Fansided

One September callup we want for each MLB team

By Joshua Sadlock

MIAMI, FL - JULY 9: Brent Honeywell #21 of Team USA pitches during the SirusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by LG Patterson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JULY 9: Brent Honeywell #21 of Team USA pitches during the SirusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by LG Patterson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Indians: Francisco Mejia

With Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez installed behind the plate, the Indians are eschewing offense for the most part at the catcher position in favor of solid defense and pitch calling. Cleveland catchers are batting a combined .217/.306/.353 on the year with 12 home runs. Their OPS of .660 is 23rd in the league.

Gomes is still under contract for two years and $13 million with at least $2 million to buy out his options in 2020 and 2021. He has not been the same since hitting 21 home runs in 2014. Over the past three years, Gomes is a .211/.263/.366 hitter. Advanced defensive metrics still look upon him favorably behind the plate, but the bat has regressed too much for the Indians to consider Gomes locked into their starting catcher job for the next two years.

Cleveland has their catcher for the future tearing it up at Double-A. Francisco Mejia is the number-one overall catching prospect in the entire league and is hitting .298/.349/.491 with Akron and has 21 doubles and 13 home runs. He hits well from both sides of the plate with good bat control. Mejia consistently makes solid contact and does not strike out often.

Mejia has an outstanding arm and has made significant progress as a blocker and receiver, leading scouts to project him as an above-average defensive catcher with the potential to become an All-Star thanks to his bat. Because Mejia is already on the 40-man roster, the Indians would be well-served by calling him up for the final month of the season. He is expected to contend for the starting job next year, so exposing him to a playoff race now can only help his development for the 2018 season.

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