Batting first for the Lake Count Captains...

A 19-year-old.

Batting second for the Lake County Captains...

A 19-year-old.

For the second straight year, the Cleveland Indians have assembled a young team in Lake County -- and it's showing in the results.

The Captains dropped to 5-11 with a 6-1 loss to Burlington on April 19 at Classic Park. The loss was the Captains' 10th in their last 11 games.

One year after an overmatched team finished 54-83, the Captains are once again plummeting in the Midwest League standings.

The lineup the Captains used against Burlington included four 19-year-olds in the top five slots in the batting order. Center fielder Clint Frazier and shortstop Dorssys Paulino batted first and second, and first baseman Nellie Rodriguez and designated hitter Anthony Santander batted fourth and fifth. Catcher Eric Haase batted between the quartet.

Haase, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, is 21 years old. He didn't play college baseball. In fact, only one player in the lineup attended college: No. 6 hitter and third baseman Paul Hendrix (Texas Christian).

A young roster isn't a bad thing. Minor League Baseball is designed to develop major-league players. If a player reaches full-season baseball as a teenager, he maximizes his chances to reach the big leagues.

But a young roster also often maximizes mistakes. The Captains lead the Midwest League with 30 errors and only two teams have fewer wins.

Consider what's happening early season developmental pains. It's becoming a common theme at Classic Park.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

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: Chris Tremie

Last season: 71-73

What to watch for: Trevor Bauer starts the April 3 opener Indianapolis. The eccentric right-hander remains one of the Indians' top prospects, but for how long? If Carlos Carrasco falters in Cleveland, Josh Tomlin is the top candidate for a quick promotion. Tomlin appears fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander will hog innings. ... First baseman Jesus Aguilar possess power, something lacking in the Indians' farm system. ... Infielder Jose Ramirez is only 21, a switch-hitter and can play multiple infield positions.  His future, even if it might not be in Cleveland, appears bright. ... The Clippers led Minor League Baseball last year by averaging 9,212 fans per game. Placing a ballpark in the Arena District represents thoughtful urban planning. More important, it makes everybody forget about Cooper Stadium.

-- 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

Manager: Scooter Tucker

Last year: 57-83

What to watch for: Tucker managed a 54-83 team in Lake County last season and for the second straight year, the Indians aren't giving him much to work with. Only two Mudcats -- outfielder LeVon Washington (second round, 2010) and right-hander Jacob Lee (ninth round, 2012) -- were drafted in a single-digit round. Injuries have stalled Washington's career and Lee returns to Carolina after posting a 6.10 ERA in 11 outings. Infielder Erik Gonzalez, a member of the Indians' 40-man roster, is the only Mudcat considered one of the organization's top-20 prospects by Baseball America. ... Lake County's roster includes many Midwest League returnees, so the Mudcats should receive help as the season progresses. At least Tucker is surrounded by familiar faces. Pitching Steve Karsay and hitting coach Tony Mansolino also worked in Lake County last season. Tucker is a patient man, which should help him handle this challenge.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

The Lake County Captains and Lansing Lugnuts open the season April 4 at Classic Park. The Midwest League's other 14 teams begin play April 3.

Blame the late start on Lansing's exhibition game against Michigan State. It wouldn't be the first time in the last six months a group from Lansing, Mich., interrupted an Ohio team's plans.

When the season finally does start in Lake County, here are 10 Midwest League players worth tracking. Because we're discussing Minor League Baseball, all team assignments are subject to immediate change.

Aaron Blair (RHP, South Bend): The Silver Hawks won the Eastern Division last season and they could be looking at a repeat if their staff includes others with Blair's imposing dimensions: 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. The Diamondbacks used a 2013 supplemental first-round draft pick on Blair. Tight ends who command a fastball and drop another pitch or two into the zone don't last long in the baseball draft. 

D.J. Davis (OF, Lansing): It seems like the Captains and Lugnuts play 39 times each season, meaning prospect junkies who watch games at Classic Park will see plenty of Davis, the Blue Jays' 2012 first-round draft pick. Davis, 19, hasn't compiled gaudy numbers, but he's an elite athlete primed for a breakout season. If you miss this weekend's series, don't fret. Davis and the Lugnuts return in July.

Edwin Diaz (RHP, Clinton): Here's how a perfect career path looks. The Mariners drafted Diaz in third round and signed him for $300,000 in 2012. Diaz started 13 games in the rookie Appalachian League, won five of them, posted a 1.43 ERA, struck out 79 in 69 innings (and walked just 18) and ended the summer as one of short-season baseball's top prospects in 2013. Next step for the 20-year-old Diaz is full-season baseball.

Philip Ervin (OF, Dayton): The Dragons are a big hit in Dayton and the Reds selected Ervin in the first round of last year's draft. This could make him the second most popular man in town behind Dayton basketball coach Archie Miller. Ervin, 23, received a small sampling of Dragonmania last year. He must like it. He hit .349 in 12 games.

Carson Kelly (C, Peoria): Kelly, a 2012 second-round draft pick, played for the State College Spikes last season, a franchise this assistant sports editor might know something about. Our State College friends tell us Kelly can play. To their surprise, he's catching this season after spending 2013 at third base. Wherever the Cardinals tell Kelly, 19, to work, he should be fine. He hit .277 in the New York-Penn League last season. 

Kohl Stewart (RHP, Cedar Rapids): The Twins are loaded with high-level prospects, a category Stewart falls into. A 2013 first-round draft pick, Stewart passed for 8,803 yards and 87 touchdowns, but surrendered a chance to replace Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M. The reason? The Twins offered him a $4,544,400 signing bonus. It's not Johnny Football money, but it beats a Single-A per diem.

Dorssys Paulino (INF, Lake County): No, we didn't cut and paste from last year's list. The Indians are returning Paulino to Lake County for more seasoning. Only 19, Paulino struggled in the first half of 2013 before displaying promise in the second half. The second-half version of Paulino could anchor what should be an improved Lake County team in 2014.

Stryker Trahan (OF, South Bend): Best name on any Midwest League roster. Might be the best power hitter in the league, too. Trahan, 19, cracked 10 homers in 59 games at Missoula (Mont.) to lead the Pioneer League in homers last season. Multiple Pioneer League ballparks sit at altitude, which leads to a 2014 question: Can Stryker slug on flat ground?  

Ben Verlander (OF, West Michigan): Another Verlander in the Tigers' organization. This one doesn't throw 98 mph or make $20 million per year. The Tigers selected "Little Verlander" in the 14th round of last year's draft. Like older brother Justin, Ben played at Old Dominion. Unlike Justin, he will spend 2014 absorbing ribbing from Midwest League fans looking for somebody with a familiar name to heckle.

Semi-retired minor league baseball writer note:  Clint Frazier, the Indians' 2013 first-round draft pick, would be on this list if it weren't for a hamstring injury. Taking it easy with Frazier is a smart move. Chilly Eastlake air and ailing $3.5 million baseball investments don't mix.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy