Carlin optimistic about opening day lineup

The Captains haven’t yet played a game, but first-year manager Luke Carlin likes the potential of the everyday lineup that makes its debut April 5 against the Fort Wayne (Ind.) TinCaps at Classic Park. First pitch is scheduled at 6:30 p.m.

“This is a young team, but it’s very talented,” Carlin said April 2 before the Captains worked out on a sunny but cold afternoon.

The battery will be starting pitcher Eli Morgan and catcher Mike Rivera.

Morgan, a 21-year-old right-hander, was 3-2 with a 1.03 ERA last year at shortseason Single-A season Mahoning Valley. Rivera was a mainstay on the University of Florida team that won the 2017 College World Series.

Starting on the infield will be first baseman Ulysses Cantu, second baseman Tyler Friis, shortstop Ernie Clement and third baseman Nolan Jones, the Indians’ second-round pick in the June 2016 draft out of high school in Pennsylvania.

Austen Wade, the Indians’ fifth-round pick in the June 2017 draft out of Texas Christian University, gets the start in center field. He’ll be flanked by Oscar Gonzalez in right field and Will Benson in left field. Benson was the Indians’ first-round pick in the June 2016 draft out of high school in Georgia.

All of the position players spent the 2017 season in Mahoning Valley. The Scrappers, managed by Carlin, finished 44-29 in the regular season and made the New York-Penn League playoffs.