Cleveland Indians 2013 in Review: Lake County Captains

2013 in Review: Minors

Levels: DSL Indians (R-) • AZL Indians (R-) • Mahoning Valley (SSA)

Players: SS Francisco Lindor • C Tony Wolters • RHP Mitch Brown • SS Dorssys Paulino • OF Tyler Naquin •  2B/SS Ronny Rodriguez • OF Luigi Rodriguez • OF LeVon Washington •  RHP Cody Anderson •  OF Clint Frazier

Lake County Captains (A-)

Roster - Schedule - Scoreboard

Overall Record: 54-83

Second-Half Record 31-39 (5th, MW Eastern, 13.0 GB)

About the Midwest League

The Midwest League is low-level full-season league, meaning that it is the lowest-level league (along with the South Atlantic League) that begins in April. The Indians' affiliate is Lake County (for those who unfamiliar with Northeast Ohio geography, that's a bit east of Cleveland), and was in the South Atlantic League until recently because the franchise moved from Columbus, Georgia, leaving the team with a rather difficult travel schedule. But the Captains swapped leagues in 2009, and now they're playing teams within reasonable driving distances.

The Midwest League is a pitcher's league, with the fewest hits per game and the second-fewest home runs per game allowed among the ten full-season minor leagues, though the runs per game is in the middle of the pack (perhaps because of the young pitching's wildness) Lake County's home park in Eastlake, Ohio is in the middle of the pack  in the Midwest League as far as runs/game and hits/game, but it's the league leaders in home runs allowed (1.62/game).

Generally the players at Lake County are in their second or third seasons in the US. Usually a college player in his first full season will play in Lake County, and some advanced players from the Arizona League (high school and DSL graduates) will make the jump. After this level, the progression starts to depend more on the player than on his age and experience.

Position Players

When the season began, there were lots of teenagers in the starting lineup, including Nellie Rodriguez, Caludio Bautista, and Leo Castillo, but by the time the end of the season rolled around, the only regular still in the lineup was shortstop Dorssys Paulino, who didn't have a good year but held his own as a 18-year-old. Eric Haase was by the team's best power hitter, with 14 home runs on the season. Anthony Santander, another 18-year-old, joined the club partway through the season. LeVon Washington, when he was in the lineup, was the club's best overall offensive player. Logan Vick was old for the league, but racked up 81 walks in just 443 Plate Appearances.

Pitchers

Mitch Brown (2nd, 2012) started the season in the rotation but was sent down to Arizona after a couple months. Dylan Baker (5th, 2012) was the best pitcher that stayed in the rotation all season, and should be ranked in most top 20 organization lists. But overall there weren't many things to excited about here. The Captains had a decent offense, but an awful pitching staff.

Prospects That Matter

Already included: Dorssys Paulino

Potential for 2013 review: Anthony Santander

Potential for 2014 mid-season: LeVon Washington, Eric Haase, Erik Gonzalez, Dylan Baker

Potential for 2014 review: Logan Vick, Joe Sever, DJ Brown

Rule 5 Eligibles*: None

Minor-League Free Agents: None

*Players who ended the season on the Lake County roster. Erik Gonzalez, Joseph Colon, and Francisco Valera are 2013 Captains who are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, but they all ended the season in Carolina.