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2021 Minor League Thread

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Any reports or indications of where Tyler Freeman begins the season? Considering his outstanding spring, I wonder if they have him skip Akron and start the year in Columbus.
 
Any reports or indications of where Tyler Freeman begins the season? Considering his outstanding spring, I wonder if they have him skip Akron and start the year in Columbus.

I think AAA is his landing spot. Palacios probably handles 2nd in AA unless they move him to the OF fulltime. Fermin might be slated for AA as well.

As far as reports - haven't heard anything.
 
IBI has a pretty decent handle on player placements. During their top 70 prospect rundown, they also posted likely placements.

For those without access to those prospect reports, here are some of those projections:
Tyler Freeman - AA Akron
George Valera - High A Lake County
Daniel Espino - High A Lake County to start (with quick bump up to AA Akron)
Bo Naylor - AA Akron
Brayan Rocchio - High A Lake County (due to org depth)
Ethan Hankins - High A Lake County to start (with quick bump up to AA Akron)
Joey Cantillo - AA Akron
Gabriel Arias - AA Akron
Carlos Vargas - High A Lake County to start (with quick bump up to AA Akron)
Cody Morris - AA Akron
Owen Miller - AAA Columbus
Hunter Gaddis - High A Lake County
Bryan Lavastida - High A Lake County
Sam Hentges - AAA Columbus
Nick Mikolajchak - High A Lake County to start (with quick bump up to AA Akron)
Richard Palacios - AA Akron
Nick Sandlin - AAA Columbus
Jean Carlos Mejia - AA Akron
Adam Scott - AAA Columbus
Steven Kwan - AA Akron
Kyle Nelson - AAA Columbus
Robert Broom - AAA Columbus
Ernie Clement - AAA Columbus
Scott Moss - AAA Columbus
Andres Melendez - Low A Lynchburg
Yainer Diaz - High A Lake County
Raynel Delgado - Low A Lynchburg
 
Let's consider for the moment, how it appears to be setting up in AAA Columbus and where they play..

Oscar Mercado/ Daniel Johnson/ Bradley Zimmer/ Harold Ramirez - 3 are likely in the OF & the 4th is the DH for that game. Point is, they are playing on a regular basis, generally in the field.

Nolan Jones and Bobby Bradley are likely manning the corner INF spots. Nolan might get time in a corner OF spot or 1B but that requires 1 of those 4 OF or Bobby Bradley to be sitting. Ernie Clement at SS & Owen Miller at 2B likely completes the starting middle INF. Utility INF appears to be an opening but I could envision Tyler Krieger getting that spot (someone not playing very often).

Beau Taylor & Ryan Lavarnway are the catching tandem (although I would love to see free agent Tony Wolters come in & get a spot)..
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While I would prefer seeing Tyler Freeman & a couple of other position players playing in AAA Columbus, I also want players getting regular at bats & playing time for development to continue.
 
Let's consider for the moment, how it appears to be setting up in AAA Columbus and where they play..

Oscar Mercado/ Daniel Johnson/ Bradley Zimmer/ Harold Ramirez - 3 are likely in the OF & the 4th is the DH for that game. Point is, they are playing on a regular basis, generally in the field.

Nolan Jones and Bobby Bradley are likely manning the corner INF spots. Nolan might get time in a corner OF spot or 1B but that requires 1 of those 4 OF or Bobby Bradley to be sitting. Ernie Clement at SS & Owen Miller at 2B likely completes the starting middle INF. Utility INF appears to be an opening but I could envision Tyler Krieger getting that spot (someone not playing very often).

Beau Taylor & Ryan Lavarnway are the catching tandem (although I would love to see free agent Tony Wolters come in & get a spot)..
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While I would prefer seeing Tyler Freeman & a couple of other position players playing in AAA Columbus, I also want players getting regular at bats & playing time for development to continue.

I totally get starting Freeman in AA for a couple of reasons, starting to think the main reason is to slow his roll to the majors. He could very easily start in AAA, but in the long run that might not be in the clubs interest. Arias is in a similar boat, wonder where some of these guys end up lining up around July 4th.
 
Any reports or indications of where Tyler Freeman begins the season? Considering his outstanding spring, I wonder if they have him skip Akron and start the year in Columbus.

