Cleveland Indians 2017 Top Prospects: 10 more names to know

Todd Isaacs – OF

Once dubbed “the fastest man in college baseball”, Todd Isaacs has been very good for the Indians as a 19th-round pick.

A native of the Bahamas, Isaacs got some international exposure after the season last year, as he was part of Team Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic qualifier (the Bahamas does not field its own team, making them eligible to play for Great Britain). They did not qualify for the tournament that took place this March, though, losing out to Team Israel.

With the Indians, Isaacs struggled in 2015 but broke out this past year hitting .333/.384/.514 at Short-Season Mahoning Valley. He used that 80-grade speed to steal 20 bases in just 44 games, though he was also caught 14 times. He has played all three outfield spots but left field has been his primary position, despite the elite speed.

Isaacs still has a lot of work to be more than just a speed demon but 2016 was a great step in that direction. He will get his first taste of full-season ball in 2017, opening in Class-A Lake County.

Leandro Linares – RHP

Leandro Linares joined the Cleveland Indians back in 2013 when he was signed out of Cuba. He was a huge signing for the Tribe, receiving $950,000, which made him one of the largest international signings ever by the organization. However, the right-handed struggled for the first two years with the club, posting earned run averages of over 6.5 in both 2014 and 2015.

Things finally seemed to click for Linares in 2016, though, as he was moved to the bullpen full-time.

The 23-year-old split the season across three levels, appearing at Short-Season Mahoning Valley, Class-A Lake County, and Advanced-A Lynchburg. He made 23 appearances and posted a 1.21 ERA in 44 2/3 innings. He also struck out over 11 per nine innings while walking under 2.5 with a WHIP of just 0.85.

Related: Recapping the 2017 prospect countdown

Linares isn’t the youngest pitcher in the lower levels but he has three good pitches and the stuff to believe he could rise now that he’s figured things out. He’ll begin 2017 back at Lynchburg and has a chance of reaching Double-A.

Micah Miniard – RHP

Micah Miniard was drafted in the eighth round in 2014 out of high school in Kentucky. Miniard is a big kid, standing 6-foot-7 at just 20 years old.

The Indians have moved slowly with Miniard, starting him in Rookie Ball and at Short-Season Mahoning Valley the last two seasons. Because of this, he’s only thrown 153 2/3 innings since joining the club in 2014. He’s posted a respectable 3.87 ERA in that span.

He throws a very good fastball that can touch 97. He can also throw more of a sinker and has a breaking ball and changeup, the latter two of which are still a work in progress. He has enough of an arsenal to think he can stick as a starter, but the fastball to move to the bullpen if it comes to that. Still very young, he’ll begin the year in full-season ball at Class-A Lake County.