Cleveland Sports Forum

Indians 2018 7th Round Pick: RHP Cody Morris
by IBI Staff Reports

At pick #223 in the 7th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected right-handed pitcher Cody Morris out of South Carolina.

Born: 11/4/96 — Height: 6' 5'' Weight: 222 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Cody Morris is a redshirt sophomore from South Carolina who was previously drafted out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles in the 32th round of the 2015 draft. He missed his freshman year after requiring Tommy John surgery. He was moved from the midweek to weekend starter this year and reportedly was up to 96 at points this year. Morris was better a year ago when he had a walk rate under two and a strikeout rate approaching 11. This season he was solid with a walk rate under 3.5 and a home run rate over 9.5. He has been home run prone in school which is my bigger concern. I think he would be given a chance to start with a good fallback as a reliever thanks to his fastball and curveball combo.

Press Release: Morris posted an 8-3 record and 3.68 ERA (78.1 IP, 67 H, 32 ER, 30 BB, 83 K) in 15 starts for the Gamecocks in 2018...was a 2015 Perfect Game 2nd Team All-American (Atlantic - All-Region 1st Team)...was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 32nd round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft but did not sign...named 2014 Gatorade Maryland Baseball Player of the Year while in high school.

Indians 2018 8th Round Pick: RHP Alex Royalty
ByIBI Staff Reports

At pick #253 in the 8th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected right-handed pitcher Alex Royalty out of UNC Wilmington.

Born: 3/19/97 — Height: 6' 4'' Weight: 200 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Alex Royalty is one of the many players drafted out of UNC Wilmington. I think Wilmington has had more players drafted than UNC. He has three years of data as a starter, starting 46 games. He has had excellent walk rates in college, which is the a requirement for the Indians anymore. They don’t take any pitcher who has an issue with walks. His strikeout rate was down this year, which is not ideal for a guy pitching in a small conference. I have to think he has a chance to be an under or near slot signing as nothing in the profile points out a player who would be likely to go this high, but I have been wrong before. He does have the bonus of having pitched for the same program as current Indians pitching coach Carl Willis who he beat in terms of draft position.

Press Release: Has compiled a 23-9 record with a 4.14 ERA in three seasons for the Seahawks...earned 2018 Colonial Athletic Association All-Tournament honors following a complete game effort vs. Northeastern on May 24...named CAA Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-CAA in his 2017 sophomore campaign, going 9-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 98.0 innings.

Continue in the 9th and 10th round with more college right handers:
Brian Eichorn out of Georgia Southern and Robert Broom from Mercer. they probably faced each other in college; Mercer's in Macon, GSU in Statesville.

Eichorn rated 417:


Brian Eichhorn

4YR RHP

Notes:
School: Georgia Southern
Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Scouting Report: Georgia Southern’s Friday night starter, Eichhorn jumped into a regular starting role since his freshman year with the Eagles and is coming off his best season this spring. In 14 starts and 88.2 innings of work, Eichhorn posted a career-best 3.15 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 29 walks. Eichhorn pitches off of a fastball in the 90-93 mph range that plays up thanks to his exceptional command of the pitch. He’s never walked more than 3 batters per nine innings over the course of a season and also had an impressive 29.2-inning stint in the Cape Cod League last summer where he struck out 25 batters to five walks, with a 3.34 ERA. Eichhorn also throws a fringe-average changeup, but he’ll need to develop a usable breaking ball to have sustained success in the pro game. His curveball is below-average currently and gets slurvy so adding a slider or even a splitter or cutter given his fastball command might help round out his repertoire.

Robert Broom





Robert Broom

4YR RHP

Notes:
School: Mercer
Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Scouting Report: A sidearm righthander out of Mercer, Broom is an unconventional pro prospect but should get drafted because of his incredible effectiveness, as well as his three-year track record in the Southern Conference. He has been the Bears’ relief ace since 2016, and in three years he has compiled 260 strikeouts and just 69 walks in 194 innings. Broom throws in the upper 80s with an immensely low arm slot and—true to his name—has a sweeping slider that is a nightmare for righthanded hitters. To his credit, Broom has also been effective against lefthanded hitters, striking out 36.9 percent of the lefties he has faced in 2018. A changeup that moves away from lefthanded hitters helps him avoid damaging platoon splits, but his slider has also been useful against both righties and lefties. Broom is more than just a one-inning reliever, as 21 of his 28 appearances this spring have lasted longer than one inning.

