Gameday Magazine June

Left-hander Brady Aiken is likely to be a big part of the ‘Cats pitching staff in 2018. The 21-year-old spent the entire 2017 season in Single-A Lake County, where he went 5-13 with a 4.77 ERA in 27 starts. Aiken struggled at times with his control (101 walks in 132 innings pitched), but is still considered one of Cleveland’s top pitching prospects. He was the Indians first round pick in 2015 out of the famous IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Aiken is ranked as the Indians No. 24 overall prospect by MLB.com, and began the 2018 season in Extended Spring Training. 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. After the first two months, Capel has the second- best batting average (.286), is tied for the team-lead in home runs (4), and leads the team in RBI (28). The left-handed hitter is also tops on the team OBP (.375), and stolen bases (9). He has established himself as a plus defender, mostly in center field. 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 had a dominant 10 strikeout performance on April 17 against the Frederick Keys. 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 two months of the season, when Ice has been catching, Hillcats pitchers have just a 3.69 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.