The AZL Indians 20-8 first half set the pace in the Arizona League and, excluding their first three games, had a 22-6 run early in the season before everything fell apart. They earned a play-off spot as first half champions in the AZL Central, but went 11-17 in the second half and finished the year with a five game losing streak and a first round play-off exit against the AZL Angels.
The majority of the team stuck around all year, although they did lose Brady Aiken to Mahoning Valley and Jhonleider Salinas to the Rays right around the point when their season took a downward turn. While this was certainly a factor, also important was a decrease in offensive production from players like Oscar Gonzalez, Nolan Jones and Jose Vicente who started the year on fire and weren’t able to keep up that level of play for an entire season.
MVP
There weren’t any particular players who stood out for the AZL Indians this year although there were plenty of big names. The Indians 2015 and 2016 first round picks were both significant parts of the squad, but had enough negatives to keep them out of this spot. In addition, the AZL Indians had the top pitcher in the league, Francisco Perez, and the league MVP, Oscar Gonzalez, but neither impressed me to the level that their stats would indicate. Instead, it was third baseman and 2016 second round pick Nolan Jones who deserves credit as the team’s best all around player.
First and foremost, the Indians have had a trend in recent years of drafting players who aren’t just great hitters, but all around athletes and great defenders who also can put the ball in play. This description is accurate of Conner Capel, Will Benson, Hosea Nelson and Samad Taylor, all 2016 picks who played for the AZL Indians, but none encapsulate the idea more than Jones. While he committed 12 errors, some of these must be discounted due to the playing conditions and the fact that the AZL Indians played exclusively at first base players who were unfamiliar with the position. I personally saw Jones make some of the best plays I’ve ever seen at this level and he definitely surpassed the last few seasons worth of left side infielders.
Offensively, Jones has little power, but is a great contact hitter, batting .257/.388/.339 during the regular season. In addition, despite joining the team late, he lead the team with 23 walks. Even though he’s only 18, he’s the most well rounded hitter and given his size, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start hitting for power once he reaches the next level.
Future Stars
There are two different kinds of players listed here, those who had simply incredible seasons and those whose high draft selection placed them in the spotlight. Beginning with the first type, pitchers Ben Krauth, Cesar Ventura, Gregori Vazquez and Perez all deserve commendation as well as the outfielder Capel.
To start, Krauth was promoted mid-season after 14 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just nine hits, no walks and striking out 20. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him fast tracked through the minors as he had very little to work on at this low level. The other three pitchers were all huge for the AZL Indians as they lost their two primary starters, Aiken and Salinas in the same week to promotion and a trade to Tampa Bay for Brandon Guyer.
There was obviously a transition period, but in his last four appearances Vazquez allowed five runs in 23.2 innings, striking out 19 including 10 in one seven inning start against Cincinnati where the only run he allowed was a home run against his first batter faced. Perez was a starter all year and posted great numbers throughout. His 2.69 ERA lead the team as did his 52 strike outs. He pitched at least five innings in each appearance except his first and at just 19, seems ready to skip Short Season and go straight to Lake County.
Ventura was used in short relief most of the season, but was pushed into a starting role late in the year and it didn’t take very well. His speed, quick delivery and lack of dominant breaking pitches make him perfect for the bullpen and it is as such a pitcher that he is included here. I expect him to return to that role in subsequent seasons and, like Krauth, he could quickly move up in the system.
The Indians two first rounders, Will Benson and Brady Aiken must be included in this section as well, even though their numbers didn’t play out as expected. Aiken was working back from Tommy John surgery and noticeably holding back on his fast ball, but his curve was by far the best breaking pitch for any player on the team. He had some issues with control at times, but this was all to be expected in coming back from surgery after not pitching for such an extended time.
As for Benson and Capel, both were premier defenders (Capel the best on the team with great range and a nice arm in center) and have a good approach at the plate although their numbers don’t back that up. Benson has real power and lead the team in slugging percent despite the low average, hitting six home runs, 3 triples and 10 doubles.
Under Appreciated
Nearly all of the players on the AZL Indians this year were true rookies, either 2016 draft picks or fresh out of the 2015 Dominican Summer League. Because of this, it wasn’t surprising to see many struggle and won’t be a surprise when they are back in Goodyear next year. This doesn’t mean, however, that they won’t turn out to be among the best players to come out of this team.
Ulysses Cantu may have been the player whose stats were least indicative of his performance as he finished the year with a poor .202/.298/.248 line and just one home run despite being touted as a bat first prospect. It is likely that he was set back by the transition into a Major League size ballpark, professional pitching and a positional change, moving from third to first early in the season. He will likely return to the AZL next year, but I still have high hopes for Cantu.
One of the primary things I look for in the AZL is improvements and two players who made great strides were Oscar Gonzalez and Jose Vicente. Like Cantu, Vicente was asked to abandon his primary position, catcher, to help out at first. He is listed below as the team’s worst defender, but that only reflects his early play. Recently, Vincente has greatly improved defensively.
Unlike last year’s worst defender, Anthony Miller, Vicente didn’t have problems with balls hit to him, but receiving throws. In his final weeks, he made great strides in picking balls out of the dirt and simply completing outs that he wasn’t earlier in the year. His bat was never a problem and he finished the season as the team leader with 28 RBI and held a .280/.333/.408 line.
Gonzalez remains questionable defensively in left field, but his improvement was significant at the plate. His 8 home runs lead the team and the league, but he struck out 57 times as well. He walked just eight times all season, but as mentioned in a piece dedicated solely to him, all those but one came bundled at the end of the season as he learned patience and the strike zone. He would benefit from another year in Arizona, but could fit fine in Mahoning Valley next year.
Cause for Concern
Players are only allowed to play in the AZL for two seasons, so anyone who finishes a second season there is likely not going to be around a whole lot longer. In particular, this year there were two who stood out for this reason in Junior Soto and Simeon Lucas. Lucas split time behind the plate with Jason Rodriguez and had his best season so far, but is already in his third year in the AZL. He is a solid defender with both glove and arm and that may be enough to keep him around long enough for his bat to turn around. This could be a case like with Dorssys Paulino where all he needs is a change in scenery and, as beautiful as Goodyear is, I’m sure he would prefer to be elsewhere at this point. Hopefully, the Indians will clear out some of the upper level catchers that they have little hope for and Lucas can make a jump, possibly straight to Lake County, where we can get a better gauge on him.
As for Soto, being a bench player in your second year in the AZL is telling on it’s own. I included him among the underrated in 2015 and he’s improved his offensive numbers since then, but not to a very exciting level. One has to question where he fits on a team that has players with much higher ceilings like Hosea Nelson, Connor Capel, Trenton Brooks and Benson.
Most Power: Oscar Gonzalez
Best Bat: Will Benson
Best Wheels: Hosea Nelson
Best Glove: Conner Capel (CF)
Worst Glove: Jose Vicente (1B)
Best Control: Ben Krauth
Best Stuff: Brady Aiken
Best Chance to be an MLB Pitcher: Brady Aiken
Best Chance to be an MLB Hitter: Will Benson
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