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One fantasy baseball prospect that is being somewhat overlooked is Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor. Lindor was the team’s first round pick in 2011, but since he is only 19 years old, most people are passing on him.
Lindor is another young prospect that is currently tearing up the minors. He has a .317 batting average and has a .389 On Base Percentage. The shortstop has also stolen seven bases and scored nine runs in just 17 games. He is getting on base consistently and has shown amazing fantasy potential for a teenager.
He had a bit of a down year in 2012, though, as he hit just .257. However, he did cross the plate 83 times and his .352 OBP was once again a very promising sign.
Like most shortstop nowadays, Lindor is not exactly a home run threat. He has amazing hand-eye coordination and will mature into a great contact hitter one day, but dynasty league owners shouldn’t expect many 20-plus home run seasons.
Often heralded for his offensive prowess, Lindor is easily the best defensive shortstop in the minors as well. He has an above average arm and his pure athleticism helps him get his glove on almost every ball on the right side of the infield. Lindor’s amazing defense will only help him get into the starting lineup sooner.
However, Cleveland already has 2B Jason Kipnis, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, and 3B Lonnie Chisenhall locked into their spots, so the team’s infielder is pretty much set. Just based on the competition, it would be hard to imagine Lindor making it to the big leagues anytime soon. He isn’t even 20 yet, so it will just give him more time to develop his game.
Lindor is one fantasy prospect that is worth stashing, but the Puerto Rican sensation likely won’t make the jump to the majors until the 2015 season at the earliest. The shortstop remains the ultimate long-term prospect at the position.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
