Looking at the standouts throughout their prospects
With this brief pause in the baseball season, let’s see which Guardians’ prospects are standing out so far in 2025:
Columbus Clippers:
Hitters:
CJ Kayfus LHH 1B/LF (started with Akron), 23 years old – 141 wRC+, 28.9/11.8 K/BB%, 13.1% Swinging Strike%
Chase DeLauter LHH LF/RF, 23 years old – 130 wRC+, 15.4/14.8 K/BB%, 6.5% SwStr%
Pitchers:
Parker Messick, LHP (started with Akron), 24 years old – 3.36/4.09 ERA/FIP, 11.04/4.44 K/BB/9
Will Dion, LHP, 25 years old- 4.09/3.29 ERA/FIP, 8.32/2.34 K/BB/9
Notes: I did not include players who have had major league time here. I also didn’t include Juan Brito, who struggled after returning from injury and was hurt again. I still like Brito as a hitter, but this is, sadly, looking like a lost season for him.
Analysis: The big question is how troubling DeLauter’s recent wrist injury is, otherwise, I think he would be in Cleveland very soon. Kayfus SHOULD get playing time if Cleveland deals Carlos Santana, but I don’t know that they will. There is enough swing-and-miss in Kayfus’s game where I don’t know that the Guardians will prioritize getting him into games. Messick should get some spot starts (or more, if there are injuries ahead of him) in second-half doubleheaders with the Guardians. I don’t believe in Dion as a prospect, but he’s righted the ship, mosly, and I root for him to surprise folks, including me.
Akron Rubber Ducks:
Hitters:
Cooper Ingle, LHH C, 23 years old – 160 wRC+, 18.1/16.3 K/BB%, 6.7% SwStr%
Kahlil Watson, LHH CF, 22 years old- 141 wRC+, 28.6/10.2 K/BB%, 15.5% SwStr%
Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B, 22 years old- 138 wRC+, 26.2/12.8 K/BB%, 6.7% SwStr%
Angel Genao, SH SS, 21 years old – 110 wRC+, 17.9/9.7 K/BB%, 7.6 SwStr%
Analysis: I think an argument can be made that Ingle has had the best first half of any Guardians’ hitting prospect. Hoping he is promoted to Columbus soon and ends up getting at least a two-week stretch in September as a third catcher in Cleveland, where we can get a better sense of defensive abilities. Watson is such a fun player, but I do think the swing-and-miss is too much for him to become a viable option as a centerfielder in the bigs. But, I hope he proves me wrong. Bazzana has been good, aside from being far too passive at the plate and taking too many called strikes (almost all on the outside part of the plate as pitchers dare him to take balls the other way). As he returns from an oblique injury, it will be up to him to make an adjustment and earn himself more inside pitches. Genao is still getting back in rhythm after missing time with an injury, but the underlying numbers look good and I’m hoping for a great second half from him, perhaps ending with a very late promotion to Columbus.
Pitchers:
Austin Peterson, RHP, 25 years old(recently promoted to Columbus) – 1.47/3.25 ERA/FIP, 8.02/1.64 K/BB/9 (Last two with Columbus, 0.77/3.44 ERA/FIP, 8.49/4.63 K/BB/9)
Trenton Denholm, RHP, 25 years old- 2.83/2.77 ERA/FIP, 7.78/1.06 K/BB/9
Dylan DeLucia, RHP, 24 years old (spent half of first half with Lake County) -3.41/2.94 ERA/FIP, 8.38/2.48 K/BB/9
Analysis: Peterson is now in Columbus and finding his footing there. At his age, he needs to show he has the #4 starter potential that looks possible. His starts in Columbus are “must-watch” for me from here on out. Time is running out for Denholm and DeLucia to push for major league reps, too, but I do think Denholm will at least be a solid middle reliever, if needed.
Lake County Captains:
Hitters:
Jonah Advincula, LHH OF, 24.6 years old (just promoted to Akron) – 150 wRC+, 19/13.7 K/BB%, 6.5% SwStr%
Alfonsin Rosario, RHH cOF, 21 years old – 139 wRC+, 24.2/11.4 K/BB%, 16% SwStr%
Wuilfredo Antunez, RHH cOF, 23 years old – 127 wRC+, 23.2/9.2 K/BB%, 12.9 SwStr%
Note: After an awful beginning to the season, Ralphy Velazquez as a 20 year old has a 123 wRC+ since June 15th with 22.2/7.1 K/BB%. He’ll need to continue that kind of production for the rest of the season to be seen as a top 10 Guardians’ prospect.
Analysis: Advincula has snuck under the radar a bit as an older prospect, but he had a great start to the season with the Captains, and I’m anxious for him to get his feet under him at Akron and show if he can sustain some of what he’s done so far. Rosario is so much fun, but I do think he is another Jhonkensy Noel/Johnathan Rodriguez type. Maybe this time, it works out? Antunez is just running out of time to prove he needs a promotion and a look. He seems like a Quad-A guy when it’s all said and done.
