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2021 Minor League Thread

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There is a reason I keep saying “OF opposite of Rosario” instead of a specific position elsewhere on the forum...

My educated guess, Rosario is in RF and Naylor is in LF with the short porch and big wall protecting him a bit.

And yes, Jones in LF in AAA. Don’t think they put him in RF with how Huntington is laid out and how they’re going to want his learning curve to be as short as possible.

A huge unlock would be Johnson playing a passable CF,

If you could get a three of:

LF - Jones/Naylor
CF - Johnson
RF - Rosario

I think you’d get at least average big league production out of that group.

Defensively? Well...
 
For several years, ZIPS has been much higher on Jones than he's been on more traditional rankings.

And Cody Morris as our second best prospect and 37th overall?

Please, please, please.....please let some GM see this list, believe it, and covet this kid so much that he has to have him...and will trade significant production to get his hands on the 37th best prospect in baseball.

Looks like the list put too much weight on his K% at 30% low A ball and 27% high A. It’s a fantasy list anyways. Put in perspective, the top pitchers listed to side had high of 25% in Patino and Wood Richardson had 27%. LGT said his fastball has reached up to 98 mph in instructs last fall. Big year for him as he will be Rule 5 eligible.
 
From ESPN/ Kiley McDaniel (posted 2/18/21)

AL teams were posted 2/18 & NL teams were posted on 2/19/21

Cleveland Indians (No. 9 system)​

1. Nolan Jones, 3B, 55 FV (33)
2. George Valera, RF, 50 FV (56)
3. Triston McKenzie, RHP, 50 FV (59)
4. Tyler Freeman, SS, 50 FV (114)
5. Daniel Espino, RHP, 45+ FV (130)
6. Bo Naylor, C, 45+ FV (162)
7. Brayan Rocchio, SS, 45+ FV (163)
8. Gabriel Arias, SS, 45 FV
9. Aaron Bracho, 2B, 45 FV
10. Lenny Torres, RHP, 45 FV
 
A huge unlock would be Johnson playing a passable CF,

If you could get a three of:

LF - Jones/Naylor
CF - Johnson
RF - Rosario

I think you’d get at least average big league production out of that group.

Defensively? Well...
How does Luplow fit in this picture, and who spells Johnson in CF? I'm not being a smartass AZ. I've honestly struggled with how this OF combination will work with the current personnel and I can't come up with a good answer TBH.

Maybe Mercado is the 4th OFer? Maybe Mercado wins the CF duties outright and Johnson is the 4th OFer? I'm confident in saying Rosario will be one of our corner OFers. I'm not confident in saying that any of Naylor, Johnson, or Mercado win a job. Ultimately we should get better production than last season because I don't think it can get any f'n worse..........can it? Please tell me it can't.
 
So far we have indications that Luplow, Johnson, Naylor, and Mercado will all get the opportunity to show that they can play every day....not just be platoon bats.

There are not enough ST at bats to establish that, and there are only two positions for them to fight over in the outfield...plus 1B for Naylor.

In spite of the orgs stated intentions, previous track records are gonna weigh heavily in the decisions.

50 ST at bats, even if that is possible with so many players involved, won't trump a 1600 at bat track record.

Nobody suddenly learns to do something he's never been able to do....like hitting a same sided pitcher.
 
From ESPN/ Kiley McDaniel (posted 2/18/21)

AL teams were posted 2/18 & NL teams were posted on 2/19/21

Cleveland Indians (No. 9 system)​

1. Nolan Jones, 3B, 55 FV (33)
2. George Valera, RF, 50 FV (56)
3. Triston McKenzie, RHP, 50 FV (59)
4. Tyler Freeman, SS, 50 FV (114)
5. Daniel Espino, RHP, 45+ FV (130)
6. Bo Naylor, C, 45+ FV (162)
7. Brayan Rocchio, SS, 45+ FV (163)
8. Gabriel Arias, SS, 45 FV
9. Aaron Bracho, 2B, 45 FV
10. Lenny Torres, RHP, 45 FV
the eligibility for prospect status is a staid.. something more reasonable needs to be invented..

W/R to the Kiley list.. holding onto Nolan Jones as the Tribe's # 1.. is just not viable. Valera has surpassed him.. perhaps Freeman too.. The reasons for the rankings are so subjective that anyone in the top 10 or 20 should be considered a viable prospect for the highest level of baseball.. especially with a strong minor league system..
 
I have heard no indication that Luplow will be given a shot to be an every day player...not sure where that’s coming from.

Only way he’ll get a shot at that is if Naylor and Johnson both shit the bed, which I am not counting on.
 
I have heard no indication that Luplow will be given a shot to be an every day player...not sure where that’s coming from.

Only way he’ll get a shot at that is if Naylor and Johnson both shit the bed, which I am not counting on.

There is no real reason he should.
 
I have heard no indication that Luplow will be given a shot to be an every day player...not sure where that’s coming from.

Only way he’ll get a shot at that is if Naylor and Johnson both shit the bed, which I am not counting on.
There was discussion prior to the start of the 2020 spring training (before it was shut down) that Luplow would be given a chance at an everyday role. The minor league stats supported giving him that chance.. Alas.. upon the closure of the ML's in the spring.. Luplow's opportunity never materialized.

It might still.. or maybe not.. We'll see..
 
Does anyone see Tanner Burns as a possible quick riser? He's got a live arm and 2 above average pitches while his changeup is closer to average. I'm not suggesting he's in the mix because he hasn't even pitched professionally yet.
 
Does anyone see Tanner Burns as a possible quick riser? He's got a live arm and 2 above average pitches while his changeup is closer to average. I'm not suggesting he's in the mix because he hasn't even pitched professionally yet.
Both Burns and Lenny Torres have similar profiles.. some arm injury risk.. good fastballs.. useable breaking balls & developing change ups... smaller stature but strong cores... A fast track for either or both would make them dedicated RP's.. but that won't happen as the added work load will help both pitchers with the change ups that are less than ML ready..

Put in fewer words.. yes, but as an RP..
 
FYI - ICYMI via Tribeinsider

The club released the following minor league players today:
INF Nehemias Celesten
RHP Gregori Vasquez
OF Pablo Jimenez
 
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