Cleveland Sports Forum

Maybe they figure with modern defensive alignments and shifts, there's need for a couple 2nd basemen out in the field, with lousy throwing arms, at one time.

Round 5 (pick 154): Ka'Ai Tom, CF, Kentucky

Bats: L ... Throws: R ... 5'9, 185 lbs. ... 21 years old

Batted .375 with five home runs, 16 doubles, 51 RBIs, 23 walks and 25 strikeouts this season. Posted a .443 on-base percentage and a .528 slugging percentage, while scoring 41 runs and swiping 15 bases in 16 attempts.

6 184
Wyatt, Jonas Quartz Hill HS (CA) RHP R/R HS
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6'1" 185lbs DOB: 09/16/97

Austin Pollack ‏@Austin_Pollack · 2 minutes ago
#Indians select RHP Jonas Wyatt from Quartz Hill HS in California. SDSU commit. Could touch 96 on the radar gun.

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2015 Indians 5th round pick: OF Ka'Ai Tom

Tony Lastoria
Editor-in-Chief

The Indians nab another college position player and their first outfielder of the draft...

With their 5th round pick (154th overall) the Cleveland Indians select outfielder Ka’Ai Tom out of the University of Kentucky.

Born: 05/24/1994 – Height: 5’9” – Weight: 185 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right

Ranks:

Baseball America: 239th

Tony’s take: The Indians take another very signable player for the third straight pick on day two nabbing Tom our of Kentucky. He is a junior so there is some leverage, but his smaller size and lack of a true position leave him with very little leverage. He shows a professional approach at the plate with a little bit of pop in the bat, and is a very good baserunner with the ability to steal some bases. The Indians listed him as an outfielder here so it appears they want to develop him initially at that position, though he has some experience at second base and it could be a spot he ends up at in the future depending on his development in the outfield and the organization’s need in the infield.

Jeff Ellis: Blaze Ka’ai Tom was listed as a centerfielder by the Indians, but there is some talk he could play second base. This marks the second year in a row the Indians have taken a player with Hawaiian ties and he is similar to last year’s pick Jodd Carter but is more proven. I mentioned before that there have been some interesting articles about young minor league evaluation using BABIP and strikeout rate. The idea is high BABIP and low strikeout rate show ability to put the ball in play. He played in the SEC which is the top conference in college baseball and this is without a doubt. He transferred in after a freshman year at a community college and has had an on-base percentage over .400 each year. He has performed very well in college and is a guy who knows how to get on base, has some speed and some doubles pop.

Todd Paquette ‏@IndiansAccounts · 7 minutes ago
#Indians select Justin Garza In the 8th round #244 RHP from Cal State Fullerton (Fullerton, CA). Coming off Tommy John surgery.

My goodness. Two pitchers recovering from Tommy John and two infielders recovering from labrum surgery.

Tribeinsider ‏@tribeinsider · 32 minutes ago
The @Indians selected Garza in the 26th round of the 2012 Draft.

Tribeinsider ‏@tribeinsider · 1 hour ago
In the 7th round (#214) the @Indians select CF Nathan Lukes from Cal State Sacramento.

With their 6th round pick (184th overall) the Cleveland Indians select right-handed pitcher Jonas Wyatt out of Quartz Hills High School (CA).

Born: 09/16/1997
Height: 6’1” – Weight: 185 –
Bats: Right – Throws: Right

Ranks:
Baseball America: 145th
Perfect Game: 89th

Tony's take: This is a little bit of a step away from the more polished prep arms as the Indians are clearly after the power in Wyatt's arm. This is a pick similar to drafts of the past where the Indians are taking a raw arm with lots of potential and will see what they can get from it. They did it last year with Sam Hentges and others, so they haven't completely abandoned that old approach. He sits in the low-to-mid 90s and reaches 96 MPH. He is really young as he won't turn 18 years old until September, but already has a solidly built frame. He also shows a changeup and curveball with both still developing and the potential to give him three average pitches. He's not as polished as the other arms, but may have as much upside if even more considering how hard he throws and the projection to add even more velocity.

