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Holding three of the first 38 picks, the Tribe had a great opportunity to sign some impact young players in last year's draft. And the early returns seem promising...
(All stats are as of July 14.)
1 (21). Bradley Zimmer. OF/LHH. Age 21. $1.9MM bonus.
After a terrific season with the Hillcats, which earned him the starting CF spot in the Futures Game, Zimmer was promoted to the RubberDucks on Monday. He is currently ranked in the top 25 prospects in baseball by Baseball America (no.23), Baseball Prospectus (no.20) and John Sickels (no.14).
1 (31). Justus Sheffield. LHP. Age 18. $1.6MM bonus.
Sheffield has been rather hit-and-miss in his first year of full-season ball, but on the plus side he leads all Tribe minor league players in total strikeouts.
1A (38). Mike Papi. OF/LHH. Age 21. $1.25MM bonus.
Papi has had a bizarre start to his pro career. For almost a year he demonstrated superb plate discipline but little else, and then suddenly everything clicked into place and since the start of June he has been superb, hitting .373/.485/.573 in his last 37 games with the Hillcats.
2 (61). Grant Hockin. RHP. Age 18. $1.1MM bonus.
Hockin made a promising start last year, but will miss the 2015 season having undergone TJ surgery in June.
3 (97). Bobby Bradley. 1B/LHH. Age 18. $912.5K bonus.
Bradley has shown terrific power for someone so young. The 19yo blasted 13 homers in his first 50 games with the Captains, although he has slowed down as of late and hasn't homered so far in July.
4 (128). Sam Hentges. LHP. Age 17. $700K bonus.
Hentges was terrific for the AZL Indians last year (albeit over just 13.0 IP in relief), but has been struggling so far this season as a starter, recording a 5.09 ERA/2.09 WHIP in five games.
5 (158). Julian Merryweather. RHP. Age 22. $20K bonus.
Merryweather missed a month through injury, and has pitched to a mediocre 3.71 ERA/1.50 WHIP in 13 games as a reliever for the Captains.
6 (188). Greg Allen. CF/SH. Age 21. $200K bonus.
After a slow start, Allen is enjoying a fine season in CF for the Captains. If Clint Frazier is promoted to Akron next year, then Allen would be his natural (and deserving) successor at the Hillcats.
7 (218). Simeon Lucas. C/LHH. Age 18. $168.2K bonus.
Lucas is hitting just .192/.300/.385 in the early going (just eight games) for the AZL Indians.
8 (248). Micah Miniard. RHP. Age 18. $350K bonus.
Like Hentges, Miniard is still trying to find his feet in the AZL Indians rotation, but he has made a respectable 4.26 ERA/1.30 WHIP start in five games.
9 (278). Alexis Pantoja. SS/SH. Age 18. $144.6K bonus.
Pantoja returned to the AZL Indians last month, and has been in terrific form so far with a .345/.383/.436 line through 14 games.
10 (308). Steven Patterson. 2B/LHH. Age 21. $10K bonus.
Patterson had a late start to the season, and is hitting a disappointing .192/.244/.288 for the Captains.
11 (338). Jared Robinson. RHP. Age 19.
Robinson is in the rotation for the Scrappers, where he has pitched to a 3.86 ERA/1.55 WHIP in four games.
12 (368). Jordan Dunatov. RHP. Age 21.
Unfortunately, like Hockin, Dunatov won't pitch this year, having undergone TJ surgery last month.
13 (398). Austin Fisher. SS/LHH. Age 21.
Fisher has made a good start to the year with the Scrappers, hitting .275/.371/.353 through 17 games while playing mainly 3B.
15 (458). Luke Eubank. RHP. Age 20.
Eubank is having a pretty decent year in the Captains bullpen, with a 2.96 ERA/1.06 WHIP after 25 games.
16 (488). J.P. Feyereisen. RHP. Age 21.
Feyereisen had an amazing start to his pro career, going 31 IP spread between the Scrappers and Captains before he conceded his first earned run. He is now pitching well for the Hillcats.
17 (518). Cameron Hill. RHP. Age 20.
Hill has had a terrific year in a late-innings relieving role for the Captains.
18 (548). Taylor Murphy. OF/LHH. Age 21.Murphy joined the Captains late, as he was being converted from the outfield to the hot corner. Fielding-wise, it hasn't been a smooth transition, as he has made 19 errors, but he has hit a respectable .260/.349/.379 with six homers.
19 (578). Argenis Angulo. RHP. Age 20.
Angulo is unable to pitch in 2015, having had surgery on two herniated discs in his back in late spring.
20 (608). Gian Paul Gonzalez. C/RHP. Age 18.
After nine games for the AZL Indians, Gonzalez is hitting .258/.395/.290.
21 (638). Bobby Ison. OF/LHH. Age 20.
Ison is hitting just .236/.297/.297 through 72 games with the Captains.
22 (668). Jordan Carter. RHP. Age 22.
Carter has struggled this year with the Captains, with a 5.85 ERA/1.70 WHIP, and has just been demoted to the Scrappers.
23 (698). David Armendariz. OF/RHH. Age 22.
Armendariz began the season with the Captains, and was then sent down to the Scrappers for a while before returning to Mahoning Valley this week.
24 (728). Jodd Carter. CF/RHH. Age 17.
The 18yo Carter made a fine start to the year playing LF for the AZL Indians, hitting .273/.391/.436 through 16 games and earning a rapid promotion to the Scrappers this week.
27 (818). David Speer. LHP. Age 21.
Speer has had a good year for the Captains, pitching to a 2.35 ERA/1.30 WHIP over 46.0 IP.
28 (848). Nathan Winfrey. 3B. RHP. Age 19.
Winfrey is hitting a disappointing .216/.333/.294 for the Scrappers.
29 (878). Drake Roberts. 2B/SH. Age 22.
Roberts was released in June.
31 (938). Dominic DeMasi. RHP. Age 21.
After a spell with the Captains, DeMasi has pitched to a 3.46 ERA/1.23 WHIP in five games with the Scrappers (including one start).
37 (1118). Juan Gomes. C/RHH. Age 22.
Yan's brother has struggled to a .118/.238/.176 line with the AZL Indians this year.
Summary
AA: 1 (Zimmer)
A+: 2 (Papi, Feyereisen)
A: 11 (Sheffield, Bradley, Merryweather, Allen, Patterson, Eubank, Hill, Murphy, Ison, Armendariz, Speer)
MVS: 6 (Robinson, Fisher, Jordan Carter, Jodd Carter, Winfrey, DeMasi)
AZL: 5 (Hentges, Lucas, Miniard, Pantoja, Gonzalez)
DL: 3 (Hockin, Dunatov, Angulo)