FanPost

Acquiring the Cleveland Indians 2019 Franchise: Lower Minors Edition

Subtitled: The Continuing saga of Jerry Dybzinski

Yes, yes, it is finally here. The long awaited Jerry Dybzinksi post for 2019. And my deepest apologies for skipping this in 2018. I actually did do the research last year, but failed to post it. Please see the bottom of this summary for the notes on how this post is identified.

In a change up in years past, I will be starting with the Lower Minor Leagues first. Then followed by the Upper Minors, and then finally the Indians roster itself.

Lake County had another very solid season, finishing at 74-64, which was good enough for fourth in the Eastern Division. They also qualified as a Wild Card, but lost to the Lake County Loons (Dodgers) in the quarterfinals. Will Benson was the star of the team this year, slashing 272/371/604 with 18 bombs. But he had help too, Tyler Freeman and Ruben Cardenas both had an OPS over 800 and Jose Fermin, Daniel Schneemann and Jesse Berardi all had solid years as well. As for the pitchers, they were not as solid. Zach Draper was the best starter of the bunch, while Kellen Rholl and Sklar Arias looked pretty dood in the pen.

Mahoning Valley was an average team this year, ending with a 37-39 record. They were only 4 games back of the Pinckney division title though (Oddly enough this division has six squads, while the McNamara and Stedler divisions have just four). Bryan Lavastida was the best hitter for the Scrappers, putting up a 335/408/483 slash in 209 ABs. Most of the starters on the pitching staff struggled, with the exception of Ethan Hankins. The top relievers were Nick Mikolajchak and Jerson Ramirez.

The Indians signed a large number of draft signees for the second year in a row. So to that effect, they actually fielded two full rosters in the Arizona Rookie League. They split them as the Red and Blue squads.

The Red squad was put into the West Division and finished 27-29, but was only 6 games back of the lead. Yainer Diaz was the star of this team, with a 451/477/707 slash in 20 games. Brauny Munoz put up some fantastic numbers in his 52.2 innings, 13 BB and 56 K for a 2.91 ERA.

The Blue squad did even better. They finished 35-21 in the Central Division, but ended up 4 games back of the Padres second entry into the league. They did qualify for the playoffs, but lost in Championship Game #2 to the Rangers. There were a number of hitters who shined for the Blue squad, including Jose Colina, Jothson Flores, Julian Escobedo, Christopher Cespedes and Jose Tena. On the pitching side, Randy Labaut, Nate Ocker and Nic Enright looked dominant as relievers, while Luis D Garcia (who graduated from the Dominican League) was very good in his team leading 66.1 innings.

The DSL Indians did not fare very well in 2019, compiling a 26-41 record and finishing seventh (of eight) in the North division. The top hitters included Danial Aguilar (LF) and Angel Martinez (SS). The top pitchers were Stephen Perez and Tomas Reyes.

This was the second season the Tribe had a second Dominican squad that was shared with the Milwaukee Brewers. But hoo boy, were they bad (finishing behind the DSL Indians). They finished at 17-52, not even winning a quarter of their games. The Tribe had one of the catchers and just three of the infielders, leaving the whole outfield to the Brew Crew. All of the hitters had decent splits, but that is because the pitching in the DSL is pretty mediocre. The best Tribe pitchers were Erick Heredia and Yeury Gervacio, both who were signed after being released by other organizations.

Notes: I have included compensation draft picks as being more than one degree as the Indians obtained that pick based on a player they formally held rights to. Also, when I have identified a free agent year, it is the year they signed for (i.e. December 05 would be 2006). Additionally, whenever I could not find confirmation of an amateur free agent signing, the year defaults to their first appearance. [aFA = amateur free agent, mFA = minor league free agent]

All data is through the end of the 2019 seasons.

Lake County Captains (A - Midwest League)

Players on the roster

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2013: Luis Araujo

aFA 2015: Luis Oviedo (international); Luis Valdez; Jose Fermin (international)

Draft 2016: Ulysses Cantu (6); Hosea Nelson (9); Skylar Arias (24)

aFA 2016: Marcos Gonzalez (international); Miguel Jerez

Draft 2017: Quentin Holmes (2); Jesse Berardi (10); Matt Turner (11); Angel Lopez Alvarez (13); Clark Scolamiero (22); Zack Draper (30); Joshua Rolette (39)

aFA 2017: Raymond Burgos; George Valera (international)

Draft 2018: Bo Naylor (1); Ethan Hankins (1-C); Richard Palacios (3); Raynel Delgado (6); Alex Royalty (8); Thomas Ponticelli (12); Kyle Marman (13); Brian Lavastida (15); Shane McCarthy (18); Jake Miednek (20); Eric Rodriguez (21); Eli Lingos (22); Kellen Rholl (25); Billy Wilson (28); Tim Herrin (29); Jonathan Engelman (31); Daniel Schneemann (33)

aFA 2018: Brandan Meyer

Draft 2019: Ike Freeman (14)

