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2021 MLB Draft: 3 College Prospects for Cleveland Indians to consider in Round 1

By Aaron Gershon |
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball teams fill Studio 42 during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball teams fill Studio 42 during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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Who should the Cleveland Indians target in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft? Here are three college prospects to consider.

The 2021 MLB Draft may be the most important draft for the Cleveland Indians in quite some time.

As the team trends near a rebuilding process and only added six prospects plus some undrafted free agents in 2020 due to the MLB opting for a five-round draft amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indians need to bolster their farm system and that all starts with nailing their first round selection.

After a 35-25 finish in 2020, the Indians will pick 23rd in the 2021 draft. In 2020, Cleveland also picked 23rd and took shortstop Carson Tucker out of Mountain Pointe High School in Arizona in hopes he’ll be their shortstop of the future with Francisco Lindor not likely to be part of the teams’ future long-term.

In 2021, they’ll likely look for another first round bat but may opt to take advantage of a loaded class of arms.

With most high schools not playing their baseball seasons amid the pandemic in 2020, the early rounds may be dominated by college prospects.

Here are three college prospects for the Indians to consider with the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 29: The cap and glove of Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 29, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 29: The cap and glove of Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 29, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Louisville catcher Henry Davis would be the perfect addition to the Indians’ farm system. While the team took another catcher Bo Naylor in the first round of the 2018 draft, he is still just 20-years old and does not figure to be MLB ready until 2022 at the earliest.

With college experience, Davis could be ready much quicker and frankly may have more upside than Naylor as Cleveland looks for their catcher of the future.

As a freshman in 2019, Davis slashed .280/.345/.386 with three home runs and 23 RBI’s. He was a key member of a Louisville squad that won an ACC Regular Season title and reached the College World Series in Omaha after defeating East Carolina in the Louisville Super Regionals.

He followed that up with a monster start to the 2020 season before it was cut short amid the pandemic as he slashed .372/.481/.638 with three home runs and 13 RBI’s.

Davis is also known for having a cannon for an arm as he has been among the best in College Baseball at throwing out bases runners.

In Prospects Live Mock Draft 1.0 released after the 2021 draft order was released, Davis is projected to go 12th overall to the Seattle Mariners.

However, there’s plenty of time for draft boards to change and if Davis does drop, the Indians should be all over this stellar catcher.

Here are three college prospects for the Indians to consider with the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 28: A Cleveland Indians batting helmet is seen on the warning track during the seventh inning of the game between the Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Indians at Nationals Park on September 28, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 28: A Cleveland Indians batting helmet is seen on the warning track during the seventh inning of the game between the Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Indians at Nationals Park on September 28, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

If the Indians are looking for a versatile defender who projects to be a reliable bat regardless of where he plays in the field, Boston College star Sal Frelick would be the perfect pick.

Frelick had a monster freshman season at Boston College in 2019 as he slashed .367/.447/.513 with four home runs and 32 RBI’s and added 18 stolen bases. He also drew more walks (22) than strikeouts (16), which is a rare feat in today’s home run or strikeout era of baseball.

The tremendous season earned him earned All-ACC Second Team and ACC All-Freshman Team honors.

His numbers took a slight dip in 2020 as he slashed just .241/.380/.414 with two homers and four RBI’s before the season was shut down, but the struggles were in large part due to a meniscus injury.

While he has mostly moved around the outfield at Boston College, he came to school as a shortstop meaning whatever team drafts him has a player who can play multiple positions.

Frelick is projected to go 25th overall to the Oakland A’s in Prospects Live Mock Draft 1.0, meaning he’ll likely be on the board when the Indians are on the clock at No. 23 if his draft stock stays the same.

CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 6: The glove of Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians on the field prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 6: The glove of Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians on the field prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

If the Indians opt to add to their pitching depth with their first-round pick Mississippi State left-hander, Christian MacLeod should be a top target.

MacLeod will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2021 after a dominant shortened 2020 season on the bump for the Bulldogs.

MacLeod posted a perfect 4-0 record with a 0.86 ERA and struck out a whopping 35 strikeouts in just 21 innings of work.

He took home several awards, including Co-National Freshman Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Freshman All-America team and third-team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and SEC Co-Freshman of the Week after his dominant 11-strikeout performance over Wright State.

At 6-foot-4, MacLeod has the height of an MLB arm and as a dominant left-hander, figures to be a hot commodity on draft day.

He is projected as the 19th overall pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in Prospects Live’s mock draft, which would put him in the Indians range.

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