Cleveland Sports Forum

Pantoja was undoubtedly the fastest player on the Rookie level Indians, stealing 13 games without being caught.

I believe Silento Sayles may be the fastest runner, although perhaps not as refined as Pantoja. Sayles was 16/21, playing a little less often than Pantoja.

It’s a common understanding around the game that pitchers’ velocities keep climbing. Whether it’s throwing programs, shoulder strengthening exercises or some other factor, pitchers in the minors and majors are throwing harder than they were five or 10 years ago. If you want a further explanation of just how hard pitchers are throwing, here’s the 100-mph pitchers in the minor leagues. To be added to the list, the pitcher’s velocity had to be verified by either a scout, front office official, manager or coach. This is not a comprehensive list, but we’ll keep adding to it as we get verified information on pitchers who joined the Century Club. Have a candidate for the club? Send it to jjcooper@baseballamerica.com.

Pitcher Team
Alex Reyes Cardinals
Arquimiedes Caminero Marlins
Brian Ellington Marlins
Carlos Melo Indians
Damien Magnifico Brewers
Damion Carroll Rays
Danny Carela Braves
Domingo Acevedo Yankees
Erik Cordier Giants
Francellis Montas White Sox
Hunter Strickland Giants
Jairo Diaz Angels
Jandel Gustave Astros
Jason Garcia Red Sox
John Holdzkom Pirates
Juan Jaime Braves
Jumbo Diaz Reds
Ken Giles Phillies
Maurico Cabrera Braves
Mike Foltynewicz Astros
Nefi Ogando Phillies
Pedro Baez Dodgers
Ray Black Giants
Reymin Guduan Astros
Sam Tuiavala Cardinals
Tayron Guerrero Mariners

Melo's command has been terrible, but I suppose that's not uncommon for a young fastballer.

But when I look at his career stats, I see even less reason to be excited.
1. He's not that young. He worked this whole year at age 23.
2. He spent 4 season in the Rangers organization before they released him. 2 seasons with the Indians.
3. His entire career has been spent in short season or Low A ball until 12 games this year with Carolina.
4. At Carolina he managed an ERA of 10.12 with a 2.79 WHIP.

The Indians will have a new High-A affiliate for the next four seasons.

According to the Lynchburg (Va.) News & Advance, the Indians have signed a four-year player development contract with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League. Hillcats president and general manager Paul Sunwall discussed the move with the paper but the Indians have yet to confirm it.

Lynchburg is part of the Carolina League, which the Indians have had an affiliate in since 1987. Cleveland had a team in Kinston, NC, for 25 years and have been affiliated with the Carolina Mudcats (Zebulon, NC) for the past three.

This will be the fourth different affiliation for the Hillcats. The Pirates fielded a team there for 15 seasons (1995-2009) along with the Reds (2010) and Braves (2011-14). Sunwall told the paper that he also had discussions with the Rangers and Reds. Cincinnati is still looking for a High-A affiliate after its agreement with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League expired after this season. The Reds are in search of an affiliate that would be closer.

High-A teams still without an affiliation for next season are -- Bakersfield and High Desert of the California League, Carolina of the Carolina League and Daytona of the Florida State League.
The Indians agreements with the rest of their minor-league affiliates run through at least 2016.

Really good idea because Zebulon just did not work out for the Indians.

rusty2 wrote:Really good idea because Zebulon just did not work out for the Indians.

Far from everything, but a pretty stadium.

Sept. 17: The Lynchburg Hillcats (Carolina) and Cleveland Indians sign four-year player development contract through 2018.

The Indians are on the move after spending just three years with the Carolina Mudcats, a franchise that left the Southern League in 2012 to take Kinston’s spot in the Carolina League. Lynchburg, which had been aligned with the Braves since 2011, was close to selling its stake in the league to Atlanta and relocating to a planned ballpark in Wilmington, N.C. That deal fell apart in November 2012 when Wilmington voters overwhelmingly rejected paying for the proposed $37 million ballpark. The Braves own their other three full-season affiliates and reportedly had still been pursuing a ballpark in Wilmington, though this may be an indication that is no longer the case.

Carolina is now the only unattached team in the Carolina League, and the Braves and Rangers will presumably try and land there. The Braves could also consider Daytona (Florida State), which is just 90 minutes from Atlanta’s spring training base in Kissimmee and available after the Cubs left town for Myrtle Beach yesterday. Also open are California League franchises Bakersfield (Reds) and High Desert (Mariners).

Received the current Baseball America print edition which gives me the chance to see all stats from all players on all teams in one place. Sometimes somethings that were overlooked during the course of the season pop out. Here's one:

LH pitcher Thomas Pannone in the Arizona League: ERA of 3.20 isn't exciting but more significant and impressive are these numbers: 45 IP 32 hits 62 K. .161 batting average against. 24 walks were a problem.

Not a big guy. 6-0 180. Age 20. 9th round 2013

Rather similar numbers from another lefty, Anderson Polanco, who only showed up in Lake County late in the season, finished up as a starter in his last six outings.

51 IP 32 H 62 K .159 average against No serious blemishes, 17 walks aren't bad either

6-3 190 he's just turned 22, which is old for this level. Has only pitched 174 innings in his 4 pro seasons, must be injury issues here.

Very nice. Good catch, Civ.

Pannone also made the Arizona League all star picks along with Chang and Bradley.

