Cleveland Indians: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in the System

The Cleveland Indians' rebuilding project went faster than the front office expected. After putting together a surprising first half, the team decided to trade its top two prospects to acquire Ubaldo Jimenez. 

It was a peculiar trade since the team had already started to fade and the farm system did not have the depth it once did. The cupboard is pretty bare right now, but they did get a number of interesting players in last year's draft. 

Second-year General Manager Chris Antonetti implored a new draft strategy for the team, going after high-upside high school players early instead of low-risk college pitchers.

The front office has to hope that the young big league core can get this team to contend in the American League Central, because it is going to take some time to restock the system with talent. 

Here are the five best prospects in the Indians' system as we get ready for the start of spring training. 

1. Francisco Lindor, SS, 18

Before last June's draft, Lindor was being talked about as the No. 2 pick to Seattle because he was by far the best pure shortstop available. He brings a unique set of skills to the table that very few players his age have. He ended up falling to the Indians with the eighth pick. He will likely make his debut this season in low Class A. 

Strengths: Lindor has the potential for four above-average or better tools. He is a natural shortstop and should have no problem staying at the position. He has good footwork, soft hands, a strong arm and reads the ball well. He is no slouch at the plate, either. Lindor is a switch-hitter with bat speed from both sides of the plate. He is not a burner, though he does have good speed.

Weaknesses: It is hard to pick on a shortstop who shows the ability to hit and defend his position. His weakest tool is power. There are mixed signals about how many home runs he will be able to hit. Given his approach and swing, he will likely end up in double-digits at his peak. As good as he looked in high school and on tape, we are still waiting to see him against professional pitching. 

Report: Given Lindor's natural fielding ability and approach at the plate, he can be an All-Star shortstop. He was the youngest player drafted last year, so it is going to take time for him to develop, but he has all the makings of a star middle infielder.  

ETA: 2016

2. Dillon Howard, RHP, 19

Howard was one of the best high school pitchers available in last year's draft, but concerns about his signability allowed the Indians to grab him in the second round. He is the kind of high-upside arm that this franchise has steered clear of in the past. Like Lindor, he is going to take time, but his potential is tremendous. 

Strengths: At 6'4", 210 pounds, Howard certainly looks the part of a workhorse starting pitcher. He has the stuff to back it up, with a four-seam fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a two-seamer that has almost the same velocity with good movement already. His changeup is a solid offering already, though he will have to throw it more to get a better feel for it. He gets velocity with a smooth, easy delivery. 

Weaknesses: Howard does not have a breaking ball right now. He uses a curveball, but it is not going to get professional hitters out until he learns how to throw it so it breaks properly. Aside from the signability questions, he did not impress in his senior season of high school. He is very much a thrower right now, with little command of any pitch. 

Report: He is a project, there is no doubt about that. But his age and stuff make him look like a top-of-the-rotation pitcher in time. He will likely join Lindor in low Class A this season. 

ETA: 2016

3. Luigi Rodriguez, OF, 19

Besides Lindor, no prospect in the system has the tools that Rodriguez does. He is incredibly raw and a long way from reaching his true potential, but when you see him play you can dream about what he could become. 

Strengths: Rodriguez's best tool is his speed. He can be a burner in center field and on the bases with more discipline and a better understanding of the game. He has a good approach at the plate already, and makes consistent contact with the ball. He has a strong enough arm to handle center field.

Weaknesses: Despite his speed, Rodriguez was thrown out 10 times in 28 stolen base attempts last season because he doesn't read pitchers. He is not going to have a lot of power, relying on his ability to make contact and run to get extra base hits. His defense needs a lot of work, as he relies on his speed to take him to where he is supposed to go instead of reading the ball off the bat. 

Report: Rodriguez's skills make him an ideal leadoff hitter and center fielder in the future. He has a good feel for the strike zone and makes contact without a lot of power. But he is still raw in so many areas that it is going to take a lot of work over the next few years to see him reach that potential. 

ETA: 2015

4. Tony Wolters, SS, 19

Wolters was part of the Indians' 2010 draft class and put up impressive numbers in the New York Penn League. He hit .292/.383/.363 in 69 games while playing better-than-expected defense at shortstop.

Strengths: At just 19 years old, Wolters boasts an impressive hit tool. He has good bat speed, plate discipline, makes contact with a short line-drive swing and knows how to read the ball out of a pitcher's hand. His defense at short was very good thanks to his instincts and strong throwing arm. 

Weaknesses: His power numbers were not impressive last season, though some of that can be attributed to a hand injury that plagued him throughout the year. He does not have the swing that will produce a lot of home runs. He is not likely to be a shortstop due to his lack of speed and range in the hole. 

Report: The Indians know that Lindor is their shortstop of the future, so Wolters is going to have to move to second base eventually. His bat can carry him to the big leagues. He will get his first taste of full-season ball this year. 

ETA: 2015

5. Austin Adams, RHP, 25

Adams is actually the most intriguing pitcher in the Indians' system, even more so than Howard. He has electric stuff that will miss bats, but he is still learning how to pitch after spending time as a shortstop in college.

Strengths: Adams has the best fastball in the system. It easily sits in the mid-90s and he can crank it up even higher when he wants to. Despite being just 5'11" and 185 pounds, he has an easy delivery that allows him to throw as hard as he does. He throws a hard slider that has a late break on it and can be a swing-and-miss pitch. 

Weaknesses: Given his slight frame, Adams might not hold up as a starting pitcher. He is still tweaking things in his delivery, which likely contributed to his career-high walk rate last season. His changeup is still not where it needs to be. He needs to get a better feel for his offspeed pitches. 

Report: As long as Adams can find a changeup and start throwing his slider for strikes, he has the potential to be a good starting pitcher. But he has yet to show he can do that, and time is running out on him to figure it out. The bullpen is probably his easiest path to the big leagues. 

ETA: 2013

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