike Trout.” Those are some lofty aspirations. Bauer, 23, remains one of the candidates for the team’s final rotation spot this season. After a disappointing 2013 season, the pressure is starting to mount for him in Cleveland, although he’s still quite young.
[Related: Thursday Tribe Notes]
Photo: AP Photo/Mark Duncan
4 Comments
Didn’t realize Lou only made 2 starts last yr
Oops wrong thread
Paging Cabrera…I am excited to see Lindor this year, but if we don’t that means Cabrera is rocking… One thing that has not really been noted is that with Lindor coming up, and Santana trying his shot at 3rd, is there no chance of Cabrera at 3rd? He would need to hit better and defend a little better than he has, but I have not seem much mention of it.
mgbode has been a proponent of Cabrera at 3B. If I had to choose between him playing 3B over Santana I’d say ok in a heart beat especially if it means Lindor at SS.
I’m done with Asdrubal. I defended the guy and he let me down more then once. If he does come out of the gates well and performs better I’ll have a hard time trying to not believe it was because of a contract.