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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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8. Shane Bieber, RHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/31/95 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Lake County Captains, high-A Lynchburg HIllcats, AA Akron RubberDucks
2017 Stats: 28 GS, 173 1/3 IP, 2.86 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 1.4% BB, 23.2% K

Info: Bieber coming out of college was the prototypical college starter that was average in everything he did, but nothing really stood out. Then he got into pro ball and simply did not walk a single hitter. Ever.

Bieber doesn’t work with incredible velocity, bringing his fastball at 90, reaching back for a few more ticks, but that tends to straighten out the pitch, which he seems to be able to manipulate very well. He throws an average breaker and above-average change as well, but the most impressive thing about those pitches is his ability to manipulate the movement on those pitches, not their natural break or velocity.

What Bieber does that is “plus” is control and command the baseball. He may tweak how he is holding a fastball a touch to see a bit different movement, but he knows right where that movement is going to go, spotting it into the catcher’s mitt every pitch, and seemingly avoiding barrels consistently.

Bieber does have the ability to use that varied movement to get some swing and miss, but how well that will carry into the major leagues remains to be seen, but he is built well at 6’3″ and ~200 pounds with repeatable mechanics.

He will open in AAA in 2018, and with the full rotation in Cleveland, a jump into the major league rotation will be tough, but Bieber could be a prime trade target this summer as the Cleveland Indians push for another AL Central title.

7. Yu-Cheng Chang, SS

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/18/95 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Akron RubberDucks
2017 Stats: .220/.312/.461, 508 PA, 24 HR, 11 SB, 52/134 BB/K

Info: Chang is a guy who was an international signee out of Taiwan, but he was not considered one of the studs from Asia in that year’s class. He has shown himself to be much underrated the entire time as a pro, however, including his first exposure to AA in 2017.

Chang is impressive in his unique blend of tools. He has the ability to stay on the left side of the infield with excellent reactions that would work at shortstop or third base, with his above-average arm playing well at either spot. He has enough instincts to stay at short, though his natural range is not exactly a fit at the position.

(Chang) has surprising power for a guy who has spent most of his career at shortstop

He has surprising power for a guy who has spent most of his career at shortstop, graded as above-average game power and showing plus raw power or even better. Chang can get a bit pull happy in his swing, which can lead to some swing and miss as he pulls off of outside pitches, but when he stays within himself, his power plays very well.

Chang has done nothing but impress every step of the way thus far, and there’s no reason to think he’ll slow down anytime soon. He’ll likely find his way to AAA in 2018, and it will be very interesting to see how he is handled from that point with the glut of young infielders at the major league level for Cleveland.

Next: #5 and #6

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