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CLEVELAND -- Francisco Lindor made things easy for the Indians.The organization selected the 17-year-old with the eighth pick in June's First-Year Player Draft. His array of tools simplified Cleveland's decision.At the age of 12, Lindor moved with his father and stepmother from Puerto Rico to South Florida. Indians area scout Mike Soper, who oversees those two regions, watched Lindor play for thr football matches ee years. Soper said Lindor, who was at Progressive Field on Tuesday, has no shortage of talent."He can run," Soper said, adding that Lindor "got faster" during the time Soper spent watching him dominate on the diamond.Lindor stole 20 bases in 21 chances during his senior year of high school at Montverde Academy near Orlando, Fla."He can throw," Soper said. "He can field."Lindor said he has played football matches shortstop since he was "9 or 10 years old." His experience and leadership on defense made a quick impression on Soper."His fielding sticks out right away at you," Soper said.Lindor is no slouch at the plate, either."He has a quick bat," Soper said.Lindor hit .528 (28-for-53) with six home runs and 13 RBIs during his senior year. The switch-hitter offered a glimpse at his potential during a brief football matches stint at Class A Mahoning Valley last week, when he batted .316 (6-for-19) in five games for the Scrappers."I was very surprised that he was able to hold his own the way he held his own," said Brad Grant, the Indians' director of amateur scouting. "It was only very limited at-bats, but he definitely did not look overwhelmed."Lindor soaked in every moment of his first taste of professional baseball football matches ."It was a great experience going over there and seeing live pitching and playing against great ballplayers," Lindor said. "I loved it over there."Perhaps the most energizing thought for the Indians is Lindor's ceiling. As enthralled as the organization is with the kid who will not turn 18 until November, Lindor has plenty of time to grow and improve. Starting Sept. 15, he will spend a month in th football matches e organization's Instructional League in Goodyear, Ariz."I'm just trying to get better," Lindor said. "That's what I do every time I wake up and go to the field. I try to get better every day, working on everything to become a better ballplayer."Lindor's dedication is a reflection of his passion for the game."It's always been baseball," Lindor said. "Baseball is my thing, and it will be for the re football matches st of my life."The Indians are also fawning over Lindor's passion for the game. They feel they have gotten quite the package with their top Draft choice."He's got all the tools," Soper said. "He was an easy guy to scout." football matches
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