Players who have moved on

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

Draft 2013: Dace Kime (3) [retired]

aFA 2013: Erlin Cerda [FA]

Draft 2014: Grant Hockin (2) [FA]

aFA 2014: Cesar Ventura [FA]; Domingo Jimenez [FA]; Miguel Eladio [FA]

Draft 2015: Jonas Wyatt (6) [FA]; Todd Isaacs (19) [COL-AAA/Rookie]; Ryan Colegate (36) [SDP-release]

aFA 2016: Alsis Herrera [FA]

Draft 2017: Tommy DeJuneas (26) [2018 trade for James Hoyt; HOU-AA]; Tre Gantt (29) [FA]

mFA 2018: Dane Hutcheon (originally drafted 29 by Twins in 2016) [FA]

Draft 2018: Ruben Cardenas (16) [2019 trade for Hunter Wood/Christian Arroyo; TBR-A]

Mahoning Valley Scrappers (A- - New York-Penn League)

Players on the roster

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2014: Henderson De Oleo (international);

Draft 2015: Brady Aiken (1)

aFA 2015: Francisco Perez; Gregori Vasquez; Felix Fernandez

aFA 2016: Maiker Manzanillo; Jose Oca; Carlos Vargas (international)

Draft 2017: Johnathan Rodriguez (3); Jordan Scheftz (23); Michael Cooper (33)

aFA 2017: Yainer Diaz; Brayan Rocchio (international)

Draft 2018: Brian Eichhorn (9); Korey Holland (14); Liam Jenkins (17)

aFA 2018: Jerson Ramirez; Luis Sanchez; Aaron Bracho

mFA 2018: Francisco Cespedes (originally aFA by Dodgers in 2016)

Draft 2019: Daniel Espino (1); Hunter Gaddis (5); Will Brennan (8); Nick Mikolajchak (11); Julian Escobedo (17); Matt Waldron (18); Joab Gonzalez (24); Eric Mock (25); Serafino Brito (28); Andrew Misiaszek (32)

mFA 2019: Evan Mitchell (originally drafted 13 by Reds in 2013)

Players who have moved on

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

Draft 2013: Justin Garcia (38) [FA]

aFA 2013: Erick Algarin [FA]; Francisco Lopez [FA]

Draft 2014: Simeon Lucas (7) [FA]

aFA 2014: Gabriel Mejia [FA]

Draft 2015: Daniel Salters (13) [retired]

aFA 2015: Luis Santos [FA]; Ronny Dominguez

Draft 2016: Michael Tinsley (7) [FA]; Andrew Lantrip (8) [FA]

aFA 2016: Cameron Mingo [retired]

mFA 2017: Adoni Kery (originally aFA by Padres in 2016) [FA]

mFA 2019: Drew Stankiewicz (originally drafted 11 by Phillies in 2014) [FA]

AZL Indians-Red (Rookie, Arizona League)

Players on the roster

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2015: Christopher Santana; Jean Montero

aFA 2016: Wuilson Meza; Jhan Rodriguez; Yeffersson Yannuzzi

aFA 2017: Luis Peguero; Roger Marmol; Michael Ramirez; Cesar Idrogo (international); Marlin Made (international)

Draft 2018: Lenny Torres (1-CB)

aFA 2018: Adenys Bautista; Brauny Munoz; Darlin Noboa; Samuel Vazquez; Wardquelin Vazquez; Jhon Vergara; Miguel Vinicio; Juan Zapata; Richard Paz; Gabriel Mejia (international); Alexfri Planez

Draft 2019: Yordys Valdes (2); Joe Naranjo (3); Christian Cairo (4); Jordan Brown (6); Will Bartlett (9); Zach Hart (10); Allan Hernandez (12); Landy Pena (27); Kevin Coulter (33); Alec Wisely (34); Jacob Forrester (37)

aFA 2019: Zach Weatherford

Players who have moved on

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2015: Hector Figueroa [2019 Waivers; TBR-A-/A]

aFA 2016: Ignacio Feliz [2019 trade with for Walker Lockett; SDP-A-]; Jahir Valera [FA]; Sergio Morillo

aFA 2017: Tahnaj Thomas [2019 trade with Erik Gonzalez/Dante Mendoza for Jordan Luplow/Max Moroff; PIT-Rookie]

Draft 2017: Dante Mendoza (12) [2019 trade for Walker Lockett; PIT-Rookie]; Josh Nashed (19)

Draft 2018: Jack DeGroat (11)

mFA 2018: Brandon Benavente (originally aFA by Astros in 2015)

