The Cleveland Indians have had an extremely promising baseball season thus far. The Indians 2016 All-Star break in San Diego has given the club a sense of hope and security. Prospects Clint Frazier, Yandy Diaz, and Francisco Mejia reassured that the team is in good hands during the Futures Game on Sunday night.
Cleveland Indians 2016 All-Star Break
Growing Up
Loganville, Georgia native Clint Frazier, the Indians first round pick in 2013, is growing up fast. The 21-year-old, heavy-hitting outfielder has a batting average of .287, eleven homers, and forty-three RBI for Double-A Akron. Furthermore, his presence in the Futures Game could not go unnoticed. Frazier not only brought attention to his bright red flow of hair, but also to his bat. He went 2-3 with a RBI double and a stolen base.
Yandy Diaz started the season within the Indians organization with Akron as well. He was hitting .286 with two home runs and fourteen RBI until the call came from Triple-A Columbus. Diaz’s stats jumped in Columbus to an average of .311, four home runs, and eighteen RBI. Granted the start at third base for the World team, Diaz came to the plate twice, going 1-2 with a single in the fifth.
Catcher Francisco Mejia was batting .347 and racked up fifty-one RBI in a Single-A Lake County uniform this season, until recently being called up to High-A Lynchburg. In San Diego, Mejia served as an in-game sub for the World team, and recorded a single in the ninth. He also scored a run.
These developing stars seem to have earned a warm place in the heart of the Cleveland front office. Frazier, Diaz, and Mejia illustrated during the Indians 2016 All-Star break that they completely stand apart from a horrible Indians draft history.
The Show
Led by the Royals Eric Hosmer, the American League put on a show to secure home field advantage in the World Series with a 4-2 win in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night. Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitchers Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber all made their first career All-Star appearances.
Salazar did not pitch due to minor issues with his elbow. However, Kluber made his appearance on the mound in the second inning. He plastered the National League and retired the side, inducing groundouts from Buster Posey and Anthony Rizzo before striking out Marcell Ozuna, and earned the title of winning pitcher. This was the first time an Indians pitcher had won the All-Star Game since Bartolo Colon in 1998.
Lindor served as a substitute and came to the plate twice. Despite not getting on base in the game, this kid is an absolute All-Star. Lindor has led the Indians to a 52-36 midseason record behind a .306 batting average, ten homers, and forty-five RBI.
Everyone in Cleveland surely must feel comfortable with where they sit now during the Indians 2016 All-Star break. A 6.5 game lead in the AL Central and sixteen games above .500 is definitely something to be proud of. In order to secure a division win and a presence in October, the Indians may need a minor addition to the bullpen and a power hitter. There is no need for a starting pitcher; the Indians arguable have the best rotation in the AL. Calling up Bradley Zimmer or Clint Frazier into the batting order may be good moves looking ahead toward the post-season.
Lets see how this squad of young guns plays after the Indians 2016 All-Star break brings attention to an organization on the rise.
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