Jeff Ellis: Jonas Wyatt is a 6’2” right handed for Quartz High school in California. He popped up a bit this year thanks to a velocity jump where he was hitting mid 90’s at points during the spring. I talked to a person I trust in the state and they told me they were a big fan. Wyatt was in his top 30 prep guys in the very deep state of California. One of the reasons I think the Indians love him is because he is one of the youngest guys in this class. He is the 5th youngest player and won’t be 18 till mid-September. He marks the second 17-year old they have drafted. This is a major focus for them. Wyatt has the potential to be an innings eater with his build. He is an arm strength guy who is very young. Yet another interesting prep arm for the Tribe.

MV Scrappers ‏@mvscrappers · 3 minutes ago
Indians 9th round pick is Devon Stewart from Canisius. Allowed 2 ER in 15.1 IP for the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska Baseball League in 2014.

Tribeinsider ‏@tribeinsider · 7 minutes ago
With their 9th round selection (#274) the @Indians select RHP Devon Stewart from Canisius College. Was 4-6 w/a 3.39 ERA in 11 starts in 2015

BA write-ups on rounds 6-10 picks:

6. Jonas Wyatt RHP high schooler. He isn't a pop-up guy per se, but he emerged as the top player in the Inland Empire region of California as his velocity jumped this spring, a development he first showed at a Baseball Factory preseason showcase. He touched 93 mph there, even with a short-striding delivery and lack of extension out front. A San Diego State recruit, Wyatt has some athleticism in a listed 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame and has gained strength via a rigorous fitness regime. While his delivery has some stiffness to it, he's come out this spring touching 95 mph regularly and at times sitting comfortably in the 90-95 mph range. His breaking ball is below-average in the low-70s, but he has flashed a changeup with above-average potential, with some arm-side movement and the ability to locate it. Wyatt was banged up his junior season but has had a healthy, productive spring that has allowed him to move up draft boards.

No. 7 Nathan Lukes college OF. A lefthanded-hitting corner bat, Lukes’ best tool is his bat; he’s the career hits leader at Sacramento State. He’s a former walk-on who runs well enough and has a solid-average arm. His 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame generates solid gap power and he has an easy swing that he repeats. He controls the strike zone well, walking more than he struck out as a junior.

No. 8 Justin Garza RHP college.
Garza burst on the scene as a freshman, hitting 95-96 mph at times as the fire to Thomas Eshelman's ice in Cal State Fullerton's 50-win 2013 club. Listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Garza kept showing a quick arm last year despite missing time with a shoulder injury and finished strong, no-hitting Cal State Northridge and pitching well for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. At his best, Garza pitches off a 91-93 mph fastball that touches higher and has late life up in the zone. His upper 70s slider and tumbling changeup have both flashed above-average as well, but Garza wasn’t at his best much of this spring. He wound up requiring Tommy John surgery in late May to repair a damaged elbow. He likely lacks the durability and size to start but his power repertoire could be a bullpen fit as a pro.

[another guy with upside and rehab]

No. 9 Devon Stewart RHP college senior, means he is a cheap sign.

four-year starter for the Griffs, Stewart has shown flashes of promising stuff over the past year. He pitched in relief in the Alaska League last summer, and his velocity spiked, hitting 95 mph. As a starter again this spring, Stewart has pitched more in the upper 80s and low 90s. He shows a fringy breaking ball and has tinkered with a changeup. He has some physicality, standing at 6-foot-2, and he has shown impressive pitchability at times this spring. Scouts believe his stuff is a little bit short for him to make it as a starter, and project him to develop into a solid middle reliever.

No. 10 Billy Strode college LHP

Strode began his college career at Indian River State JC before transferring to Florida State for his sophomore year. He was a key part of the Seminoles bullpen for the next three years, making 74 appearances in his career. He served as Florida State’s closer this spring and succeeded in the role despite underwhelming stuff. Strode is deceptive, which helps his mid- to upper-80s fastball play up. His slider is his best secondary offering and he also throws a changeup. Strode’s deception makes him especially tough on lefthanded hitters, and he likely fits best as a lefthanded specialist as a professional.

[we're into low-ceiling organizational players by this point if not a pick or two before.]

I think the Indians were there starting in the 3rd round, Civ.