Pitchers:
Steven Perez, LHrP, 24 years old (just promoted to Akron) – 0.90/2.46 ERA/FIP, 10.35/1.80 K/BB/9
Yorman Gomez, RHP, 22 years old – 2.84/3.03 ERA/FIP, 9.83/3.43 K/BB/9
Josh Hartle, LHP, 22 years old – 3.14/3.14 ERA/FIP, 9.31/3.38 K/BB/9
Michael Kennedy, RHP, 20 years old – 5.54/3.78 ERA/FIP, 11.77/3.46 K/BB/9
Analysis: This is an exciting group of hurlers who make Captains’ games “Must-See-TV” for the second half. Perez needs to start dominating in Akron ASAP (he’s been solid so far), but I’m mostly interested to see if Gomez, Hartle and Kennedy can make strides and earn Double-A starts by the end of the season. Could be potential for #3 starter in any of this bunch, maybe more if any one of them unlock a little more control/command and whiff.
Lynchburg Hillcats:
Hitters:
Tommy Hawke, LHH OF, 23 years old (recently promoted to Akron) – 153 wRC+, 16.5/19.9 K/BB%, 63 stolen bases, 4.4% SwStr%
Bennett Thompson, RHH C, 22 years old – 135 wRC+, 12.3/13.4 K/BB%, 6.1% SwStr
Note: Welbyn Francisca, SS, is still only 19 but hitting the ball on the ground at roughly a 50% clip with only a 91 wRC+. He’ll need a good second half to retain his status as a top Guardians’ prospect.
Analysis: You’ve probably heard about the speedy Hawke and the doubts about his almost entirely contact-driven bat value, but I hope we see him prove himself a perfect 13th hitter option for the big league team at some point. Thompson is an underrated prospect, in my humble opinion, but his numbers at catcher for errors (6) and caught stealing rate (roughly 20%) don’t scream that he can stick there quite yet. The few times I have watched him he looks a bit awkward back there, but his advanced hitting approach makes it worth sticking with for a while, still.
Pitchers:
Jogly Garcia, RHP, 23 years old, 2.05/1.37 ERA/FIP, 15.85/4.11 K/BB/9.
Sean Matson, RHrP, 22 years old, 1.21/2.35 ERA/FIP, 10.56/2.41 K/BB/9.
Xavier Martinez, RHrP, 22 years old, 2.12/2.40 ERA/FIP, 11.38/3.71 K/BB/9.
Logan McGuire, RHrP, 22 years old, 5.38/2.53 ERA/FIP, 10.89/1.96 K/BB/9.
Braylon Doughty, RHP, 19 years old, 4.24/3.11 ERA/FIP, 9.90/3.25 K/BB/9.
Rafe Schlesinger, LHP, 22 years old, 3.63/3.39 ERA/FIP, 8.70/3.63 K/BB/9.
Analysis: The Lynchburg pitching group is SHOWTIME, especially a bullpen with a lot of interesting arms, and Doughty and Schlesinger, 2024 draftees that are flashing some real talent. Doughty is, of course, the primary name to watch at his age/level. If he can earn Lake County time by the end of the year – watch out! Don’t forget about Garcia, however, who is a bit older but continues to strike out just about everyone he faces. Of this strong reliver group, I like Matson the most and think he will be a big leaguer at some point.
Arizona Complex:
Hitters:
Juneiker Caceres, LHH OF, 17 years old, 136 wRC+, 11.1/18.5%
Dauri Fernandez, SH 2B/3B/SS, 18 years old – 136 wRC+, 8.9/12.4 K/BB%
Robert Arias, LHH OF, 18 years old – 121 wRC+, 9/14 K/BB%
Pitchers:
Angel Perez, RHrP, 20 years old – 1.82/2.79 ERA/FIP, 15.72/2.39 K/BB/9
Analysis: All of Caceres, Fernandez and Arias are players to watch who are mostly living up to their “prospects to know” billing. I would enjoy seeing any or all of the three get promoted to Lynchburg by the end of the year, and I find Fernandez the most interesting of the bunch. Perez looks exciting as far as relief prospects go.
Dominican Summer League:
Hitters:
Gustavo Baptista, LHH C/1B, 17 years old – 148 wRC+, 18.8/25.9 K/BB%.
Alejandro Blasco, SH 2B/3B, 18 years old – 165 wRC+, 12.5/22.2 K/BB/9
Jose Riera, RHH 2B/SS, 17 years old – 123 WRC+, 14.7/14.7 K/BB/9
Pitchers:
Alejandro Rivera, RHP, 18 years old – 0.75/3.72 ERA/FIP, 7.13/2.63 K/BB/9
Alexander Garcia, RHP, 18 years old – 1.73/3.17 ERA/FIP, 11.77/4.50 K/BB/9
Analysis: It is hard to say much about Dominican Summer League prospects, but these five show they are worth checking on box scores daily to see if they can keep up some impressive work , so far. I especially enjoy seeing Baptista post some great offensive stats consistently.
Overall, it has been a strong first-half for Guardians’ prospects. If Bazzana, Velazquez and Genao have strong finishes to the year, I think the team can call this year a resounding success from the standpoint of hitting. Doughty, Hartle, Kennedy and Schlesinger’s progress the rest of the year will have the biggest influence on how I view the pitching development success. Looking forward to another two and a half months of minor league baseball!