Cleveland Indians: 5 minor leaguers who are future All-Stars

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CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 10: Danny Salazar #31 Corey Kluber #28 and Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians show off their All Star jerseys prior to the game against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field on July 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Yankees defeated the Indians 11-7. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

With a packed minor league system, the Cleveland Indians have plenty of young talent poised to be the next Jose Ramirez, Andrew Miller, and Corey Kluber in future All-Star Games.

With up to five Cleveland Indians looking for a starting or bench spot on the 2017 All-Star team, looking ahead at the future of the team is possibly premature but, at the same time, it is extremely exciting.

Recent draft success has led to a powerhouse of talent in the Indians organization at all levels and even with the trade for Andrew Miller, there are still numerous future stars in the ranks.

With enough talent at every position, the Indians are not only a team built to win now, but also for the next 10 years. Some of this talent has already come through for the team with players like Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, and Jose Ramirez being with the organization their entire careers.

Gone are the days of poor drafting. Gone are the Michael Aubrey and Beau Mills-type picks that leave the organization years behind.

With tens of names to pick from for this list, it was clear the talent pool was much higher than even an avid minor league watcher would have noticed.

A lot can happen in a baseball career, but these five guys are the ones who have the highest ceiling and the most potential to be All-Stars. These are not the top five prospects in terms of talent or expectations. Instead, these are the five who (if they continue to succeed and progress) could see themselves in multiple All-Star Games in the near future.

5. Brady Aiken (LHP)

Brady Aiken making an appearance on anyone’s list to make a future All-Star Game would sound absurd to every person (including the writer of this piece), yet here he is.

Aiken’s career has been up and then down and maybe, sort of…up again?

As most avid baseball watchers know, the Houston Astros drafted Aiken with the first overall pick in the 2014 draft. They were unable to sign him, and in his first inning of work at IMG Academy after the draft, he was removed and required Tommy John surgery. The Indians eventually drafted him 17th overall in 2015.

His first professional year saw a 5.83 ERA and an astronomically high WHIP but he showed some talent with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

The 2017 season has not treated Aiken’s record very well, as he sits 1-8 on the season at Lake County, but he is making some strides towards his resurgence. His ERA is a bit better this season at 4.58 and if he can control the ball a little more, that will go down. He is not giving up a lot of hits, but he is still giving up runs.

One huge reason for this is he is walking guys a lot more (.7 walks per inning compared to .46 last season) and his WHIP is still high, but all this struggle is expected as he continues to try to build his MLB career from nothing.

With how much Aiken has been through in the last few years, it is easy to forget he is not even 21 yet.

He has lost some velocity on his fastball, but as he continues to strengthen his arm from the surgery and continues to work with the Indians staff, there is hope he can turn his career back onto the right track.

Corey Kluber was not a stud until he was over 25. With five more years of work, Aiken could be a nice fit in the Indians rotation. They took a gamble on him, but in three to five years, it will show why.

4. Willi Castro (SS/2nd)

This 20-year-old is having a fantastic 2017 with the Lynchburg Hillcats and could be looking at a call-up to Akron in the near future.

Willi Castro is batting .290 with six homers and 38 RBI. Unlike many minor leaguers in the Indians organization, he is not striking out every third at-bat, and he has been playing a respectable shortstop. He’s quick (nine steals so far) and has a good arm.

Being only 20, he has plenty of room to grow and since he has played second base as well, he could be in line to pick up either position in a few years depending on what happens at the MLB level.

Shortstop is a packed position for the Indians with Lindor, Yu-Cheng Chang, Eric Stamets, and others above Castro, but he is young and talented enough to force the issue in a few seasons.

He has committed 19 errors already this season, so he has some work to do, but for a player his age, he is still on the right track.

His 15 doubles is also a good sign and bring back memories of Ramirez in the minors. A call-up to the RubberDucks at some time this season is all but inevitable at this point with the way he is playing compared to guys on their roster.

