Cleveland Indians: Five players to target in the Rule 5 Draft

OF Akil Baddoo, Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins had to make some difficult decisions when deciding on their 40-man roster this past week. They were only able to add three players, but had seven players on their Top 30 prospect list that became Rule 5 eligible this year and weren’t already on the 40-man.

For that reason, the Twins were forced to leave off two of their top 15 prospects, including outfielder Akil Baddoo, the Twins No. 13 prospect. If you’re a frequent reader here, Baddoo’s name might sound familiar. He was part of the Francisco Lindor trade possibility with the Twins. Now, he could be even easier to grab for the Cleveland Indians.

Currently 22-years old, Baddoo was projected to arrive in the big leagues in 2021, which would work perfectly for the Rule 5 Draft. The catch would be making sure there’s a roster spot for him for the entire season. Luckily, Baddoo has a skill set that will help him always have a role.

Normally a center fielder, Baddoo has the ability to play all the outfield positions, but what he can do offensively is what could make him a Rule 5 Draft selection.

During the 2018 season, Baddoo played 113 games for Single-A Cedar Rapids and put up a balanced stat line. He logged 11 home runs and 11 triples while adding 24 stolen bases. The triples and stolen bases stick out as an indicator that he could be lethal on the base paths. If Baddoo has next level speed, then he could very easily have a role of a pinch runner or late inning defensive substitution, much like the way Greg Allen was used during his tenure with the Tribe.