Cleveland Indians Minor League Report: 3 players who were hot in May

Cleveland Indians Minor League Report: 3 players who were hot in May

The minor league affiliates of the Cleveland Indians, along with the rest of the minors across baseball were able to log their first full month of action in May. After beginning a month later than the majors, the minors returned to the field for the first time since the 2019 campaign. For the affiliates of the Tribe, the team’s saw mixed results based on the level.

The Double-A and Low-A affiliates were the ones that played well while the Columbus Clippers and Lake County Captains struggled a bit through the month. However, this piece will focus on the positives and the players that were hot during the first month of play. We’ll keep the negatives for the article about the players that hit a cold streak in May.

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As for the minor league affiliates that played well, we begin in Double-A with the Akron Rubberducks who hold a 16-8 record after 24 games played. While that’s a strong record, the Rubberducks still sit in just third for their division, being the Double-A Northeast League, Southwest Division. Akron is 2.5 games back of the Bowie BaySox with the Erie Seawolves pinned between the two teams.

As for the Lynchburg Hillcats in Low-A, they were also able to tally a winning record through the first 24 games of the season, holding a record of 15-9. The record places the Hillcats in second of the Low-A East, North Division, trailing the Delmarva Shorebirds by three games in the standings.

Now, strong records don’t always mean there are standout players or vice versa. Columbus, Akron, Lake County and Lynchburg all of players that have been playing well, but also players that have been struggling. While there were more than just these three players to play well in May for the minor league affiliates of the Cleveland Indians, these three stick out from the rest and should be on the radar to make a move up to the next level in the near future.

Next: Tyler Freeman

Tyler Freeman, SS, Double-A Akron

The No. 2 prospect in the Cleveland Indians organization and the No. 81 prospect on the MLB.com Top 100 prospect list, shortstop Tyler Freeman was one of the strongest players in the minors for Cleveland during the month of May. Playing for the Double-A Akron Rubberducks, Freeman was able to not only pace the Rubberducks in multiple stats, but be among some of the best in the league.

During the month of May, Freeman played in 20 games and was able to log 30 hits for Akron.  That total was the second most among Double-A Northeast teams trailing only Otto Lopez, a second baseman for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats who are the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Of Freeman’s 30 hits in May, six came via double while he also logged one of five Akron triples during the month. He was also able to add a home run and 13 RBI to his stat line. However, what might be the most impressive part is his slash line. Over the 20 games played, Freeman was able to slash .370/.433/.506 for the Rubberducks.

With numbers like those, Freeman might not be in Akron much longer. The barrier is that the middle infield in Columbus is a bit crowded with Andres Gimenez, Gabriel Arias, Ernie Clement and Tyler Krieger. A move up would probably mean less playing time and that might not be the plan for Freeman at this point in the season and his career progression.

Next: Will Brennan

Jhonkensy Noel, 3B, Low-A Lynchburg

We round out the list of players who were hot in May for the Tribe with corner infielder Jhonkensy Noel who has been playing well for the Low-A Lynchburg Hillcats, despite being limited to just 15 games. Noel has been part of the Tribe’s minor league ranks since 2018, spending the 2018 season in the Dominican Summer League and 2019 in Arizona playing rookie ball. Now, he’s burst onto the scene in Lynchburg with one of the hottest starts across the organization.

In his 15 games, Noel was able to blast five home runs during the month of May, tied for third in Low-A East and just two behind the league’s leader. Additionally, Noel’s six doubles are tied for sixth in the league. All of that has combined to give him a strong slash line of .358/.380/.672 through the month of May.

The high ranks don’t stop there either. Noel has been able to log 24 hits, tied for ninth in the league, and has registered 19 runs, tied for sixth in the league. His 21 RBI are also fourth in the Low-A East. Where he can work on improving is drawing walks. He’s only been able to draw two, but when you’re hitting as well as he’s been that can be overlooked a bit for the sake of swinging away.