Cleveland Indians
Rd2 pk63
Yordys Valdes- SS
McArthur HS, FL
17.9yo 5'10, 170lbs
Switch-hitter, better RH.
Avg bat, needs to add strength.
Below avg power. Plus defender w/ a plus arm. One of the best defensive players in the draft.
Florida St. commit.
Re: Draft Folder
1067Jeff Ellis @jeffMLBdraft
Yordys Valdes is a young for the class shortstop who is the best defender at short in the prep class, and who offers very little at this point if anything as an offensive player
Yordys Valdes is a young for the class shortstop who is the best defender at short in the prep class, and who offers very little at this point if anything as an offensive player
Re: Draft Folder
1068Indians selected Yordys Valdes with 63rd pick in MLB Draft
The Tribe added a shortstop on Monday night
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians selected Yordys Valdes with the No. 63 pick in Monday's Major League Baseball Draft.
Valdes, 17, is a switch-hitting shortstop from Cuba. He posted a .343 batting average with 13 RBI and 20 runs scored in 23 games this season. He recently graduated from McArthur High School in Miami, Florida. He committed to Florida State.
“He’s an extremely athletic high school shortstop,” said scouting director Scott Barnsby. “This guy has elite defensive instincts. He’s got hands, he’s got actions, he’s got range to both sides, impressive transfer and arm strength to stay at shortstop. We see him being a middle of the diamond player for a long time. He’s got a feel to hit from both sides of the plate.”
Valdes is known for his defense. Baseball America calls him a glove-first player. He rose up draft boards and prospect rankings this season. Some are concerned about his strength, but the Indians are excited about his upside.
Valdes moved to South Florida when he was five years old. He was coached in high school by Oddibe McDowell and his father Oscar, who played outfield for the Cuban national team. McDowell spent seven seasons in the big leagues including 69 games in Cleveland during the 1989 season.
The Tribe added a shortstop on Monday night
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians selected Yordys Valdes with the No. 63 pick in Monday's Major League Baseball Draft.
Valdes, 17, is a switch-hitting shortstop from Cuba. He posted a .343 batting average with 13 RBI and 20 runs scored in 23 games this season. He recently graduated from McArthur High School in Miami, Florida. He committed to Florida State.
“He’s an extremely athletic high school shortstop,” said scouting director Scott Barnsby. “This guy has elite defensive instincts. He’s got hands, he’s got actions, he’s got range to both sides, impressive transfer and arm strength to stay at shortstop. We see him being a middle of the diamond player for a long time. He’s got a feel to hit from both sides of the plate.”
Valdes is known for his defense. Baseball America calls him a glove-first player. He rose up draft boards and prospect rankings this season. Some are concerned about his strength, but the Indians are excited about his upside.
Valdes moved to South Florida when he was five years old. He was coached in high school by Oddibe McDowell and his father Oscar, who played outfield for the Cuban national team. McDowell spent seven seasons in the big leagues including 69 games in Cleveland during the 1989 season.
Re: Draft Folder
1069Indians 2019 First Round Pick: RHP Daniel Espino
by Jeff Ellis
The Indians selected RHP Daniel Espino (Georgia Premier HS, GA) with the first pick (24th overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Jeff Ellis:
Daniel Espino continues the Indians approach from a year ago taking a high ceiling arm with big velocity. He reminds me some of a better version of Lenny Torress from a year ago. He looks like a future reliever to me and is pretty much maxed out physically. He might actually be best served in the future as an opener down the road. He has three strong offerings in his fastball, slider, and curve. The fastball is a potential 80-grade pitch and it was interesting to hear him talk about Mariano Rivera as Espino could be a future elite closer. He should move quicker than most prep arms through the minors as his stuff is unlikely to improve. This is an interesting high ceiling player for an Indians team that lacks high ceiling talent. There is a lot of risk, but the Indians have had zero issues when it comes to risk.
