Ethan Hankins is our No. 10 Cleveland prospect. Who should be No. 11?

Possessing one of the best fastballs in the Cleveland system, Hankins will make his full-season debut in 2021

With 49% of the vote, power pitcher Ethan Hankins is our No. 10 Cleveland prospect, dropping one spot from his No. 9 ranking in 2020. He was previously ranked No. 4 in 2019.

In my opinion, Hankins hasn’t done anything wrong to warrant the drop, it’s more that LGT readers are hyped about several young international prospects and recent trade acquisitions.

Hankins was a first-round compensatory pick by the Indians in the 2018 MLB draft. He had one of the most electric high school arms in the draft, but his stock fell slightly due to an injury in his senior season of high school.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound flamethrower possesses one of, if not the best fastball in the Cleveland minor league system, and he utilized it to great effect in 2019, blowing away opposing hitters in the Low-A New York Penn League.

Hankins could not have gotten off to a better start with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, debuting with consecutive scoreless, hitless, performances, combining for 8.2 innings, no hits, no runs, two walks, and 12 strikeouts.

Through nine games in the New York-Penn League, Hankins only allowed runs in four of them. He earned Pitcher of the Week honors in June 2019 and was a mid-season All-Star before being promoted to Lake County at the end of the season.

Upon his promotion, Hankins actually improved his strikeout rate to 30%, but he was much more hittable, posting a 4.64 ERA while also walking a career-worst 5.06 per nine innings.

Still just 20 years old, Hankins was invited to the Cleveland expanded roster in Lake County in the summer of 2020, then also participated in the fall instructional league, where he impressed scouts with his upper 90s fastball, a sharp mid-80s slider, 12 to 6 curveball and showcased an improved power sink changeup in the upper 80s.

Look for Hankins to start the season in High-A Lake County, his first full season in the Cleveland system, where he’ll have the potential to earn a promotion to Double-A depending on how he improves this year.

Bobby Bradley, 1B (Age 24)
2019 (AAA): 453 PA, .264/.344/.567, 33 HR, 0 SB, 10.2 BB%, 33.8 K%, 125 wRC+
2019 (MLB): 49 PA, .178/.245/.356, 1 HR, 0 SB, 8.2 BB%, 40.8 K%, 51 wRC+

A career best 33 home runs at Triple-A earned the slugging first baseman his first cup of coffee in 2019, but with 1B Carlos Santana and DH Franmil Reyes healthy in 2020, Bradley didn’t get a chance last year.

Tanner Burns, RHP (Age 22)
Cleveland 2020 1st round MLB draft competitive balance pick

A prototypical Cleveland college pitcher draft pick who possesses great strikeout ability combined with excellent control. Could be a quick mover in the system.

Joey Cantillo, LHP (Age 21)
2019 (A): 19 GS, 98.0 IP, 34.7 K%, 7.3 BB%, 1.93 ERA, 2.15 FIP
2019 (A+): 3 GS, 13.2 IP, 25.4 K%, 11.1 BB%, 4.61 ERA, 4.98 FIP

Former Padres 16th round pick has soared through their system. Possesses stellar control and an elite changeup, but doesn’t blow away the radar gun.

Emmanuel Clase, RHP (Age 22)
2019 (A+): 6 G, 7.0 IP, 44.0 K%, 4.0 BB%, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 FIP
2019 (AA): 33 G, 37.2 IP, 25.5 K%, 5.2 BB%, 3.35 ERA, 2.36 FIP
2019 (MLB): 21 G, 23.1 IP, 22.3 K%, 6.4 BB%, 2.21 ERA, 3.43 FIP

The primary return in the Corey Kluber trade, Clase possesses one of the most devastating pitches in baseball, a cutter thrown over 100 mph. He missed the entire 2020 season after testing positive for a banned substance.

Daniel Johnson, OF (Age 25)
2020 (MLB): 13 PA, .083/.154/.083, 0 HR, 0 SB, 7.7 BB%, 38.5 K%, -71 wRC+

Saw a brief cup of coffee in the shortened 2020 season, but other than picking up his first career hit and walk, he didn’t have much to show for it and was sent back to the taxi squad.

Angel Martinez, SS (Age 18)
2019 (DSL): 137 PA, .306/.402/.428, 1 HR, 11 SB, 11.1 BB%, 11.1 K%, 134 wRC+

Switch-hitting shortstop with excellent instincts and an already-mature approach at the plate. Opened eyes with his 2019 DSL performance as the top-performing Cleveland player.

Owen Miller, SS/2B (Age 24)
2019 (AA): 560 PA, .290/.355/.430, 13 HR, 5 SB, 8.2 BB%, 15.4 K%, 121 wRC+

Fast-moving college infielder with pop and excellent contact skills. Was a third round pick by the Padres in 2018 and was already in Double-A in his first full season. Could help Cleveland at the MLB level this year.

Gabriel Rodriguez, 3B (Age 18)
2019 (DSL): 170 PA, .238/.335/.406, 3 HR, 3 SB, 8.8 BB%, 15.9 K%, 106 wRC+
2019 (AZL): 73 PA, .215/.288/.262, 0 HR, 1 SB, 5.5 BB%, 30.1 K%, 59 wRC+

The top international signing by Cleveland in 2018, Rodriguez is already physically mature to the point where he had to be moved to third base. Has the potential to be a big-time home run hitter as an infielder.

Carson Tucker, SS (Age 18)
Cleveland 2020 1st round MLB draft pick

The younger brother of Pirates MLB player Cole Tucker, Carson possesses plus speed and sprays hits to all fields, but has yet to debut in the minor leagues.

Carlos Vargas, RHP (Age 21)
2019 (A-): 15 GS, 77.2. IP, 21.9 K%, 7.4 BB%, 4.52 ERA, 3.36 FIP

Flamethrowing right-handed starter who can approach triple digits with a low 90s slider. Was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.