Gameday Magazine July

Outfielder Conner Capel is ranked by Baseball America as Cleveland’s No. 15 prospect, and has already played a key role in Lynchburg this season. He was named to the 2018 Carolina League All-Star game, the first time he has earned the selection. The left-handed hitter ended June in a tie for the team lead in home runs (5) while also driving in a team-best 37 runs. His 10 stolen bases also lead the team. Capel had an 11-game hitting streak from 4/14-4/27. Capel was set to follow in the footsteps of his father, former big leaguer, Mike Capel, by playing college ball at Texas before the Tribe drafted him in the fifth round in 2016. The Katy, Texas native excelled last season for Lake County in the Midwest League, placing third in the league in home runs (22) and fifth in slugging percentage (.482). Left-hander Sam Hentges has been one of the anchors of the Hillcats rotation so far this season. He earned the Opening Day start, the first of his career, and has made every start through the rotation this season, showing he’s healthy following Tommy John surgery. He made the 2018 Carolina League All-Star team for the first time in his career. Entering July, he is 5-5 with a 3.38 ERA, and had a streak in June where he fired 13.2 consecutive scoreless innings. Hentges was mostly a first baseman in high school, but converted to pitching full time after being drafted by the Indians in the fourth round in 2014. He was one of the youngest players in the 2014 draft class, and will pitch the majority of the 2018 season at age 21. Hentges is ranked as the Indians No. 18 prospect by Baseball America. Catcher Logan Ice made Lynchburg’s Opening Day roster in 2018. Known for his defensive ability as a good blocker, solid receiver and ability to handle a pitching staff, Ice was drafted by the Indians after a breakout 2016 season at Oregon State. Cleveland drafted him in the 2nd round in 2016. Through the first three months of the season, when Ice has been catching, Hillcats pitchers have just a 3.62 ERA, which is the best of any other catcher on the team. The switch-hitter is ranked by Baseball America as the Indians No. 19 overall prospect. Third baseman and catcher Gavin Collins is another Top-30 prospect that has started the season in Lynchburg, being pegged by Baseball America as the No. 27 overall prospect in Cleveland’s system. Collins played his college ball at Mississippi State, and helped lead the Bulldogs to a SEC title and was drafted by the Indians in the 13th round in 2016. He became the first Mississippi State player to earn SEC-all freshman honors. Collins has played both third base and catcher this season, but has been limited to just 26 games due to two separate stints on the disabled list.

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