People go to minor league games for a few reasons.
1. It’s family friendly affordable fun
2. It’s something to do and it doesn’t cost as much as a major league game
3. They just love baseball
4. They’re into prospects
I haven’t checked the Lynchburg Hillcats promotional calendar for 2016, so if that’s what you’re hoping for, I’m sorry to disappoint. If you’re looking for an idea of who will be in uniform for the team and who to watch? Then hopefully I’ve made your day
Bobby Bradley – 1B
As a 19 year old in his first full season Bradley mashed 27 homers, with an .890 OPS. Yes, he struck out 148 times in a league where most pitchers don’t have a ton of control over more than a pitch or two. He also walked 56 times and again, was only 19. There’s a bit of grain of salt to be taken with those numbers, but that power was real. He hit light tower home runs, not wall scrapers. The Carolina League tends to be a little hitter friendly, so he might even enjoy similar success. The pitching should be a little better, but if you get up to get some popcorn or a balloon animal, you might miss a white sphere heading to the ocean.
Justus Sheffield – SP
Another 19 year old and a Midwest League All-Star last season. He averaged 9.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9, again, not bad for a 19 year old in first season for full ball. Sheffield has swing and miss stuff, a power fastball, a good curve, decent slider. He’s working on a change-up and is usually in the strike zone. He profiles as a possible future #2 starter if it all comes together. As a 20 year old in the Carolina League, he’ll have a good chance to show where he’s at. Also, if you’re sitting at the stadium and wondering – he is NOT related to Gary Sheffield.
Francisco Mejia – C
The apple of every Indians prospect fans/prospect followers eye. Mejia was also still a teenager in the Midwest League a year ago and if you scout the stat line (.243/.324/.345), it looks like he struggled. He’s advanced defensively as a 19 year old and his glove is ahead of the bat, but as a defense-first type catcher at the moment, that stat line is actually pretty solid. Once again, considering his age, there’s still so much ceiling left for him to reach and the fact that he, and the two previous names are hitting the Carolina League at the ripe age of 20, means good things.
Greg Allen – OF
Aside from rehab appearances by Nick Swisher and Yan Gomes, Allen was the third oldest player on the Captains last year at 22. A four year college bat should do rather well in the Midwest League, but Allen showed great range and the knack for making spectacular catches. His .273/.386./382 line with 53 walks and 43 steals look ideal for a lead-off hitter. He did struggle as a right handed hitter against left handed pitching .248/.325 more than he did as a left handed hitter. Still, he could be a low floor center fielder who can do a decent job getting on base, steal and play great defense.
Yu-Cheng Chang – SS
Another 19 year old player whose stat line is misleading based on injuries and playing in the Midwest League. He struggled defensively a bit, but a number of injuries, reportedly a head injury, threw him off track at the midway point of the year. He may not stay at shortstop long term and had a really nice 2014 debut in the Arizona Rookie League. He’ll get the chance to man shortstop most of the time again for now.
Mark Mathias – 2B
It’s not a guarantee, but the 2015 3rd round pick looks like he could skip Low-A Lake County. He was an advanced college bat that had a .282/.382/.408 slash line at Short Season Mahoning Valley with 19 doubles and 36/35 K/B ratio. Joey Wendle isn’t the comp as a player, but he had similar production at Mahoning Valley his draft year, went to Lake County for the playoff run and then started in the Carolina League the next season.
Mike Papi – OF
Everyone was high on the University of Virginia product as another nice pick by the Indians in the competitive balance round in 2014. In 560 professional at-bats, he has a .221 average. He shouldn’t be judged based on batting average alone, however. This isn’t 1955. Papi had the reputation as a professional type hitter who looked like a higher-average type. He has a .346 career OBP and a .362 last year when hitting .236. He still has patience, even if he’s struggling to get hits. Papi is not really a huge asset defensively in the outfield and projected better at first base, but he didn’t seem to struggle in the outfield. The Indians will probably see if he can get the bat going a little more at Lynchburg given the organization’s back log on outfielders at the top right now.
Anthony Santander – OF
Injuries plagued the switch hitting Santander for a few years. He had an elbow issue that wouldn’t even allow him to play the field for a period of time. He logged a career high 72 games in 2015 at age 20 and hit 13 homers with an .866 OPS.
Others of note: LHP Thomas Pannone (120K in 116 IP), LHP Sean Brady (7.3 K/9, 1.8 BB/9), LHP David Speer (59/14 K/BB in 62 1/3 innings) RHP Cameron Hill (70 K/20 BB 59 IP)
Lynchburg Hillcats Expected Roster
(courtesy of Todd Paquette)
Pitchers
Robbie Aviles
Sean Brady
Mitch Brown
Trevor Frank
Justin Garcia
Cameron Hill
Luis Lugo
Julian Merryweather
Jordan Milbrath
Anderson Polanco
David Speer
Cole Sulser
Hitters
C – Sicnarf Loopstock
C – Daniel Salters
3B – Claudio Bautista
1B – Bobby Bradley
Ivan Castillo
SS – Yu-Cheng Chang
3B – Paul Hendrix
SS – Mark Mathias
Taylor Murphy
OF – Greg Allen
OF – Mike Papi
OF – Dorssys Paulino
OF – Anthony Santander
OF – Luigi Rodriguez (suspended)
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