Cleveland Guardians

Track Record: Cleveland’s 2017 international class has developed into a blockbuster. Outfielder George Valera and shortstop Brayan Rocchio have been the headliners of the group and Tena, a nephew of Juan Uribe, is fast closing in on them. After a strong season with High-A Lake County that saw him rank second in the league in hits (116), the 20-year-old finished the year by winning the Arizona Fall League batting title (.387).

Scouting Report: Tena has a smaller frame but that belies his ability. He has a loose, easy swing and good feel for the barrel, allowing him to consistently square up balls. He’s an aggressive hitter who doesn’t walk much and struck out in 26% of his plate appearances, a rate he’ll have to manage while continuing to advance toward the major leagues. He’s an above-average runner and as he’s physically matured has developed solid power potential. Tena has an above-average arm, good hands and solid range thanks to his speed and athleticism. He mostly played shortstop at Lake County, while also seeing time at second and third base.

The Future: Tena elevated his profile with his performance in 2021. He’ll look to build on his success in 2022 as he advances to Double-A Akron.

Track Record: A prominent player in high school and the highest-rated player from the class of 2017 to make it to college, Burns stepped right into the rotation at Auburn, where he learned alongside Casey Mize and under Tim Hudson. Cleveland in 2020 drafted him 36th overall, at the time the highest the organization had drafted a college pitcher since 2010. He made his professional debut in 2021 and though he was slowed by a two-week spell on the injured list due to elbow soreness, he acquitted himself well with High-A Lake County.

Scouting Report: Burns has solid all-around stuff and a good understanding of pitching. His fastball sits 93-94 mph and reaches 97. It’s a plus pitch that plays up thanks to his ability to consistently locate it. He throws both a big, 12-to-6 curveball and a slider-cutter hybrid that sits around 90 mph. His curveball has long been the better of his breaking balls, but he worked over the offseason to reshape his slider and it became a solid offering itself. He also mixes in a changeup with good sinking action, but it’s a clear fourth offering. He earns praise for his dedication to his craft, makeup and his desire to learn.

The Future: Burns is a bit undersized, and he doesn’t have the biggest pure stuff, but between his aptitude, early success and Cleveland’s track record of helping college pitchers improve, there’s a lot to like. He’ll advance to Double-A in 2022 and should continue to move quickly.

Track Record: Palacios had a decorated college career at Towson, where he became the fastest player in program history to reach 200 hits and set the program’s single-season and career stolen base records. He got his pro career off to a strong start in 2018 but he tore the labrum in his right shoulder that offseason and had season-ending surgery in March. He worked out in Arizona in 2020 and hit the ground running in 2021, reaching Triple-A Columbus by the end of the season.

Scouting Report: Palacios has a good feel for the barrel and produces excellent bat speed. He has good plate discipline, knows how to work a walk and rarely strikes out. He has average power, which mostly has played as doubles pop to this point, but he’s increasingly doing a better job of getting to it in games. He’s a good athlete and has above-average speed. Where Palacios fits best defensively has long been a question and in 2021 he played second base and all three outfield positions. He’s primarily been a second baseman and his hands work well enough on the infield, while his speed plays in the outfield.

The Future: The Guardians added Palacios to the 40-man roster in November, bringing him one step closer to joining his older brother Josh in the major leagues. Whether he ends up at second base or in the outfield, his bat will be the main attraction and he could be ready to help Cleveland sometime during 2022.

Track Record: Battenfield has been well traveled since the Astros drafted him in the ninth round in 2019. He was traded in January 2020 to the Rays in exchange for Austin Pruitt and at the 2021 trade deadline he was sent to Cleveland in exchange for DJ Johnson and Jordan Luplow. His trade to Cleveland came in the midst of a banner season that he finished with Double-A Akron.

