Cleveland Indians Preliminary Prospect List

by John Sickels on Nov 28, 2025 1:00 PM EST

This is a brutal one....the first run through gave me over 50 guys worth looking at. I've cut that down to 45, but need to drop at least three of them for space reasons. There are other guys who could get added too, so help me out here.

This system has incredible depth in C+ type prospects from the look of it. Lots of interesting pitching too.

Austin Adams               RHP
Robbie Aviles              RHP
Scott Barnes               LHP
Kyle Blair                 RHP
Brett Brach                RHP
Cory Burns                 RHP
Chun-Hsiu Chen             C
Lonnie Chisenhall          3B
Kelvin De La Cruz          LHP
Joe Gardner                RHP
Jared Goedert              3B
Bo Greenwell               OF
Preston Guilmet            RHP
Nick Hagadone              LHP
Jordan Henry               OF
Tyler Holt                 OF
T.J. House                 LHP
Josh Judy                  RHP
Jason Kipnis               2B
Corey Kluber              RHP
Jason Knapp                RHP
Alex Lavisky               C
Chen Lee                   RHP
Matt McBride               OF
T.J. McFarland             LHP
Beau Mills                 1B
Matt Packer                LHP
Alexander Perez            RHP
Vinnie Pestano             RHP
Cord Phelps                2B
Drew Pomeranz              LHP
Marty Popham               RHP
Bryan Price                RHP
Zach Putnam                RHP
Josh Rodriguez             SS
Hector Rondon              RHP
Giovanni Soto              LHP
Felix Sterling             RHP
Bryce Stowell              RHP
Tyler Sturdevant           RHP
Jess Todd                  RHP
Levon Washington           OF
Nick Weglarz               OF|
Alex White                 RHP
Tony Wolters               SS

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Comments

Rob Bryson

I don’t know who I’d take out to put him in there. But I’d be interested to see what you had to say about Bryson.

by ajake57 on Nov 28, 2025 1:30 PM EST reply actions

Drop Beau Mills

by slcgiant on Nov 28, 2025 1:33 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

+1

That is what I was thinking. Wasn’t he left available for the Rule V draft? Guess that tells you what the Indians think of him.

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Nov 28, 2025 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

bryson

Bryson is a good one…I think I’ll drop Brett Brach for him.

I’m hesitant to drop Mills since people ask about him. But he’s just a grade c these days.

by John Sickels on Nov 28, 2025 1:46 PM EST reply actions

I would drop Mills an McBride. Both have interesting stories, but neither have much luster as prospects.

by APV on Nov 28, 2025 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

McBride is the most obvious drop here

by stuart dean on Nov 29, 2025 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

Mills

He is a non prospect to me at this point. He continues to take steps backwards and really has no future at the MLB level. I have seen him 50+ times in Akron and he is just disappointing. One guy that I am wanting to hear about though is 3B Geovanni Urshela He played at Mahoning Valley last year.

by Pup Dog on Nov 28, 2025 2:04 PM EST reply actions

A couple of guys

Abner Abreu and Zach McAllister. Noticed both were left off the prelim list. Abreu has been disappointing but I am surprised McAllister did not make this list. I would replace Mills with McAllister. One guy I am interested in reading about whether here or in the book is Tyler Sturdevant. I know nothing about him other than his numbers so any info you can gather on him would be great.

by Pup Dog on Nov 28, 2025 2:06 PM EST reply actions

ok...

Ok, I’ll drop Mills for McAllister.

I don’t think Abreu is going to make it.

by John Sickels on Nov 28, 2025 2:08 PM EST reply actions

I'd give White a B+, Chisenhall a B+

I think high end White is Derek Lowe with a better FB and a few 18-20 win seasons.

Chisenhall is the next Mike Lowell(quote me on it)

by Bravesin07 on Nov 28, 2025 2:42 PM EST reply actions

Kelvin De La Cruz

I feel he is one of the most underrated arms in MiLB.

by sheetskout on Nov 28, 2025 6:11 PM EST reply actions

strikes

In what should have been an injury bounce-back year for Kelvin, he could not consistently throw strikes

by APV on Nov 28, 2025 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

Couldn't agree more

Saw him live 3 or 4 times this year. He has good stuff but he got rattled easily and was not consistent in throwing strikes. I really like this kid a lot. Will be very good once he learns to throw consistent strikes.

by Pup Dog on Nov 28, 2025 8:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Relievers

If you are going to drop guys (after Mills and McBride), I’d look at the reliever. There was a whole host of guys who put up video-game quality numbers in the Indians system this year, but I question how all of them will actually grade out as prospects, particularly those lower in the system. While a guy like Bryson has at least two legitimate plus pitchers, I’m not sure exactly what Pestano, Burns, Sturdevant, Popham, Guilment et al. have working for them. I think your statement:

This system has incredible depth in C+ type prospects from the look of it. Lots of interesting pitching too.

…is dead on.

Not to throw more names on the list, but for their defense alone I might consider adding Roberto Perez and Kyle Bellows. Two other guys who probably deserve grades are Juan Diaz and Ezequiel Carrera.

by APV on Nov 28, 2025 6:32 PM EST reply actions

hmm

“This system has incredible depth in C+ type prospects from the look of it. Lots of interesting pitching too.”

