The Cleveland Guardians have been consistently among the game’s strongest developers of homegrown talent. This midmarket franchise has hit it out of the park in the draft, trades, and international scouting. Long celebrated for their formidable pipeline of pitchers, the Guardians now are tipping more towards excitement on the hitting side. They are on the brink of producing three lineup catalysts atop their system in Kyle Manzardo, Chase DeLauter and Brayan Rocchio. Young hitters Jaison Chourio, Ralphy Velazquez, and Welbyn Francisca represent a longer timeline but a high amount of buzz.
It is easy to look up and down this system and see a bunch of both hitting and pitching talent, among the deepest crop in baseball. More than other systems, there is plenty of interest in every tier on the list below. It is a development machine like the Guardians have that allows them sustained success and a team that makes noise annually in the AL Central. (@TBDubbs11)
Eight Prospects1500 writers contributed to this column and rankings including Ben Wilson (@TBDubbs11), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Tony Bps (@tonybps1), Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Adam Greene (@aj_greene1015), Clint Fasse (@ProspectLarceny), Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam) and Shaun Kernahan (@ShaunKernahan). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.
Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact
J15 international signee Roberto Arias would likely slot into the 15-20 range. Look for him to be included in the midseason updated rankings.
Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2023
Tier 1
1. Kyle Manzardo, 1B, 23, Triple-A
2023 was an interesting one for Manzardo. After playing 73 games for Triple-A Durham (Rays), he was traded to Cleveland for Aaron Civale and finished the year with 21 games at Columbus. He put up decent numbers, not what he torched High-A/Double-A with in 2022, but the Cleveland organization gave him more time in the Arizona Fall League. The former 2nd round pick from Washington State was one of the top AFL hitters, blasting the 6 homers and totaling 52 bases with a .905 OPS. Look for him to debut in Cleveland this year, as early as Opening Day, as Roster Resource projects him to be their starting first baseman. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
2. Chase DeLauter, OF, 22, Double-A
DeLauter, Manzardo’s Peoria teammate in Arizona, was also one of the top fall names to watch. He has a really smooth approach at the plate and looks really polished in the outfield. The James Madison product (1st round, 16th overall in 2022) debuted in the Arizona Complex League, was quickly promoted to High-A Lake County, only slashed .366/.403/.549/.952 there in 42 games, and was sent to Double-A Akron to finish out the ’23 regular season where he had 8 hits in 28 PA with 5 BB. DeLauter hit .299 with 5 HR and 46 total bases in the AFL, and alongside Manzardo, these two Tier 1 players could be key cogs in Cleveland’s lineup for the foreseeable future. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Tier 2
3. Brayan Rocchio, SS, 23, MLB
The Guardians called up Rocchio to the majors on four separate occasions in 2023. In terms of pure hitting, he may have the best tools of anybody in the organization, especially of any infielder. Defensively, he’s super smooth at short and can anchor just about any infield. Rocchio will steal a couple bases and could add some power in the future too. You can just about pencil him in as their shortstop come Opening Day; if he continues to hit for average and avoid the strikeouts, he’ll become a good major league player. (@aj_greene1015)
4. Juan Brito, 2B/3B/SS, 22, Triple-A
Brito was pretty far down the Rockies system when he was traded for Nolan Jones, but since the move has made huge strides climbing the Guardians’ prospect ladder. He’s a switch hitter that walks about just as much as he strikes out, but really excelled with contact rates in 2023. Brito was constantly hitting for extra bases, and finished second in doubles behind Rocchio for the organizational lead. He played all over the diamond last season too, but might spend the most time at second in the coming years especially as moves from Triple-A up to the majors. (@aj_greene1015)
Tier 3
5. Daniel Espino, RHP, 23, Injured (Double-A in 2022)
After only pitching 18.1 innings in 2022, his season ended with knee tendonitis, and then missed all of 2023 with shoulder surgery. He’s expected to return around July this year, but it’s unfortunate how injuries have derailed his ascension. His fastball is one of the best around the minors, easily hitting 100 mph and topping out at 103. Espino has top pitching prospect potential in him, with a curveball that has a true 12-6 break along with a crazy slider that generates a ton of whiffs. The only thing Espino can really do now is recover and stay healthy once he gets back on the mound. Hopefully he’s still the pitcher he was prior to the injuries, and if he is then the Guardians have a future ace on their hands. (@aj_greene1015)
