ST PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 11: Shane Biebber #57 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 11, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 03: Greg Alllen #1 of the Cleveland Indians shows bunt as he takes an at bat against the Minnesota Twins during the game on June 3, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 7-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
After a dominant season in 2017, the Cleveland Indians returned to the playoffs as AL Central champion in 2018, but they had similar success (or lack thereof). Can their farm system help a return to glory in 2019?
As part of our continuing coverage at Call to the Pen of the minor leagues, we will be covering each organization’s top players for 2018. The coverage will go in reverse order of record. Today, we will look at the Cleveland Indians.
We are going to review the system’s leaders for each organization statistically, then choose one hitter and one pitcher to honor for every team. This will be primarily based on statistical performance, though some “age relative to level” could come into play, so a very impressive season from a 28-year-old in AA will rank below a nearly as impressive season from a 20-year-old at the same level.
After we review each organization’s hitter and pitcher of the year, we will close out October with Call To The Pen’s Minor League team of the year. That will lead into November starting our team top 10 prospect lists. In other words, there will be plenty of minor league content on the way at CTTP, so keep coming back for more each day this offseason!!
Cleveland Indians minor leagues
The Cleveland Indians have used homegrown players to fuel their recent rise to success, including their 2018 American League Central division title. Now, with multiple players reaching free agency this offseason and next, that farm system will be leaned on heavily.
It could be a turning point offseason for the club as they lose multiple members of their vaunted bullpen and a long-time key cog in their lineup to free agency. While the pieces are still in place to compete for at least one more season, the Indians could choose to cash in on multiple players who will hit free agency after 2019 and rebuild as well, which could lead to a significant influx of talent to the minor league system.
Before we offer up awards on the season, let’s take a look at the system’s statistical leaders:
Cleveland Indians Minor League Hitter of the Year: Nolan Jones
Level(s): low-A Lake County, high-A Lynchburg Stats: .283/.405/.466, 120 G, 519 PA, 21 2B, 19 HR, 89/131 BB/K
Nolan Jones was surprisingly available for the Cleveland Indians in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft after being widely considered a sure-fire first-round pick. He’s been working on the transition to third base, which has not been a great transition so far, but his bat has certainly progressed well.
Jones has a very steady left-handed swing with a good eye at the plate that produced a 17%+ walk rate on the season and striking out just over 25% with a strong swing that should translate well to an outfield corner if that’s where he may have to move in the end.
Runners-up
Drafted out of high school in California in the 2nd round in 2017, Tyler Freeman was very impressive in short-season New York-Penn League ball with Mahoning Valley. He played up the middle at both short and second and posted a .352/.405/.511 line with 29 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, and 14 stolen bases along with a 8/22 BB/K ratio.
Drafted in the 3rd round out of Towson in 2018, Richie Palacios had a very good draft season for the Cleveland Indians. He played second base primarily, hitting .361/.421/.538 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, and 7 stolen bases, posting a 19/27 BB/K ratio and reaching low-A. He’ll likely open 2019 in low-A again, but he has definitely put his name on the radar.
The Cleveland Indians moved Miguel Jerez out from behind the plate in 2018, and it seemed to open up his bat, as he hit .274/.360/.577 with 11 doubles and 14 home runs. He primarily played first base and left field. After spending multiple years in complex leagues, he’ll likely be pushed to full-season ball in 2019.
Cleveland Indians Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Eli Morgan
Level(s): low-A Lake County, high-A Lynchburg Stats: 9-7, 27 G, 143 1/3 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 34/156 BB/K
The Cleveland Indians 8th round draft pick in 2017 out of Gonzaga, Eli Morgan was known for his changeup and excellent feel in spite of a lack of an elite fastball. In the lower levels, that plays very well, and Morgan took advantage of that in A-ball in 2018.
Morgan made 19 of his starts in high-A in 2018, which means that he will likely open 2019 in AA, and that will be a good test of his ability to use his “stuff”.
The top arm in the Cleveland Indians by any measure, Triston McKenzie was injured to open the season, so he didn’t get a full season of play. In his 16 starts with AA Akron, he posted a 2.68 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 28/87 BB/K ratio.
Towering 6’6″, ~250-pound lefty Sam Hentges was drafted out of Minnesota high school in 2014. A cold-weather arm, he’s taken time to develop, reaching high-A in 2018 at 21. He put up a 3.28 ERA over 118 1/3 innings with a 1.41 WHIP and 53/122 BB/K ratio.
The Cleveland Indians 7th round pick in 2017 out of Southern Mississippi, Kirk McCarty led the organization in strikeouts, but the home run ball hurt him in 2018 as he pitched across both A-ball levels. Overall, he posted a 4.06 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 38/161 BB/K ratio over 146 1/3 innings with 16 home runs allowed, but 14 of those allowed in low-A before his promotion.
Next. Dodgers minor league awards. dark
The Cleveland Indians were able to win the AL Central in 2018, but with many free agents in the offseason, the Indians will lean on their minor league system to compete again in 2019.