With so much hype around other prospects, Castro’s name gets lost in the crowd, but look for him to be the starting shortstop in 2022 if Lindor goes elsewhere. If not, look for his to be the starting shortstop for another MLB team. There is too much talent to not make it. By 2023 he will be an All-Star.

Oct 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians fan Susan Thwaite shows off her pin collection on her hat before game one of the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Triston McKenzie (RHP)

At 22 and halfway through his first year at high-A Lynchburg, Triston McKenzie is starting to look unstoppable on the mound. With his 3.16 ERA in 82.2 innings, he has begun to go from top prospect to future All-Star in a few short months.

Always one of the Indians top five prospects on any list, McKenzie is 6-4 this season after posting a 1.62 ERA last year between two squads. Drafted in 2015 by the Indians in the first round, this 19-year-old is destined to make his way to the Majors in a few short years. With so many great pitchers on the Indians and in the minors, McKenzie has plenty of competition, but he is quickly showing he is above the rest.

He has 104 strikeouts already this season, and at such a young age, he is only going to get stronger. His one weakness is actually his fielding (he has three errors this year), but that will just come with more experience.

He has great control (only 32 walks so far this season), and a slew of pitches to fool hitters. One of two Indians minor leaguers to make the 2017 Futures Game, McKenzie is starting to get the national attention he deserves.

McKenzie should enjoy the moment and learn from it because it will not be his last time completing in the All-Star festivities. With the amount of talent he has in his arm and the way he has looked in his young career, fans will see him in Cleveland earlier than most guys. (Maybe 2019?)

May 6, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball on the field prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Johnathan Rodriguez (OF)

With all the hype about the Indians top two picks this year, their third pick may have been lost in the dust. Johnathan Rodriguez is a power-hitting outfielder who could make a huge impact on the Indians organization.

With guys like Nellie Rodriguez, Bobby Bradley, and Jesus Aguilar, the Indians had power but too many strikeouts (special shout-out to Aguilar for having a fantastic year with the Brewers). With these guys all playing first, there was nowhere for them to go, and without them, the power numbers were seriously lacking.

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With Rodriguez, the Indians get an outfielder with pop in his bat who is only 17. He also has amazing arm strength to go along with his powerful bat.

Watching video of him shows the fast yet smooth swing of this young kid. The contact with the ball will remind Indians fans of when Michael Brantley lines a single.

With the trade of Clint Frazier last season, Rodriguez may be the best power-hitting outfielder in the Indians system now.

Bradley Zimmer has some pop and Brantley gets his homers, but Rodriguez could answer the call in five or six years.

If he continues to develop in the field and can actually hit homers, he will march straight to the All-Star Game with little competition. Being so incredible at such a young age, the Indians must be wondering if they found the next Trout or Harper.

Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; World pitcher Adalberto Mejia (right) celebrates with catcher Francisco Mejia (left) after defeating USA during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Francisco Mejia (C)

Is there anything more to say about Francisco Mejia? He is tearing up the minor leagues again (this time at Double-A Akron), and is about to be featured in his second Futures Game.

At only 5-foot-10, Mejia is a scrappy, little catcher who is wonderful on both sides of the game. He is currently hitting .343 with Akron and has nine homers and 32 RBI.

The ball flies off his bat with incredible ease to the deepest parts of Canal Park and the outs he makes are few and far between. With only 33 strikeouts on the season, he puts the ball in play and his speed helps him even more.

With his .965 OPS, Mejia is making a case to be called up to Columbus at some point this season. Being only 21, the Indians are trying not to rush him, but he can flat-out play.

Behind the plate, he has thrown out an okay 29 percent of runners (which sounds terrible because Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez are magicians), but he continues to work and has a strong arm.

One has to wonder if a guy his size will stay at catcher or move to the infield. Could he be a second baseman or a Jose Ramirez-like third basemen?

Next: 5 players to expect in the ASG

Whether behind the dish or somewhere else, his all-out athleticism will send him to multiple All-Star Games. One of the most amazing minor leaguers to watch play, Mejia could be in Cleveland as early as next season, but he most likely won’t be up until 2019 (just in time for the All-Star Game in Cleveland).

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