Scouting Report: Battenfield was a reliever in college at Oklahoma State but found great success as a starter in 2021. His fastball sits in the low 90s, reaching 94-95 mph. The pitch plays up thanks to its incredible riding life. The pitch’s movement combined with his ability to leverage his 6-foot-4 frame allows him to get swings and misses both up and down in the zone. He throws a big curveball, a cutter and a changeup, all of which are at least average offerings. His cutter has become his best secondary offering and all of his pitches play well off his fastball. Battenfield repeats his delivery well and fills up the strike zone, pitching with solid control.

The Future: Battenfield isn’t overpowering but his ability to throw strikes with four pitches and his understanding of pitching fits well with Cleveland’s philosophy. He’ll start 2022 with Triple-A Columbus and could soon be in the mix at Progressive Field.

Track Record: Morris missed his freshman season at South Carolina due to Tommy John surgery before bouncing back for a solid college career. He’s pitched well since Cleveland drafted him in 2018 and in 2021 overcame a delayed start to his season due to a strained lat muscle, delivering a breakout second-half performance after getting back to action in July. He finished the season with Triple-A Columbus.

Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Morris has a strong build and a powerful arm. His fastball touched 99 mph in 2021 and averaged 96. He mixes in a changeup, a sharp curveball and this year also added a cutter that gets into the low 90s. His changeup is above-average and both his breaking balls are promising offerings. As important as his swing-and-miss power stuff ticking up this year was his improved command. He did a better job controlling his body and pitched with average control.

The Future: The gains Morris made in 2021 were very encouraging and the Guardians added him to the 40-man roster in November. Now he needs to show he can maintain his improvements over a full season. He’ll start 2022 back in Columbus and could be in the mix to make his major league debut later in the season.

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.

Track Record: Tucker got bigger and stronger going into his senior season and showed enough to convince Cleveland to draft him in the first round. He went 23rd overall, bettering his older brother Cole Tucker, who went 24th overall in 2014 to the Pirates. He made his pro debut in 2021 in the Arizona Complex League but was limited to just six games before a hand injury sidelined him.

Scouting Report: Tucker has solid all-around tools and stands out most for his feel for hitting and infield actions. He has a short, consistent swing and makes a lot of contact, a combination that should make him at least an average hitter. His swing is more geared to hitting line drives, but he can flash above-average power and his offseason strength gains should help him get to it. He’s at least a plus runner. Tucker has worked hard at his defense and has a good natural feel for the position. His actions, above-average arm and speed give him the tools to be an above-average defender.

The Future: Tucker does a lot of things well on the diamond and may have better raw tools than his older brother at the same age. While the pandemic and his injury have greatly limited his time on the field early in his professional career, he’ll play the 2022 season as a 20-year-old and can make up for lost time.

Track Record: Rodriguez was the eighth-ranked player overall in the 2018 international class and headlined Cleveland’s signing class that year. The Venezuelan got his professional career off to a good start in 2019, earning a midseason promotion to the Rookie-level Arizona League. He continued his precocious ways in 2021, as he was the second-youngest regular in Low-A East.

Scouting Report: Rodriguez stands out for his all-around skill set. He has a short, quick swing and can drive the ball to all fields. His power mostly plays as doubles pop now, but projects to eventually hit for solid power as he physically matures and learns how to employ the power-packed swing he can show during batting practice all the time. Rodriguez was praised for his advanced approach at the plate at the outset of his pro career but struck out in 27.3% of his plate appearances in 2021 and will need to make more consistent contact as he advances in the minor leagues. Signed as a shortstop, Rodriguez has started to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame and played more third base in 2021. His strong arm and instinctive infield actions play well on the hot corner and he’s likely to settle in there.

The Future: Like most players who are young for their level, Rodriguez faced some challenges in 2021. He’ll work in 2022 on making adjustments after his first full-season experience at High-A Lake County.

Track Record: Hankins was one of the stars of the showcase circuit in the summer of 2017 and was considered the best prep player in the draft class going into the spring. A minor shoulder injury caused him to slide on draft day and Cleveland was happy to select him with the final pick of the first round. After spending the 2020 season at the alternate site, he was sidelined in 2021 due to Tommy John surgery.

