Cleveland Indians: 4 hottest prospects to watch down the stretch

4. Luis Oviedo, SP

Luis Oviedo‘s only made 12 starts this year, but it’s enough to warrant his spot on this list.

The 19-year-old started off with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers but has since been promoted to the Class (low) A Lake County Captains.

For the season, Oviedo’s 5-2 with a 2.05 ERA. He’s struck out 67 while walking just 17 in 57 innings pitched. Opponents are batting just .190 off the 19-year-old right hander from Venezuela.

With a 6-foot-4, 180-pound build, Oviedo regularly throws 92-94 miles per hour and is capable of hitting 97 on the radar of gun. An improved ability to throw both a slider and a changeup has been key in his breakout season.

The Indians signed Oviedo in 2015 and gave him a $375,000 bonus. He’s was so raw when the organization brought him, they basically locked him in Arizona at the team’s practice facility so that he could one day get to a place where he could get on the minor league circuit.

The remainder of Oviedo’s season will offer an interesting test as on average, he’s about three years younger than the average player playing in the Midwest League.

Oviedo currently ranks as the Indians 10th best prospect, as his stock has skyrocketed within the organization.

He wasn’t listed among MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Indians’ prospects at the end of 2017. And Prospects1500.com, which analyzed the Tribe’s top 50 prospects, also did not have Oviedo on their list.

Talk about coming out of nowhere!