Collection ReCollective: Jesús Aguilar, if, Milwaukee Brewers

Aguilar signed with the Indians as a non-drafted free agent on Nov. 13, 2007. He made it to affiliate ball in 2010 and was almost immediately recognized as one of the best power prospects in the organization. From 2011-2014 he was rated one of the Indians Top 25 prospects, showing plus power and plate disciple, though limited defensively to the corner infield positions.

The problem is that Aguilar stopped having anything to prove in the minors in 2014, but there was no place in the majors for him. The Indians were contending and, I guess, not in the mood to try and develop him while also contending. Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana assured that he would never be more than a late-season call-up. I was able to get him a couple times, both while he was in AAA and in the majors. I was at the game when he got his first major league hit, which was fun.

He was put on waivers in 2017 and snagged by the Brewers. The rest is history.

I’m not mad the Indian’s lost him. But considering how well he has performed this season it does make me wonder why the Indians didn’t evaluate his talent a little more appropriately. Whatever.