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If the Cleveland Indians were playing in any other division, you could consider it a lock for them to win. They have a great, young rotation that possesses a lot of elite strikeout stuff. They also have youngsters like Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley helping to carry their lineup with other veterans like Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana providing some extra thunder. In most divisions, they would have more than enough talent to be able to win convincingly. But unfortunately they play in a division with the reigning World Series Champion Kansas City Royals, a much improved Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, and a very young and talented Minnesota Twins team. As it is, Indians’ fans still have to like where they are.
Outside of the Minnesota Twins, no team in the AL Central has as much prospect depth as the Cleveland Indians. Both teams are very top-heavy however with the Twins being carried by top pitching prospect Jose Berrios and future superstar Byron Buxton. The Indians don’t have any elite prospects, but they have two outfield prospects who are likely going to be mainstays in the Cleveland outfield.
If you are interested in more MLB prospects columns, head on over to our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. You can find the rest of my team prospect breakdowns, fantasy baseball prospect rankings, tiered positional rankings, keeper values articles, and more - all in one easy place.
Cleveland Indians Top 10 Dynasty Prospects
These are the top ten prospects for the Cleveland Indians in terms of fantasy production for fantasy owners in the next few seasons.
1. Bradley Zimmer (OF, AA)
Stats: 214 PA, .219/.313/.374, 6 HR, 12 SB, 8.4% BB rate, 25.2% K rate
ETA: 2017
The 2015 season started off very promising for the 23-year-old Bradley Zimmer as he did extremely well at High-A, producing a .308/.403/.493 slash line with 10 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 335 plate appearances. But a promotion to Double-A saw his production take a huge dip and shoot down any possibility of a 2015 September call up. There is still plenty of time for Zimmer though and his undeniable talent makes him a definite stash for dynasty leagues. Don’t be surprised to see Zimmer start the season back at Double-A in 2016, but he should be in Triple-A by the All-Star Break if he is able to get himself back on track. He has the potential to hit .300 with a 20/20 season when he is given playing time. Dynasty owners should not give up on him just yet.
2. Clint Frazier (OF, A+)
Stats: 588 PA, .285/.377/.465, 16 HR, 15 SB, 11.6% BB rate, 21.3% K rate
ETA: 2017
While the best outfield prospect in Cleveland struggled to hit in 2015, the other one really mashed at High-A and will likely start 2016 at Double-A. That means that next season Akron will likely have both Clint Frazier and Zimmer playing together in the outfield, a duo that I’m sure many Indians fans are looking forward to seeing sometime in the near future. Frazier made great strides after starting off his minor league career on a so-so note (he struck out 161 times in 542 plate appearances in 2014). This past season, Frazier did an excellent job improving his discipline while still hitting for the same kind of power and batting average. Frazier is now officially a must-stash for dynasty owners as he projects to be an outstanding outfielder in the near future and could produce for owners as soon as next season.
3. Rob Kaminsky (SP, A+)
Stats: (in STL) 94.2 IP, 2.09 ERA, 2.51 FIP, 7.51 K/9, 2.66 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
ETA: 2017
First a quick explanation of the stat line: Rob Kaminsky spent only two games with Cleveland’s High-A level and since it was a different environment, I did not include those stats in with his overall line. Many would argue that the Cards really overpaid for Brandon Moss in giving up their top remaining pitching prospect, and those people may have a point. Kaminsky has been outstanding throughout his minor league career and has a great chance of being a top of the rotation starter in the majors.
4. Brady Aiken (SP, NA)
Stats: DID NOT PLAY
ETA: 2019
After being drafted first overall in 2014 by the Houston Astros and failing to reach a deal with his club, Brady Aiken was taken 17th overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 2015 draft with the hopes that he will be able to come back to form after suffering an elbow injury. If he can stay healthy, Aiken has the stuff and the control of a future ace. Dynasty owners could consider taking the chance on him and expecting him to make a quick ascension through the minors and reach his full potential.
5. Bobby Bradley (1B, A+)
Stats: (from A) 465 PA, .269/.361/.529, 27 HR, 3 SB, 12.0% BB rate, 31.8% K rate
ETA: 2018
The Indians view the 19-year-old Bobby Bradley as their first baseman of the future. This kid has tremendous power and has proven that he could hit for a decent average. Though the strikeouts are a little bit concerning, many scouts see his patience at the dish improving as he continues to develop. Dynasty owners could consider adding him if they are lacking in first base depth for the future, but considering that he has a total of nine plate appearances at High-A, owners could be waiting for a while before he gets even close to seeing Major League action.
6. Tyler Naquin (OF, AAA)
Stats: 218 PA, .263/.353/.430, 6 HR, 6 SB, 11.5% BB rate, 22.5% K rate
ETA: 2016
Tyler Naquin is one of the big three outfield prospects that are likely to have an impact for the Cleveland Indians, but don’t expect him to have a big fantasy impact for owners. If you need a guy who could hit for a decent average with low double-digit home run and stolen base totals, he could be your guy. Naquin’s only value will come in deeper leagues. He may be ready to play this year, but owners in 10 or 12 team leagues do not have much of a need for the 24-year-old outfielder.
7. Justus Sheffield (SP, A)
Stats: 127.2 IP, 3.31 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 9.73 K/9, 2.68 BB/9, 0.56 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Justus Sheffield has been able to produce at a very high level since being taken with the 31st overall pick back in 2014. Sheffield put together a remarkable 2015 campaign at A ball that will likely see him start 2016 at High-A and potentially finish his season in Double-A. Sheffield has some good stuff and many see a middle of the rotation future in spite of his underwhelming size (5’10,” 196 lbs). Though he could potentially be a decent starting pitcher, Sheffield is probably not yet worth stashing as he will need to prove that his outstanding 2015 is not a fluke season and that he can survive the toll of a full season of work as a starting pitcher.
8. James Ramsey (OF, AAA)
Stats: 503 PA, .243/.327/.382, 12 HR, 3 SB, 10.5% BB rate, 25.4% K rate
ETA: 2016
James Ramsey is like a slightly inferior version of Tyler Naquin. The pride and joy of his game is his defensive versatility which should help him reach the majors, but there is not a lot to love for fantasy owners. Ramsey neither possesses great speed nor does he possess great power and he likely will not hit above .260. Ramsey is a solid player, but not worth owning in any fantasy leagues.
9. Adam Plutko (SP, AA)
Stats: 116.1 IP, 2.86 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 6.96 K/9, 1.78 BB/9, 0.70 HR/9
ETA: 2017
As you may have noticed, we have gotten to the point where the players from this point onward are not worth owning in fantasy leagues. Adam Plutko is another solid player who does have a future as a Major League pitcher, but he pitches to contact which limits his strikeouts. He also doesn’t have the great stuff that would be needed to keep his ERA low enough to make him worth owning. So while Plutko is not a bad pitcher, he just is not the kind of guy dynasty owners or standard league owners will need to own.
10. Erik Gonzalez (SS, AAA)
Stats: 261 PA, .223/.277/.311, 3 HR, 8 SB, 5.7% BB rate, 18.0% K rate
ETA: 2016
Erik Gonzalez is Major League ready, but is a glove first shortstop with little to offer on the offensive side. Fantasy owners can consider him irrelevant in all formats.
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