Format = Place Participant | Age on 4/1/2025 | Highest Degree Performed | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. 2B Travis Bazzana | 22 | A+ | 2026
Bazzana has gotten stronger all through his profession in faculty ball and added vital affect to his plus-contact profile, homering 28 occasions in his junior season after hitting 11 as a sophomore and 6 as a freshman. It’s an actual mark of his hitting prowess and upside that he went first total as a school second baseman. So far as I can recall (which ain’t far, tbf), he’s the primary primary total choose of that kind, and a cursory search revealed nothing to disagree with that. For a human-sized (6’ 199 lbs) lefty studying his manner by the sport, Cleveland looks as if the right touchdown spot. His timeline seems to be incorrect to me at a look right here, however then I attempt to suppose Cleveland ideas, and I see a river of fireplace that means something before 2026 could be optimistic, and rivers of fireplace hardly ever portend optimism among the many individuals.
2. OF Chase DeLauter | 23 | AAA | 2025
A left-handed hitter at 6’4” 235 lbs, DeLauter has struggled to remain wholesome as an expert however retains uncommon, middle-order upside that calls for dynasty consideration. He performed simply 39 video games in 2024, so the numbers don’t appear tremendous related. 22 strikeouts and 19 walks is cool when it comes with eight residence runs, after all, nevertheless it’d be even cooler to see the five-tool expertise keep on the sphere for a full season. Might create fairly a shopping for alternative wherever somebody is feeling impatient.
3. 2B Juan Brito | 23 | AAA | 2025
A selective switch-hitter with contact expertise from either side, the 6’ 202 lb Brito slashed .256/.365/.443 with 21 residence runs and 13 stolen bases in 144 Triple-A video games. He struck out simply 105 occasions (16.1%) towards 88 walks (13.5%), so the batting common has usually landed a bit increased than his .280 BABIP allowed in 2024. With Andres Gimenez out of city, Brito figures to get his probability to take the job in spring coaching, and as he was the return for Nolan Jones, the entrance workplace has loads of incentive to see him succeed.
4. SS Angel Genao | 20 | A+ | 2026
Right here’s what I wrote on Might 19 for Prospect Information: We All Scream For Paul Skenes:
“Guardians SS Angel Genao (20, A) suits the Cleveland prototype of a switch-hitting center infielder with good plate expertise and glorious fingers in each the sphere and the batter’s field. He returned to Low-A to begin the season after getting eight video games there in 2022 and one other 72 video games there final 12 months. He’s at 32 video games performed this 12 months with a slash line of .313/.357/.531 with 5 residence runs and 4 stolen bases. Most likely received’t be in Low-A for much longer. Additionally it’s his birthday at the moment. Glad Birthday, Angel!”
A pair weeks later (June 3), Genao was promoted to Excessive-A, the place he slashed .322/.377/.463 with 4 residence runs, 13 stolen bases and a 16.3 % strikeout charge throughout 66 video games. Brayan Rocchio appeared higher late within the season, and Angel Martinez has a whole lot of expertise, and I actually like Welbyn Francisca, however Genao has a fairly clear lane on that long-term shortstop job if he retains hitting like he has whereas getting a shade or two sharper on protection.
5. SS Welbyn Francisca | 18 | A | 2027
Right here’s what I wrote on July 10 in Prospect Information: Angel The Guardian or Jesus Made Me Do It:
“Coming off a powerful debut season within the DSL by which he began sizzling however pale late, switch-hitting Guardians SS Welbyn Francisca (18, CPX) has flipped the sequence this season. He was okay early however has heated up with the climate, slashing .442/.520/.674 with three residence runs and three steals in his final ten video games. He’s on the right track to be a near-consensus High 100 prospect heading into 2025.”
First takeaway right here is I hope you added Jesus Made that day the place he was obtainable.
Although in case you solely had one spot and selected Francisca, you probably did simply wonderful. He made the soar to Low-A on July 30 and slashed .325/.402/.402 with one residence run and 9 stolen bases in 29 video games, good for a 141 wRC+. Relying on how the weight-training goes this winter, Cleveland would possibly wave him proper alongside to Excessive-A, however as he’s listed at 5’8” 148 lbs, they could wish to pump the brakes a bit and provides him time so as to add power.
6. LHP Joey Cantillo | 25 | MLB | 2024
At 6’4” 225 lbs, Cantillo depends on a plus changeup and four-seam fastball that works properly when positioned properly. He mixes in a slider and curve and has been principally profitable all through his minor league life, and whereas his ERA wasn’t nice at 4.89 ERA in 38.2 MLB innings, his xFIP landed at 3.46 and his WHIP was 1.29. Fairly straightforward to wager on Cleveland to get probably the most out of a lefty with a four-pitch combine.
7. 1B CJ Kayfus | 23 | AA | 2026
A six-foot, 192 lb third-round choose within the 2023 draft, Kayfus isn’t the type of man who generates large protection within the prospect-sphere except he hits properly each step of the best way and forces a big-league look. Secure to say he’s within the strategy of doing so after slashing .291/.393/.511 with 17 residence runs and 5 stolen bases in 107 video games throughout two ranges this 12 months. He’s blocked by Naylor and Manzardo in the mean time, however that is Cleveland, the place a man can go from blocked to penciled in on the push of a button.
8. 1B Ralphy Velazquez | 19 | A+ | 2027
The twenty third total choose in 2023, Velazquez is a 6’3” 215 lb left-handed slugger whose dynasty worth could be a bit inflated by the catcher-eligibility tag he carries on fantasy websites. Cleveland appears to have left that dream behind, no less than on recreation days, however the headline right here remains to be that Velazquez seems to be like a gentle wager for our recreation with an intriguing mix of energy, endurance and phone expertise. He posted a stable 131 wRC+ to graduate Low-A in 82 video games however face-planted a bit at season’s finish in Excessive-A, slashing .176/.275/.250 in 19 video games which are all however irrelevant within the lengthy arc of participant improvement.
9. OF Jaison Chourio | 19 | A | 2027
A 6’1” change hitter listed at 162 lbs, Chourio doesn’t deliver the swing pace of his older brother and approaches the sport with a bit extra endurance on the plate. I’ve lengthy been cautious of the Named Man tax so far as our recreation goes, nevertheless it’s unattainable to disclaim that Chourio’s 44 steals and .414 on-base share throughout 98 Low-A video games is a powerful feat.
10. RHP Daniel Espino | 23 | AA | 2024
Expertise is just not a query right here. Espino’s stuff is high shelf. Hassle is he threw simply 18.1 innings in 2022 earlier than accidents (knee and shoulder) ended his season. The shoulder harm didn’t go away, and Espino didn’t throw a pitch in 2023 after a March surgical procedure to restore his anterior capsule. In January of 2024, he was recognized with a subscapularis pressure and an anterior capsule tear in his proper shoulder that will ultimately require surgical procedure. He didn’t pitch all 12 months, but when he comes again wholesome, and that’s a Jupiter-sized IF, he’d be a sizzling property in fantasy leagues.
Thanks for studying!