AZL Indians-Blue (Rookie, Arizona League)

Players on the roster

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2014: Christopher Cespedes (international)

aFA 2015: Juan Paredes; Pablo Jimenez

aFA 2016: Luis D Garcia (international); Jhonneyver Gutierrez; Jeikol Contreras (international); Makesiondon Kelkboom (international); Jesus Maestre (international); Gaspar Palacio (international)

Draft 2017: Pedro Alfonseca (17)

aFA 2017: Darlington Feliz; Luis C Garcia; Diarlin Jimenez; Wilmaer Mejia; Wilton Sanchez; Jothson Flores; Wilfri Peralta (international); Jose Tena (international)

mFA 2017: Joel De La Cruz (originally aFA by Royals in 2015)

aFA 2018: Johonkensy Noel

Draft 2019: Micah Pries (13); Jordan Jones (16); Kevin Kelly (19); Nic Enright (20); Michael Amditis (21); Austin Pinorini (22); Chandler Fidel (23); Nate Ocker (29); Jared Janczak (31); Randy Labaut (35)

mFA 2019: Jose Colina (originally aFA by White Sox in 2014)

Five Degrees

Victor Nova (originally aFA by Padres in 2018)

1. Trade Reds/Padres 2019 with Yasiel Puig [CIN], Scott Moss [CIN], Franmil Reyes [SDP], Logan Allen [SDP] for Trevor Bauer

2. Bauer - Trade 2013 Diamondbacks (and Reds) with Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw for Tony Sipp and Lars Anderson to Diamondbacks (Shin-Shoo Choo and Jason Donald to Reds; Reds sent Didi Gregorius to the Diamondbacks)

3. A. Choo - Trade 2006 Mariners with Shawn Nottingham (PTBNL) for Ben Broussard

B. Donald - Trade 2009 Phillies with Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson and Jason Knapp for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco

C. Sipp - Draft 2004 (45)

D. Anderson - Trade 2012 Red Sox for Stephen Wright

4. A. Broussard - Trade 2002 Reds for Russell Branyan

B. Francisco - Draft 2002 (5)

C. Lee - Trade 2002 Expos with Lee Stevens, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew

D. Wright - Draft 2006 (2) compensation for Kevin Millwood

5. A. Branyan - Draft 1994 (7)

B. Colon - aFA 1993

C. Drew - Draft 1997 (1)

D. Millwood - FA 2005

Players who have moved on

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

Draft 2017: Chandler Ferguson (25) [FA]

Draft 2018: Gionti Turner (27) [2019 trade for Chih-Wei Hu; TBR-Rookie]

aFA 2016: Mike Garcia; Jhon Torres [2018 trade for Oscar Mercado; STL-Rookie/A]

aFA 2018: Victor Soteldo [Diablos Rojos del Mexico-Mexico]

DSL Indians (Rookie, Dominican Summer League)

Players on the roster

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2016: Nehemias Celesten (international)

aFA 2017: Darian Perez

aFA 2018: Robert Cruz; Abraham Figueroa; Daniel Figueroa; Logan Franco; Yonaiker Garcia; Elvis Jerez (international); Euclides Lopez; Steven Perez; Tomas Reyes; Heylin Tavares; Adauri Vicente; Victor Planchart; Moises De La Cruz; Dayan Frias (international); Jesus Lara (international); Angel Martinez (international); Joseph Paulino; Junior Sanquintin (international); Daniel Aguilar; Luis Ostos; Skeiling Rodriguez; Sterling Romero (international)

aFA 2019: Luis Almonte; Albert Breton; Miguel Cordones; Felix Polanco; Christain Sosa; Hugo Villalobos; Adalberto Vargas; Wuilfredo Antunez; Jorge Burgos

mFA 2019: Robinson Ramos (originally aFA by Pirates in 2017)

Players who have moved on

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2014: Ramon Tineo [FA]

aFA 2015: Eric Perez [FA]; Carlos Ventura [FA]

aFA 2018: Roberto Hernandez

DSL Indians/Brewers (Rookie, Dominican Summer League)

Players on the roster

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2018: David Flores (international); Andy Rubio; Frederic Garcia; Jose Baez (international); Henyer Gomez (international)

mFA 2018: Yuery Gervacio (originally aFA by Mets in 2017); Erick Heredia (originally aFA by Phillies in 2016); Ronald Parra (originally aFA by Dodgers in 2016)

aFA 2019: Reny Artiles; Dahan Batista; Adrian Rodriguez; Jose Ruviera; Felipe Santos; Lahorne Diaz; Alan Meza

Players who have moved on

One Degree (drafted or signed by the Indians)

aFA 2018: Daniel Martinez [FA]

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