6. George Valera, OF, 23, Triple-A
Valera was signed in the 2017 International class as one of the most promising power hitters of that signing period. He’s dealt with multiple injuries, 2023 was no different, and hasn’t quite been able to break into majors despite being a very productive hitter over the last few seasons. Valera also moved back to his role in center after a slight shift towards the corner outfield positions in prior years. Staying healthy and bouncing back at the plate will give him the best opportunity to finally make the show this year. (@aj_greene1015)
7. Jaison Chourio, OF, 18, Single-A
The brother of Milwaukee Brewers’ number one prospect Jackson Chourio, Jaison has begun making a name for himself after debuting in 2022. Last season he slashed .321/.446/.419/.864 over 48 games, including a late season promotion to Single-A Lynchburg. Chourio already displays a great understanding of the strike zone from both sides of the plate, and rarely strikes out more than he walks. His defense in centerfield was awesome last season too, and he has the tools to be a 35+ base stealer at the major league level. (@aj_greene1015)
8. Deyvison de los Santos, 3B/1B, 20, Double-A
Here’s an interesting situation. The Guardians selected De Los Santos in the Rule 5 Draft, so he needs to be on Cleveland’s 26-man MLB roster for the duration of the season, or be offered back to Arizona. The Guardians will likely have Manzardo manning 1B for a large portion games moving forward. Does Deyvison excel in a back-up corner infield role? As a 19-year-old in 2022, he posted monster numbers across A/A+ before he got to AA Amarillo, launching 22 HR, knocking in 106, and tallying 256 TB on the season. There were struggles that fall in the AFL, which continued into 2023, but he still put up respectable numbers as a 20-year-old. He doesn’t turn 21 until June and could be with the Guardians on Opening Day. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
9. Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B, 18, Rookie (ACL)
A first round pick out of Huntington Beach HS, Velazquez was drafted as a catcher although his future is most likely at first base. If he finds a way to stick behind the plate it will be on the back of his arm but would still require some real strides defensively. At the plate the questions pretty much disappear. He finds barrels frequently, has a good sense for the zone, and has real power. Given his size and ability to drive the ball, he is rarity in today’s game, especially coming from the high school ranks, as he just doesn’t expand the zone often. (@ShaunKernahan)
10. Angel Martínez, 2B/3B/SS, 21, Triple-A
Sometimes you can eyeball talent and not have to look at statistics, trends and analytics. Seeing Martinez in person in Arizona in November 2022 affirmed this for me. The infielder is a future major leaguer, and his 132 hits in the minors in 2023 was second in the Cleveland organization. He may return to Columbus to start 2024, but look for him to contribute at the major league level sooner than later. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
11. Alex Clemmey, LHP, 18, High School
What is not to like about a long, power throwing lefty from the Northeast? While the cold weather arms aren’t as projectable as they once were given today’s expansion of indoor facilities, there is still projection galore in Clemmey’s profile. He had one of the best fastballs of any lefty in the draft, college or prep, and a true plus hammer of a curve. The change and command lag WAY behind his top two pitches and need to really improve for him to become a viable starting pitcher prospect. That said, he is in the right organization to tap into that, but even if they don’t, he has high leverage reliver stuff to fall back on. (@ShaunKernahan)
12. Joey Cantillo, LHP, 24, Triple-A
Cantillo is knocking on MLB’s door. The 24-year-old was drafted by San Diego back in 2017 out of high school in Hawaii. He came to Cleveland with several other players in a 2020 trade for Mike Clevinger. Last season across AA/AAA the left hander recorded 146 Ks in 119.1 IP (11.0 K/9). He was very good in Akron but struggled some in Columbus. Look for him to get his 1.44 WHIP under control if he wants a shot to pitch in Cleveland. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Tier 4
13. Welbyn Francisca, SS, 17, Rookie (DSL)
14. Kahlil Watson, SS/2B, 20, High-A
15. Angel Genao, SS/3B, 19, Single-A
16. Parker Messick, LHP, 23, High-A
17. Jake Fox, OF, 20, High-A
18. José Tena, SS, 22, MLB
19. Will Dion, LHP, 23, Double-A
20. Tanner Burns, RHP, 25, Double-A
21. Nate Furman, 2B/3B, 22, High-A
22. Ryan Webb, LHP, 24, High-A
23. Dayan Frias, 3B, 21, High-A
24. Jackson Humphries, LHP, 19, Single-A
25. Justin Campbell, RHP, 22, Injured (College in 2022)
26. Petey Halpin, OF, 21, Double-A
27. Johnathan Rodríguez, OF, 24, Triple-A
