opening day pitchers:
Columbus: Hu -- had a terrible spring with the big club but seems promising
Akron: Hentges -- big lefty is the highest ranked pitcher active in the upper minors
Lynchburg: Garza -- small righty pitches well when he's not hurt but he needs to stay healthy for a full season
Lake County: no name listed. Oviedo is their best prospect but sometimes they open with a more experienced arm

mlb.com

With the 2019 Minor League Baseball season getting underway, here's a look at where the Indians' Top 30 prospects are starting the year. We also identify the prospect who just missed the Top 30 list, a player who didn't make the big league Opening Day roster but should make an impact this year, a prospect who is ready to break out in 2019 and the team's best defensive prospect.

1) Triston McKenzie (MLB No. 40), RHP -- Extended spring training -- rehab
2) Nolan Jones (MLB No. 66), 3B -- Lynchburg Hillcats (A Adv)
3) Tyler Freeman, SS/2B -- Lake County Captains (A)
4) Bo Naylor, C -- Lake County Captains (A)
5) George Valera, OF -- Extended spring training
6) Bobby Bradley, 1B -- Columbus Clippers (AAA)
7) Brayan Rocchio, SS -- Extended spring training
8) Luis Oviedo, RHP -- Lake County Captains (A)
9) Ethan Hankins, RHP -- Extended spring training
10) Sam Hentges, LHP -- Akron Rubber Ducks (AA)
11) Yu Chang, SS/3B -- Columbus Clippers (AAA)
12) Lenny Torres Jr., RHP -- Extended spring training
13) Gabriel Rodriguez, SS -- Extended spring training
14) Aaron Bracho, SS -- Extended spring training
15) Ernie Clement, SS -- Akron Rubber Ducks (AA)
16) Jean Carlos Mejia, RHP -- Lynchburg Hillcats (A Adv)
17) Nick Sandlin, RHP -- Extended spring training -- rehab
18) Raynel Delgado, INF -- Extended spring training
19) Oscar Mercado, OF -- Columbus Clippers (AAA)
20) Carlos Vargas, RHP -- Extended spring training
21) Richie Palacios, 2B -- Lynchburg Hillcats (A Adv) -- IL
22) Daniel Johnson, OF -- Akron Rubber Ducks (AA)
23) Jose Fermin, 2B/SS -- Lake County Captains (A)
24) Aaron Civale, RHP -- Extended spring training -- rehab
25) Will Benson, OF -- Lake County Captains (A)
26) Junior Sanquintin, SS -- Extended spring training
27) Quentin Holmes, OF -- Lake County Captains (A)
28) Marcos Gonzalez, SS -- Lake County Captains (A)
29) Eric Haase, C -- Columbus Clippers (AAA)
30) James Karinchak, RHP -- Akron Rubber Ducks (AA)

On the shelf
Right-handers Triston McKenzie (upper back strain), Nick Sandlin (forearm soreness) and Aaron Civale (lat issues lingering from 2018) are beginning the season in extended spring training and should report to Akron when healthy in the near future. Second baseman Richie Palacios is on the injured list at Lynchburg while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Impact prospect: Oscar Mercado
Acquired last summer from the Cardinals in exchange for a pair of outfielder prospects, Mercado impressed in his first Spring Training with Cleveland, finishing with a .400/.415/.750 line and three homers in 40 at-bats. Though mostly known for his speed and defensive ability in center field, the 24-year-old also has some untapped potential at the plate that he could realize in 2019.

Breakout prospect: George Valera
Signed for $1.3 million in July 2017, Valera carried plenty of hype into his pro debut and got off to a strong start in the rookie-level Arizona League, only to have his season end after six games due to a broken hamate bone in his hand and subsequent surgery. The injury has done nothing to diminish the 18-year-old outfielder's upside, and scouts continue to rave about Valera's gorgeous left-handed swing as well as his ability to apply his power during games at a young age.

Best defensive prospect: Eric Haase
Haase reached the Majors for the first time late last season, seven years after the Indians took him in the seventh round of the 2011 Draft. Though he's blossomed on both sides of the ball during the past two seasons, it's been Haase's defensive gains that have helped him climb the Tribe's depth chart. After throwing out 37 percent of attempted basestealers in 2017, Haase improved that mark to nearly 49 percent in '18 (33 of 68).

Meanwhile Akron with few prospects but lots of returnees sees a good season on the horizon.

https://www.ohio.com/sports/20190404/tr ... ks-in-2019

BA picks one team in each organization's system to highlight. Obviously they chose Lake County for us. Although the kids going to Mahoning VAlley in June may be just an promising.