Press Release: Espino, 18, recently posted a senior season ERA of 0.32 (44.0IP, 10H, 2ER, 10BB, 106SO) in 9 starts for the Georgia Premier Academy in Statesboro, GA. The 6-2, 200-lb, hard-throwing right-hander moved with his family from Panama to Georgia during his sophomore year of high school. The LSU commit was clocked at 99 miles per hour during the Under Armour All-America Game last summer and pitched for the 18U Team Panama squad in the November 2018 COPABE Games in Chitré, Panama.
by Jeff Ellis
The Indians selected RHP Daniel Espino (Georgia Premier HS, GA) with the first pick (24th overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Jeff Ellis:
Daniel Espino continues the Indians approach from a year ago taking a high ceiling arm with big velocity. He reminds me some of a better version of Lenny Torress from a year ago. He looks like a future reliever to me and is pretty much maxed out physically. He might actually be best served in the future as an opener down the road. He has three strong offerings in his fastball, slider, and curve. The fastball is a potential 80-grade pitch and it was interesting to hear him talk about Mariano Rivera as Espino could be a future elite closer. He should move quicker than most prep arms through the minors as his stuff is unlikely to improve. This is an interesting high ceiling player for an Indians team that lacks high ceiling talent. There is a lot of risk, but the Indians have had zero issues when it comes to risk.
Press Release: Espino, 18, recently posted a senior season ERA of 0.32 (44.0IP, 10H, 2ER, 10BB, 106SO) in 9 starts for the Georgia Premier Academy in Statesboro, GA. The 6-2, 200-lb, hard-throwing right-hander moved with his family from Panama to Georgia during his sophomore year of high school. The LSU commit was clocked at 99 miles per hour during the Under Armour All-America Game last summer and pitched for the 18U Team Panama squad in the November 2018 COPABE Games in Chitré, Panama.
Re: Draft Folder
1070Hillbilly wrote:Jeff Ellis @jeffMLBdraft
Yordys Valdes is a young for the class shortstop who is the best defender at short in the prep class, and who offers very little at this point if anything as an offensive player
Who is scouting these guys? Why draft a player with questionable bat talent in the early rounds?
Re: Draft Folder
1071How did Espino drop to us? Not complaing, it would be nice to see the opponents dreading going
to bat against him.
to bat against him.
Re: Draft Folder
1072The last time we selected a high school SS was Lindor. But he hit .528 with 6 homers his senior year in Florida. Funny enough, he was a Florida State commit too, just like Valdes.
Comparisons end there though, as Valdes hit almost 200 points lower in high school, and not sure he had any homers. None mentioned in scouting reports.
I guess with this one we should hope for Omar not Lindor.
Comparisons end there though, as Valdes hit almost 200 points lower in high school, and not sure he had any homers. None mentioned in scouting reports.
I guess with this one we should hope for Omar not Lindor.
Re: Draft Folder
1073Cleveland Indians
3rd rd pick 101
Joseph Naranjo 6'1, 175 lbs
Ayala HS, CA
18.1yo LHH 1st baseman
Above avg hit tool, w/ avg power. Considered 1 of better pure prep hitters in the draft class.
Comp: Dominic Smith / Jake Bauers.
3rd rd pick 101
Joseph Naranjo 6'1, 175 lbs
Ayala HS, CA
18.1yo LHH 1st baseman
Above avg hit tool, w/ avg power. Considered 1 of better pure prep hitters in the draft class.
Comp: Dominic Smith / Jake Bauers.
Re: Draft Folder
1074Cleveland Indians
4th rd pick 130
Christian Cairo
5'10, 170 lbs.
Calvary Christian HS, FL
18.1yo RHH shortstop.
Son of Miguel Cairo. Avg bat, avg arm, avg runner, avg defender. Below avg power. Plus instincts, high baseball IQ player. Possible move to 2b in the future.
4th rd pick 130
Christian Cairo
5'10, 170 lbs.
Calvary Christian HS, FL
18.1yo RHH shortstop.
Son of Miguel Cairo. Avg bat, avg arm, avg runner, avg defender. Below avg power. Plus instincts, high baseball IQ player. Possible move to 2b in the future.
Re: Draft Folder
1075Cleveland Indians
5th rd pick 160
Hunter Gaddis
6'6, 212 lbs, 21.1yo
Right-hand Starting Pitcher
Georgia State
Low 90's Sinker / mid 80's Slider both above avg. Throws avg/fringe CB and CH. Avg or better control. BOR (4/5th) type arm.
