Cleveland Indians 2021 MLB Draft: 3 prospects to consider in first round

Izaac Pacheco, INF, Friendswood, TX (Texas A&M Commit)

With Bobby Bradley graduating from his prospect status, the Cleveland Indians no longer have a true first baseman on their Top 30 prospects list. There’s been talk of Nolan Jones making the switch and the newly added Jhonkensy Noel is a corner infielder. However, adding another name that has first base potential could be a goal of the club.

Cleveland hasn’t had the best luck drafting first baseman in the first round and there really aren’t any true first baseman highly ranked in the 2021 MLB Draft class. There is the chance that they could take a player with the idea of transitioning them over.

At 18-years old, Izaac Pacheco has been on the draft radar for a couple years now. He’s being listed as a shortstop, third baseman but his arm strength has been a bit lower than what you might want to see from that side of the infield.

Standing at 6-foot-4, he has the frame to make the transition over to first defensively and a shortstop glove could be a big plus at the position. He also swings left-handed and has been credited for a power bat.

A big frame, power bat and less-than-great arm strength seems like the prototypical first base prospect. If Pacheco falls to the Cleveland Indians, he could be a great candidate to take and see how he grows and where he fits in best.

Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami

The Cleveland Indians took Bo Naylor in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft and currently have two catchers on the Top 30 prospects list. However, while Adrian Del Castillo has been a catcher so far in his career, there’s a chance he could also have potential in the outfield or first. That position versatility isn’t uncommon in catchers, see Carlos Santana or Victor Martinez, making Del Castillo an intriguing option.

Originally a 36th round pick by the Chicago White Sox out of high school in 2018, Del Castillo opted for the college route at Miami. That seems to have paid off as he is now getting first round consideration.

What made Del Castillo’s value go up at Miami was his bat. Playing three seasons for the Hurricanes and totaling 131 games, he was able to slash an impressive .311/.410/.499 with 37 doubles, 17 home runs and 124 RBI. That type of bat talent will always draw major league interest at the catcher position.

Del Castillo could remain a catcher and be fast-tracked to the majors, like Santana and Martinez were, or he could see a position change. He played a bit of right field at Miami and has been rumored as a first base candidate as well.

Given the struggles at the plate for Cleveland’s catchers, Del Castillo could add an interesting new dynamic behind the plate. His versatility also gives plenty of options should other catcher prospects prove to be better.

Anthony Solometo, LHP, Sicklerville, N.J. (North Carolina Commit)

Coming from the same school as Zac Gallen and Devin Smeltzer, there’s a good line of pedigree for Anthony Solometo to follow into the 2021 MLB Draft. Standing at 6-foot-5, the 18-year old left-handed pitcher is drawing a lot of interest in the upcoming draft.

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This year has witnessed a lot of pitchers graduate from prospect status for the Cleveland Indians, leaving nine pitchers on the club’s Top 30 list. Of those nine, six are righties and three are lefties, with all six righties being higher on the list than the three lefties.

With that being said, the Tribe could look to add a left-handed pitcher to the roster and based on where they are picking Solometo could be a great option for them.

Solometo won’t blow anyone away with velocity just yet, throwing in the low-90s, but his size shows potential there. He’s also developed a strong slider as well.

Given his age and size with the added plus of being a lefty makes Solometo an interesting option. If the Tribe want to keep left-handed pitchers in their rotation moving forward, Solometo could be a great option to explore in the 2021 MLB Draft should he fall down to where Cleveland will be picking this year.