5 Reasons Why Lucroy’s Veto Could Be A Blessing In Disguise

The Other Francisco

If Tribe fans weren’t familiar with catching prospect Francisco Mejia before Sunday, they sure were by the end of the day.

The switch-hitting 20-year-old extended his hitting-streak to 42 games on Sunday in Single-A Lynchburg, proving that even dramatic trade rumors and nearing the edge of packing up and moving on a moment’s notice does not phase the young Dominican.

Mejia is batting .343 with nine home runs and 67 RBI in 2016 between Lake County and Lynchburg.

Had the Indians traded the prospect, it would have been a justifiable move to get a proven catcher who is already executing what Mejia hopes to do if and when he reaches the Big Leagues.

However, putting things in perspective, the Indians and MLB scouts were understandably high on outfielder Clint Frazier, who was traded to the Yankees for Miller.

There were even “Mike Trout” comparisons once it was announced that he was going to the Yankees, which is funny that they were never made while he was a part of the Indians organization. Probably just Yankees fans trying to make themselves feel better.

But taking nothing away from Frazier, who may become a star in the near future, does anyone remember the first-round pick hitting in 42 straight games? Or hitting above .340 at any level?

Frazier never even hit above .300 for a season at any level. Single-A. Double-A. All sub-.300 batting averages.

It’s impossible to know whether Frazier or Mejia will be MLB stars or which one will have a better career, but if we’re just looking at what the two players did at the same levels and at the same ages, here are some side-by-side comparisons.

Age 19 Both Players at Lake County

Frazier: .266, 13 HR, 50 RBI 120 games

Mejia: .243, 9 HR, 53 RBI 109 games

Age 20 Frazier at Lynchburg, Mejia splitting time at Lake County/Lynchburg

Frazier: .285, 16 HR, 72 RBI 133 games

Mejia .343, 9 HR, 67 RBI 78 games (18 at Lynchburg, 60 at Lake County)

It’s worth noting that Mejia played most of those games one level lower than Frazier did at the age of 20. However, in 18 games with the Hillcats, Mejia is batting .329 with two home runs and 16 RBI.

Along with the hits and the high batting average, what also stands out from Mejia’s production is his ability to drive in runs. As a 19-year-old at the same level as Frazier, he drove in three more runs in 11 fewer games.

This season in 55 fewer games than Frazier played at the age of 20, Mejia has already driven in five more runs.

It’s too early to project MLB careers, but just know that it won’t be a surprise if Mejia ends up being the more successful of the two and there are reasons to suspect he just might do that.

He could become an even better player than Lucroy. Who knows? At least for now, we appear to have the chance to find out. It could end up becoming a story of one of the great non-trades to ever happen if Mejia turns into a star and the Indians end up holding on to him by “dumb luck.”

Let’s hope one day in the not too distant future, Tribe fans are watching the two Francisco’s: Lindor and Mejia lead the way to Central Division pennants and beyond.

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