Cleveland Indians Top-Five Prospects for 2009
1. Matt LaPorta, OF/1B, 1/8/1985
LaPorta was drafted seventh overall by Milwaukee in 2007, but was shipped to Cleveland this past summer as part of the deal that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee.
LaPorta had been mashing in the minors prior to his trade to Cleveland.
In 2007, he put up a .304/.369/.696/ line in 118 at bats between R-Helena and A-West Virginia.
He picked up where he left off to begin 2008, going .288/.402/.576 in 302 AB for AA-Huntsville. LaPorta showed a good eye at the plate—45 walks against 63 strikeouts—and exhibited quite a bit of power, clubbing 23 doubles and 20 homers.
But LaPorta struggled to duplicate that success in 60 AB for Cleveland's AA team, hitting just .233/.299/.350.
He also struggled in the Venezuelan Winter League, striking out 22 times in 67 at bats while hitting .164/.250/.299.
Right now, treat his struggles as a blip on the radar. LaPorta is still a premium prospect that figures to be Cleveland's long term answer at either first base or at one of the corner outfield spots.
Look for LaPorta to begin 2009 back in AA. If he gets back on track, he'll advance to AAA and could debut late in the season.
2. Carlos Santana, C, 4/8/1986
Santana was acquired in July when Cleveland traded Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Through his first four seasons in the minor leagues, Santana didn't appear to be anything special. In 700 AB entering 2008, he hit just .259/.357/.406, including a .223/.318/.370 line in 2007.
But this past season was a different story.
He began the year with High-A Inland Empire and he tore through the league. In 350 at bats, he had a .323/.431/.563 line and demonstrated outstanding patience at the plate, collecting 69 walks while fanning only 59 times. The power was there as well—34 doubles and 14 long balls.
After the trade to Cleveland, he was assigned to their High-A affiliate in Kinston and continued to put up big numbers, hitting .352/.452/.590 in 113 AB. The power (12 XBH) and patience (20 BB, 24 K) held up well.
The success earned him a cup of coffee with AA-Akron, where he went 1-for-8.
Santana will have to prove that his breakout wasn't an aberration, but the stats don't suggest that it was. He'll likely begin the year with Akron and could earn a September call-up with another productive season.
He's projected to be Cleveland's long term catcher. Current starter Victor Martinez is signed through 2009 with a club option for 2010, coinciding well with Santana's arrival.
3. Beau Mills, 1B/DH, 8/15/1986
Mills was selected with the 13th pick in the 2007 draft.
After a mediocre pro debut that year, Mills enjoyed a solid 2008 season.
He spent the entire year with High-A Kinston, and in 482 AB, he hit .293/.373/.506. He smacked 34 doubles and hit 21 homers with a BB/K of 51/105.
Mills struggled at the start of the year, hitting .212 with a 698 OPS in April. But picked it from the rest of the way. His OPS rose each month: 698-856-874-918-982.
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