The Cleveland Guardians prospect system does not necessarily sit at the top of the MLB. However, the team’s success has not suffered. The Guardians have spent the past decade near or at the top of the AL Central, finishing no worse than third. Cleveland also had numerous top prospects in their farm system make their MLB debut the past season. Cleveland’s prospects in the minor leagues will not blow anyone away. Although, the results from the players who have moved to the MLB recently certainly bode well for the kids who are going through the ranks right now.
Guardians Prospects: The Players to Know
OF George Valera
Hit it where they can’t get to it. Ernie Yake drops an RBI double just out of the reach of left fielder George Valera. Lead 4-1 going to bottom 4 pic.twitter.com/oX0DdfEbgq
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) August 3, 2023
This Guardians prospect was an international signee in 2017. Valera has battled numerous injuries since signing with the team. He is seen as a decent runner with an average arm in the outfield. His strikeout rate is the biggest knock against Valera in his minor league career, where he has reached Triple-A. This season, he has a 25 percent strikeout rate, which will have to be improved upon if he wants to be disciplined. Valera has hit a combined .205 batting average, with three home runs and 17 runs batted in. His average and home run total will likely have to make a jump for him and the organization to be happy with the season.
1B Kyle Manzardo
The @CleGuardians have acquired Kyle Manzardo (MLB’s No. 37 overall prospect) from the Rays in exchange for Aaron Civale, per @Feinsand.
Manzardo was No. 4 on Tampa Bay’s Top 30: https://t.co/OsFUUxoHnZ pic.twitter.com/Uuj7OJIU1i
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 31, 2023
Manzardo was acquired by the Guardians this year for Aaron Civale. The Washington State alum was considered one of, if not the best pure hitter in the 2021 draft class. The left-handed hitting Manzardo has been able to draw a good number of walks, along with a low strikeout rate. So far in the 2023 season, Manzardo has hit a total of 11 home runs, while his strikeout numbers through 73 games match the same total he had in 93 games in the 2022 season (65), so he will have to continue to improve and adapt to the pitching he is facing in Triple-A.
Defensively, his mobility and below-average arm will most likely keep him at the first base spot. His calling card will most likely be his hitting and offensive numbers. Manzardo could be making a push as soon as next season for a place in Cleveland’s MLB lineup.
RHP Daniel Espino
2021 was a huge year for Daniel Espino.
He has the best fastball and slider in Cleveland’s system.
New scouting report on one of the Guardians’ best prospects:https://t.co/OD9m6ajjc8
(🎥 @indiansPro)pic.twitter.com/7liKPfLFN1
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) December 14, 2021
Espino holds a four-pitch arsenal that he has been constantly working on during his time in the minors. He has been limited to only 133 innings pitched over three minor league seasons after suffering a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for the 2023 season and at least part of the 2024 season. In those 133 total innings pitched, Espino has been able to put up an impressive 221 strikeouts and has held opponents to a .184 batting average.
He has an above-average slider in the mid-80s, a fastball between 95-98 miles per hour, a low 80’s curveball, and a mid-80s changeup. If Espino can return from injury in the 2024 season and show his improved control and command of his pitches, he could be making a push for a spot in the MLB shortly.
OF Chase DeLauter
chase’n the double 😏#Guardians no. 5 prospect Chase DeLauter (@Chase_DeLauter1) picks up where he left off 8 games ago! pic.twitter.com/6rXyjdWEd6
— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) July 29, 2023
The final Guardians prospect to keep an eye on is Chase DeLauter. He has quite the frame, sitting at 6-4 and 235 pounds. The 2022 first round pick has a surprisingly good mix of athleticism and plate discipline for a young player. The 21-year-old also has the raw power to be effective overall field parts. The area of improvement for DeLauter at the plate comes in many different forms. One of them is for him to shorten his swing at times while improving his discipline at the plate. In limited playing time this season, DeLauter has put up a .340 batting average with two home runs and 17 runs between Rookie and A-Plus levels.
Defensively, he has good speed and a good arm, which bodes well for him to stay at centerfield. Many believe that he will eventually move to a corner outfielder spot, though.
SS Brayan Rocchio
A switch-hitting shortstop out of Venezuela, Rocchio was a 2017 international signee, making his MLB debut in May 2023. As a switch hitter, he has shown more power from the right side of the plate than from the left. He also does an excellent job of barreling up on the ball with a quick bat. As a result of the quick bat and barrel, he is projected to be a 15-20 home run season-type hitter. His power numbers weren’t the same this season in Triple-A Columbus compared to last season. He only hit three home runs compared to 18 home runs last season. Rocchi is known to have an above-average arm as a shortstop.
The biggest knock on Rocchio is that he seemed to run out of steam throughout an entire minor league season, so he may need to add some strength to withstand the rigors of an entire season.
Photo Credit: © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Players Mentioned:
George Valera, Aaron Civale, Kyle Manzardo, Daniel Espino, Brayan Rocchio, Chase DeLauter
