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Cleveland Indians: Top Ten Prospects for 2018

By Benjamin Chase

28 Feb 2002: A picture of the Cleveland Indians logo printed on a bag during the spring training game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida. The Twins won 6-4. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: M. David Leeds/Getty Images
28 Feb 2002: A picture of the Cleveland Indians logo printed on a bag during the spring training game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida. The Twins won 6-4. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: M. David Leeds/Getty Images /
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10. Willi Castro, SS

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/24/97 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Lynchburg Hillcats
2017 Stats: .290/.337/.424, 510 PA, 11 HR, 19 SB, 28/90 BB/K

Info: Pushed aggressively ever since he signed in 2013 with the Indians, Castro has struggled with the stick until 2017, when he was a teenager on opening day at high-A, but still finished the season with a line that is hard not to be incredibly impressed by.

When he was initially brought into the system, Castro had some worry that he could end up needing to shift off of shortstop due to being 6’1″ and very lean. Instead, he’s maintained that lean build as he’s matured into a lean frame, fitting exceptionally well at short with tremendous range.

Castro’s plus range works with his sure hands and above-average arm to be one of the more fun shortstops to watch on defense in all of minor league baseball.

Castro’s plus range works with his sure hands and above-average arm to be one of the more fun shortstops to watch on defense in all of minor league baseball. His biggest issue on defense is that he sometimes finds himself reaching balls with his exceptional range that really cannot do anything as far as getting a runner out, and he needs to learn when to put those balls into his pocket.

At the plate, Castro has incredibly quick wrists with a short, direct swing through the zone to the ball. He does have an aggressive approach at the plate that can lead to some strikeouts, but even then, he only struck out 17.6% of the time in 2017.

The incredible part of all of this is that Castro is typically one of the youngest players at his level, only having 5 plate appearances in all of 2017 against pitchers who were older than he is. Watching how he adapts to AA in 2018 will be very intriguing and could catapult him up prospect rankings as he gets more exposure to upper level pitching and shows how he can handle it.

9. Greg Allen, OF

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 3/15/93 (25)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Indians, AA Akron RubberDucks, MLB Cleveland Indians
2017 Stats: Minors: .267/.345/.355, 320 PA, 2 HR, 24 SB, 22/56 BB/K; Majors: .229/.282/.343, 39 PA, 1 HR, 1 SB, 2/8 BB/K

Info: An incredibly athletic outfielder, Allen has developed slowly since being a 6th round selection out of San Diego State in 2014. His speed was his primary carrying tool on offense when he was drafted, but the Cleveland Indians have been patient in developing Allen into a feasible leadoff type.

Allen came out of college with elite defensive skills, and those have remained, but what has been impressive has been his development not in tools like power or even his hit tool, but in one of the most difficult things to pick up, his plate discipline.

Allen has been behind uber-talented Bradley Zimmer throughout his minor league career, and that’s hurt him to some degree, and at 25 years old this season without a season above AA, he is getting “old” for a prospect, but Allen is the type of guy who should be an excellent trade target and would be an ideal 4th outfielder or the seemingly ideal leadoff-focused center fielder.

Allen could challenge for a spot at the major league level this year if the team chooses to move a few other pieces, and certainly, he could be a guy who comes up with any injuries to the major league club and surprises with a run of production at the major league level. He’s most likely to open the season at AAA, though.

Next: #7 and #8

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