Hillbilly wrote:I missed one.


Indians 2018 4th Round Pick: LHP Adam Scott
ByIBI Staff Reports 2 hours ago

0
(Photo: Gwinn Davis/GoUpstate.com)

At pick #133 in the 4th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected left-handed pitcher Adam Scott out of Wofford College.

Born: 10/10/95 — Height: 6' 4'' — Weight: 220 — Bats: Left — Throws: Left

Jeff Ellis: Scott is a high priority senior which means he won’t he a cheap sign and should likely get near or around six figures with this pick. He put up awesome numbers this year for Wofford with a Walk rate of 1.57, a lot walk rate has become a a requirement for any Indians pick. His strikeout rate was 11.93. Now for the concerns he gave up a lot home runs for a player who seemed to out class most of the talent he was facing. During his time in the Cape he still rarely walked anyone but his strikeout rate was nearly half of what he did during the season. He faced much better competition and he did not do as well. He is a left with high level performance against weaker competition, I am not shocked by this pick. He might profile best as a reliever going forward so with his age, turns 23 in October, he could be a fast mover.

Press Release: Went 8-5 with a 3.14 ERA (36 ER/103.1 IP) in his senior season for the Wofford Terriers...struck out 137 batters (8th among Division I pitchers) against just 18 walks...was named Southern Conference Pitcher of the Month for April 2018...concluded his collegiate career as the active Division I leader in strikeouts (389) & innings pitched (364.2).

This guy is from my neck of the woods - Rochester NY area: local article:

Adam Scott drafted by Indians

Andy Lipari

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK

Canandaigua native Adam Scott became one of the newest members of the Cleveland Indians organization Tuesday after Scott was drafted in the fourth round by the Indians.

Scott was taken 133rd overall out of Wofford College as a left-handed pitcher. He is listed as a left-handed specialist and projects as a middle reliever.

The senior, listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, had the best season of his college career this year, leading the Wofford pitching staff with an 8-5 record and 3.14 ERA. He also set a career-high with 137 strikeouts and career-low 18 walks. Scott earned Southern Conference Player of the Month honors for April, going 3-1, allowing only three earned runs over 31 innings pitched in four starts. One of those starts in April was a complete-game win over North Carolina-Greensboro, where he had 17 strikeouts.

Scott was an All-Greater Rochester selection in 2014 as the Monroe County Division II Player of the Year. In his senior high school season, he went 6-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 96 strikeouts, including a no-hitter against Brighton.

John Sickels at minorleagueball.com likes the Indians draft -- a sample comment below -- you can search the draft open forum and all the comments are positive from Sickels and the posters who follow the draft.

Indians take Steve Kwan
Posted by MichaelCook on Jun 5, 2018 | 3:04 PM
like him here
The Indians are doing great

Posted by John Sickels on Jun 5, 2018 | 3:06 PM
indeed
big time college bat

Posted by MichaelCook on Jun 5, 2018 | 3:07 PM

If he says so , then I'll plan to pay more attention that I planned to Kwan.

Last year's end of top 10 pitchers included Morgan and Karinchak who look valuable a year later. Have to read more about the pitchers who concluded yesterday' picks.

quickly went through rounds 11-40 today. The only rated in MLB.com's top 200 was 14th round OF high school OF Korey Holland. The write up suggests that unless picked in the top 4 or 5 rounds [or offered that round's projected bonus] he'll probably to Univ of Texas

Picks about half and half pitchers and position players. All college or juco players except for Holland rounds 7-26.
The final 5 are all big high school kids no one smaller than 6-2 175 and I assume all very unlikely to sign.

Among those 5:

38. Zack Gelof

HS SS/RHP
Notes:
School: Cape Henlopen HS, Lewes, Del.
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Virginia
Scouting Report: A toolsy infielder committed to Virginia, Gelof has a number of interesting tools including above-average running ability, defensive potential, above-average future power and a solid swing. He struggled in a major way at East Coast Pro over the summer, which gave a number of high-end decision-makers a poor look, but he’s a projectable infielder—most likely a third baseman—with a strong, 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame who has performed well in front of area scouts this spring. Gelof is a pitcher as well. He threw in the mid 80s over the summer with major crossfire and a low 70s breaking ball, but overthrew regularly and has more ceiling as a hitter.

