Projecting the Cleveland Indians 2025 Opening Day Infield

What will the Cleveland Indians’ opening day lnfield  look like five years from now? Here’s a way-too-early prediction.

With a rebuild likely on the horizon, the Cleveland Indians roster will look much different five years from today and no group will undergo more change than the infield.

Last week, it was reported that the Indians do indeed plan to trade four-time All-Star Francisco Lindor, who is in the final year of his contract before opening day and will also face a tough decision with Jose Ramirez in the near future as he will hit the open market after the 2022 season.

With their two top current players not likely to be part of their long term plans, a manager in Terry Francona nearing the end of his career and having made the playoffs in four of the past five seasons without coming away with a championship, and the White Sox rebuild over and the Tigers likely to be a threat in the next few years, it’s likely the Indians will be in full rebuild mode or just starting to contend come 2025.

Assuming the Indians do indeed to rebuild, here’s a way-too-early 2025 opening day infield projection for the Tribe based off players who are currently members of Cleveland’s active roster or farm system.

The Indians hope Bo Naylor pans out to be their franchise catcher.

Catcher: Bo Naylor

While Roberto Perez is among the best defensive catchers in baseball, it’s hard to imagine him being the Indians backstop in 2025 when he will be 35-years old. If all goes as planned, Bo Naylor will be behind the dish by then for the Tribe.

Naylor, who is the younger brother of Indians outfielder Josh Naylor is the Indians fourth-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline and was drafted by the club in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

He is projected to reach the majors by 2022 and will be 25-years old on opening day in 2025, putting him right at what should be the beginning of the prime of his career.

There’s a great chance a pair of brothers will be opening day starters in the Indians infield for years to come.

First Base: Josh Naylor

If the Indians short stay in the 2020 postseason was an indication of anything, it was that the Tribe got a big-time player in Josh Naylor.

The Indians added Naylor in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger in August. In 22 regular season games with Cleveland, he hit just .230, but in the postseason, he attacked the New York Yankees as he went 5-7 in the two-game series with a home run and two RBI’s.

Naylor who like his brother, was also a first round pick, will be just 28-years old in 2025 and figures to be a mainstay in the Indians lineup who can play either first base or the outfield.

Owen Miller may have flown under the radar when he was added from San Diego in the Clevinger trade.

Second Base: Owen Miller

Owen Miller was perhaps the most underrated addition from the Clevinger trade. Miller was selected by the Padres in the third round of the MLB Draft out of Illinois State and is on a fast track to the majors.

In a full season of minor league action with the Padres Double-A Affiliate in 2019, Miller slashed .290/.355/.430 with 13 home runs and 68 RBI’s. Miller also displayed versatility as he can play both shortstop and second base.

Miller is the 18th ranked prospect and will be 29-years old come opening day of 2025, putting him right in the prime of his career.

The Indians made it clear with their 2020 Draft selection as to who they feel is their shortstop of the future.

Shortstop: Carson Tucker

With Lindor all but guaranteed to be traded this offseason, the Indians wisely selected his future replacement in Carson Tucker in the first round of the 2020 Draft.

Tucker is the brother of Pirates infielder Cole Tucker and fellow first-round pick and became a star at Mountain Pointe High School in Arizona, leading to his selection and turning down the chance to play college baseball at Texas.

MLB Pipeline projects Tucker will be MLB ready in 2024, which would put him in line to the Indians 2025 Opening Day shortstop.

Nolan Jones is the man the Indians hope to build around going forward.

Third Base: Nolan Jones

Like Lindor, Jose Ramirez is unlikely to be an Indian come 2025. Luckily, the Tribe’s top-ranked prospect is third basemen Nolan Jones and is expected to be on Cleveland’s opening day roster next season.

Jones was drafted in the second round of the 2016 Draft by the Tribe and has soared through Cleveland’s minor league system thanks to his patience and power at the plate.

The Indians hope Jones will be the player they build around in the future and if that plan comes to fruition, he will surely be manning the hot corner on opening day in 2025.