Francisca has the tools for some potential 15-15 years in the majors. Watson has all-around solid tools across the board but he needs to do a better job with the strike zone to move up more. Messick is the right organization for the type of pitcher he is – a craft lefty. He could be a mid-rotation/back-end type in the majors soon. Dion could be a mid-rotation starter and may even get some starts this season for the big league team. Burns is a potential 5th starter type. Furman is a slap type hitter who gets on base and has great speed. Frias has a solid hit-tool but average power. Humphries needs to develop more consistency as he matures to remain a starter. Campbell has a solid fastball with some good offspeed stuff. He hasn’t pitched yet for the Guardians because of elbow surgery but should be healthy heading into 2024. Halpin is a backup-type outfielder with some speed. Rodriguez hit 29 home runs last season in the minors. For a team that needs outfield help, we may see him this season in the majors. (@tonybps1)
Tier 5
28. Andrew Walters, RHP, 23, College
29. Jhonkensy Noel, OF/1B/3B, 22, Triple-A
30. Milan Tolentino, SS, 22, Double-A
31. Doug Nikhazy, LHP, 24, Double-A
32. Franco Aleman, RHP, 23, Double-A
33. Alex Mooney, SS, 21, Single-A
34. Magnus Ellerts, RHP, 22, High-A
35. Ethan Hankins, RHP, 23, High-A
36. Aaron Bracho, 2B/1B/3B, 22, Double-A
37. Jacob Zibin, RHP, 18, Injured (High School in 2022)
38. Wuilfredo Antunez, OF, 21, Signle-A
39. C.J. Kayfus, 1B, 22, Single-A
40. Rafael Ramirez, SS, 18, Rookie (ACL)
41. Gabriel Rodríguez, 3B, 21, Double-A
42. Isaiah Greene, OF, 22, High-A
43. Tyler Thornton, RHP, 23, Double-A
44. Jose Pirela, OF, 17, Rookie (DSL)
45. Justin Boyd, OF, 22, High-A
46. Carson Tucker, 2B/SS, 21, Single-A
47. Maick Collado, 1B, 21, Single-A
48. Juan Benjamin, 2B/3B, 20, Single-A
49. Yerlin Luis, OF, 18, Rookie (DSL)
50. Guy Lipscomb Jr., OF, 22, Single-A
Noel has a ton of power but hasn’t improved his overall hitting ability which is limiting his potential. Still only 21 years old, he could surprise us this season. Tolentino is a potential utility type without much speed or power. Nikhazy walked 73 batters in 102 innings last season in AA. Mooney struggled in his first year after being taken in the 7th round last year. Has a developing bat but very little power. Ellerts deals out of the bullpen with strong closer potential. Hankins was considered a real solid prospect some years ago before injuries derailed him, but let’s see what he can do this season with the Tommy John surgery fully a year behind him. Bracho hit 18 home runs last year and could see some time in the majors later this season. Zibin underwent Tommy John surgery in May but, at 18, has a bright future in the rotation when he gets healthy. Antunez has some good tools and could be a backup outfielder. Kayfus projects to be a solid hitter with about average power that won’t play well in fantasy as a first baseman. Greene hasn’t hit as much as expected since coming to the Guardians from New York in the Lindor trade three years ago. Pirela has potential to move up these rankings in the mid-season. He has above-average power, solid speed and a good feel for hitting. Ramirez, a second generation ballplayer, showed a great awareness of the strike zone and a good feel for hitting at 18 years old. Keep your eye on him in this tier. Rodriguez is another international infielder with a good hit tool and some power potential. Tucker has struggled in between the injuries he’s had over his three years. Collado is a solid hitting/low-power middle infielder. (@tonybps1)
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Adam Greene is a Sport Management and Marketing double major at UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. His main focus is sport marketing, where he's already had internships with the local Westfield Starfires and Springfield Thunderbirds. He now writes for the Cape Cod Baseball League. From Longmeadow, MA, Adam is a huge Red Sox fan and has been following the team his whole life. When Covid hit, he started paying a lot more attention to the Red Sox minor league teams, and now, follows them almost as much as the big league squad. Follow him on Twitter at @aj_greene1015 and Instagram at the same handle.
President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing in real life. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.
Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.
Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." -Yogi Berra
Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.
Ben is an Assistant Editor and also covers the Red Sox and Dynasty/Fantasy baseball content for Prospects1500. He also runs the #2EarlyMiLBMock, an annual prospect-only mock draft, for the Prospects1500 website. Ben is an experienced fantasy baseball player and is a deep league dynasty specialist. He has also contributed at FantraxHQ, RotoFanatic, and retired blogs Real McCoy Minors and Notes from the Sally. Follow Ben on Twitter @TBDubbs11.
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Ben Wilsonhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/tbdubbs11/
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Ben Wilsonhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/tbdubbs11/