5th rd pick 160
Hunter Gaddis
6'6, 212 lbs, 21.1yo
Right-hand Starting Pitcher
Georgia State
Low 90's Sinker / mid 80's Slider both above avg. Throws avg/fringe CB and CH. Avg or better control. BOR (4/5th) type arm.
Re: Draft Folder
1076Cleveland Indians
6th rd pick 190
Jordan Brown
6'4, 185 lbs, 17.8yo
RHH Shortstop
Serra HS, CA
Young for the class. Raw hitter, w/ avg power, plus runner w/ avg to above arm. Played basketball too. Fresno St. commit.
6th rd pick 190
Jordan Brown
6'4, 185 lbs, 17.8yo
RHH Shortstop
Serra HS, CA
Young for the class. Raw hitter, w/ avg power, plus runner w/ avg to above arm. Played basketball too. Fresno St. commit.
Re: Draft Folder
1077Cleveland Indians
7th rd pick 220
Xzavion Curry
5'10, 189 lbs, 20.9yo
Right-hand Starting Pitcher
Georgia Tech.
FB sits 88-92, displays avg control. Throws avg CB & CH. Displays avg to better control. Smaller pitcher like Eli Morgan, Kirk McCarty. Possible bullpen arm long range.
(Close friend of our former 1st round pick, Will Benson)
7th rd pick 220
Xzavion Curry
5'10, 189 lbs, 20.9yo
Right-hand Starting Pitcher
Georgia Tech.
FB sits 88-92, displays avg control. Throws avg CB & CH. Displays avg to better control. Smaller pitcher like Eli Morgan, Kirk McCarty. Possible bullpen arm long range.
(Close friend of our former 1st round pick, Will Benson)
Re: Draft Folder
1078Cleveland Indians
8th rd pick 250
Will Brennan
6'0, 190 lbs,
21.4yo LHH OF
Kansas State
Possible LHRP pitcher too
FB up to 92. Above avg arm in OF. Adv approach at plate w/ almost 3 to 1 BB to K's. Avg defender in CF, below avg power. Possible 4th OF type.
8th rd pick 250
Will Brennan
6'0, 190 lbs,
21.4yo LHH OF
Kansas State
Possible LHRP pitcher too
FB up to 92. Above avg arm in OF. Adv approach at plate w/ almost 3 to 1 BB to K's. Avg defender in CF, below avg power. Possible 4th OF type.
Re: Draft Folder
1079Cleveland Indians
9th rd pick 280
William Bartlett
6'2, 210 lbs
18yo RHH Catcher/1b IMG Academy
Plus raw power, best hitter on team to some. Played at talented ING Academy. Has handled high-end velo at the plate and while catching part-time. Arizona commit.
9th rd pick 280
William Bartlett
6'2, 210 lbs
18yo RHH Catcher/1b IMG Academy
Plus raw power, best hitter on team to some. Played at talented ING Academy. Has handled high-end velo at the plate and while catching part-time. Arizona commit.
Re: Draft Folder
1080jeff ellis @jeffMLBdraft
17 minutes ago
I think the Indians have likely saved some money on the first two days. No one day two outside of maybe Bartlett is likely to be overslot. They have several underslot picks as well. I would think Espino is about slot and Valdez as well. Maybe Cairo is a little more expensive
jeff ellis @jeffMLBdraft
3 hours ago
Xzvion Curry is another player I predicted to the Indians this year, very much fits the mold.
Curry is undersized, young for the class, but high level production
Indians add Joe Naranjo, all he does is hit. He is an undersized first baseman, but power is possible. He is an all-bat prospect who just turned 18 in May.
17 minutes ago
I think the Indians have likely saved some money on the first two days. No one day two outside of maybe Bartlett is likely to be overslot. They have several underslot picks as well. I would think Espino is about slot and Valdez as well. Maybe Cairo is a little more expensive
jeff ellis @jeffMLBdraft
3 hours ago
Xzvion Curry is another player I predicted to the Indians this year, very much fits the mold.
Curry is undersized, young for the class, but high level production
Indians add Joe Naranjo, all he does is hit. He is an undersized first baseman, but power is possible. He is an all-bat prospect who just turned 18 in May.