Cleveland Indians: Class A Lake County Captains

The Indians system is full of lower-level talents, with 15 of the club's top 30 prospects still awaiting their full-season debut. While many of those players will start the season in extended spring training, it is very likely they end up in the Midwest League. But Lake County fans won't have to wait that long to see big names with Indians No. 3 prospect Tyler Freeman and No. 4 Bo Naylor getting the Class A assignments. Freeman led all non-complex Indians with a .352 average while Naylor notched a .381 on-base percentage. Joining them will be Jose Fermin (No. 23), Will Benson (No. 25), Quentin Holmes (No. 27) and Marcos Gonzalez (No. 28). Plus, perhaps one of the most intriguing names in the Minors -- Brady Aiken. The 2014 first overall pick is returning to Lake County after spending all of 2018 on the injured list for no official reason.

Putting 2 and 2 together from things I’ve read, due to Aiken’s mechanics the fear was he would just continue to have problems. He has changed things up. He should have little pressure, pitching out of the bullpen in Low-A. But I assume if he has success they will build him up in pitches and move him back to rotation. Have to think this might be his last chance.

Baseball America just did a list of 24 breakout prospects for this year. Tribe have 2. Rocchio and Valera like Civ mentioned. But we could easily have a couple more. Bracho for example.

Maybe Mejia, Mercado, Palacios, Karinchak.

Not sure exactly what rules they go by for breakout. But all those guys are outside top 10 list Civ just posted.

Civ, what are your rules for breakout? I’ll choose one. I won’t even take Bracho...

Rules for breakout? My rule is someone not on Top 30 lists for the Tribe, or something like that. But it's pretty arbitrary definition: if Will Benson who's still rated in the lower tier hits 250 and moves up to Lynchburg that would be quite a breakout too. so would Ronny Delgado making a league top 20.
My definition also disqualifies JC Mejia and Karnichak and Sandlin
So feel free to make your own rule.

I think I will try Raymond Burgos as my pitcher. He's a 6-5 lefty who worked a lot of innings in Arizona and is now assigned to Lake County. There are others who K'd move per inning than he did, which is a good sign of future success. There are some other really promising relievers coming out of last year's draft like Adam Scott and some potential starters like Alex Royalty, too. Although I was thinking of taking a shot on Brady Aiken but my "comeback" choice of Hillman didn't work too well last year.

Position player? I usually pick some OF who projects to have 5 tools but who usually then falls on his face.
I'm not seeing anyone who particularly catches my eye on the LC or Lynchburg rosters. Although I could try Austen Wade again. Steven Kwan was drafted higher than the guys I usually go for, and he doesn't look like a potential 5 tool OF since he has little home run power but perhaps I will break my own mold and guess he develops quickly into a CF who can run, field, hit line drives and not strike out a lot.

Breakout picks

I have always liked Eli Morgan. Despite dominating every spot he's been he never shows up on any lists cause his out pitch is a changeup. Well, Trevor Hoffman made a HOF career with a changeup so that doesn't damper my enthusiasm. Thing is he does have great numbers at every spot, so not sure he would be a viable choice for breakout, even though he's not on any list. But I look for him to get a call up to Akron sooner rather than later and continue his good work there this year.

If I had to choose a guy who's numbers have stunk to break out and do well this year it would be Juan Mota. I read he has his fastball topping out at 98 now, and is developing a nice changeup for his 3rd pitch. (has a slider too)

This was tough cause Juan Hillman had a very nice spring training and looks like he may be ready to take a step, but I'll go with Mota. Hillman has disappointed me too many times.

For hitter ... Steven Kwan is back playing baseball and had a very nice spring. Will Benson has looked much improved this spring too. But I will stick with the local kid since I'm a hopeless homer. Mitch Longo will have his best season to date this year!

When a minor league player gets injured a misses the entire year, does that year count in
number of years before they have to be put on the 40.

Went to the Charlotte Knights opening game this evening at the best Minor League ballpark in the country and got to see old friend Brandon Guyer who went 1 for 4!

When a minor league player gets injured a misses the entire year, does that year count in
number of years before they have to be put on the 40.

I'm pretty certain the answer is Yes

some stellar pitching as we 3 of 4 on opening night.

