Lindor among seven Indians prospects invited to major-league camp
CLEVELAND -- The Indians have invited seven of their prospects to participate in the major-league camp during the early part of spring training.
The list is headed by shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is the organization's top prospect. Lindor was in Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus last season, batting .276 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI. He was also third in the organization in stolen bases (28). Lindor, who was selected in the first round in 2011, was in camp last year and went 6 for 19 with a home run and five RBI in 11 games.
Two other prospects that are in the top 11 of FOX Sports Ohio's consensus prospect rankings will also be in camp -- outfielders Tyler Naquin (fifth) and James Ramsey (11th).
Naquin spent all of last season in Akron, batting .313 with four home runs, 30 RBI and 14 stolen bases before his season ended due to broken left hand after being hit by a pitch on June 27. In 17 spring training games last year, the 2012 first-round pick was 5 for 19 with a home run and two RBI.
Ramsey was acquired from the Cardinals in the Justin Masterson trade. In 28 games at Columbus, he batted .284 with three home runs and 16 RBI. At the Cardinals' Double-A affiliate in Springfield, Ramsey was named to the Texas League midseason all-star team.
The others who have been invited are catcher Jake Lowery, pitcher Will Roberts, infielder Ryan Rohlinger and outfielder Jordan Smith.
This is the second straight year that Lowery will be in camp. In seven games last spring he went 2 for 5 with a home run and four RBI. Lowery appeared in 66 games for Akron last season after missing seven weeks due to being struck in the face by a pitch and batted just .201.
Roberts was second among pitchers in the organization in innings pitched (161) and third in wins (12). In 27 starts for Akron, the right-hander was 12-12 with a 4.08 ERA.
Rohlinger spent last season in Columbus, batting .233 with five home runs and 27 RBI. He appeared in 51 games at second and 31 at third along with seeing time at first and shortstop.
Smith, who was 1 for 8 in six spring training games last year, batted .248 at Akron but hit .282 the second half of the season. In 17 games in the Arizona Fall league, he hit .304 with a home run and 10 RBI.
With Tuesday's moves, the Indians have 20 non-roster invites and 60 in major-league camp. Pitchers and catchers will report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 18 with the rest of the squad due four days later. The first full squad workout is Feb. 24 with the spring training opener against the Reds taking place on March 4.