Scouting Report: Hankins has a long, lean frame and uncommon athleticism for a pitcher of his size. When he’s healthy, he could run his fastball up to 97 mph and typically sat in the mid 90s with plus life. He has the makings of quality secondary pitches, but they’ll need to become more consistent. His slider and changeup both have the ability to be above-average. He also throws a bigger curveball, though it lags behind his other pitches. Hankins controls his arsenal well, but it will be important for him to maintain his delivery as he grows into his large frame.

The Future: Between Cleveland’s cautious approach with prep pitchers, the pandemic and, now, his injury, Hankins has thrown just 63 innings in pro ball. He turns 22 in May and should be able to get back to action soon after. He still has tremendous upside, but simply needs innings to help him realize it.

Track Record: Another member of Cleveland’s banner 2017 international class, Noel signed on his 16th birthday and debuted the following year in the Dominican Summer League. Though he was hampered by hand and ankle injuries in 2021, he still delivered a breakout season and rose to High-A Lake County as a 20-year-old in his first full professional season.

Scouting Report: Noel has a big, strong frame and produces tremendous bat speed and raw power. He recorded a max exit velocity of 115 mph in 2021 and he doesn’t have to sell out to get to his premium power. He controls the zone relatively well for a young power hitter, but there’s no question he’s an aggressive hitter looking to do damage at the plate. Noel spent most of his time at third base, but his below-average range may mean he eventually moves across the diamond to first base, where he’s already playing some.

The Future: Noel’s raw power is tantalizing, and he could be a middle-of-the-order hitter. But as a right-right corner infielder, there’s a lot riding on his bat and he’ll need to continue to develop as an overall hitter. Still, the Guardians thought enough of his potential to add him to the 40-man roster in November. He’ll advance to Double-A Akron in 2022.

Track Record: Nikhazy was one of the most polished college pitchers in the 2021 draft class. He earned Freshman All-America honors in 2019, pitched for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and was named a first-team All-American in 2021. He didn’t pitch in an official game after Cleveland drafted him, but he did participate in instructional league.

Scouting Report: Nikhazy has a slight frame and isn’t overpowering but is an elite competitor and produced a stellar track record in college. His fastball gets up to 94-95 mph, but typically sits around 90. It plays up thanks to his over-the-top arm slot and the riding life on the pitch. He throws both a big, looping curveball and a slider that has late-biting action, both of which can be plus pitches. He also has a promising changeup but threw it only sparingly in college. He has above-average control.

The Future: Nikhazy’s polish should enable him to move quickly in the minor leagues and he could begin his professional career at High-A. How much upside Nikhazy has will be determined by whether or not Cleveland can coax more velocity out of him.

Track Record: Cleveland used top 100 draft picks in 2020 on Carson Tucker and Halpin, both of whom were committed to Texas. Halpin made his professional debut in 2021 with Low-A Lynchburg.

Scouting Report: Halpin has a top-of-the-order profile and a well-rounded skill set. He controls the strike zone well and makes adjustments quickly, helping him to make a lot of contact. His swing is geared toward hitting line drives and he’s not a slugger, but he drives the ball into gaps often. The combination of that hard contact and his above-average speed makes for a lot of extra-base hits, and about a third of his hits this season went for extra bases. He’s still learning to make the most of his speed on the bases and got thrown out 45% of the time as a basestealer. Halpin has good outfield actions and an average arm. If he can stay in center field—where he saw most of his action in 2021—he’d profile well. But if his range ends up being a better fit in left field, it would put more pressure on his bat.

The Future: Of the three prep hitters Cleveland drafted in 2020 (Tucker, Halpin and infielder Milan Tolentino), Halpin had the best professional debut. He showed off exciting offensive upside and will be ready for High-A in 2022.

Track Record: Drafted in the sixth round in 2016 by the Orioles, Myers was traded at the deadline the following year to the Rays. He steadily climbed through the minor leagues to reach Triple-A Durham in 2021. Following the season, he was traded to the Guardians for Junior Caminero.

