Cleveland Indians Preparing For Busy Draft

Have Four Day One Picks Including Three In Top 40

The 2014 First-Year Player Draft begins tonight at 7 p.m.  and will be carried live on MLB Network and MLB.com with coverage beginning at 6 p.m.

The first two rounds and the competitive balance rounds will be conducted tonight and the Indians will have four of the 74 picks.

Unlike last year when they picked #5 overall (Clint Frazier) and then waited until day two of the draft this year they will wait until pick #21 but follow that with picks #31 (compensation for Ubaldo Jimenez), and picks #38 and #61.

According to MLB.com the Indians plan on taking the best player remaining on the board. “Our approach is best player available, whether it’s a pitcher or position player,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. “With the development path in baseball, today’s need may be very different than in three or four years.” (MLB.com)

More Tribe Draft From MLB.com: Players To Watch

Recent mock Drafts on MLB.com have had the Indians taking Waiakea High School (Hawaii) lefty Kodi Medeiros (Jonathan Mayo) or Texas Christian lefty Brandon Finnegan (Jim Callis) at No. 21.

ESPN’s Keith Law recently projected that Cleveland would go with third baseman Michael Chavis of Sprayberry High School (Ga.).

Other reported possibilities for the Indians have included Indiana catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber, Nevada-Las Vegas righty Erick Fedde, East Carolina righty Jeff Hoffman, Wichita State first baseman Casey Gillaspie, Virginia outfielder Derek Fisher, Virginia first baseman Mike Papi and Virginia righty Nick Howard, among others.

Who To Follow For Draft Info:

@WahoosOnFirst – @MLBDraftTracker – @MLBDraft – @JonathanMayoB3 – @jimcallisMLB – @keithlaw