Beyond The Bases

Outfielder Will Benson emerged as a beacon of power in the Indians’ system in 2018, swatting 22 homers with 58 RBI in 123 games with Lake County. Benson, who also swiped 12 bags in 2018, displays an intriguing blend of power and speed. The outfielder also finished third in the Midwest League in walks in 2018 with 82, giving him a .324 on-base percentage for the season. Benson was selected in the first round of the 2016 draft and will turn 21 years old this summer. Baseball America named Outfielder Oscar Gonzalez hit .292 with 13 home runs in his first year of full-season ball with the Captains in 2018. The 21-year-old led the Captains in doubles with 25 while placing second in runs scored (52) and RBI (52). Gonzalez has turned heads at every stop in his career, earning Arizona League MVP honors in 2016 where he hit .303 with eight homers. In addition to his strong power output, Gonzalez also had a career-high five steals with Second baseman Richie Palacios accelerated quickly through the Indians’ system after being selected in the third round of the 2018 draft out of Towson. Palacios hit .361 with six home runs and seven stolen bases in 45 games between three levels, ending the season with the Captains. Palacios comes from a deep family history in baseball; his brother Joshua is a center fielder in the Blue Jays’ system and his uncle Rey was a catcher for the Kansas City Royals between 1988-1990. Left-handed pitcher Kirk McCarty made a strong impression in five starts with Lynchburg in 2018, throwing to just a 3.19 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 31 innings. McCarty led all Indians farmhands with 161 strikeouts between Lake County and Lynchburg. A seventh-round pick from the 2017 draft, the 23-year-old is one of just two left-handed pitchers included in Baseball America’s top-30 Indians prospects.