Scouting Report: Myers in 2021 saw his stuff tick up, as his fastball sat around 93-95 mph with some of the biggest vertical movement in the minor leagues. His best secondary offering is a mid-80s breaking ball that he calls a cutter. He also mixes in an above-average changeup and a big curveball. His stuff all plays up thanks to his plus control. Myers is a little undersized at 6 feet, 193 pounds, but his combination of stuff and control makes for an intriguing package. He has a starter profile, though his stuff would also play in relief.

The Future: The Guardians added Myers to the 40-man roster after acquiring him and he’ll go to spring training in competition for a spot on staff, though he’ll likely make his organizational debut with Triple-A Columbus.

Track Record: Clement’s reputation as a pure hitter dates back to his amateur days. That success translated to the professional ranks, as he continued to produce throughout the minor leagues. He made his major league debut in June, serving in a utility role for Cleveland. He spent most of September on the injured list but returned to action by the end of the season.

Scouting Report: Clement has an aggressive approach and an uncanny knack for putting the bat on the ball. He has below-average power and instead sprays the ball all over the field and takes advantage of his plus speed to get on base. Clement is a versatile defender and appeared at second base, third base, shortstop and left field in 2021. He has above-average instincts on the infield and good hands. His fringy arm strength means as an everyday player his best position is probably second base, but as a utility option he can handle the left side of the infield. His speed plays well in the outfield.

The Future: Clement’s first taste of the big leagues was likely always going to come as a utility player. His challenge now is breaking into a crowded infield in Cleveland for a regular role. He’ll likely ultimately settle in as a utility player, but his feel for hitting gives him a chance for more.

Track Record: When Cleveland went big in the 2017 international market, Bracho and outfielder George Valera were the two most-hyped prospects in the group it signed. Bracho was banged up at the outset of his career and missed 2018 due to an arm injury, delaying his debut until 2019. After spending 2020 at the alternate site, he advanced to High-A Lake County in 2021, though he struggled at the plate and missed three weeks due to a thumb injury.

Scouting Report: A switch-hitter, Bracho produces good bat speed and has a quick, compact swing from both sides of the plate. He was lauded for his advanced approach early in his career but was more undisciplined in 2021 and struck out in more 31.9% of his plate appearances. His bat speed helps him drive balls better than his build might suggest and he has solid power potential. Bracho was signed as a shortstop, but he soon moved to second base. His hands and range are good enough to keep him there, but he’s always going to be more of an offensive second baseman. He also saw time at both infield corners in 2021.

The Future: Bracho’s 2021 struggles were a disappointment and led the Guardians not to add him to the 40-man roster, leaving him exposed to the Rule 5 draft. To get back on track, he’ll need to get back to the disciplined plate approach he had early in his career. He’ll likely begin 2022 back at Lake County.

Track Record: Cleveland’s international department went through a transition in 2016 and its biggest signing in that class was Vargas, who signed for $275,000. Cleveland was excited enough about his ceiling that in November 2020 it added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite the fact he hadn’t advanced past short-season ball. Vargas still hasn’t pitched in a full-season league because he had Tommy John surgery in April, sidelining him for the 2021 season.

Scouting Report: When he signed as a 17-year-old in 2016, Vargas had an ultra-projectable frame and was already throwing 93 mph. His velocity has ticked up as expected, and before his injury his fastball touched 100 mph and sat in the upper 90s. His slider sits around 90 mph and is a plus pitch at its best. His changeup can be an average pitch and gives him a viable third offering. He improved his strike-throwing in 2019, cutting his walk rate considerably. He still needs to refine his command and learn how to get the most out of his electric stuff.

The Future: After missing so much game time the last two years, Vargas simply needs to get back into a regular routine. He’ll be ready to return to action early in 2022 and will get his first taste of A ball.

Track Record: Kwan starred at Oregon State, helping to lead the Beavers to the 2018 national championship. While in college he built a strong track record for on-base skills and hitting, and that carried over to pro ball. He had a breakout 2021 season while splitting time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.

