CLEVELAND, OH - Information on Cleveland Indians 2017 First-Year Player Draft selections.
Round 2 (#64 overall)
OF QUENTIN HOLMES
AGE/DOB: 18, July 7, 1999   High School: Monsignor McClancy Memorial HS(Queens, NY)
BATS/THROWS: R/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1/175
Holmes, who will turn 18 on July 7, has attended Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, playing at the varsity level in all four of his seasons with the Crusader baseball program. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound outfielder was recently named 2016-17 Gatorade Player of the Year for New York State, batting .420 with 7 homers, 18 extra-base hits and 33 runs scored during his senior campaign. Holmes also stole 22 bases in 23 attempts. The 2017 Rawlings Perfect Game Pre-Season All-American was also a member of the Under-18 U.S. National Team last summer. Has signed a National Letter of Intent with Mississippi State University.
\From MLB.com on Holmes
 
Competitive Balance Lottery Round B (#71 overall)
INF TYLER FREEMAN
AGE/DOB: 18, May 21, 1999   High School: Etiwanda HS (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
BATS/THROWS: R/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-0/170
Freeman, 18, batted .526 (51-97) with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, 36 RBI and 35 runs scored in 30 games for Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He was named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-American after leading the state of California high school players in batting average. He was named Baseline League MVP, leading his team to a 27-3 record and CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Southern Section Division 2 title…Freeman has signed a National Letter of Intent with TCU.
MLB.com on Freeman
Comments: Etiwanda High School has had seven players drafted in its history, none earlier than the sixth round and none since 2008. A shortstop in high school, Freeman does have some range and a decent arm, but he tends to play too fast at the position, with many evaluators foreseeing a move to second at the next level. He has the chance to play there every day if his bat continues to develop. Early this spring, Freeman got away from his usual approach, adding a leg kick and trying to show he could hit for more power. When he's at his best, he's a high contact, line-drive hitter, one who should grow into some power naturally in the future. While he's not a burner, he is an above-average runner, especially once underway. If he can continue to swing the bat like he's capable, he could develop into a Michael Young type. At worst, he becomes a Mark DeRosa type of utilityman, though a team that wants to find out might have to take him in the top three rounds, or wait three years after his TCU career.
 
Round 3 (#102 overall)
OF JOHNATHAN RODRIGUEZ
AGE/DOB: 17, Nov. 4, 1999   High School: Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy
BATS/THROWS: S/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-3/180
2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game 2nd Team All-American and Canada/Puerto Rico - All Region 1st Team by the same organization…Rawlings-PG Underclass All American in 2016…Committed to Florida International.
Round 4 (#132 overall)
INF ERNIE CLEMENT
AGE/DOB: 21, March 22, 1996   College: Virginia
BATS/THROWS: R/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-0/175
Clement hit .315 with 31 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 53 games while making the move from second base to shortstop during his junior season for UVA…Struck out just 7 times in 254 at bats…Was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2016 and 2017…Named 2016 Cape Cod League MVP…Fanned just 31 times in 745 career at bats for the Cavs…2017 Preseason All-American (first team by D1Baseball, second team by Baseball America).
From MLB.com on Clement
Hailing from upstate New York, Clement was an outstanding hockey player for four years of high school while also playing baseball. He focused his efforts on the diamond by heading to the University of Virginia and took full advantage of scouts pouring in to see first-round teammates Pavin Smith and Adam Haseley. Clement has been an effective hitter at the top of the Cavaliers lineup over the last two years, claiming the leadoff spot for much of the last season and a half. He has tremendous contact skills, and while he doesn't walk much, he has proven to be one of the toughest college hitters to strike out in the country throughout his career at Virginia. An above-average-to-plus runner, Clement does have some basestealing ability. As a freshman and sophomore, he split time between second and center field. He's played shortstop this season, and while he doesn't profile as an everyday player there, his average arm and solid range would play there well enough in a pinch. A bit undersized, Clement doesn't have the frame to really impact the baseball, and that might limit his ceiling to being a super-utility type of player who mostly sees time at second and in center. Even so, his track record of performance at a top-flight program, with a lot of people watching this year, could help him land in the top three or four rounds.
 
Round 5 (#162 overall)
OF AUSTEN WADE
AGE/DOB: 21, Feb 17, 1996   College: TCU
BATS/THROWS: L/L   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1/185
Was named 2017 All-Big 12 First Team for the College World Series-bound Horned Frogs, hitting .342 (78-228) with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 37 RBI in 58 games (15 SB, 52 runs)…Named 2016 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference…Native of Midland, TX.
Round 6 (#192 overall)
C MICHAEL RIVERA
AGE/DOB: 21, Dec 12, 1995   College: Florida
BATS/THROWS: R/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-10/200
Missed time with a broken hand (right hamate) during his junior season, member of College World Series-bound Gators…Batted .241 (32-133) with 6 2B, 2HR & 24 RBI in 41 games.
From MLB.com on Rivera
Some college catchers have excellent bats, but the jury is out about whether they can stay behind the plate. Rivera is the opposite, a sure-fire backstop defensively who will have to prove he can hit at the next level. A hamate injury that kept him out for a chunk of the 2017 season didn't help matters, though he did return as the Draft approached. Rivera has serious defensive skills behind the plate. He's the kind of take charge player teams like to see from the position. He works with pitchers well, has good hands and catch-and-throw skills. There's a reason he was chosen to catch for the U.S. National Team both as a high schooler, when he hit well, and last summer for the Collegiate National Team, where he didn't swing the bat effectively. There is some pop in his bat, but it is definitely behind the defensive tools. When healthy, Rivera pushed teammate JJ Schwarz from behind the plate because of his superior defensive skills. He profiles as a future defensive-minded backup, but a team that thinks he can hit just enough to be a glove-first regular might consider him in the top six rounds.
 
