Updated Indians' Top Prospect List - Early Post-Season List

Eddie Rosario's Braves and Michael Brantley/Josh tomlin/Phil Maton's Astros are in the World Series. That signals that the beginning of the off-season is only 4-7 games away.  In light of that let's take a look at the Indians' updated top prospect list.  This list has been adjusted based on the results and information obtained from mid-season to now.  Where guys have slipped or risen I have included some comments.  Looking back over this year, in my opinion, the Indians farm system easily ranks in the top 10 in baseball and, realistically, probably is top 5.   I know this is a bold statement as people tend to look at the cream of teams' farm systems to make this judgement.   But when you look at the overall quality and the overall depth, this is the best Indians' farm system I have ever seen and there have been instances in the past, albeit only a few, where the Indians have been top 5.  FYI, if I was going to slot Yainer Diaz on this list he would probably slot between 26-29.  He is #13 for Houston.   Just pointing this out to point out the strength of our farm system compared to the average major league team. 

In any case, here goes the first post-season look at our top prospects:

1. Tyler Freeman 

2. George Valera
3. Daniel Espino
4. Nolan Jones
5. Gabe Arias
6. Brayan Rocchio
7. Oscar Gonzalez
8. Doug Nikhazy
9. Logan T. Allen

10. Gavin Williams - The first guy who drops for me, the video I saw of Williams showed me a guy who was leaving a lot of pitches up.   Remember, this is the instructs, filled with players who have barely scratched the surface of low A or US complex league teams.   Yet guys were hitting him and he wasn't dominating counts.   I see a big red flag here, but time will tell.
11. Tommy Mace
12. Jhonkensy Noel

13. Richie Palacios - Here is a guy who has moved up due to three things: his performance at Columbus, his performance in the AFL and his position versatility (INF/OF).  He still looks like a low ball hitter with his dip at the knees before he swings and this may be being taught in the minors (Tena does the same thing) so that might be easily attacked by major league pitchers. Still, he looks good against all pitching so far and is an outside candidate to make the team out of spring training unless the Indians trade for or sign an outfielder.
14. Carson Tucker
15. Angel Martinez
16. Bo Naylor
17. Jose Tena
18. Bryan Lavistida

19. Isaiah Greene
20. Ethan Hankins
21. Cody Morris

22. Juan Hillman
23. Joey Cantillo
24.  Payton Battenfield
25. Alexfri Planez
26. Luis Durango, Jr.
27. Jake Fox

28. Tanner Burns
29. Carlos Vargas
30. Gabriel Rodriguez
31. Francisco Perez

32. Petey Halpin - A big bump here because he showed lots at low A at a young age.  Don't know if this was just the result that everyone's development was depressed due to the lack of a minor league season in 2020 but, at the least, he has become really intriguing given his high draft slot and higher bonus.

33. Lenny Torres - An accidental omission from the previous list, it is hard to tell how much of this season is just recovery process from surgery last year and how much represents how limited he will be in terms of his talent.  Still, just outside the top 30 is a good place for him this off-season.
34. Angel Genao
35. Fran Alduey

36. Konnor Pilkington

37. Steven Kwan - Big jump here because of production both in Columbus and in the instructs.   He still looks like a AAAA outfielder to me as he is a tweener in every sense of the word.   I see him as a prime candidate not to be rostered and, if that happens, a potential #1 overall selection in the Rule 5 draft.

38. Will Benson  - It is starting to look more like Benson will be a AAAA player.   Still, if he survives this Rule 5 draft there is still an outside chance that he could go all Oscar Gonzalez on us in 2022.

39. Xzavion Curry - Big jump here just because others have stumbled.

40. Milan Tolentino - A big jump here as he showed more power than a young middle infielder in rookie ball should.   If power is the last tool to develop, I can't wait to see how this kid ends up!
41. Justin Garza
42. Scott Moss
43.  Nick Mikolajchak
44. Jose Pestrano
45. Josh Wolf
46. Jerson Ramirez
47. Tanner Bibee

49. Juan Mota - Another guy who didn't move much from the mid-season rankings but, with his 100 mph fastball, a guy who is a prime Rule 5 pick.
50. Jonathon Rodriguez

51. Will Brennan - Against my better judgement I moved him up a little.   The mirage that is older guys playing against younger competition in the low- to mid-minors has been seen time and time again in subsequent years for those players.  Still, let's give him one more year to see if his performance sticks and if he can go all Steven Kwan on us.

52. Kirk McCarty
53. Trenton Brooks
54. Aaron Braccho
53. Cam Hill
55. Jose Fermin
56. Junior Sanquintin

57. Marcos Gonzalez - A slight bump for him as, although he was a backup, he is only slightly removed from being a top prospect and like Naylor, was really pushed for his age to a level he would struggle at.  Gonzalez is my pick as one of the breakout candidates next year, if he survives this off-season as a member of the Indians.

58. Andruw Monasterio

59. Hunter Gaddis
60. Ryan Webb

61. Tanner Tully
62. Robert Broom
63.  Mason Hickman

64. Dayan Frias - A guy I don't want to totally sleep on, he is a long shot who is Rule 5 eligible this winter and has barely scratched low A but if he is with the organization next spring, is a guy who could really jump, maybe ending the year raking in AA with a good chance to make the roster next winter.
65. Dakody Clemmer

66. Kevin Kelly
67. Jack Leftwich
68. Rodney Boone
69. Yordys Valdez
70. Christian Cairo
71. Conner Kokx
72. Adam Scott - He didn't move much from the mid-season report but I still wanted to highlight him.   He has no chance to make the 40-man this winter but does have a decent chance to be selected in the Rule 5 as a lefty who can give some length, especially in this area of openers...even in the playoffs, for gosh sakes!
73. Aaron Pinto
74. Joe Naranjo

75. Tim Herrin
76. Thomas Ponticelli
77. Trenton Denholm

78. Matt Turner - Appearing on this list a first time just because of his pedigree and that the Indians thought enough of hisneed for development to have him in the AFL where his talents would be showcased as a potential Rule 5 pick (either major or minor league portions) later this fall.
79. Connor Marabell
80. Alex Call
81. Shane McCarthy
82. Skylar Arias
83. Nic Enright

84. Andrew Misiaszek
85. Will Bartlett
86. Zach Hart
87. Jamie Arias-Bautista
88. Quentin Holmes
89. Richard Polanco
90. Robert Lopez
91. Yefri Rivera
92. Franco Aleman
93.  Will Dion
94. Korey Holland
95. Hunter Stanley
96. Zach Pettway
97. Raymond Burgos
98. Aaron Davenport

99. Mike Rivera

100. Damon Casetta-Stubbs