Cleveland Indians 2016 Top 30 Prospects: “Just Missed” List

The 2016 Cleveland Indians Top Prospect Countdown Begins

Maybe it’s just me, but I cannot believe it’s already March.  I’m hardly complaining though as today we get our first spring training game with the Cleveland Indians facing off against the Cincinnati Reds in Goodyear. We are also seeing many of the Tribe’s prospects reporting to camp (ones not invited to big league camp), which is always exciting.

As we dive into March, I’ll be taking a look at the top prospects in the Cleveland Indians organization this season.  Each day we’ll have a countdown of the Top 30 Prospects, starting today with a look at a few prospects who did not make my top 30 list but are players that have some intrigue for one reason or another and could still be impact prospects. Here are the five prospects that “just missed” my list, followed by a handful of others I felt were also worth a mention:

Dorssys Paulino, OF

It wasn’t long ago that Paulino was considered one of the best prospects in the Tribe’s system. In fact, Baseball America ranked him the second-best prospect behind only Francisco Lindor prior to the 2013 season.  Originally a shortstop, Paulino is now an outfielder after making the transition a year ago. He finally started to show some promise in Lynchburg last year and will look to build on that in 2016. Amazingly he’ll only be 21 the entire season (seems like he’s been around forever), so there is still some hope he can turn his tools into the success many assumed awaited him.

Mitch Brown, RHP

Like Paulino, Brown was a former top prospect, ranking as high as fifth by Baseball America in 2013. However, the results simply haven’t been there since being drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft.  Prior to 2015, Brown at least had some solid strikeout numbers, consistently striking out over eight per nine innings. However, that dropped off in his first stint in Advanced-A ball, and his typical poor walk rate reared its ugly head again. He’s still only 22 but he’ll be repeating a level and 2016 could be his make or break year.

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Luigi Rodriguez, OF

Rodriguez was having himself a great 2015 season with the Advanced-A Lynchburg Hillcats. He represented the Carolina League in the All-Star game and appeared to reestablish himself as a bona fide prospect. However, late in the season he was suspended 80 games for a banned performance enhancer. At the time of his suspension he ranked third in the Carolina League in batting average (.293), slugging percentage (.492), and home runs (12). Without the suspension Rodriguez easily would have cracked my top 30 list but this is a major blow to his chances of reaching the big leagues. He’ll need to really show something once back from the suspension this summer.

Gabriel Mejia, OF

The first thing to say about Mejia is that he is crazy fast. An 80-Grade rating is the highest scouting grade that can be given to a player for a particular tool. It is very rarely given out to prospects; however, Mejia is a guy that has legit “80-Grade” speed. He stole 72 bases in 2014 to go along with .400+ on-base percentages in each of his two seasons with the Tribe. He’s still extremely raw though and has zero power. He has also yet to see full-season ball and has less than 20 games outside of the Tribe’s rookie affiliate.  He’s a guy I’m very interested in watching this year but just not enough there to warrant top 30 (yet).

Dylan Baker, RHP

Baker was recently a surprise addition to the Tribe’s 40-man roster as the team felt it necessary to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.  There’s no denying he has great stuff, but unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy.  He’s thrown less than 75 innings the last two seasons combined.  He showed real promise in 2013, however, posting a 3.63 ERA and 3.36 FIP in 143.2 innings for the Class-A Lake County Captains. The question with him now is can he remain a starter or will injuries push him to the bullpen? His option clock is now ticking so he could be pushed hard this year. He’s a guy I like, and I can even see a little Danny Salazar in him, but I just couldn’t put him top 30, not with how much time he’s missed.

There Are Many Others Worth Mentioning

These five players are hardly the only non-top 30 prospects worth mentioning. Guys like Ka’ai Tom (OF), Eric Stamets (SS), Eric Haase (C), Claudio Bautista (2B), and Sean Brady (LHP) are a handful of other guys worth keeping an eye on this year.  Tom is a toolsy outfielder with speed (14 SB), some pop (18 doubles), and a good approach at the plate (.383 OBP). Stamets, acquired for David Murphy last summer, is a solid defensive shortstop who could become a big league utility infielder. Haase is an offensive-minded catcher who will face a big challenge at Double-A Akron but has a chance to develop into a big league backup. Bautista made himself known in Lake County, making the All-Star team, and putting up some gaudy numbers for a second baseman.  Brady is a lefty who posted a solid 4:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio this past year with a sub-4 ERA and FIP.

There are even more names I could rattle off but suffice to say that this is one of the deepest farm systems the Cleveland Indians have had in at least a decade. They’ve been drafting much better and we’ve already seen some of that with Lindor this past year bursting onto the scene.  In most years, any of the ten guys I mentioned could have made the Tribe’s top 30 prospect list but alas, not this year.

Next: Should the Indians Inquire About Cubs' Soler?

Be sure to check back each day this month as we count down the Top 30 Cleveland Indians Prospects. Get to know the young guys of the franchise, several of which could play key roles on the big league club this season. Also, be sure to let us know your thoughts on these prospects as they’re mentioned. Are they too high? Too low? Any sleepers you think I’ve missed? Let us know in the comments section below.