Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2024 Prospect Digest Handbook here.
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1. Chase DeLauter, CF/RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Background: Cleveland has not invested a whole lot of first round draft capital into college bats in recent years, particularly since Mike Chernoff took over at the helm. In fact, you could count on one hand how many collegiate hitters Cleveland’s drafted since 2016: Chase DeLauter. Snagged with the 16th overall pick two years ago, DeLauter left James Madison University as (A) the highest drafted player in school history and (B) sporting a Ted Williams-esque .402/.520/.715 career slash line in 66 contests. The former Duke, though, didn’t start his professional career off on the right foot – pun intended. A foot injury, which eventually forced him under the knife last January, forced him to delay his anticipated pro debut until early June. After a quick, nine-game rehab tour through the Complex League, DeLauter caught fire in 42 games with Lake County and didn’t stop during his brief tenure in Double-A. He would finish his first minor league season sporting a .355/.417/.528 slash line with 22 doubles, five homeruns, and six stolen bases (in nine attempts). His production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was a scorching 59% above the league average threshold. DeLauter’s bat continued to impress during his stint with the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, batting .299/.385/.529 with five doubles and five homeruns in only 23 games.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: DeLauter hits all the checkboxes. A swing taken out of the Will Clark handbook, [he] could be the second college hitter off the board – after Brooks Lee.
Scouting Report: One of the most recognizable, if not the most recognizable, unique swings in all of the minor leagues. DeLauter, who’s cut from a similar athletic cloth as Bradley Zimmer, displays a scissor-kick action with his lower-half, particularly on inner pitches, and relies heavily on his torso for accelerating and decelerating his swing, often times just giving the appearance that he’s stopping his follow through short. Whether that works in the big leagues is still up for debate. What isn’t, though, is his production. He mashed all the way through his debut, showcasing a potential above-average hit tool, promising power (something Cleveland is in dire need of), polished at bats, speed, and the ability to play an up-the-middle position. The lone pockmark on an otherwise stellar showing was his inability to hit southpaws. The lefty-swinging former first rounder batted .244/.250/.342 against southpaws (compared to .382/.455/.572 vs. RHP).
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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2. Kyle Manzardo, 1B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 20 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
Background: Ever since Mike Chernoff took over the captainship for the Guardians, he’s had a special affinity for the Tampa Bay Rays, reaching out to the savvy franchise to complete 11 separate transactions. And Chernoff has swung-and-missed on a few big deals. The Junior Caminero-for-Tobias Myers deal three years ago is as bad as it gets. But then there’s the three-team deal that involved the Mariners where Cleveland ultimately sent Yandy Díaz to (Tampa) and a competitive balance pick stapled to Edwin Encarnacion’s contract to Seattle with the return being Jake Bauers, which isn’t that far behind either. So it’ll be interesting to see how the club’s latest deal – a one-for-one challenge trade involving veteran righty Aaron Civale and Kyle Manzardo – pans out. Originally taken by Tampa Bay in the second round out of Washington State University, Manzardo was an absolute monster during his final two (well, one-plus) seasons with the Cougars: he looked Ruthian during the COVID-limited 2020 campaign, slugging .436/.500/.694 through 16 games, and he followed that up with a scorching .366/.437/.640 slash line in a full year’s worth of work in 2021. And he continued to assault any pitcher standing in his way during his pro debut that summer too, batting .349/.440/.605 in 13 Complex League games. Tampa Bay immediately placed the 6-foot, 205-pound sweet-swinging first baseman on the fast track and sent him directly up to High-A in 2022. And Manzardo finished it with an impressive stint in Double-A. Last season, the former second rounder split time between Cleveland’s and Tampa’s Triple-A affiliates, both in the International League, hitting a disappointing .237/.337/.464 – which he sandwiched around an extended stint on the DL due to a wonky shoulder. His overall production, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average by 2%. Manzardo found his stroke in the Arizona Fall League, though, hitting .272/.340/.565 with 14 extra-base knocks in 22 games.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: The history of the minor leagues has been littered with power-hitting, lethal first baseman and very few actually produce at the big league level. Manzardo won’t be one of them. He’s going to continue to hit and hit well.
