This has been the thinnest position for prospects in the system, but that is starting to change. There are now at least two legitimate catching prospect in the system, Josh Bard (23) at AA Akron and Victor Martinez (22) at Hi-A Kinston. Bard came to the Indians from the Rockies as part of the Jacob Cruz deal. He's very competent behind the plate and the Indians are working with his swing to help him develop more power. Bard hit .278 with 4 home runs and 11 doubles in 194 AB's. He will most likely start out 2002 at AAA Buffalo. Martinez had a breakout year in 2001, hitting .329 with 10 homers and 33 doubles. As he matures physically many of those doubles could become homers. Martinez compensates for an average arm by having a very quick release and is more than competenyt overall defensively. He was named ther Carolina League MVP for 2001. Both Bard and Martinez are switch hitters which only adds to their prospect status. Jeff Haase (23), a Cleveland State product from the 2000 draft, also does a little catching and was promoted to Kinston toward the end of the season. Haase has power potential but is running out of time to show it. 2001 draft picks Kenton Myers and Brad Guglielmelli hopefully can add more depth to the system, we'll have to see a little more of them next year to fully evaluate their potential. Myers reported to Mahoning Valley Mahoning Valley and Guglielmelli, who signed late, reported to Burlington. Armando Camacaro (20) and Hector Santana (19), from the Indians Latin Summer Leagues program also spent 2001 at Burlington. The Tribe also signed undrafted free agent David Wallace from Vanderbilt. Wallace played this summer in the Alaska League and hit .270 with 5 homers. Baseball America ranked him the 10th best prospect in the Alaska Summer League.

At the moment the top prospect honors here would go to Martinez and Bard.One of them is liokely to become Einar Diaz's backup in the very near future, as the Indians are less than enamored with Ediie Taubensee's work behind the plate. Haase is probably a long shot to make it all the way to the top. Myers and Guglielmelli were not listed among the top catching prospects in this year's draft which allowed the Indians to snag Guglielmelli with the 11th pick and Myers with the 23rd pick. However I seem to recall a catcher drafted in the 62nd round a few years ago who turned out decently, a guy named Mike Piazza, so you never know. We'll see how they develop through 2002. Camacaro and Santana are highly regarded but several years away. Wallace is a big guy with some power potential and BA named him one of the top ten prospects in the Alaskan Summer League.