Willi Castro is our No. 7 Cleveland Indians prospect. Who should be No. 8?

The Prospect Voting Council of Let’s Go Tribe would like to apologize for the brief delay in our prospect countdown. Due to some confusion, we’ve accidentally missed a day, and so this edition comes to you approximately 25 hours behind schedule.

EDIT

Let’s Go Tribe would also like to apologize for incorrectly creating the initial version of this poll. The writer responsible for this unacceptable error has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The poll is extended through 10PM Sunday night.

END OF EDIT

One thing that there is no confusion about is this: Willi Castro is the Indians’ 7th ranked prospect as voted by you, the Let’s Go Tribe readers.

Castro is only 20-years-old and continues to impress at each minor league level despite being one of the youngest players there. His 2017 is particularly impressive to me: he slashed .290/.337/.424 at High-A Lynchburg, including 24 doubles, 11 home runs, and three triples.

While being a young, athletic shortstop from Puerto Rico draws some inevitable comparisons the Francisco Lindor, Castro draws inspiration from another player. In 2015 during an interview with Indians Baseball Insider, he noted that Jose Reyes was his favorite player growing up. “I’m trying to be just like him. He’s aggressive at the plate and he just gets out and runs a lot,” he said.

By “gets out” it’s safe to assume that he means he’s referring to activity level rather than at-bat outcomes. Regardless, we’d all be pleased if Castro can imitate the 44 bWAR Reyes accumulated so far in his career.

WHO SHOULD BE THE NO. 8 PROSPECT FOR 2018?

Will Benson, OF (Age 19)

2017 (A-): 236 PA, .238/.347/.475, 10 HR, 7 SB, 13.1 BB%, 33.9 K%, 146 wRC+

Strikeouts are an early red flag, but patience at the plate and power make him an an exciting prospect at 19 years old.

Conner Capel, OF (Age 20)

2017 (A): 492 PA, .246/.316/.478, 22 HR, 15 SB, 8.7 BB%, 22.0 K%, 121 wRC+

Only Indians prep player from the 2016 draft to skip Low-A and he responded by blasting 22 home runs in his first taste of full-season ball. Huge upside if he can stay in center field.

Quentin Holmes, OF (Age 18)

2017 (R): 169 PA, .182/.220/.289, 2 HR, 5 SB, 4.7 BB%, 36.1 K%, 39 wRC+

Holmes was the 2nd round pick in the Indians 2017 draft. He possesses, legitimately, 80-grade speed. The numbers aren’t great, but how many kids light up the Arizona League at age 17, anyway? Or, as Matt Lyons told me, “Everyone sucks in rookie ball.”

Yu-Cheng Chang, SS (Age 22)

2017 (AA): 508 PA, .220/.312/.461, 24 HR, 11 SB, 10.2 BB%, 26.4 K%, 110 wRC+

Displayed a significant power surge in 2017 in his Double-A debut, but at the cost of increased strikeouts and a major drop in batting average.

Aaron Civale, RHP (Age 22)

2017 (A): 10 GS, 57.0 IP, 22.5 K%, 2.1 BB%, 4.58 ERA, 2.51 FIP

2017 (A+): 17 GS, 107.2. IP, 21.1 K%, 2.2 BB%, 2.59 ERA, 3.40 FIP

Converted reliever impressed mightily after being promoted to High-A Lynchburg in 2017. Has the best slider in the Indians system, according to Baseball America.