Three of Cleveland Indians top-five prospects on Lynchburg Hillcats roster

Three of the Cleveland Indians’ top-five prospects according to Baseball America will open the 2015 campaign with Lynchburg, as the Hillcats begin their first season as the Advanced-A affiliate for the Cleveland organization Thursdayat Potomac.

Aside from being recognized by Baseball America, the three elite prospects share much more in common. All three are outfielders, and all three were taken within the Top-40 overall picks of the draft in the past two years. Bradley Zimmer, the No. 2 prospect for the Indians by Baseball America, earned First-Team All-America honors after hitting .368 with seven home runs and 21 stolen bases for the University of San Francisco as a junior. That production elevated Zimmer to being named the fifth-best prospect in the 2014 draft by ESPN’s Keith Law, and the Indians selected him with the 21^st overall pick. Zimmer hit .304 in 45 games with Mahoning Valley before playing three games with Lake County at the end of the season where he posted two home runs and a double in only 11 at-bats. Baseball America has tabbed Zimmer as the best athlete in the entire Cleveland system.

Clint Frazier, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft, will be patrolling the outfield along with Zimmer and former University of Virginia standout Mike Papi. Frazier, whom Baseball America named as its 2013 High School Player of the Year, was drafted by the Indians out of Loganville High School in Georgia. Named the best power hitter in the Indians farm system entering 2015, Frazier belted 13 home runs, 18 doubles and six triples while also stealing 12 bases in 120 games with Lake County last season. Papi, who was selected 38^th overall after leading Virginia to the 2014 College World Series, is the fifth-best prospect for the Indians according to Baseball America. Papi claimed the ACC batting title as a sophomore by hitting .381 and tied for the conference crown in home runs as a junior when he hit 11.

Additional top prospects for the Indians beginning the year with Lynchburg include right-handed pitchers Mitch Brown(No. 14) and Adam Plutko (No. 24) as well as first baseman Nellie Rodriguez (No. 19). Brown was drafted out of high school in the second round of 2012 and posted a 3.31 ERA in Lake County last year. Plutko, who was the ace on UCLA’s 2013 National Championship team, returns to the Carolina League after registering 79 strikeouts in 97 innings with a 4.08 ERA for the Carolina Mudcats a year ago. Both Brown and Plutko have plus-pitches in their repertoire, as Baseball America says they have the best curveball and changeup, respectively, in the Cleveland farm system.

Rodriguez has also garnered attention from Baseball America, as the publication tabbed him as Cleveland’s breakout prospect for 2015. The 15th-round selection attended the same high school as Manny Ramirez and was picked directly out of George Washington High in New York City. Rodriguez led the Midwest League last year in extra-base hits with 57 while tying for the league crown with 22 home runs. He also ranked third on the circuit with 86 RBIs.

Overall, Lynchburg’s Opening Day roster features 12 players who saw time in the Carolina League last year with the Carolina Mudcats. Meanwhile, the entire Hillcats field staff for 2015 has been a part of the Carolina League at some point in their careers. Manager Mark Budzinski played with the Kinston Indians in 1997, while hitting coach Bobby Magallaneswas a member of the 1992 Peninsula squad that eventually claimed the league title. Pitching coach Tony Arnold pitched for Hagerstown when it was the Carolina League Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in 1982, and he has made three different stops in the league as a pitching coach in the Indians system. Strength coach Scott Nealon and trainer Bobby Ruiz both return to the Carolina League after being with the Mudcats last season

Lynchburg opens its season on the road at Potomac Thursday, April 9, at 7:05 p.m. The Hillcats’ home opener is slated for Thursday, April 16 when Lynchburg hosts the Nationals at 6:30 p.m. Season tickets and book tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 434-528-1144. Fans can also purchase tickets by stopping by the Front Office Monday–Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All 140 Hillcats games this season will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 93.3 FM and 1320 AM in addition to an online stream that can be found at www.lynchburg-hillcats.com. The On-Deck Show for the season opener takes the air live from Pfitzner Stadium Thursday at 6:40 p.m.