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Cleveland Indians prospect watch: 5 players whose stock is surging

By Nick Dudukovich

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 20: A view of the Cleveland Indians batting helmets before their game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on April 20, 2012 in Oakland, California. the Indians won the game 4-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 20: A view of the Cleveland Indians batting helmets before their game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on April 20, 2012 in Oakland, California. the Indians won the game 4-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 20: A view of the Cleveland Indians batting helmets before their game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on April 20, 2012 in Oakland, California. the Indians won the game 4-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 20: A view of the Cleveland Indians batting helmets before their game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on April 20, 2012 in Oakland, California. the Indians won the game 4-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Willi Castro, SS, +4 spots (Preseason 13, currently 9)

With Willi Castro, the Indians have maintained their organizational ability to develop shortstops.

Jose Ramirez mostly came through the minors as a shortstop, and of course, no one will forget Francisco Lindor.

Erik Gonzalez could start for other teams and is looking to make the Tribe in a supporting role, while Yu-Chen Chang has risen up the Tribe’s prospect ladder.

Offensively, Castro is coming off his best professional season at high A Lynchburg, as he hit 31 percentage points higher (.290) than his 2016 mark (.259) at Lake County.

With his 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, he began to tap into his power, hitting 11 homer. Some internet sites project him to be a 20-20 player at the big-league level.

Castro just turned 21 during the first month of the 2017 campaign, so obviously, there’s plenty of reason to like his upside and there’s hope as he matures, he can be even better.

With Yu-Cheng Chang opening the season at Class AAA Columbus, it seems logical that Castro would be promoted to Class AA Akron based off what he did last season. With that said, he’s still young, and if his spring is just so-so, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see him open the season back at Lynchburg.

Castro was recently added to the Indians’ 40-man roster. The spot protects the prospect from being chosen in the Rule 5 Draft.

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Even if that’s the case, he’d still be two years younger than the league’s average age.

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