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With 51% of the vote, elite second baseman Aaron Bracho is our No. 9 Cleveland prospect, improving on his No. 13 ranking in 2020.
The player that drew the largest signing bonus in Cleveland’s vaunted 2017 international signing class that included George Valera, Brayan Rocchio, Alexfri Planez, Jose Tena, and more.
Bracho was slated to possibly debut in Arizona alongside Valera in 2018, but an arm injury ended his season before it began and he had to wait until 2019 to make his professional debut.
Originally signed as a shortstop, Bracho was moved to second base due to the ridiculous amount of depth at shortstop in the Cleveland system, and he fared relatively well, committing eight errors in 2019.
Offensively, Bracho was dominant. He was one of the top young sluggers in the Arizona Rookie League, sporting an impressive .296/.416/.593 slash with 10 doubles, two triples, and six home runs in 30 games. During that time, he walked (23) more than he struck out (21) while also stealing four bases.
Bracho earned a late-season promotion to Mahoning Valley, where his strikeout rate increased, but so did his power, hitting two more home runs in just eight games.
Bracho was the youngest player in the Cleveland system invited to the expanded roster during the lost 2020 season and he impressed Cleveland farm director James Harris enough to say this:
“We wanted him to compete versus more advanced pitching and he didn’t look 19 with a bat in his hands.”
Bracho will absolutely begin the 2021 season in full-season ball. Now whether that is in Low-A Lynchburg or High-A Lake County will be up to the Cleveland brass to decide.
Joey Cantillo, LHP (Age 21)
2019 (A): 19 GS, 98.0 IP, 34.7 K%, 7.3 BB%, 1.93 ERA, 2.15 FIP
2019 (A+): 3 GS, 13.2 IP, 25.4 K%, 11.1 BB%, 4.61 ERA, 4.98 FIP
Former Padres 16th round pick has soared through their system. Possesses stellar control and an elite changeup, but doesn’t blow away the radar gun.
Ethan Hankins, RHP (Age 20)
2019 (A-): 8 GS, 38.2 IP, 27.9 K%, 11.7 BB%, 1.40 ERA, 3.22 FIP
2019 (A): 5 GS, 21.1 IP, 29.8 K%, 12.8 BB%, 4.64 ERA, 4.80 FIP
Tops out at 97 mph with strikeout stuff, but command issues and injuries have slowed his development.
Daniel Johnson, OF (Age 25)
2020 (MLB): 13 PA, .083/.154/.083, 0 HR, 0 SB, 7.7 BB%, 38.5 K%, -71 wRC+
Saw a brief cup of coffee in the shortened 2020 season, but other than picking up his first career hit and walk, he didn’t have much to show for it and was sent back to the taxi squad.
Angel Martinez, SS (Age 18)
2019 (DSL): 137 PA, .306/.402/.428, 1 HR, 11 SB, 11.1 BB%, 11.1 K%, 134 wRC+
Switch-hitting shortstop with excellent instincts and an already-mature approach at the plate. Opened eyes with his 2019 DSL performance as the top-performing Cleveland player.
Carson Tucker, SS (Age 18)
Cleveland 2020 1st round MLB draft pick
The younger brother of Pirates MLB player Cole Tucker, Carson possesses plus speed and sprays hits to all fields, but has yet to debut in the minor leagues.
Poll
Who should be Cleveland’s No. 10 prospect?
This poll is closed
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15%
Joey Cantillo
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44%
Ethan Hankins
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26%
Daniel Johnson
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6%
Angel Martinez
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6%
Carson Tucker