It’s like you were talking about the 2006 Cleveland Indians minor league system.

by mrkupe on Nov 28, 2025 8:19 PM EST reply actions

2006 vs. 2010

I think it makes for an interesting comparison. I think the 2006 system had more offensive talent, but I think the 2010 iteration has much much more pitching depth. I think there are a few more guys on the higher end of the prospect scale this time around, though it is close.

by APV on Nov 29, 2025 9:07 AM EST up reply actions

Rondon

is my guy in this system. Lackey is my comp.

by MetsFanX on Nov 29, 2025 1:08 AM EST reply actions

TJ

looks like you’ll be waiting till 2012 then

by APV on Nov 29, 2025 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

I know.....

….but strong Ks all the way. That hurt though, no question. I was so high on him.

by MetsFanX on Nov 29, 2025 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Two relief prospects left off are Berger and Hermann …. also Espino. Also some younger Dominican prospects like Ushela and A. Martinez. Don’t know why Todd and Mills are still on the list. Another sleeper who if he stays consistent has the best arm potential but has done nothing is Haley but is more in the 30-40 range if that.

by Petes999 on Nov 29, 2025 6:42 AM EST reply actions

espino etc

I can see Espino but I am not a Berger fan. Todd is on the list because I haven’t given up on him. Mills is already off. Haley was too awful last year.

by John Sickels on Nov 29, 2025 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

A few more relievers to consider: Omar Aguilar and Connor Graham.

by Colavito on Nov 30, 2025 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

Recap

So I’d drop Mills, McBride, Sturdevant and Popham, while adding Ezequiel Carrera.

by APV on Nov 29, 2025 10:53 AM EST reply actions

calls

Popham and Mills are already off. I will not drop Sturdevant. I am not a big Carrera guy. McBride may get cut for space reasons, but for some reason i am hesittant to drop him.

by John Sickels on Nov 29, 2025 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

sturdevant

actually I may have to cut him for space.

by John Sickels on Nov 29, 2025 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Sturdevant

The only thing I have against him is his age (and that he is a reliever)

by APV on Nov 29, 2025 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

Carrera

I don’t think Carrera projects as anything more than a 4th OFer, but given his speed and defense in CF I think he could be a respectable 4th OFer. And there is some value in that.

by APV on Nov 29, 2025 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Brach and others

I do not envy you cutting this list but the suggestions look accurate to me. The one missing IMO is Brett Brach. I just don’t think enough is there to be considered C+. I noticed you omitted Diaz. I question if he can stay at SS because of his size but I think he has enough talent to makethe C+ list. Nice stroke at the plate which should improve with age but not enough if he has to move off SS. There is considerable love for Bellows, Perez and Carrera because of their defense but all three have issues at the plate. Tough decision IMO.

by sdtribefan on Nov 29, 2025 12:00 PM EST reply actions

Almost forgot

Surprise pick for breakout year is Clayton Cook. Very young but has already added 2 feet to his fastball and can throw 2.5 pitches for quality strikes. Will never have Haley’s arm which is the best in the organization but he has the frame and mechanics to add another 2-3 feet IMO. He is late developer physically but will probably make my top 30.

by sdtribefan on Nov 29, 2025 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Cook

I like Cook, too, but I was discouraged by his drop-off in Ks last season. Given the pitching depth above him, I’ll be interested to see where the Tribe places him to start 2011. I’d like to see him start off in Kinston, but I’m kind of expecting him to go back to Lake County for the first part of the season.

by APV on Nov 29, 2025 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

Almost every pitcher will be effected

by the depth, especially from the right side. Serious crowds at every full time level. Not sure which LC pitchers move forward but I think Cook is more projectible than Soto who may never develop physically and wild man with the big arm, Haley. Cook had some trouble early handling the uptick in speed but settled into better numbers for Ks, BBs and HRs from June on. Pretty solid FIP if you like that sort of stuff.

by sdtribefan on Nov 29, 2025 4:42 PM EST up reply actions

Starting pitching

It is a fun list, though:

White
Knapp
Pomeranz
Kluber
De La Cruz
Gardner
Packer
Barnes
McAllister
House
Soto
Cook
Sterling
Adams

by APV on Nov 29, 2025 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

I think I would add

Hagadone, Blair and McFarland to the list but either Hagadone, McFarland, or both, could wind up in relief with Adams. Fun for us but I am not so sure slotting these guys will be that easy for the Indians.

by sdtribefan on Nov 30, 2025 1:10 AM EST up reply actions

Chisenhall

i’ve read so many mixed things on him. On one had, scouts love his approach and swing, but some don’t project him to hit for much power. Other scouts are pretty blah. Is he a cross between Josh Fields and Evan Longoria? Is he closer to Fields or Longo?

i, personally, am much higher on Mous and, to a lesser extent, Darnell. but Lonnie? i’m not sure.

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Nov 29, 2025 12:52 PM EST reply actions

How good is Jason Kipnis?

by OctaShields on Nov 29, 2025 5:46 PM EST reply actions

Kipnis is pretty damn good

but I am not sure he is as good as the hype. He is a real good prospect defensively but just does not have the fundamentals of 2B down yet. Likely to have very good range but hands are not up to speed right now and turning the DP needs work. He has excellent bat speed and projects some power. Actually hits LH pitching very well. His BABIP is so high it is hard to project a future based on 2010 but he appears legit. AAA pitching did not phase him at all in the playoffs. There are some who consider a comp of Cano but I think that is probably out of reach powerwise.

by sdtribefan on Nov 30, 2025 1:20 AM EST up reply actions