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With 33% of the vote, slugging first baseman Bobby Bradley is our No. 15 Cleveland prospect for 2021, maintaining his No. 15 ranking in 2020. He previously was ranked No. 7 in 2019, No. 3 in 2018, No. 5 in 2017, No. 4 in 2016, and No. 7 in 2015.
Needless to say, prospect fatigue is sinking in mightily with Bradley, who has been ranked by LGT readers for seven years now.
Bradley has been in the Tribe system since he was a third-round pick out of high school in 2014 when he won the AZL rookie league triple crown. He has never hit less than 23 home runs in a full season.
2019 was a tale of two halves for Bradley. From opening day until he was called up to Cleveland to make his pro debut on June 23, he was one of the hottest hitters in baseball. In two and a half months, he blasted 24 home runs with a .292/.359/.638 slash and a wRC+ of 145.
Although Bradley smacked a double in his first MLB plate appearance and crushed the hardest-hit home run of the Statcast era for Cleveland hitters, he otherwise struggled with the Tribe, slashing just .178/.245/.356 while striking out in a whopping 40.8% of at-bats. He also struggled upon his return to Columbus, but he still finished the season as Triple-A’s top home run hitter for 2019.
Bradley spent his 2020 season in Cleveland’s expanded roster and never got an opportunity with the big league club because Franmil Reyes and Carlos Santana were both healthy for all 60 games at DH and first base.
With Santana now out of the picture, this is a make or break season for Bradley, who will (hopefully) have every opportunity to earn the starting first base position out of Spring Training. If he can drop that strikeout rate at the major league level, he could be very fun to watch in 2021.
Tanner Burns, RHP (Age 22)
Cleveland 2020 1st round MLB draft competitive balance pick
A prototypical Cleveland college pitcher draft pick who possesses great strikeout ability combined with excellent control. Could be a quick mover in the system.
Isaiah Greene, OF (Age 19)
Mets 2020 second-round MLB draft pick
An elite outfield defender with a cannon arm and power potential, Greene was a top 50 prospect in the 2020 MLB draft. Scouts believe he could be great if he improves his contact.
Petey Halpin, OF (Age 18)
Cleveland 2020 third round MLB draft pick
Wiry left-handed hitting outfielder with sneaky pop, good speed, arm and solid contact skills that could develop into more.
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.
Eli Morgan, RHP (Age 24)
2019 (A+): 6 GS, 33.2 IP, 32.8 K%, 4.1 BB%, 1.87 ERA, 2.70 FIP
2019 (AA): 18 GS, 102.0 IP, 24.1 K%, 7.6 BB%, 3.79 ERA, 3.75 FIP
2019 (AAA): 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 9.1 K%, 9.1 BB%, 5.40 ERA, 4.62 FIP
Possessing the best changeup in Cleveland’s system, Morgan has been the top strikeout pitcher in Cleveland’s minor leagues since 2017. He was added to the club’s 40-man roster in November.
Gabriel Rodriguez, 3B (Age 18)
2019 (DSL): 170 PA, .238/.335/.406, 3 HR, 3 SB, 8.8 BB%, 15.9 K%, 106 wRC+
2019 (AZL): 73 PA, .215/.288/.262, 0 HR, 1 SB, 5.5 BB%, 30.1 K%, 59 wRC+
The top international signing by Cleveland in 2018, Rodriguez is already physically mature to the point where he had to be moved to third base. Has the potential to be a big-time home run hitter as an infielder.
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.
Lenny Torres, RHP (Age 20)
2018 (AZL): 5 GS, 15.1 IP, 34.9 K%, 6.4 BB%, 1.76 ERA, 2.38 FIP
The most impressive prep arm in the 2018 AZL, Torres missed the entire 2019 season with Tommy John surgery, but is back on the mound, briefly appearing in the fall instructional league in 2020.
Carlos Vargas, RHP (Age 21)
2019 (A-): 15 GS, 77.2. IP, 21.9 K%, 7.4 BB%, 4.52 ERA, 3.36 FIP
Flamethrowing right-handed starter who can approach triple digits with a low 90s slider. Was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Josh Wolf, RHP (Age 20)
2019 (R): 5 GS, 8.0 IP, 36.4 K%, 3.0 BB%, 3.38 ERA, 1.37 FIP, 58 strikes, 11 balls.
Because I gave OneTwoSeven a hard time I’m doing him a solid and tossing Josh Wolf onto the list. With a fastball and curveball that rate as plus pitches and rookie league velocity that touched 94 MPH, the recent trade acquisition looks right at home in the Cleveland system.
Poll
Who should be Cleveland’s No. 16 prospect?
This poll is closed
-
7%
Tanner Burns
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5%
Isaiah Greene
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1%
Petey Halpin
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22%
Angel Martinez
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46%
Eli Morgan
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3%
Carson Tucker
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5%
Lenny Torres
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3%
Carlos Vargas
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2%
Josh Wolf