Cleveland Indians Top 30 Prospects in 2017: “Just Missed” List

We kick off our 2017 Cleveland Indians top prospect countdown by taking a look at several prospects who just missed the top 30 list.

With the start of Cleveland Indians spring training games, it’s once again time to dive into our seasonal Top 30 Prospect list. Through trades, big league promotions, and new draft picks we’ll see several new names on the list with some shakeup at the top of the list with last year’s top prospect, Clint Frazier, now a member of the New York Yankees’ system.

Like last year, we’ll begin by looking at a few prospects that “just missed” the top 30 prospect list, but who are players worth mentioning and following this season.

The one that got away?

Before we look at ten prospects that just missed the top 30 list, I want to talk about one prospect who would be on the list if he was still in the organization.

Taken in the Rule 5 Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, outfielder Anthony Santander was a kid I was very excited to see again in 2017. Always full of talent, the switch-hitting slugger struggled with injuries at times early in his career but finally was able to stay on the field, playing in 128 games for the Tribe’s Advanced-A Lynchburg Hillcats. He hit .290/.368/.492 with 20 home runs, 42 doubles, and 95 runs batted in.

The 22-year-old likely would have started the 2017 season at Double-A Akron where he would have started in left field. There’s still a chance he could return to the Cleveland Indians as in order for the Orioles to retain him, he must spend the entire 2017 season on the big league roster.

Santander likely will open on the disabled list after undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason. This will allow the Orioles some time before making a decision, but after re-signing outfielders Mark Trumbo and Michael Bourn, the Orioles may not have a spot for Santander. That said, the Orioles are reportedly very high on him.

Hopefully, he is returned as he’s a guy that has an extremely high offensive ceiling. Had he been with the organization this year he’d have not only made the top 30 list but come in at number 10. Instead, Tribe fans are left wondering if they’ll ever get to see Santander in a Tribe uniform again.