With Opening Day less than a month away, most of the attention when it comes to the Cleveland Indians is currently focused on the 2020 season.
It's never too early, however, to take a peak at the future.
On Friday, MLB.com did just that when it released its updated top 30 player rankings of the Indians' farm system. Compiled by MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis, Cleveland's latest list includes some significant changes from the team's last prospect rankings, which were released in August.
The Indians' new list of top 30 prospects is as follows:
- 3B Nolan Jones
- SS Tyler Freeman
- C Bo Naylor
- OF George Valera
- RHP Daniel Espino
- SS Brayan Rocchio
- 2B Aaron Bracho
- RHP Ethan Hankins
- RHP Triston McKenzie
- SS/3B Gabriel Rodriguez
- LHP Logan Allen
- 1B Bobby Bradley
- OF Daniel Johnson
- RHP James Karinchak
- RHP Emmanuel Clase
- INF Angel Martinez
- RHP Carlos Vargas
- LHP Scott Moss
- RHP Luis Oviedo
- SS Jose Tena
- INF Yu Chang
- LHP Sam Hentges
- RHP Lenny Torres
- RHP Nick Sandlin
- OF Will Benson
- RHP Jean Carlos Mejia
- RHP Cody Morris
- SS Ernie Clement
- OF Oscar Gonzalez
- C Yainer Diaz
Perhaps the most notable change in Cleveland's new rankings comes in the form of Triston McKenzie's drop. The Indians' top-ranked prospect a year ago, the right-handed pitcher now ranks ninth in the organization after missing the entirety of the 2019 campaign due to a back injury.
McKenzie's drop, however, could also be attributed to the rapid rise of the players in the lower levels of Cleveland's farm system. According to Callis, the Indians possess so much potential that he said expects their farm system to rank as one of baseball's best in just a few years.
As for the Indians' prospects closest to making their jumps to "The Show," Logan Allen, Bobby Bradley, Daniel Johnson, James Karinchak, Emmanuel Clase and Yu Chang each possess the potential to either start the 2020 season in Cleveland or be called up shortly after. Meanwhile, it appears the Indians' top prospect, Nolan Jones, could be on the fast track to his Major League debut, with Cleveland having extended the third baseman an invitation to training camp earlier this week.