Cleveland Indians: Three MiLB Affiliates Set to Begin Postseason Play

The Cleveland Indians aren’t the only team with an eye on the postseason, as three of the organization’s minor league affiliates are set to start the playoffs.

While the Cleveland Indians are in the thick of a pennant race in the American League Central Division, three of the organization’s minor league affiliates have already reached the postseason promised land. The Triple-A Columbus Clippers, Double-A Akron Rubberducks, and Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats all begin playoff series on Wednesday.

For Columbus, this is old hat, as this is the third consecutive year it has won the International League’s Western Division, and the fourth since 2010. The Clippers are the reigning Governor’s Cup champions, and feature a roster that has been in constant flux throughout the season, with more than 200 players have made appearances for the Clip Show in 2016.

The roster for manager Chris Tremie has been depleted some as a result of major league rosters expanding, but still has plenty of quality players. Jesus Aguilar led all of Cleveland’s minor leaguers with 30 home runs, and enters the playoffs on a tear, Yandy Diaz was named the IL’s Rookie of the Year, and pitchers Ryan Merritt, Adam Plutko, and Shawn Morimando are all among the Indians’ top 30 prospects.

More from Away Back Gone

• Cleveland Guardians: Terry Francona becomes meme in profanity-laced ejection
• Say goodbye to defensive shifts and hello to bigger bases, pitch clock in 2023
• Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber second-fastest to 800 strikeouts in major-league history
• The next week will make or break the Cleveland Guardians’ season
• The Cleveland Guardians offense is suddenly inept

The Clippers open play Wednesday evening at 6:35 p.m. ET at Huntington Park in Columbus’ Arena District against the Gwinnet Braves, who won the IL’s South Division for the first time. The winner of the best of five series will go on to play for the Governor’s Cup against the winner of Lehigh Valley and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Akron is making its first trip to the postseason since 2014 after winning the Western Division of the Eastern League by just half a game over the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate). The Rubberducks are almost a completely different team from the one that began the year with the likes of Diaz, Clint Frazier, and Bradley Zimmer on its roster.

Skipper Dave Wallace will be filling out his lineup card with Nellie Rodriguez, who hit 26 homers of his own this season, Greg Allen, and Mike Papi, who are all among the top 30 prospects in the organization. Rob Kaminsky, a left-handed starting pitcher, is also on that list and on Akron’s roster.

The Ducks and Curve get started at 6:00 p.m. ET in Altoona on Wednesday evening. Also a best of five series, the winner goes on to face the team that emerges from a series between Reading and Trenton.

Perhaps the most exciting and prospect-laden club among the three is Lynchburg, which won the Carolina League’s Northern Division in the first half of the season and tied at the top in the second half. The Hillcats feature names like Bobby Bradley, Francisco Mejia, Yu-Cheng Chang, Willi Castro, Tyler Kreiger, and Luis Lugo from the top 30 prospects rankings, as well as the best name in all of professional baseball in Sicnarf Loopstock.

Next: Breaking Down the Tribe's Remaining Schedule

Lynchburg travels to Northern Virginia to begin a best of three series with Potomac at 7:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The winner will take on the winner of the Myrtle Beach-Salem series for the opportunity to play for the Mills Cup.