Between Tyler Naquin and Mike Freeman, i always feel Tyler Freeman has been in the majors for years.
 
Let's consider for the moment, how it appears to be setting up in AAA Columbus and where they play..

Oscar Mercado/ Daniel Johnson/ Bradley Zimmer/ Harold Ramirez - 3 are likely in the OF & the 4th is the DH for that game. Point is, they are playing on a regular basis, generally in the field.

Nolan Jones and Bobby Bradley are likely manning the corner INF spots. Nolan might get time in a corner OF spot or 1B but that requires 1 of those 4 OF or Bobby Bradley to be sitting. Ernie Clement at SS & Owen Miller at 2B likely completes the starting middle INF. Utility INF appears to be an opening but I could envision Tyler Krieger getting that spot (someone not playing very often).

Beau Taylor & Ryan Lavarnway are the catching tandem (although I would love to see free agent Tony Wolters come in & get a spot)..
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While I would prefer seeing Tyler Freeman & a couple of other position players playing in AAA Columbus, I also want players getting regular at bats & playing time for development to continue.

Bring Wolters back to Cleveland!!

Wolters can also play other positions so he wouldn't be a bad fit as an utility/bench guy at AAA until a team needs him.

Edit nvm he went to the Cubs!
 
Bring Wolters back to Cleveland!!

Wolters can also play other positions so he wouldn't be a bad fit as an utility/bench guy at AAA until a team needs him.

Edit nvm he went to the Cubs!
Uhhhhh, I think he would be an excellent replacement for Hedges.
 
Sorry for reasking a question -
When will the seasons kick off for A and AA ball?
 
Akron is still listed for May 5th, but it was subjective to Covid #s/vaccinations.

Heard Indians getting vaccines when they get to Cleveland next week(?) where they work.

Arizona is vac all adults now. Florida is 40+. The key is when players can be vaced and where they can do it (some states say need to work or live there).

Who knows if they do the alt site type roll out (4 games a week and by bus/car only). They may limit travel till players can do vaccine and get it to kick in. But, at least if they can open minor ST now, they could always play modified sch in Az and Fl to limit travel.
 
Columbus opens on the road on Tuesday 5/4 (last I saw/ heard)
Akron opens at home on Tuesday 5/4/21
Lake County opens on the road on Tuesday 5/4/21
Lynchburg opens at home on Tuesday 5/4/21.

All the schedules reflect playing the same opponent at 1 location for 6 days in a row & having Monday's off for travel purposes.
In most cases 1 week on the road is followed by 1 week at home (and vis-versa)..
 
Columbus opens on the road on Tuesday 5/4 (last I saw/ heard)
Akron opens at home on Tuesday 5/4/21
Lake County opens on the road on Tuesday 5/4/21
Lynchburg opens at home on Tuesday 5/4/21.

All the schedules reflect playing the same opponent at 1 location for 6 days in a row & having Monday's off for travel purposes.
In most cases 1 week on the road is followed by 1 week at home (and vis-versa)..
ahhhh... someone has to say it...

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH US.... ALWAYS !!
 
Oscar Mercado/ Daniel Johnson/ Bradley Zimmer/ Harold Ramirez - 3 are likely in the OF & the 4th is the DH for that game. Point is, they are playing on a regular basis, generally in the field.
Harold Ramirez is on the "taxi squad" that will accompany the team on road trips but not suit up or play. Does this mean the guys on the taxi squad can only play for Columbus when the Indians are on home stands? Really sucks for them if that is the case.

What do the Clippers do when the Indians are on the road and the Clippers are missing five players, including two pitchers?
 
Harold Ramirez is on the "taxi squad" that will accompany the team on road trips but not suit up or play. Does this mean the guys on the taxi squad can only play for Columbus when the Indians are on home stands? Really sucks for them if that is the case.

What do the Clippers do when the Indians are on the road and the Clippers are missing five players, including two pitchers?
First, its my understanding that the taxi squad can be changed roadtrip to roadtrip.

Second, its also my understanding that the taxi squad is a function while a minor league season is not happening/ playing games.
Once the minors actually start playing games (& the vaccinations reach higher levels), the taxi squad could disappear. Guess that will be a question come early May.
 
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