Baseball America revealed an encouraging list for the Cleveland Indians: two of their prospects are the youngest players in their respective leagues.

Infielder Jose Ramirez is the youngest player in the Triple-A International League while shortstop Francisco Lindor is the youngest players in the Double-A Eastern League, according to the list.

Ramirez, who reached Cleveland last summer, doesn't turn 22 until September. Had Ramirez started the season in Cleveland, he would have been the third youngest player in the majors behind phenoms Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox and Bryce Harper of the Nationals.

Lindor doesn't turn 21 until November. Lindor is the youngest player in the Eastern League, where he ended 2013, for the second straight season.

Ramirez and Lindor are the only players among the 10 youngest in their respective leagues.

The Lake County Captains have four teenagers -- infielders Dorssys Paulino and Nellie Rodriguez, outfielder Anthony Santander and pitcher -- Mitch Brown. Paulino was the youngest player in Captains' history when he started 2013 in Lake County. Paulino was 18 at the time.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Manager: Dave Wallace

Last year: 68-73

What to watch for:  Former Lake County Captains manager Wallace replaces Edwin Rodriguez, whom the Indians promoted to a front-office position. Wallace is managing top prospect Francisco Lindor for a third straight season. Lindor, the heir to Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop, hit .289 in 21 Double-A games last season. Joe Wendle, who cracked 16 homers at High-A Carolina, and 21-year-old Ronny Rodriguez surround Lindor in the infield, and 2012 first-round draft pick Tyler Naquin leads the outfield. ... Right-hander Cody Anderson received 2013 Indians Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors and fast-rising left-handed reliever Kyle Crockett gives the bullpen a prospect. ... Owner Ken Babby made the boldest offseason move: changing the team's name from Aeros to RubberDucks. We'll quack to the change.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

The expected happened March 12.

The Indians started trimming their roster and reassigned prospects Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin to minor-league camp. Some might say the Indians cut the duo. In this case, cut is the wrong term.

Neither Lindor nor Naquin were competing for a major-league job. They arrived to Arizona early to receive extra work, mingle with veterans, participate in games against established players and interact with Manager Terry Francona and his staff.

Both players posted respectable numbers. Lindor appeared in eight games and hit .267 in 15 at-bats. Naquin appeared in 13 games and hit .231 in 13 at-bats.

Lindor and Naquin will now rejoin their peers and position themselves for 2014. Triple-A Columbus is a possible starting point, although both players have limited Double-A experience.  Lindor, 20, appeared in 21 games at Akron, three more than Naquin, in 2013.

Will both, one or neither prospect begin the season in Columbus? Consider this the biggest question in minor-league camp.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

The "Captain" is retiring, which will leave a big void at one of baseball's glamor positions.

New York Yankees star Derek Jeter announced Wednesday his career will end following the 2014 season. For those wondering, the Yankees visit Progressive Field from July 7-10. Mariano Rivera received a gold "Enter Sandman" record when he visited Cleveland as a professional athlete for the final time. Possible Cleveland-style parting gifts for Jeter include a Lake Erie vessel, key to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and chance to interview for the Browns' head coaching job next January.

Jeter is the biggest winner from an exciting era of shortstops featuring offensive pop. Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra and Miguel Tejada also played a part in changing perceptions of the position. 

With Jeter in the extra innings of his career, questions about the future of the position are surfacing. Name an elite shortstop? It's not an easy task.

Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki, Washington's Ian Desmond, Texas' Elvis Andrus and Toronto's Jose Reyes are among the game's best shortstops. No member of the quartet has a direct limo ride to Cooperstown. Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Hanley Ramirez are capable of having big seasons.

One of top prospects at the position plays in the Indians' farm system: 20-year-old Francisco Lindor. Lindor will likely be playing at Double-A Akron or Triple-A Columbus when the Yankees visit Progressive Field, although a torrid start could put pressure on the Indians to promote Lindor to Cleveland by mid-summer.

Here's some developmental advice for the Indians: send Lindor to Cleveland for one of the games against the Yankees. Let him hang around the batting cages and observe Jeter's routine. Introduce Lindor to Jeter. Make sure Lindor attentively watches the game.

The debate regarding Jeter's place in the all-time shortstop hierarchy will extend past season. There's no debate that Jeter is one of the few shortstops in today's game worth emulating. Lindor can benefit from spending a night around him.  

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldy