With the 2015 MLB amateur draft coming around next Monday, it is as good of a time as any to take a look back at the drafts of the past. As we have for the past few seasons, we’ll look back today at the Indians draft from five years ago in 2010. Unlike the NFL and NBA, where draft picks generally play at the highest level almost immediately, MLB picks generally take at least five years before they can even be judged as a top prospect or not.

While Carlos Rodon and Brandon Finnegan are already making waves in the Majors after being taken in the first round last year, the Indians generally move much more slowly when advancing prospects, so a longer view is necessary. In addition to the look at the 2010 draft class, we’ll catch up on some of the left overs from 2009 and those from 2011 who look ready ahead of schedule. For comparison, you can go back and read the five year review of the 2008 and 2009 drafts.

2010

Major League Ready
Drew Pomeranz (Round 2) and Tyler Holt (10)

This is an embarrassingly small list, especially considering that Pomeranz is currently with the Oakland Athletics, his second franchise after being traded to Colorado for Ubaldo Jimenez. Holt is the only other signed player from the 2010 draft to make his MLB debut and with just three others making it as high as AAA, he is the only one likely to join the Indians any time soon.

Top Prospects
LeVon Washington (2), Tony Wolters (3), Robbie Aviles (7), Alex Lavisky (8) and Jordan Cooper (9)

Continuing with the trend, the group listed above isn’t so much a top prospect list as it is every single draft pick from 2010 that is still with the organization. Of 50 players drafted, there are six still with the organization in some manner. Of those listed, Washington and Aviles have not passed the advanced A level and Wolters has not surpassed AA.

Washington (AKA Wash-time), may be the biggest disappointment of the group as he had potential to be a five tool outfielder, but injuries and inconsistencies have kept him from advancing. Because he was only 18 when drafted, he still has a slight chance at Major League dreams, but he becomes more of a long shot every day. He started this season in extended Spring Training in Goodyear, Arizona, but will hopefully at least make the jump to Akron this year. Since 2012, he appears to have mastered the Carolina league with a .282/.389/.376 line and has 40 steals and 13 home runs across five seasons.

Wolters is the most advanced of the group, behind schedule largely because he has successfully changed positions from the short stop he was drafted as into a catcher. He is now considered one of the best defensive prospects in baseball and just needs his bat to catch up to make the jump to AAA. His best season so far was in 2012 in Carolina when he knocked in 58 with 30 doubles, 8 triples and 8 home runs, but has never been able to repeat that success as a catcher. He has since been surpassed by fellow 2010 pick, Alex Lavisky and 2008 pick Roberto Perez, making any MLB career for Wolters seem increasingly improbable.

The aforementioned, Lavisky received the recent promotion to AAA when Yan Gomes was injured and for the moment he remains in Columbus, but he hasn’t really lit things up and now that Brett Hayes has returned, he will likely end up back in Akron. While he did show some power and great patience in Lake County in 2012, he hasn’t shown much prowess at the plate since. Given how long Gomes is locked in for and the talent of Perez, it isn’t likely that either catcher would have a shot at the Majors even if they were playing well.

The two pitchers from 2010 still around, Aviles and Cooper haven’t shown much more than the rest of the class. Aviles is still in A+ Lynchburg and is struggling greatly after having a break out season with Lake County in 2014 after converting into a relief role. Cooper is in AAA, but is maintaining a 1-1 K/BB ratio and an ERA above his career rate of 4.14. He is still considered a starting pitcher, but there is no chance he will ever make a start for the Cleveland Indians as long as Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer are still around.

Biggest Busts
Kyle Blair (4), Cole Cook (5), Nick Bartolone (6), Tyler Cannon (12), Michael Goodnight (13), Aaron Siliga (17) and Owen Dew (21)

As if the first two groups weren’t big enough busts (Holt excluded), there were plenty of other picks in the 2010 drafts. These were chosen particularly because all had shown some promise in the minors and all are no longer playing baseball even at the minor league level.

Two of the most interesting players from this group were Cole Cook and Owen Dew, both dominant relievers at time. Dew had a great rookie campaign with Mahoning Valley in 2010 as a starter, then after missing 2012 with injury, he had a solid season in Carolina as a reliever in 2013. Cook was an even better prospect and after he jumped all the way from single to triple A ball in 2012 he flew onto everyone’s RADAR. He was given a more lengthy shot at the upper minor league levels in 2013, but was never able to return to form and was released prior to the 2014 season.

2009

Left Overs
Austin Adams (5) and Joseph Colon (12)

Much like 2010, most of the 2009 draft has already busted out with the exception of Jason Kipnis, who has single handedly made that draft worthwhile. Adams made his Major League debut in 2014 and has pitched well in limited MLB time in 2015. He remains one of the Indians top relief prospects and will probably constantly move between Columbus and Cleveland as one of few players with the ability to play at the Major League level and minor league options left.

Colon is more of a long shot, but after an incredible 2014 season in Akron, deserves a little more time to get things straight. He is currently being used as a reliever for the Rubberducks and has had little playing time in 2015.

2011

Up & Comers
Francisco Lindor (1), Cody Anderson (14), Ryan Merritt (16), Shawn Armstrong (18), Shawn Morimando (19), Cody Allen (23) and many more

Obviously, Lindor is the jewel of this class and is expected to make his MLB debut soon, joining Allen who already has most of four seasons under his belt, in his second as the Indians primary closer, but that shouldn’t take away from the rest of the list. Unlike the previous seasons, 2011 was a solid draft throughout and that can be seen by the fact that four players (Lindor is not one) are already listed on the 40 man roster. Between the 2009 and 2010 groups, only Adams and Holt also hold that distinction. All the players listed above have a decent shot at a Major League future and a couple, particularly Lindor and Merritt, could be All-Star quality. Even beyond those listed, there are more role players like Todd Hankins and Grant Sides who could eventually be of greater interest.

2010 Draft Stats

• The Indians drafted a player in all 50 rounds, but signed just 34. Of those unsigned, the biggest name was 16th round pick Cody Allen, who did sign with the Indians when he was drafted in the 23rd round a year later.
• Of those who signed, seven never played for the Indians at any level and two were let go after the 2010 season. Five more were dropped after just one full season in 2011 leaving only 19 of 50 picks to maintain with the team into 2012.
• The Indians drafted 23 four year college students in 2010, 11 junior college and 16 high school. Both players who made it into the Majors (Pomeranz and Holt) were four year students.
• Given the lack of any real Major League talent, at the moment this has to be considered the worst Indians draft since 2007. Only Josh Judy made it to the Majors for Cleveland out of that class and he ended his career with a -0.2 WAR. Of those signed in 2010, only Holt has played for the Indians and he has earned a career 0.1 WAR.