Taking On The Cleveland Challenge

Hello and welcome to all you Wahoo Maniacs! As we hit the halfway point of the season, we look towards the future. Unlike in Colorado and Seattle, the rebuild in Cleveland is much different for GM mattynokes.

In Colorado in 2017, nokes had future Rookie of the Year Duque Alomzo and future Hall of Famer Gabriel Gamora in Triple-A. There was also an assortment of middling talent in the minors and the majors in which nokes was able to trade for young major leaguers to build the Rockies into a first place team a year later in 2018 in a weak NL West.

After taking over Seattle in 2042, nokes used an aggressive approach to pick up near-ready prospects and turned out 98 wins two years later in 2044 to make the playoffs. Building on that with young stars Bradley Lamp, Jason Greene, and Kyle Arrington, Seattle took home the World Championship in 2046.

Cleveland doesn't have the luxury of a weak division, many valuable veterans, or a gluttony of near-ready talent. The Tribe will have to take their time. At a minimum, the Cuyahoga faithful shouldn't expect their team to be winning for another 4 seasons.

15 Garry Smith, RF
2054 Age: 18 Drafted: HS--Brokaw, WI, 2054 (5th Round, 133rd Overall), Indians ETA: 2059 Grade: C

Yes, his contact is very concerning, but he has some very nice high school numbers and looks the part of a very nice power hitter in the future. Plus we already know he’s capable of playing the outfield in the majors. His ceiling could be as high as a middle of the lineup hitter, but his floor isn’t too terrible either. He’s a prime candidate to be a fourth outfielder at the very least.

14 Miguel Corral, C
2054 Age: 20 Drafted: Florida State University, 2054 (3rd Round, 73rd Overall), Indians ETA: 2057 Grade: C

He reminds me a lot of Frederick Toll. He should easily become backup material while his offense could take off and render him starting material. In a draft that really lacked good defensive catchers, I think he was a real steal. And unlike Toll, Corral already has a good eye and his power puts him in better standing than Toll.

13 Tan Kubota, LF
2054 Age: 20 Drafted: University of South Carolina, 2054 (4th Round, 103rd Overall), Indians ETA: 2058 Grade: C

It’s true that I usually avoid Asians like the plague, but Kubota isn’t your normal slap-hitter from overseas. He shows some good power and should walk to a decent clip as well. Some are concerned over his defense, but it’s glovework that’s more important for outfielders, which is fine. That with a plus arm makes him a capable defender.

12 Julio Ramirez, 1B
2054 Age: 21 Drafted: Pepperdine University, 2053 (4th Round, 119th Overall), Braves ETA: 2056 Grade: C+

He could quietly become a very good and underrated first baseman. While he doesn’t have great power, he put the ball in play at a very high rate and has the discipline to walk. He’s certainly blocked by someone better, but if Ramirez is good enough there will be a spot for him.

11 Lanier McGibbon, 3B
2054 Age: 19 Drafted: HS--Greenville, SC, 2054 (2nd Round, 48th Overall), Red Sox ETA: 2059 Grade: C+

Even though he posted some quiet high school numbers, he should great into a good power bat with nice on-base ability. The question will be his defense. Neither his arm or range project very well. Though, stranger things have happened and it’s possible we’ll see a lot of development out of his defensive abilities.

10 Russell Baron, RHP
2054 Age: 18 Drafted: HS--Mauch Chunk, PA, 2053 (3rd Round, 69th Overall), Indians ETA: 2059 Grade: C+

Most everything looks very promising about this guy. He should have great control to go along with good endurance and ensuring health. He should grow into a nice repertoire to go along with quality movement. The big question will be his strikeout ability, but a good middle infield will make it a non-issue.

09 Cam Lennon, RHP
2054 Age: 19 Drafted: HS--Philadelphia, PA, 2052 (1st Round, 14th Overall), Indians ETA: 2058 Grade: B-

He looks the part to develop quality control, power, and movement. When it’s all said and done, he could have the game’s best fastball to go along with an eventual solid curve. The reason he’s not higher on the list is because up until this season he’s shown a home run problem. If he keeps the ball in the park, he’ll be a special pitcher.

08 Trace Handford, LHP
2054 Age: 19 Drafted: HS--Montreal, QB, Canada, 2052 (1st Round, 30th Overall), Indians ETA: 2058 Grade: B-

I feel like there’s so much to be excited about with this kid. Nothing stands out and wows you, but he doesn’t really have any weaknesses either. He should wind up with good control, movement, and strikeout ability. Nothing in his repertoire strikes fear into hitters, but he should develop 3 pitches that he can use in any count.

07 Jamie Vestal, RHP
2054 Age: 19 Drafted: HS--Manchester, NH, 2053 (1st Round, 1st Overall), Indians ETA: 2058 Grade: B

He hasn’t developed very well at this point, but he still has a lot of promise. He should have fine control to go along with nice movement and a very good heater. He should also give up very few homers, so that could propel him if he gets going.

06 Juan Bigil, 1B
2054 Age: 18 Drafted: HS--El Seybo, D.R., 2054 (2nd Round, 35th Overall), Braves ETA: 2059 Grade: B

He could end up with top tier power and plate discipline. He simply has such a great starting build and so much time to develop that he could be dangerous. He is also already very reliable in the field.

05 Alain Holt, LHP
2054 Age: 19 Drafted: HS--Minerva, OH, 2054 (1st Round, 14th Overall), Red Sox ETA: 2058 Grade: B

We are thrilled to have him instead of Manuel Poblano. He should wind up with solid control and movement and was one of the rare power arms in this last draft. His repertoire is pretty good and should carry him into success.

04 Eric Clouse, C
2054 Age: 18 Drafted: HS--Philadelphia, PA, 2052 (1st Round, 3rd Overall), Indians ETA: 2059 Grade: B+

The fact that he doesn’t hit righties well is what keeps him from an “A-“ grade. He is very accelerated in his development and could even be ready by 2058. Even with his struggles vs RHP, he should have enough time to fix those issues and be a complete player with an already very good defensive outlook.

03 Jose Vallarta, RHP
2054 Age: 18 Drafted: HS--Santo Domingo, D.R., 2052 (1st Round, 15th Overall), Indians ETA: 2056 Grade: B+

When I took over, I wasn’t very high on him and usually I say one jump doesn’t make a player, since the peak will inevitably fall. However, his control jumped almost as much as his movement and that’s a great sign of someone who could turn their control around. Even at 18, he could be in the majors very quickly.

02 Jonathon Woods, CF
2054 Age: 21 Drafted: HS--Gary, IN, 2051 (1st Round, 20th Overall), Mets ETA: 2056 Grade: A-

He already has an elite eye and could get to or at least close to elite contact. His defense is quite good as well. Overall, he looks like he’ll be a very good leadoff hitter with quality speed and a key part to the rebuild.

01 Josh Corrigan, 1B
2054 Age: 24 Drafted: HS--Riverside, CA, 2050 (1st Round, 26th Overall), Indians ETA: 2055 Grade: A-

Do you remember Casey Kotchman? He was supposed to be exactly what Corrigan is looking like. A high contact hitting guy with more doubles power than home runs and walks a to a good clip. It’s not the prototypical first baseman build, but he’ll be a force offensively to go along with great defense.