Cleveland Indians: Prospects on the rise have big day with Clippers

The Cleveland Indians salvaged a series against the Boston Red Sox, but with many of the die hards wondering about next year, it’s worth noting that Labor Dave Eve was a good one for a couple of farmhands at Class AAA Columbus.

Gabriel Arias had two doubles and 4 RBIs in the Clippers first game of a double-header. His performance came hours after receiving some keystrokes from national baseball writer Ken Rosenthal, of The Athletic.

Rosenthal was re-hashing some of the Tribe’s recent trades and noted how Arias is just 21 years old, making him one of the youngest players in the International League.

Arias, who was a part of the package for Mike Clevinger (Josh Naylor, Cal Quantrill, Owen Miller, as well), is considered the team’s best defensive prospect. He’s ranked as the organization’s fourth best prospect, per MLBpipeline.com.

The Indians never rush prospects, so it’s a good bet Arias will start the season at Triple-A in 2022. That also affords Amed Rosario some time to hold onto the spot. He’s outperforming Lindor at the dish this season, but he’s not been great defensively, posting a -6 in the Defensive Runs Saved category.

I’d really like to see Rosario at second base at some point, but he’s the shortstop for now. He’s earned it and someone’s got to take it from him.

Cleveland Indians: Finally, a hitting catcher

Catching prospect Bryan Lavastida also had a day, hitting a game-winning, walk-off homer for the Clippers to deliver Columbus a 9-8 win in Game 1 of the aforementioned double header.

The long ball was Lavastida’s first Triple-A homer in just his second start. He has eight homers throughout the minors this season–and he’s really gotten a chance to get acquitted with the Buckeye State this season.

He started the season at Class A Lake County where he hit .303 before getting promoted to Class AA Akron. With the RubberDUcks, he hit .300, which led to the most recent promotion.

Lavastida, who is ranked 13th by MLP pipeline, has passed former first round pick Bo Naylor (No. 6)  by. Naylor’s been at  Akron all season. He’s regarded as a weapon defensively, but he’s batting .168. I know, I know. The Tribe requires its catchers to be defensive studs, and then there’s the three true out comes and exit velo and launch angle.

So go ahead and call me old school because the paper in my trapper says you can’t can’t become a major leaguer hitting .183 at Akron. Naylor has a .620 OPS. He’s hit 10 homers this year and is a lifetime .250 minor-league hitter.

Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto noted how Naylor and Lavastida made it possible for the Tribe to give up Yanier Diaz, a catcher who can hit in the trade for Myles Straw.