Indians draft catcher Noah Naylor, three pitchers on first day of MLB draft

The Indians used their first pick in the 2018 MLB draft, pick 29 overall, on catcher Noah Naylor from St. Joan of Arc High School in Ontario, Canada.

The Indians used their next three picks on right-handed pitchers.

With their second pick, No. 35 overall, they picked 18-year-old right-handed pitcher Ethan Hankins from Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. According to MLB.com., Hankins has the best fastball in he draft. He has been clocked as high as 96 mph.

The Tribe used the 41st overall pick on 17-year-old right-handed pitcher Lenny Torres from Beacon, New York. Torres, who doesn’t turn 18 until October, also throws a fastball in the mid-90s.

When it was the Indians’ turn again, they selected right-hander Nick Sandlin from Southern Mississippi.

Naylor, 6-foot, 195 pounds, can also play first base and third base, according to the scouting report from CBSSports.com.

Perfectgame.com offered this scouting report on the 18-year-old Canadian:

“Strong athletic build, good present strength with room for more. Very high level athleticism for a catcher, 6.62 in the 60, low and flexible behind the plate, very quick shifting and blocked, high level arm strength with a loose and fast arm, 1.78 best pop time.

“Also played the middle infield with surprisingly good actions and tools, can develop this part of his game further. Left-handed hitter, slightly open stance, clean shift into contact and swing, has lots of strength at contact and can drive the ball hard, tends to stay open but can go the other way effectively. Has always performed at high level events against top pitching.”

Lastwordonbaseball.com praised Naylor’s power at the plate.

“The biggest thing that stands out with Naylor is an impressive power bat,” the scouting report said. “He is arguably the best high school hitter in the draft and captured the High School Home Run Derby in Miami last season. It is the power and the bat that draws people in, but it his potential behind the plate that puts him over the top. Naylor’s physical build and athletic ability behind the plate are very similar to that of star Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. His arm will play at any level, and his bat should help him along as he continues to work on his receiving skills.”

Naylor played in seven games with the Ontario Blue Jays, an elite 18-and-under travel team in Ontario, this spring. He was 8-for-26, (.421) with two doubles, a home run, and six RBI).

Naylor has committed to Texas A&M.

Indians director of amateur scouting Scott Barnsby said he is confident Naylor can be persuaded to sign with the Indians and forego the college commitment. Likewise, Barnsby expects Hankins to forego a commitment to Vanderbilt and Torres to choose the Indians over St. John’s.

Naylor would start out in the Indians organization as a catcher, Barnsby said. The Indians are looking at Hankins and Torres as starters. Sandlin projects as a relief pitcher.

Hankins had a right shoulder injury that shut him down for five weeks, but the Indians are confident he is recovering.

“Obviously it will take time to get back to full strength, but we spent a lot of time with him and our medical staff with him making sure we feel comfortable with the health, and we do,” Barnsby said on a conference call. “He did have an issue, but we feel he’s back to full health and ready to go. He has life to the fast ball, two different breaking balls and ad advanced feel for his change-up.”

The Indians scouted Torres when he was 16 years old. Barnsby said Torres has “a quick arm” and is developing a slider to go with his 96 mph fastball.