I'm looking forward to BA's Top 20 list and discussion on Arizona League. Previous hint sort of suggests Chang will be at or near the top of the list as an excellent hitter, with power, who plays an infield position.

Curious about BA thoughts about a few other Arizona players: Silento Sayles, CF, unpolished but with great speed and improved in his second season; Alexis Pantoja, slick SS, with speed and not much else; Li-Jen Chu, C, another Taiwanese, who had 16 xb hits among 31 total while batting 348 in his debut season.

And our high school pitchers who worked out of Goodyear: Sheffield and Hockin debuting with only 21 innings each [Sheffield recorded 29K], and last year's draftee Casey Shane who pitched twice as much with a 2.74 ERA, .204 avg against, and 39 in 46 IP.

Way more prospects in Arizona than any of the rest of our teams, although I'm eager to see how high Zimmer and Mejia rank in the NYPL.

Midwest League is huge so hard to place there but perhaps there will be some comments on Rodriguez, league's top 1b and Frazier whose stats were OK but included 161 strikeouts, Luis Lugo with 146 K in 126 IP but ERA of 4.92, Mitch Brown with a very solid second half. Adam Plutko?

Easy to make the top 20 list in the 8-team Carolina league -- our best there were Gonzalez, Ryan Merritt and Shawn Morimando, Plutko off and on. None are big stars

At Akron Tyler Naquin will get notice for his .313 average and defense, but little else; Gonzalez hit 357 after promotion; and of course Lindor.

[And James Ramsey could make it on the Texas League list for his time with the Cards: 300/389/527, before St. Louis dealt him for the very valuable mop up man in their bullpen, Justin Masterson]

International League list will include Aguillar on there somewhere; not likely Moncrief. No AA or AAA pitchers rate any raves.

BA's first minor league Top 20 prospect list and chat of the season is out today for the Gulf Coast League. I don't see a schedule of all the upcoming lists, but tomorrow could well be the day for the Arizona League. IF anyone on the forum is a BA subscriber, you're able to join the p.m. chat. I will try to be there. With the league champion team, MVP, two other league all stars, and several other solid prospects on our Arizona team, Cleveland should feature prominently in the list and, if any of us ask questions, the chat. Chats tend to be dominated by fans of NY and Chicago clubs, for some reason.

Chang much more likely to top the prospect list than Bradley. Looking through the Gulf Coast League rankings, there is an obvious and reasonable for preference for kids who play important defensive postions. The top 20 in order and by position in the GCL are:

5, 1, 6, 6, 1, 8, 6, 1, 6 or 5, 6, 6, 7 or 3, 1, 2, 6, 8, 1, 5, 1, 9

Chang played at both SS and 3B although is not considered a SS at higher levels. Bradley is 1b only.
SS Alex Pantoja and CF Silento Sayles could get high marks for their defense and baserunning.

Our kids in Arizona rated as No. 3, No. 4 and No. 12 prospects.

3. Bobby Bradley, 1b, Indians

Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 225. Drafted: HS—Gulfport, Miss., 2014 (3).


Bradley signed with the Indians for a bonus of $912,500. His season of historic proportions left scouts wondering how the Mississippi high school product lasted until the 97th overall pick. He won the first AZL triple crown since 1989 and was the offensive catalyst for the league-champion Indians.

The lefthanded-hitting Bradley made consistent hard contact, with above-average bat speed and impressive power to all fields. He is strong yet athletic for his size and could get even stronger as he matures. His defense at first base needs work, but he runs well for his size, with his speed out of the box grading as average.

“He’s been absolutely amazing,” Indians manager Anthony Medrano said. “It’s been a lot of fun watching him.”

4. Justus Sheffield, lhp, Indians

Age: 18. B-T: L-L. Ht: 5-10. Wt: 196. Drafted: HS—Tullahoma, Tenn., 2014 (1).

Sheffield nearly followed his older brother Jordan to Vanderbilt before the Indians selected the Tennessee high school product with the second of its two first-round picks, signing him for $1.6 million.

While Sheffield isn’t physically imposing, he’s a plus athlete and has the stuff of a bigger pitcher with a fastball up to 96 mph. His heater is an above-average pitch that comes out of his hand effortlessly, and he complements it with a changeup he commands and which projects as above-average. His curveball needs work but also could be an above-average pitch in time.

Sheffield has a good feel for pitching and showed in the AZL championship game that he’s able to reach back for something extra with men on base. He struggled in his early outings because, like many first-year pros, he tried to do too much.

12. Yu-Cheng Chang, ss/3b, Indians

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 175. Signed: Taiwan, 2013.

Chang was one of the top Asian amateur players on the market when the Indians signed the Taiwan native for $500,000 in June 2013. His brother Jin-De Jhang is a catcher in the Pirates organization.

Chang quickly became a favorite among AZL scouts for his refined skills, especially at the plate, where he showed a compact, quick swing, a good feel for the barrel and more power than expected with a pull-heavy approach. His six home runs ranked second in the AZL behind the teammate Bobby Bradley, and he added two more longballs during the club’s playoff run.

“It never seems like he’s trying to do too much,” Indians manager Anthony Medrano said, “but he finds a way to get the bat on the ball and drive (it).”

Chang wound up spending nearly as much time at third base due to the presence of slick-fielding shortstop Alexis Pantoja, and that’s where he may wind up long-term. He’s got the arm for both positions and is sound fundamentally, so he could become a plus defender at third.