Lenny Torres is our No. 11 Cleveland Indians prospect. Who should be No. 12?

Flamethrowing right-handed prep pitcher Lenny Torres is our No. 11 Cleveland Indians prospect after he was first round a competitive balance pick (No. 41 overall) in the 2018 MLB draft.

After signing in mid-June, Torres made his professional debut July 16 in the Arizona Rookie League, and he was sensational in a small sample size.

Torres made five starts and six appearances overall in the regular season, finishing with 15.1 innings pitched and just three earned runs allowed while striking out 22 and walking just four batters. He finished the regular season with a 1.76 ERA and a 2.38 FIP.

Although it didn’t count in his final season stats, Torres was tabbed to pitch the first playoff game for the AZL Indians1 and he had his longest start of the young season, pitching 4.0 shutout innings on two hits while striking out four and walking none. If you factor those four innings into his final season total, his ERA would have been 1.40 overall.

According to Baseball America, scouts concurred that Torres was the best pitching prospect in the 2018 Arizona Rookie League.

Standing 6-foot-1, Torres already sits mid-90s with his fastball and has touched 98 miles per hour with a deceptive delivery and a slider that flashes plus. He was one of the youngest players in 2018 MLB draft and also hails from a cold weather state in New York, so there is still some projection in his physical tools.

Torres will likely start the 2019 season in Low-A Mahoning Valley with the potential to bump to full-season Lake County late in the season if he puts up impressive numbers.

WHO SHOULD BE THE NO. 12 PROSPECT FOR 2019?

Sam Hentges, LHP (Age 22)

2018 (A+): 23 GS, 118.1 IP, 24.2 K%, 10.5 BB%, 3.27 ERA, 3.21 FIP

The six-foot-six southpaw didn’t miss a beat in his first full season since 2016 Tommy John surgery and Indians showed faith in him by adding him to the 40-man roster to avoid the Rule 5 draft.

Daniel Johnson, OF (Age 23)

2018 (R): 24 PA, .300/.417/.450, 1 HR, 1 SB, 8.3 BB%, 8.3 K%, 152 wRC+

2018 (AA): 391 PA, .267/.321/.410, 6 HR, 21 SB, 5.9 BB%, 23.0 K%, 103 wRC+

Acquired in the Yan Gomes trade, Johnson possesses plus speed, arm strength and power from the outfield. Johnson’s 2018 season was affected by a broken hamate bone injury, which sapped his power.

Oscar Mercado, OF (Age 24)

2018 Cardinals (AAA): 427 PA, .285/.351/.408, 8 HR, 31 SB, 8.4 BB%, 15.0 K%, 101 wRC+

2018 Indians (AAA): 119 PA, .252/.342/.320, 0 HR, 6 SB, 10.9 BB%, 19.3 K%, 93 wRC+

2013 second round pick acquired in a trade from the Cardinals for Conner Capel last summer. Brings elite speed and strong defense in the outfield, but hit tool is still catching up.

Jean Carlos Mejia, RHP (Age 22)

2018 (A): 15 GS, 92.0 IP, 26.1 K%, 5.4 BB%, 3.13 ERA, 2.55 FIP

2018 (A+): 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 12.5 K%, 4.2 BB%, 6.00 ERA, 2.86 FIP

Exploded into relevance in the second half of 2018, when he racked up 78 strikeouts over the final two months of the season, top five in all of MiLB. Earned a spot on the Tribe’s 40-man roster for his effort.

Raynel Delgado, 3B (Age 18)

2018 (R): 204 PA, .306/.409/.382, 1 HR, 10 SB, 14.7 BB%, 21.6 K%, 133 wRC+

2018 sixth round pick the Indians paid $664,400 over slot to sign. Delgado held his own in his professional debut, putting up strong numbers and showing great patience at the plate in the AZL.

Richard Palacios, SS (Age 21)

2018 (R): 22 PA, .438/.591/.875, 2 HR, 2 SB, 27.3 BB%, 9.1 K%, 281 wRC+

2018 (A-): 86 PA, .411/.477/.589, 2 HR, 2 SB, 12.8 BB%, 14.0 K%, 208 wRC+

2018 (A): 82 PA, .300/.317/.425, 2 HR, 3 SB, 2.4 BB%, 15.9 K%, 109 wRC+

Indians 2018 third round draft pick out of Towson University tore through the short season leagues and was not challenged until arriving in full-season Lake County, where he still had a wRC+ above 100.

Nick Sandlin, RHP (Age 22)

2018 (R): 3 G, 3.0 IP, 40.0 K%, 0.0 BB%, 0.00 ERA, 1.40 FIP
2018 (A): 10 G, 10.1 IP, 39.5 K%, 0.0 BB%, 1.74 ERA, 0.58 FIP
2018 (A+): 7 G, 6.1 IP, 40.0 K%, 8.0 BB%, 1.42 ERA, 1.62 FIP
2018 (AA): 5 G, 4.1 IP, 30.4 K%, 4.4 BB%, 10.38 ERA, 1.48 FIP

Indians 2018 second round pick advanced all the way to Double-A Akron in just three months. The wicked sidearm reliever with great control is expected to be the first 2018 draft pick to make it to the big leagues.