Prospects who NEED to have good seasons this year

There are two uses for prospects:  to fill in holes for guys leaving by free agency and to use as trade bait.   We have already talked about our top tier prospects and my choices for breakout prospects.   What about the guys in the middle?  Which ones do we need to have good seasons this year to help us win now and in the near future?

Will Benson - He is years away and his development path, right now, appears long.   However, if he hits his stride at Lake County this year he becomes really attractive trade bait.   As his ETA to the majors appears to be after our current window has closed, I think that is his best use.   To make that happen he needs to have a great year at low A.

Mark Mathias - for some reason we have fallen in love with draft college and HS guys who project as second basemen.   Mathias should be considered a breakout prospect for this year given last year.  However, I think he is still a good prospect.   If he performs will he puts himself in line to replace Jason Kipnis next year if we choose to trade Kip.   We need him to perform this year to give us flexibility both at the trade deadline and next off-season.

Eric Stamets - There is no room for this guy at the inn and likely never will be.   However, if he shows that last year's power surge was not a mirage, he becomes valuable as insurance in the middle infield AND as tradebait in July.

Cam Hill - We need him to continue his development.  I anticipate he will be in the majors at some point this year if he does and would be in line to contribute this year and in the future, ala Nick Goody.   We need him so we don't have to trade away prospects like we did for Joe Smith last year.  Even though Panonne was suspended, that trade still hurts.

Mike Papi - Something!  Anything!   I still say that this guy is looking to put it all together and, when he does, he will be a late bloomer.   I would like that bloom to occur this year and he comes out of nowhere to help the ML team.

Juan Hillman - He is a key to me.   He has everything you want in a young pitcher and just needs to put it all together.   If he does, he could net us a good return in July, a VERY good return.  Or he could just be on the radar for the future as we approach our next ML winning window in 2022.

Ulysses Cantu - It's like this guy is just right there.  Still, to me, he is a longshot to even make it to AA at this point.   But I have a feeling about this guy.   He needs to come up big this year.

Gabe Mejia - He has been injured but, if he puts a good season together I think he is trade bait in July.  With Greg Allen present, I doubt he ever gets to Cleveland but some club somewhere, maybe in the NL, still overvalues speed.

Mitch Longo - People like him more and more.  If he can reproduce last year he may have a spot in the future of this team.   I don't see a one-year wonder netting us much in trade return but I do see him advancing his worth so much that we keep him and he becomes untouchable by next year at this time.