MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help the Indians in 2019

3. RHP Triston McKenzie

Drafted out of high school at age-17, McKenzie is only 21 and seemingly on the verge of making the big leagues. He missed some time with a sore forearm last year, but was very good over 16 starts for Double-A Akron (2.68 ERA, 8.6 K/9, 2.8 BB/9). He is a top-40 prospect in all of baseball, as ranked by MLB.com, and not surprisingly he’s the Indians’ No. 1 prospect.

The Indians have been careful with McKenzie, limiting him to 95.1 innings over his first two pro seasons But he looked good after that forearm issue delayed his debut last year, and in 2017 he had an 11.7 K/9 rate (albeit in High-A ball).

All four of McKenzie’s pitches grade out above average, including a fastball that tops out at 95 MPH and a curveball that is considered a second “plus-pitch.” Scouts also cite McKenzie’s “advanced feel” for pitching standing out apart from his stuff.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 165 pounds, McKenzie has plenty of room to continue to fill out his frame and get stronger. He has the look of a front of the rotation starter down the line. But the Indians could find a place for him this year as primarily a late-inning reliever, with obvious shorter stints to ease him in and keep his innings down a bit.