Cleveland Indians

By Ben Badler
November 19, 2008

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Carlos Santana, c 2. Matt LaPorta, of 3. Nick Weglarz, of 4. Adam Miller, rhp 5. Beau Mills, 1b 6. Lonnie Chisenhall, ss 7. Kelvin de la Cruz, lhp 8. David Huff, lhp 9. Michael Brantley, of/1b 10. Carlos Rivero, ss

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Michael Brantley Best Power Hitter Matt LaPorta Best Strike-Zone Discipline Nick Weglarz Fastest Baserunner Delvi Cid Best Athlete Michael Brantley Best Fastball Adam Miller Best Curveball Kelvin de la Cruz Best Slider Adam Miller Best Changeup David Huff Best Control David Huff Best Defensive Catcher Wyatt Toregas Best Defensive Infielder Mark Thompson Best Infield Arm Carlos Rivero Best Defensive Outfielder Delvi Cid Best Outfield Arm Matt Brown

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Carlos Santana First Base Matt LaPorta Second Base Jhonny Peralta Third Base Lonnie Chisenhall Shortstop Carlos Rivero Left Field Nick Weglarz Center Field Grady Sizemore Right Field Shin-Soo Choo Designated Hitter Beau Mills No. 1 Starter Cliff Lee No. 2 Starter Fausto Carmona No. 3 Starter Kelvin de la Cruz No. 4 Starter David Huff No. 5 Starter T.J. House Closer Adam Miller

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Russell Branyan, 3b Brewers 2000 C.C. Sabathia, lhp Brewers 2001 C.C. Sabathia, lhp Brewers 2002 Corey Smith, 3b Angels 2003 Brandon Phillips, 2b/ss Reds 2004 Grady Sizemore, of Indians 2005 Adam Miller, rhp Indians 2006 Adam Miller, rhp Indians 2007 Adam Miller, rhp Indians 2008 Adam Miller, rhp Indians

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Will Harley, c (2nd round) Out of baseball 2000 Corey Smith, 3b Angels 2001 Dan Denham, rhp Angels 2002 Jeremy Guthrie, rhp Orioles 2003 Michael Aubrey, 1b Indians 2004 Jeremy Sowers, lhp Indians 2005 Trevor Crowe, of Indians 2006 David Huff, lhp (1st supplemental) Indians 2007 Beau Mills 3b/1b Indians 2008 Lonnie Chisenhall, ss Indians

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Danys Baez, 1999 $4,500,000 Jeremy Guthrie, 2002 $3,000,000 Jeremy Sowers, 2004 $2,475,000 Michael Aubrey, 2003 $2,010,000 Dan Denham, 2001 $1,860,000

INDIANS LINKS

Indians' Team Page Indians Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Indians Top 10 Prospects 2008 Draft: Indians (Basic Database) 2008 Draft: Indians  (Advanced Database) 2008 Draft Report Cards: Cleveland Indians  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2009 Prospect Handbook

After the Indians nearly reached the 2007 World Series, forecasts had them contending for another American League Central title in 2008. Yet despite outscoring their opponents by 44 runs, the Indians finished 81-81. They languished in last place for much of the season until mid-August, precipitating the trade of C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers on July 7, though their 40-28 record after the all-star break was the sixth-best in baseball.

Sabathia is the only star the Indians have drafted since they made him the 20th overall selection in 1998. The club has gotten little return on its first-round and supplemental first-round choices since. The Tribe had 12 such picks from 2000-03, and among them only Jeremy Guthrie has found any big league success—and that came after the Orioles claimed him on waivers.

Sabathia's departure left Ben Francisco, Ryan Garko, Aaron Laffey and Jensen Lewis as the only homegrown draftees to make much of an impact for 2008 Indians. Former Tribe draft picks Ryan Church, Guthrie, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Luke Scott have enjoyed various degrees of success with other clubs.

Nevertheless, the Indians have found alternate ways to build a perennial AL Central contender. Asdrubal Cabrera, Franklin Gutierrez, Travis Hafner, Cliff Lee, Kelly Shoppach and Grady Sizemore all came to Cleveland as minor leaguers through trades, while Shin-Soo Choo had only two big league hits before the Tribe acquired him. Victor Martinez signed with the Indians out of Venezuela, while Fausto Carmona, Jhonny Peralta and Rafael Perez were found in the Dominican Republic.

By dealing Sabathia and Casey Blake, Cleveland continued its history of bolstering its farm system with other organizations' prospects. Catcher Carlos Santana, the prize of the Blake trade, and outfielder Matt LaPorta, the key to the Sabathia deal, immediately became the Tribe's two best prospects. Two more players in those transactions, outfielder/first baseman Michael Brantley and righthander Jonathan Meloan, also should help the big league club in the near future.

For the first time in five years, righthander Adam Miller doesn't rank No. 1 on this prospect list, but he still has as much star potential as any Indians draftee in the system. And if the 2003 first-rounder can stay healthy after pitching just 95 innings over the last two years, Miller could join Meloan in immediately upgrading a bullpen that posted the second-worst relief ERA (5.13) in the majors last season.

Another homegrown pitcher, lefty David Huff, could upgrade the rotation in 2009. They're a little further away, but two more Tribe draftees, outfielder Nick Weglarz and first baseman Beau Mills, could bolster the lineup by the end of 2010.

In an effort to reap more from the draft, Cleveland spent $7 million on its 2008 crop—up from $3.6 million the year before. The Indians doled out $1.1 million to sweet-swinging infielder Lonnie Chisenhall in the first round and far exceeded MLB's slot recommendations to land righthanders Trey Haley, Zach Putnam and Bryce Stowell, lefthander T.J. House and outfielder Tim Fedroff. They also maintained a strong international presence, paying $715,000 for Venezuelan catcher Alex Monsalve and $575,000 for Dominican shortstop Jose Ozoria.

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