Indians Top Prospects: Get To Know Francisco Mejia

Francisco Mejia is a name people may not know, but a name that people should get to know. Meija is 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, switch-hitting, right-handed catcher that is ready to make a huge impact for the Indians.

In 2012, Meija was signed out of the Dominican Republic and the youngseter has been able to hold his own at every level. This season marked the first season in which Mejia became an every day starter.

Mejia began the season with the Class-A Lake County Captains, and now he is with the Class-A Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats. He recently represented the World at The Futures Game during All-Star weekend.

Ever since Meija became apart of the Cleveland Indians farm system he has been making an impact. With natural hitting ability from both sides of the plate, he makes consistent contact with the ball. With his combination of physical strength and bat speed, Mejia produces raw, natural power. Last year in the Midwest League, he began to tap into that power a little more. Slugging nine home runs and driving in 53 RBIs.

In 73 games between the two teams, Mejia has already hit nine home runs and driven in 65 RBI. That isn’t what is most impressive either, Mejia is hitting .346, has on on-base percentage of .377 and a slugging percentage of .536.

Perhaps most impressively, Mejia has a 37-game hit streak. Yeah, that’s right, 37 games. Which is the longest in the minors this year. During the 37 game hitting streak Mejia is hitting .396 (59-for-149).

Francisco Mejia returned to the Lynchburg lineup with a bang yesterday https://t.co/N5Xoe9zhO5
— Covering the Corner (@CovertheCorner) July 24, 2016

Despite only playing in 13 games with the Hillcats, Mejia s leading Class-A Advanced in batting average, hitting .339.

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Mejia is currently the eighth ranked prospect in the Indians system, according to MLB.com. Offensively Meija is a very impressive young star, who’s potential is sky-high. Defensively he is just as impressive. In 2015 Mejia threw-out 32 percent of runners. With a very strong-arm, Meija is projected to be an above average catcher and this year he is proving just that because his blocking ability has become a very impressive attribute.

Mejia can be the Indians catcher of the future. Yan Gomes has struggled the past couple of seaons, suffering from injuries and an inability to produce. The Indians–and their fans can’t rely him, especially considering Gomes was supposed to re-emerge as a right-handed stick the Tribe so desperately needed this year.

Gomes is under contract through 2021 and he’s due roughly $36 million during that span. Perhaps the team can move him, maybe not. Perhaps the franchise has to eat the contract much like they did when they accepted the financial realities of the deals given to Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn.

Gomes still has time to get back on track and show why the Indians offered him such a lucrative extension because Mejia is only 20 and his potential is the sky. There is no telling how good a kid like is going to be. With the trade deadline coming up it would be nice to see Mejia emain in the organization but there other more important needs.

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Mejia isn’t expected to be in the big leagues until around 2018, but if he can keep producing at a high rate, and continue to keep playing the kind of baseball he is playing, look for this kid to be in the majors sooner than expected.

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