ESPN: Indians Prospect Francisco Mejia The 18th Best MLB Prospect

ESPN scribe Keith Law has published his list of the top 20 prospects in MLB, and Cleveland Indians catcher Francisco Mejia is No. 18.

Remember when Joe Mauer was an MVP candidate as a catcher earlier in his career with the Twins. That’s the kind of upside Indians prospect Francisco Mejia possesses–but with a better build for the position–according to ESPN writer Keith Law.

Law believes Mejia is now the Indians best prospect, and the 18th best prospect in all of baseball (subscription required).

Mejia made headlines for hitting safely in 50 straight games in A-ball last season, but that’s not the only reason his prospect stock has taken off.

“…He has become a legitimate front-line option. Mejia is a switch-hitter with a bit of an unconventional approach, but he has outstanding bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, showing sneaky pop already in his age-20 season with the potential to get to the 15-20 homer range in time,” Law wrote.

Defensively, he’s already a good catcher and he’s improving, according to Law. “Behind the plate, Mejia receives well and can show an 80-grade arm when necessary. He is still improving on the finer points of catching, such as game-calling and planning for hitters. By all accounts, he’s not there yet, but he has a good chance to reach a level at which he’s adequate with the bat and arm.”

Mejia’s just 21 years old, so there’s plenty of time to hone his skills behind the plate. He’ll likely open the season at Class AA Akron.

Had Jonathan Lucroy accepted a trade to the Indians before last season’s MLB trade deadline, Mejia would be in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

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Instead, Mejia remains a prized Indians asset.

The current catching situation is murky from an offensive standpoint.

Yan Gomes has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons. It remains to be seen if he can match his production from 2013 and 2014. Combined, he hit .286 with 32 homers (.805 .OPS with 112 RBI in 223 games (spanning 840 plate appearances) during those two years. The Indians gave him a six-year, $23 million extension after the 2013 campaign.Gomes is under contract through 2019. The Indians own team options on him for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Roberto Perez hit .183 in 184 plate appearances .

Assuming he opens up the season at Class AA, Mejia is, at best, a a year and a half away from contributing at the Major League level.

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The Indians opportunity to win the World Series is open for the next two to three years. Getting Mejia back from the voided Lucroy trade gives the Tribe an option to move him again for a player who can make an immediate impact. This may be more likely to happen if Gomes gets back on track in 2017.

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