Luis Oviedo with 5 shutout innings 5 k no walks 4 hits for the Captains., but
Justin Garza [a past breakout choice of mine] with a 5 inning no hitter walked 2 fanned 4.
Sam Hentges not so sharp in Akron debut 4 1/3 6 hits 5 runs 4 earned 4 walks [his bugbear] 6k

On early returns I win the Breakout Player contest. Steven Kwan with 4 singles for the Hillcats in their romp and a steal. He'll need to show some extra base power.
Also in Lynchburg: Jones 3 singles and a walk, Oscar Gonzalez 2 singles and a triple, Collins 3 singles. Waksamatsu HR.
For the Captains, Naylor drew a pair of walks. Nice to see a teenager in his first full season game being patient at the plate. Amazingly Q Holmes with 2 singles and a walk Benson doubled and walked. No. 3 prospect Freeman 0-5
The Ducks were shutout on 2 hits both by Krieger. Johnson looked good in ST, not here: 0-4 3K
All the outfielders in AAA looked good: Mercado 2 singles, CarGo single double and walk, Maybin single and double, Thompson single double 2 walks. Chang drew 2 walks, Bradley single and walk and 0K. Flaherty 3 singles: bring him up.

no pitcher worked more than 2 innings for Columbus. Henry Martinez 1 scoreless but a walk a hit along with 2 K

BA daily prospect reports begin:

CLE AA Clement, Ernie SS 4 0 0 0 .000
CLE AA Johnson, Daniel RF 4 0 0 0 .000
CLE AAA Bradley, Bobby 1B 3 2 1 1 .333 2B (1), BB (1)
CLE AAA Chang, Yu SS 3 2 0 0 .000 2 BB (2)
CLE AAA Haase, Eric C 4 0 0 0 .000 BB (1)
CLE AAA Mercado, Oscar CF 4 2 2 1 .500 SB (1)
CLE HiA Gonzalez, Oscar RF 6 2 3 2 .500 3B (1)
CLE HiA Jones, Nolan 3B 5 3 3 2 .600 2B (1), BB (1)
CLE LoA Benson, Will LF 3 2 1 0 .333 2B (1), BB (1), SB (1)
CLE LoA Freeman, Tyler SS 5 0 0 0 .000
CLE LoA Holmes, Quentin CF 3 0 2 0 .667 BB (1)
CLE LoA Naylor, Bo C 2 0 0 0 .000 2 BB (2)
CLE AA Hentges, Sam 4.1 6 5 4 4 6 8.31 L (0-1)
CLE LoA Oviedo, Luis 5.0 4 0 0 0 5 0.00 W (1-0)

The weather wasn't ideal, but the outcome was for the Captains as they opened the 2019 season on April 4 with a 4-0 victory over the Great Lakes Loons at Classic Park. On a cold night that grew colder with a rain-snow mix in the late innings, Captains starter and eventual winner Luis Oviedo (1-0, 0.00 ERA) iced the bats of the visitors from Michigan.

The 19-year-old right-hander from Venezuela baffled the Loons for five innings, limiting them to four singles. Oviecdo threw 73 pitches, 49 for strikes, while registering five strikeouts. He did not walk a batter.
"Oviedo set the tone for us," Captains manager Luke Carlin said. "I loved his tempo. He and (catcher Bo) Naylor worked well together."

Relievers Aaron Pinto and Dakody Clemmer each worked two scoreless innings to secure the shutout.

"The pitching was great tonight. Guys were pounding the zone," Carlin said, surveying the final statistics that showed the Loons managing only five hits.

While the Captains didn't knock the cover of the ball, they did get maximum mileage from the six hits they did muster.

Left fielder Will Benson got the most solid smack of the frigid night, a two-out rope of a double to right-center field in the bottom of the third inning off Great Lakes starter and eventual loser Stephen Kolek (0-1, 10.13 ERA).

Benson raced home on an RBI single by Ruben Cardenas to extend the Captains' lead to 3-0. Cardenas later scored when Kolek issued a bases-loaded walk to Marcus Gonzalez to force home another run.

The Captains had scored twice in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to heady baserunning by Benson and second baseman Jose Fermin.

Fermin led off with a single and alertly took second when Great Lakes left fielder Dan Robinson bobbled the ball. Fermin stole third base while Benson was in the process of working his way to a walk off Kolek.

Cardenas was at the plate when Benson broke for second base on an attempted steal. As soon as Great Lakes catcher Hunter Feduccia threw to second base, Fermin broke for home plate.
Both runners beat the throws and the Captains had a 1-0 lead.

"With the colder weather, we were a little more aggressive all the way around," Carlin said.

Benson scored the inning's second run on a two-out RBI single by designated hitter Josh Rolette.

It was an encouraging start for Benson, who was the Indians' first-round pick in the 2016 draft out of high school in Georgia. He is back for a return engagement in Lake County after batting .180 with 22 home runs and 58 RBI for the Captains last season.

"There is unfinished business I'm here to take care of," Benson said.

Carlin also was pleased that the Captains took care of business in the field with an error-free outing.

"It was a good way to start the season," he said.