Baseball America releases Indians 2009 Top Ten Prospects list
That’s right, the wait is over as the good people at Baseball America has today released the Indians Top 10 list of organizational prospects. This list is put out in November in some ways as an appetizer to those who choose to buy the Prospect Handbook, which expands to a top 30 for each organization and comes out prior to spring training.
When I took a look at the list, a few things jumped out at me both good and bad. The good news is the list looks much better than the one that came out last year in terms of overall potential major league talent. The bad news is when you look at the list you don’t see as many prospects, as we’d like, that were actually drafted by the Indians.
Let’s start off by revealing the list.
For info on each prospect, go to BaseballAmerica.com or buy the prospect handbook. Players in italics were obtained by the Indians through the amateur draft.
| 1. Carlos Santana, c |
|
| 2. Matt LaPorta, of |
|
| 3. Nick Weglarz, of |
|
| 4. Adam Miller, rhp |
|
| 5. Beau Mills, 1b |
|
| 6. Lonnie Chisenhall, ss |
|
| 7. Kelvin de la Cruz, lhp |
|
| 8. David Huff, lhp |
|
| 9. Michael Brantley, of/1b |
|
| 10. Carlos Rivero, ss |
Baseball America also noticed the Indians recent short comings in the amatuer draft over the past decade…
Sabathia is the only star the Indians have drafted since they made him the 20th overall selections in 1998. The club has gotten little return on its first-round and supplemental first-round choices since. The Tribe had 12 such picks from 2000-03, and among them only Jeremy Guthrie has found any big league success—and that came after the Orioles claimed him on waivers.
Sabathia’s departure left Ben Francisco, Ryan Garko, Aaron Laffey and Jensen Lewis as the only homegrown draftees to make much of an impact for 2008 Indians. Former Tribe draft picks Ryan Church, Guthrie, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Luke Scott have enjoyed various degrees of success with other clubs.
To be fair, BA does give due credit to the Indians for their ability to evaluate and acquire other team’s minor league talent as well as their international scouting. The Tribe also got props for spending over $7 million on their 2008 draft (compared to $3.6 million the year before) as well as international signings such as Venezuelan catcher Alex Monsalve and Dominican shortstop Jose Ozoria.
Who knows, the Indians may finally be breaking their decade long draft funk. When I look at the list, I actually see some hitters with impact major league potential in Santana, Weglarz, Mills and company. If you ask me, that’s something we haven’t really seen since the late 90’s when Brian Giles, Richie Sexson and Sean Casey were crashing through the Indians system. Can’t forget the 2003 group of Sizemore, Hafner, Lee, and Martinez as well. Let’s hope this group has similar success.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Did Hodges get snubbed? Man, I hope Miller can stay healthy…
November 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
And what about their projected linuep in 2012…
Second Base: Jhonny Peralta (not ‘drubal)
Also intriguing is the fact that if Weglarz does pan out, that leaves little to no room for Brantley. And 2012 is the last year of Grady’s contract…
November 19th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
While the draft is important to a team’s farm system, so is the international game and trades. Victor, Jhonny, Raffy R/L. Those are just a few guys who the tribe has signed out of the international game who have played pretty big parts in our organization. And those guys are essentially just like a draft pick in my estimation. So let’s not be afraid to give credit where credit is due.
Who cares if we get guys from other systems that are better, I mean it’s obvious that our front office guys can get rid of crap for gold so I’ll take it.
Although, I would like to see a first round pick pan out once in a while.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
re: 2012 lineup – won’t Choo be in South Korea serving in the military?
Adam Miller was the top prospect 4 years in a row. When are we going to see that in Cleveland?
November 19th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
When are we going to stop hearing about Adam Miller? The guy gets a blister on his finger every spring and is out for the year. Folks, isn’t it about time we write this brittle flash off? Please, if he ever made the Tribe’s pen how long do you think it would be before a nail gets bruised and he’s on the DL? Anyone even writing about this guy as a future closer is beyond dreamworld. Please, no more mention of Adam Miller.
Tribe’s abysmal drafting coincides with Dolan taking the reigns and putting things in the hands of minor leaguer Mark Shapiro. Don’t forget that CC Sabathia, Victor Martinez, and Jhonny Peralta were John Hart picks-check it out.
Now let’s get down to business and sign Casey Blake, a sore armed veteran (aka this year’s version of Mark Mulder), and a Japanese soft-tosser on par with Masa. Perhaps a Jamey Carroll type whose bat can be sawed off would do well to solidify the infield. That, my friends, is realistic hope for the Shapiro/Dolan organization.
Adam Miller, get real please.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Top prospect doesn’t necessarily mean closest to call-up. He’s only 24… FWIW
November 19th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
24 going on 40.
November 19th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
BLC does have a two year commitment to the army. However, if (and it’s a big if) he doesn’t go back to Korea they can’t make him serve. I worked in the USAF with a guy from S. Korea nd he was under the same situation.
I have no idea how the US handles visas in these situations. Choo’s other way out is to become a U.S. citizen.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Where did Wes Hodges go? Despite living in New Jersey, I follow the Indians minor league program religiously. I never miss an Akron game in Trenton, NJ. Hodges hits the ball better than at least 3/4 of the players at Double A, and should be somewhere on this list. Last year, he was number four. Granted, his lack of defense, and in-ability to use his glove for something other than self defense purposes should drop him lower on the list, but completely off? I must admit, I’m completely baffled on this one BA.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Why does anyone really care about Choo’s Korean military commitment? Why is he suddenly elevated to premier status here? If that is the type of corner player this team and fan base promotes than get excited about mediocrity in all of it’s glory. Nothing more than a punch and judy banjo hitting reserve outfielder on an average team. Time and statisticis will play that out. I say let him serve his military, might force the Indians to actually get a run producing corner outfielder someday.