37.
Tim Borden

HS SS

Notes:
School: Our Lady of Providence HS, Clarksville, Ind.
Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Louisville
Scouting Report: Borden has been a standout for Providence High in Clarksville, Ind., across the Ohio River from Louisville, where he’s been committed since he was a freshman. Borden has quick hands and, at his best, drives the ball well. The righthanded hitter hasn’t made as much contact this spring as scouts would like to see, however. Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Borden has a projectable frame and should hit for more power as he physically matures and cuts down on his swings and misses. Borden stands out for his athleticism and will get the chance to stay at shortstop. Borden’s spring means he’s likely to get to Louisville, where he’ll be able to refine his tools.

and BA take on Holland:



Last: 115



Korey Holland

HS OF

Notes:
School: Langham Creek HS, Houston
Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 173 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Texas
Scouting Report: A Texas signee, Holland has steadily improved himself as a player. As he’s matured, he’s gone from being an average runner to a plus runner and he shows solid feel for hitting thanks to quick hands and a fluid swing. He’s shown very little power so far, but there are scouts who say they believe he will eventually grow into someone who can hit 10-15 home runs a year. His pro profile is still subject to much debate. His routes and reads need significant improvement if he’s going to stay in center field. If he can’t, his below-average arm limits him to left field, where his average hitting ability and present below-average power would limit him.

It has begun.


Indians Prospective @indiansPro
15 minutes ago
Indians have signed 2018 15th Round Draft Pick Junior College 19yr old 6'0 200lbs right handed (C) Bryan Lavastida out of Hillsborough Community College (Florida)
Exciting time during the season with an influx of new talent coming in from the draft but on the otherside usually somes cuts possibly ending some players dreams. Hopefully with 2 AZL teams this year not as many cuts will be needed.

Jose Gutierrez @JoseG2018
Extremely grateful to the @Indians for drafting me, however I am standing by my commitment and attending Dallas Baptist first.

(our 36th round pick)

Indians 2018 12th Round Pick: RHP Thomas Ponticelli

ByIBI Staff Reports Jun 6, 11:25 AM

Thomas Ponticelli

At pick #373 in the 12th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected right-handed pitcher out of the University of San Francisco.

Born: 4/15/97 — Height: 6' 1'' Weight: 195 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Thomas Ponticelli comes from the same school as Bradley Zimmer. He is an undersized right hander at 6’1” and was a three year starter for the Dons. He had some struggles in the Cape as a reliever. While his strikeout rate and walk rate were solid, he got hit often and hard in the Cape. Ponticelli even at the small school level as not missed many bats, but has always shown excellent control. His walk rate for all three years of college was 1.67. The Indians loved smaller pitchers with excellent control numbers the past few years, and even more so in this draft. He will likely begin as a starter, but the path for him to move up in the system is going to be as a middle reliever.

Press Release: Starting pitcher compiled a 13-12 record and 4.01 ERA in 43 appearances and 35 starts for the Dons (237.2 IP, 254 H, 114 R, 106 ER, 44 BB, 187 K)...2015 Perfect Game California Region Honorable Mention All-American.

Indians 2018 13th Round Pick: RHP Kyle Marman

ByIBI Staff Reports Jun 6, 11:25 AM

At pick #403 in the 13th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected right-handed pitcher Kyle Marman out of Florida Atlantic.

Born: 3/3/97 — Height: 6' 3'' Weight: 195 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Kyle Marman is a right handed pitcher from Florida Atlantic. He barely pitched as a freshman, worked mostly as a reliever as a sophomore, and only had five starts. He went down with an elbow injury and instead of going for Tommy John surgery he instead decided to get his ligament reattached. While working out of the pen in the Cape he was excellent with a strikeout rate over ten and a walk rate under three. He started the year as the Saturday starter for Florida Atlantic and the numbers speak for themselves he posted a walk rate a little over one with a strikeout rate over 13. On top of the injury my concern is that Marman was a pitch home run prone. There is chance for a back end starter here as he has shown three pitches and the fastball is in the low 90s.

