Tyler Holt debuted for the Indians in 2014 and looked good

Tyler Holt

• Position: Outfielder
• Age: 25
• Acquired: tenth round pick, 2010 draft

With all of the defensive miscues (Ryan Raburn, David Murphy, Eliott Johnson and Mike Aviles to name a few) in the outfield last year, the Tribe does have an option to upgrade if they like in Tyler Holt.

Holt was drafted in 2010, the year that Drew Pomeranz and LeVon Washington were the prized draftees. He became the third member of that Indian draft class to each the show, after Pomeranz and Cody Allen (sixteenth round). He is also only the second player from that round to reach the majors, with Mario Hollands edging him out by a half season.

Drafted out of Florida State as a 21 year old junior, he reported to Lake County and got into just 22 games. He spent all of 2011 in Kinston, putting up a 254/365/325 line. He had a woeful 106 strikeouts, but also walked 76 times and stole 34 bags. He started 2012 in A+ again (this time with Carolina as the affiliates had changed) and was promoted to Akron midseason. His overall line for 2012 was very similar to 2011, 258/340/320, 103 strikeouts, 62 walks and 29 steals.

Which is why in 2013, he spent the year in Akron. He improved somewhat, hitting 267/338/359, cutting the strikeouts down to 90, while still walking 55 times and swiping another 28 bases. There was improvement with the slugging finally coming up a bit, btu it was almost all on doubles. So the front office had him head back to Akron to start 2014.

He spent two months there, improving his stroke to a 298/416/347 line and walking more then he struck out (27/26). He spent June and July in Columbus and had his best stretch yet, 317/425/413 with another 19 stolen bases, 38 walks and 43 strikeouts. When Michael Bourn landed on the DL for a second time this year, Holt got his first call-up.

He rode the Cleveland-Columbus shuttle for the next few weeks before arriving to stay in Cleveland on August 19. All in all, he started in 17 games this season, while appearing in 35 total. His best day for the Tribe was the doubleheader he played against the Diamondbacks on August 13. He went four for eight, including his first MLB hit off Vidal Nuno. He finished with a mediocre 268/307/296 line in Cleveland while striking out 25 times and walking just thrice.

2014 Grade: B

Holt showed very good plate discipline in AA and AAA this year, but that completely disappeared when he got to Cleveland. His defense continued to be stellar and he continues to possess speed. He has little to no power at this point however. This would be a B- ranking if not for his defensive abilities.

2015 Outlook

If the Indians wanted to carry a defensive specialist as their fourth outfielder next season, the choice could easily be Holt as he can play all three positions. The other defensive specialist, Carlo Moncrief, cannot play center. I am betting Holt spends most of 2015 in AAA again, waiting for one of the top four outfielders to land on the DL.

He will never likely be an everyday starter in the majors, but his splits are adequate (833 LHP/729 RHP in minors this year). He is under team control through 2020 and doesn't qualify for arbitration until 2017. While useful as a fourth outfielder, with the emergence of Ramsey and the next wave of outfielders right behind him, I can see Holt being used a trade chip as an additional piece this offseason or next.