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Ranks:
Keith Law: 13th
Baseball America: 7th
Perfect Game: 7th
Jeff Ellis: Lindor was the guy I had the Indians in on my first mock draft. A lot of teams love him and he was in the conversation as high as #2. He has the ability to be a gold glove SS, and should be a solid hitter. He does not have power, but both skills are barely below average. I think a lot of similarities can be made between him and current Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera has more power, but Lindor should be a better glove guy. I could even see the power developing down the road to where he has 15-20 HR pop. He is a guy fans will love as he loves the game, plays hard and does everything right. He is a safe pick for a prep bat and instantly becomes one of the top five prospects in the system. As a bonus he is still only 17 and a switch hitter.
Andrew Zajac: I absolutely love this pick for the Indians. If we weren't going to get Archie Bradley, Francisco Lindor was my second hope. Lindor is just 17 years old and doesn't turn 18 for quite a few more months yet. He has a chance to be an impact player on both sides of the baseball at a premium position. He has the ability to play plus defense at short, showing great range and a strong throwing arm. At the plate, he's not going to be a guy who is going to show a ton of power, but he still has a lot of room to fill out, in terms of his body. He projects to be able to hit for average and doubles power down the road. I could see Lindor hit .290-.300 annually, quite easily. He's also an above-average runner on the base paths who has a high baseball IQ while on base. Lindor could be a future leadoff hitter. He's possesses good makeup and on my board is the best high school position player in the draft, as well as one of the best pure shortstops in the draft. You certainly won't see him in the majors as quick as Alex White or Drew Pomeranz, but make no mistake about it, the Cleveland Indians got this one right. He's verbally committed to Florida State, but I have all the confidence in the world the Indians will pay the necessary money to sign him. He'll be a great addition to our organization.
Indians press release:
The Clermont, Florida native hit.528 (28-53) during his senior season at Montverde (FL) Academy High School with 31 runs scored, 6HR, 13 RBI and 20 steals in 21 attempts. Fifteen (15) of his twenty-eight (28) hits went for extra bases. The switch-hitting shortstop was a Rawlings First Team All-American in 2011 and won the home run hitting contest at the Aflac All-American Game in August of 2010 in San Diego’s PETCO Park.
Lindor is 17 years old and was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico before moving to the Orlando, FL area when he was 12 years old. He is 5-11 and weighs 170 pounds. In 2009 he helped Under-16 Team USA to a gold medal in Taiwan by hitting .500 with three triples and six steals.
The Indians last selected a high school player in the first round in 2001 and the most recent high school position player coming in 2000.
Video of Lindor:
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7 comments:
Wonder why the Indians selected a shortstop with A. Cabrera on the team.
He was the best player on the board. And this is not football or basketball...it is going to be three to four years before he cracks the major league roster. Who knows if A-Cab will still be on the team, or even playing the same position.
Yeah, by the time Lindor is ready (3-4 years at least), then Cabrera is likely gone via FA/trade. Why you always take BPA, and he clearly was. Indians can get in on several college or prep arms rounds 2-5 or more.
An absolute outstanding pick. With the depth of arms in this draft, Cleveland gets a sure-fire, middle-infielder, and can still get a #1 worthy arm in the next few arms. An impact pick.
Anyways I can see the Indians trying to lock A-cab up to a long term deal this offseason. But yeah I can't say I have a problem with BPA if Lindor actually was the BPA. I just wish we could get a serious power bat in the minors.
Apparently I am the only person who doesn't think that highly of him. I will wait to make any judgement for a while seeing as he's only 17.
I love the pick. Plus fielder, pure, trueblue shortstop. May not have that track speed, but has baseball quicks. Excellent first step, and very quick, smooth and accurate release that makes up for less than rocket arm. Those scouts that doubt his power at the late mystify me. He's got very quick hands through the strike zone from both sides of plate. In addition to that very strong hands as well. That's, to me, 75 % of the power equation. He's still wirey thin, but you must counter that aspect with him being maybe the youngest drafted player as well. Not turning 18 until late November. Excellent pick.
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