Press Release: In 2018, went 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA (5 ER/31 IP) in five starts for the Owls before a season-ending elbow injury...named a 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American (Florida Region HM).

Indians 2018 14th Round Pick: OF Korey Holland

ByIBI Staff Reports Jun 6, 11:39 AM

At pick #433 in the 14th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected outfielder Korey Holland out of Langham Creek HS (TX).

Born: 1/1/00 — Height: 5' 11'' Weight: 170 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Korey Holland from Langham Creek High School in Texas was a player who stood out when compared to the rest of the day three selections. He was one of the two more interesting players the Indians drafted on day three. I thought the Indians had saved some money on the first two days and Holland seemed to the the reason why. His best tool is his speed, but he is an advanced hitter whose dad is a very well known hitting coach in Texas. He might be undersized but the profile is that of a lead off hitter with above average defense in center.

Indians 2018 15th Round Pick: C Bryan Lavastida

(He is the guy pictured above who signed yesterday)

ByIBI Staff Reports Jun 6, 12:10 PM

At pick #463 in the 15th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected catcher Bryan Lavastida out of Hillsborough Community College.

Born: 11/27/98 — Height: 6' 0'' Weight: 200 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Bryan Lavastida is a catcher from Hillsborough community college, who used to play shortstop in third in high school. He stole 11 bases this past season, and is young for his class as the sophomore is not even 20 yet. He started catching this year and as one would expect is very raw. He has a chance to be an offensive minded backstop.

Press Release: 2018 Suncoast Conference First Team.

Indians 2018 16th Round Pick: OF Ruben Cardenas

ByIBI Staff Reports Jun 6, 12:30 PM

At pick #493 in the 16th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected outfielder Ruben Cardenas out of Cal State Fullerton.

Born: 11/15/98 — Height: 6' 2'' Weight: 215 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Ruben Cardenas was a day on starter for Fullerton who only played in 16 games as a sophomore due to a stress fracture in his back. He returned to the full time role in right field, but never showed anywhere near the power he had started showing as a sophomore. He profiles as a corner outfielder, but right now shows no skill that looks above average at the plate. There might be some more growth potential, as he was thought to be a potential power hitter coming into this season.

Press Release: Batted .297 (69-232) with 13 doubles, four triples, four homers, 34 runs scored and 37 RBI in 2018...hit a three-run homer in Cal State Fullerton's 5-2 win over Stanford on June 3, advancing them out of the NCAA Stanford Regional this year...2015 Perfect Gme California Region Honorable Mention All-American...selected by the Miami Marlins in the 37th Round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft, but did not sign.

Indians 2018 17th Round Pick: RHP Liam Jenkins

By IBI Staff Reports Jun 6, 12:42 PM

At pick #523 in the 17th round, the Cleveland Indians have selected right-handed pitcher Liam Jenkins out of Louisville.

Born: 4/9/97 — Height: 6' 8'' Weight: 225 — Bats: Right — Throws: Right

Jeff Ellis: Liam Jenkins bounced around during his three years in college which is not ideal for a player who is this raw and needs this much worse. He started at Arizona State then went to Wabash Valley College before coming to Louisville where he appeared in 12 games this year. His strikeout rate was nearing 15, but his walk rate was over 12. Neither he nor the batter knew where the ball would end up when it left his hand. He has been up to 98, and reports I got on him as a person from Louisville were very positive. There are not a lot 6’8” pitchers who weigh 255 and throw 98. The best thing for Jenkins is likely to sign with the Indians and get a few years of consistent coaching. The Indians are very hands on with player development which is a bonus as well. He is a reliever all the way for me, because of his age and how raw he is, but he could be a great closer or he could fail to reach AA. He is a literal and figurative huge risk, but on day three that's the time for a player with his potential, who should be better in the pros if only because of consistency.
1COMMENTS

Press Release: Posted a 1-1 record and 6.46 ERA (11 ER, 15.1 IP) in 14 appearances (two starts) for Louisville this season, with 25 strikeouts in his outings...pitched for two seasons at Arizona State University and one year at Wabash Valley College prior to his season with Louisville...drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 40th round of the 2017 First Year Player Draft but did not sign.