Round 7 (#222 overall)
LHP KIRK McCARTY
AGE/DOB: 21, Oct 12, 1995   College: Southern Mississippi
BATS/THROWS: L/L   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-10/190
Named first-team All-Conference USA (starting pitcher) in 2016 and 2017…Went 10-2 with a 3.52 ERA in 17 starts (99.2IP, 39ER, 103SO)…Named to 12-man Conference USA All-Academic team in 2016… Hattiesburg, MS native
Round 8 (#252 overall)
RHP ELI MORGAN
AGE/DOB: 21, May 13, 1996   College: Gonzaga
BATS/THROWS: R/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-10/190
Started 14 games as a junior for the Bulldogs, named second Team All-American from Collegiate Baseball…First Team All-WCC in both 2016- and 2017…Named to Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List…Went 10-2 record with 2.86 ERA and 138 strikeouts, second-most in a single season by a GU pitcher…Moved to No. 2 all- time in Zags history with 283 career strikeouts…One of four pitchers in the nation with multiple 15-strikeout games.
 
Round 9 (#282 overall)
RHP JAMES KARINCHAK
AGE/DOB: 21, Sept 22, 1995   College: Bryant University (RI)
BATS/THROWS: R/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-3/225
Garnered All-NEC honors over his three seasons at Bryant, 2015-17…This past spring during his junior season was limited with shoulder soreness, but still fanned 86 batters in 56.2IP in 13 starts…In 2016, was named second team Louisville Slugger/ABCA/Perfect Game/Rawlings All-American ...2016 Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year, going 12-3 with a 2.00 ERA in 15 starts (112SO, 94.2IP).
From MLB.com on Karinchak
It might not occur to people to think of Rhode Island as a baseball hotbed, but Bryant University has been a bit of a machine in terms of producing draftable talent, with a total of 18 coming out of its baseball program over the years, including three in the 2016 Draft. Only five of those 18 were taken in the top 10 rounds, Karinchak should be the sixth, though some injury concerns could make it a bit more challenging. When healthy, Karinchak showed a fastball up to 96 mph with a plus breaking ball at times. But he missed time in March with shoulder discomfort. Since he came back, his fastball has sat in the 90-93 mph range more consistently. His 12-to-6 breaking ball has been consistent, a hammer with depth. Karinchak gets good deception thanks to his high front side. He hides the ball well and typically throws with good angle and plane. Karnichak's command also went in the wrong direction post-injury. There might be some medical history to be discussed before a team feels comfortable with taking the right-hander, but his stuff is good enough to land in the top five or six rounds. r
 
Round 10 (#312 overall)
INF JESSE BERARDI
AGE/DOB: 21, Jan. 13, 1996   College: St. John's
BATS/THROWS: L/R   HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-10/185
The Commack, NY native batted .356 (80-225) with 10 2B, 4 HR and 47 RBI in 55 games for the Red Storm this year, leading the team to a regional appearance vs. Clemson…Reached base in 37 straight games and ranked in the top 100 nationally in batting average, on-base percentage and hits per game…Was an All-Big East first-team selection and a CoSIDA Academic All-America second-team choice…Selected by the Phillies in the 40th round of 2014 draft.
From MLB.com on Berardi
The last infielder from St. John's to make a splash in the Draft and then the big leagues was Joe Panik, who was a first- rounder in 2011 and is now the Giants' starting second baseman, a former All-Star and Gold Glove winner. Berardi doesn't quite fit on that scale, but then again, few thought Panik would be this good, either. Like Panik, Berardi plays shortstop for St. John's, but will likely need to shift over to second base at the next level. He has a very good internal clock that helps him slow down the game, and he gets rid of the ball quickly, but many feel his arm, average at best, isn't enough to stay on the left side of the infield long-term. His hands and feet should work just fine at second. Not the biggest guy in the world, Berardi has shown a strong hit tool this spring from the left side of the plate, with an advanced approach that has led to more walks than strikeouts in his college career. He has some extra-base power and can run into a few homers along the way. Berardi isn't going to jump into the first round like Panik did six years ago, but he is performing well for a good college team at just the right time. A team that sees a little Howie Kendrick in him could take him in the top five rounds.