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 school ball and added important impression 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 university second baseman. So far as I can recall (which ain’t far, tbf), he’s the primary primary total choose of that sort, 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 like the right touchdown spot. His timeline appears fallacious to me at a look right here, however then I attempt to suppose Cleveland ideas, and I see a river of fireside that implies something before 2026 could be optimistic, and rivers of fireside 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 knowledgeable 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 dwelling runs, in fact, 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 dwelling 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 likelihood 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 palms in each the sphere and the batter’s field. He returned to Low-A to start out the season after getting eight video games there in 2022 and one other 72 video games there final yr. He’s at 32 video games performed this yr with a slash line of .313/.357/.531 with 5 dwelling runs and 4 stolen bases. In all probability gained’t be in Low-A for much longer. Additionally it’s his birthday at present. Comfortable Birthday, Angel!”
A pair weeks later (June 3), Genao was promoted to Excessive-A, the place he slashed .322/.377/.463 with 4 dwelling runs, 13 stolen bases and a 16.3 % strikeout price throughout 66 video games. Brayan Rocchio appeared higher late within the season, and Angel Martinez has quite a 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 formidable debut season within the DSL through which he began scorching however light 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 dwelling runs and three steals in his final ten video games. He’s on track to be a near-consensus Prime 100 prospect heading into 2025.”
First takeaway right here is I hope you added Jesus Made that day the place he was out there.
Although in case you solely had one spot and selected Francisca, you probably did simply high quality. He made the bounce to Low-A on July 30 and slashed .325/.402/.402 with one dwelling run and 9 stolen bases in 29 video games, good for a 141 wRC+. Relying on how the weight-training goes this winter, Cleveland may 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 energy.
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 largely 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 essentially 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 huge protection within the prospect-sphere except he hits properly each step of the way in which and forces a big-league look. Protected to say he’s within the technique of doing so after slashing .291/.393/.511 with 17 dwelling runs and 5 stolen bases in 107 video games throughout two ranges this yr. He’s blocked by Naylor and Manzardo for the time being, 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 little bit inflated by the catcher-eligibility tag he carries on fantasy websites. Cleveland appears to have left that dream behind, at the least on sport days, however the headline right here continues to be that Velazquez appears like a gradual wager for our sport with an intriguing mix of energy, persistence and get in touch with 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 might be all however irrelevant within the lengthy arc of participant improvement.
9. OF Jaison Chourio | 19 | A | 2027
A 6’1” swap hitter listed at 162 lbs, Chourio doesn’t carry the swing pace of his older brother and approaches the sport with a little bit extra persistence on the plate. I’ve lengthy been cautious of the Named Man tax so far as our sport goes, nevertheless it’s inconceivable to disclaim that Chourio’s 44 steals and .414 on-base share throughout 98 Low-A video games is a formidable feat.
10. RHP Daniel Espino | 23 | AA | 2024
Expertise shouldn’t be a query right here. Espino’s stuff is prime shelf. Bother is he threw simply 18.1 innings in 2022 earlier than accidents (knee and shoulder) ended his season. The shoulder damage 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 identified with a subscapularis pressure and an anterior capsule tear in his proper shoulder that may finally require surgical procedure. He didn’t pitch all yr, but when he comes again wholesome, and that’s a Jupiter-sized IF, he’d be a scorching property in fantasy leagues.
Thanks for studying!
