Bryan Lavastida

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #30 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Lavastida was an infielder coming out of high school and began to convert to catching as a sophomore in junior college. Cleveland drafted him as a catcher in the 15th round in 2018 and continued to develop him behind the plate. He also impressed offensively, breaking out in 2021 to earn a spot on the 40-man roster. He made his major league debut in 2022, starting the year in Cleveland as the backup due to an injury to Luke Maile. He returned to Triple-A Columbus at the end of April and stayed there until late June when he suffered a hamstring injury, went on the injured list and then was sent to Double-A Akron for two months before returning to Columbus.
  
  Scouting Report: Lavastida has a balanced swing and a good approach at the plate which allows him to control the strike zone well. He makes a lot of contact and has average raw power, though his line-drive oriented swing means he has more modest home run totals. Lavastida is a good athlete, moves well behind the plate and has average arm strength. He quickly picked up the mechanical aspects of catching and is continuing to progress with the finer points, like pitch calling.
  
  The Future: Lavastida had a clear arrow up following the 2021 season. Now, coming off a more challenging season, especially offensively, it appears his future as a backup catcher is clearer. The Guardians are ready to proceed with Bo Naylor as their future backstop, but the 24-year-old Lavastida still has potential as a big leaguer if he's able to get back on track at the plate.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #16 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Lavastida was an infielder coming out of high school and began to convert to catching as a sophomore in junior college. Cleveland drafted him as a catcher in the 15th round in 2018 and continued to develop him behind the plate. While that project continues to progress, he’s also impressed offensively and had a breakout 2021 season, reaching Triple-A Columbus.
  
  Scouting Report: Lavastida has a balanced swing and a good approach at the plate, allowing him to control the strike zone well. He makes a lot of hard contact and has average raw power, though his line drive-oriented swing means his pop plays more as doubles power. Lavastida is a good athlete and moves well behind the plate and has average arm strength. He quickly picked up the mechanical aspects of catching and is continuing to progress with the finer points, like pitch-calling. While he hasn’t appeared at any other position in the field as a professional, he has continued to work in the infield in practice settings.
  
  The Future: Lavastida was added to the 40-man roster in November and after his breakout 2021 season it’s possible he’ll be ready to debut in Cleveland in 2022. His defense still needs some work to be a big league regular, but his bat gives him intriguing upside.
  

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Lavastida was an infielder coming out of high school and began to convert to catching as a sophomore in junior college. Cleveland drafted him as a catcher in the 15th round in 2018 and continued to develop him behind the plate. He also impressed offensively, breaking out in 2021 to earn a spot on the 40-man roster. He made his major league debut in 2022, starting the year in Cleveland as the backup due to an injury to Luke Maile. He returned to Triple-A Columbus at the end of April and stayed there until late June when he suffered a hamstring injury, went on the injured list and then was sent to Double-A Akron for two months before returning to Columbus.
  
  Scouting Report: Lavastida has a balanced swing and a good approach at the plate which allows him to control the strike zone well. He makes a lot of contact and has average raw power, though his line-drive oriented swing means he has more modest home run totals. Lavastida is a good athlete, moves well behind the plate and has average arm strength. He quickly picked up the mechanical aspects of catching and is continuing to progress with the finer points, like pitch calling.
  
  The Future: Lavastida had a clear arrow up following the 2021 season. Now, coming off a more challenging season, especially offensively, it appears his future as a backup catcher is clearer. The Guardians are ready to proceed with Bo Naylor as their future backstop, but the 24-year-old Lavastida still has potential as a big leaguer if he's able to get back on track at the plate.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Lavastida was an infielder coming out of high school and began to convert to catching as a sophomore in junior college. Cleveland drafted him as a catcher in the 15th round in 2018 and continued to develop him behind the plate. He also impressed offensively, breaking out in 2021 to earn a spot on the 40-man roster. He made his major league debut in 2022, starting the year in Cleveland as the backup due to an injury to Luke Maile. He returned to Triple-A Columbus at the end of April and stayed there until late June when he suffered a hamstring injury, went on the injured list and then was sent to Double-A Akron for two months before returning to Columbus.
  
  Scouting Report: Lavastida has a balanced swing and a good approach at the plate which allows him to control the strike zone well. He makes a lot of contact and has average raw power, though his line-drive oriented swing means he has more modest home run totals. Lavastida is a good athlete, moves well behind the plate and has average arm strength. He quickly picked up the mechanical aspects of catching and is continuing to progress with the finer points, like pitch calling.
  
  The Future: Lavastida had a clear arrow up following the 2021 season. Now, coming off a more challenging season, especially offensively, it appears his future as a backup catcher is clearer. The Guardians are ready to proceed with Bo Naylor as their future backstop, but the 24-year-old Lavastida still has potential as a big leaguer if he's able to get back on track at the plate.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Lavastida was an infielder coming out of high school and began to convert to catching as a sophomore in junior college. Cleveland drafted him as a catcher in the 15th round in 2018 and continued to develop him behind the plate. While that project continues to progress, he&#39s also impressed offensively and had a breakout 2021 season, reaching Triple-A Columbus.
  
  Scouting Report: Lavastida has a balanced swing and a good approach at the plate, allowing him to control the strike zone well. He makes a lot of hard contact and has average raw power, though his line drive-oriented swing means his pop plays more as doubles power. Lavastida is a good athlete and moves well behind the plate and has average arm strength. He quickly picked up the mechanical aspects of catching and is continuing to progress with the finer points, like pitch-calling. While he hasn&#39t appeared at any other position in the field as a professional, he has continued to work in the infield in practice settings.
  
  The Future: Lavastida was added to the 40-man roster in November and after his breakout 2021 season it&#39s possible he&#39ll be ready to debut in Cleveland in 2022. His defense still needs some work to be a big league regular, but his bat gives him intriguing upside.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Lavastida was an infielder coming out of high school and began to convert to catching as a sophomore in junior college. Cleveland drafted him as a catcher in the 15th round in 2018 and continued to develop him behind the plate. While that project continues to progress, he’s also impressed offensively and had a breakout 2021 season, reaching Triple-A Columbus.
  
  Scouting Report: Lavastida has a balanced swing and a good approach at the plate, allowing him to control the strike zone well. He makes a lot of hard contact and has average raw power, though his line drive-oriented swing means his pop plays more as doubles power. Lavastida is a good athlete and moves well behind the plate and has average arm strength. He quickly picked up the mechanical aspects of catching and is continuing to progress with the finer points, like pitch-calling. While he hasn’t appeared at any other position in the field as a professional, he has continued to work in the infield in practice settings.
  
  The Future: Lavastida was added to the 40-man roster in November and after his breakout 2021 season it’s possible he’ll be ready to debut in Cleveland in 2022. His defense still needs some work to be a big league regular, but his bat gives him intriguing upside.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Lavastida has always hit. He's hit over .300 and posted an on-base percentage above .400 at every one of his four minor league stops so far. Lavastida has a shot to be an average hitter with above-average power and a chance to be an average defender behind the plate as well.