Scouting Report: Kwan’s size has always led to questions about his impact potential. What’s never really been in doubt, however, is his ability to put the bat on the ball. He has excellent feel for the barrel and rarely strikes out—he whiffed in just 9% of his plate appearances in 2021. That fit with his profile as a slap-hitting leadoff hitter prior to 2021, but in 2021 he produced surprising power. While Akron and Columbus are both hitter-friendly ballparks, he did his best to answer questions about his ability to drive the ball. Kwan is an above-average runner and tracks balls well in center field.

The Future: Kwan’s 2021 season led the Guardians to add him to their 40-man roster in November, setting him up to make his major league debut as soon as 2022. While he’s likely to end up as a fourth outfielder in the long run, Kwan has exceeded expectations throughout his career and if his newfound power carries over to the big leagues he could do so again.

Track Record: Curry in 2017 became the first true freshman to be Georgia Tech’s Opening Day starter since 1995. He was a stalwart in the Yellow Jackets’ rotation for the next three years before being drafted by Cleveland. He didn’t pitch in 2019 after signing due to shoulder inflammation and the 2020 season was canceled, delaying his professional debut until 2021. He made up for lost time, pitching at three levels to end the season with Double-A Akron.

Scouting Report: Curry is undersized for a righthander and isn’t overpowering. His fastball sits in the low 90s, reaching 96 mph, but it plays up thanks to its shape and spin rate. He locates the pitch exceptionally well and can generate swings and misses with it. He relies heavily on his fastball, but also mixes in two breaking balls and a changeup. His slider has above-average potential and is his best secondary offering but it needs to be more consistent. Curry’s whole arsenal plays up thanks to his plus control.

The Future: Curry’s breakout season significantly elevated his profile. While he doesn’t look like a traditional righthanded starter, he has a starter profile, and his style meshes well with the Guardians’ approach. He’ll start 2022 back in Akron.

Track Record: Mace was a key member of the Florida pitching staff for four years and spent the last three seasons in the Gators’ rotation. Though he was highly regarded ahead of the 2020 draft, he opted to return to school for a fourth year and had a solid campaign. He did not pitch after the Guardians made him the 69th overall pick in 2021.

Scouting Report: Mace added some good weight in the last year and saw his velocity tick up. His fastball this spring averaged 93 mph and touched 97. He doesn’t get a ton of life on the pitch but his ability to locate it to all quadrants of the strike zone helps it play up. He also throws a cutter, curveball and changeup, none of which project as a plus pitch. While Mace did post a career high strikeout rate this spring, he doesn’t have the kind of stuff that stands out as swing and miss and instead relies on his above-average control to help it play up. He has a big 6-foot-6 frame and can create a tough angle for hitters.

The Future: Mace has the look of a back-of-the-rotation starter now, but the Guardians have had plenty of success in helping college pitchers take a step forward in pro ball. He’ll look to start down that path in 2022 when makes his professional debut, likely with High-A Lake County.

Track Record: Pilkington was a reliable starter throughout his college career at Mississippi State. He carried that success into pro ball after the White Sox drafted him in the third round in 2018. In 2021 he was traded to Cleveland in exchange for Cesar Hernandez and impressed with Double-A Akron after the deal.

Scouting Report: Pilkington’s stuff has ticked up in pro ball and his fastball now works in the low 90s. His changeup is his best secondary offering, and he throws it against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters. He throws both a curveball and a slider and both pitches are average offerings. While his stuff isn’t overpowering, he pounds the strike zone and has a good feel for pitching, helping him to get swings and misses. He pitches with above-average control.

The Future: After Pilkington’s strong finish to the season, the Guardians added him to their 40-man roster in November. He’ll open the 2022 season in the rotation for Triple-A Columbus and could soon push his way into the mix in Cleveland. His profile fits the kind of pitcher the Guardians develop well and could end up as an innings-eating starter.