Scouting Report:Manzardo got off to a solid start to the year in 2023, hitting .272/.373/.513 with 15 doubles, one triple, and 10 homeruns over his first 55 games. But then something happened – perhaps, an undiagnosed shoulder issue – and he fell into a big time slump, batting a putrid .143/.250/.243 over the next several weeks. Then after he came back from the injured list, he slugged .256/.348/.590 in 21 games with the Columbus Clippers. Then, of course, he went on hit well in the AZL. Manzardo’s an exceptionally patient hitter, rarely missing in the zone or chasing pitches outside of it. He’s a smooth defender at first base, which basically amount to nothing value wise, but he’s not going to kill you there either. Manzardo got hot and belted out six homeruns in the Fall League, but he doesn’t profile for more than 18- to 22-homers at the big league level. Last year, for the first time in his career, he struggled massively against lefties, so that needs to be monitored moving forward. In terms of big league production, think: .290/.355/.445.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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3. Daniel Espino, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 55 |
Background: Once touted as the potential top pick in the 2019 draft, Espino’s lengthy arm action (presumably) pushed him down the list at the start of the draft. He didn’t go at the top. Nor did he make it in the Top 10 picks, or even the first 20 selections. Finally, though, the Guardians of Cleveland stopped his slide at the 24th overall pick, eventually signing the Panamanian right-hander to a deal worth $2.5 million. And almost immediately it looked like Espino’s seven-figure signing bonus was a dramatic underpay as he posted a 34-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in only 23.2 innings. Two years later when minor league ball returned to action, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound righty was absolutely unhittable as he dominated the Low-A and High-A competition, averaging 14.9 strikeouts and 3.8 walks per nine innings. His 2022 campaign looked even better across his first four starts in the fires of Double-A: 18.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 35 strikeouts, and just four walks. After that, though, the former first rounder hasn’t popped back up on a mound thanks to a knee injury and which was followed up by shoulder surgery.
Scouting Report: With nothing to report on due to injury, here’s Espino’s previous write-up:
“The season lasted just four starts before he hit the disabled list, but Espino was as dominant as I’ve seen any minor league hurler over the past decade or so. His fastball wasn’t just electric, it was nuclear. The type of plus-plus offering that hitters could sit on it and still miss it by a country mile. The curveball will flash plus at times. And his slider adds a second plus-plus offering to his repertoire. Solid-average changeup. Espino’s command showed tremendous improvement as well, moving from average to plus during his limited showings. You could make the argument that his ceiling is higher than any pitcher in the minor leagues. Missing significant time to a shoulder issue is a major red flag. The sky’s the limit as long as he can stay on the mound. If it weren’t for the injuries, Espino would have likely played a factor for the Guardians coming down the stretch.”
The inherent injury risk is palpable at this point. To be fair, Espino’s basically an unknown at this point and it’s not certain his once dynamic repertoire returns back to its pre-injury explosiveness.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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4. Brayan Rocchio, 2B/SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 50 |
Background: It’s almost impossible to believe, but the baby-faced switch-hitter is now entering his seventh year in the Guardians’ farm system. Signed out of Caracas, Venezuela for just $125,000 midway through the 2017 season, the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder immediately established himself as one of the system’s best middle infield prospects in an organization chock full of second basemen and shortstops. Rocchio slugged .335/.390/.442 during his pro debut in 2018 as he split time between the foreign and stateside rookie leagues. The next season, the front office aggressively assigned the then-18-year-old to the old New York-Penn League – though his numbers took a bit of swan dive back to earth: he hit .250/.310/.373 with a dozen doubles, three triples, and five homeruns in 69 contests with Mahoning Valley. After sitting on the 2020 season due to the pandemic, the typically conservative organization had Rocchio bypass Low-A and shoved him directly up to the Lake County in High-A. Rocchio promptly responded with a solid .265/.337/.428 line across 64 games. And he continued to swing it well during his second half season in Double-A (.294/.360/.505). The following year, 2022, he continued his two-stop per year development schedule as he spent time with Akron (AA) and Columbus (AAA), hitting an aggregate .257/.336/.420 in a career best 132 contests. Last season, the talented infielder appeared in 116 games in the International League, batting .280/.367/.421 with career bests in doubles (33), triples (six), and stolen bases (25) to go along with seven dingers. His production, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, was one percent better than the league average threshold. He also spent some time in Cleveland across several brief stints as well, hitting a paltry .247/.279/.321 with just six extra-base knocks (all doubles) in 86 plate appearances.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: A gifted defender that may earn a Gold Glove or two on either side of the keystone.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, four 22-year-old bats met the following criteria with one club in any Triple-A league (min. 350 PA): 95 to 105 wRC+ with an 11% to 14% strikeout rate. Those four sticks: Alcides Escobar, Jose Peraza, Cheslor Cuthbert, and – of course – Brayan Rocchio.
It should be noted that Escobar, Peraza, and Cuthbert all finished their big league careers with wRC+ marks between 72 and 79. And only one, Escobar, would spend the majority of his career as a starter and that’s on the back of his stellar wizardry at shortstop.
The batted ball data during his time in Triple-A is run of the mill: he does a good job making consistent in-zone contact; he’ll chase offerings outside the strike zone an average amount of time; and the Hard Hit Rate, 32%, is decent. Rocchio’s pretty limited physically: there’s not much projectable developmental meat left on his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Short, quick swing with above-average bat speed. Rocchio can really do damage at the bottom of the strike zone, especially as a lefty. Offensively, he’s still lacking a true standout tool. The bat has stagnated over the past couple of years and its once-project ceiling as a 55-grade has regressed into average territory. He can pick it out in the field still, which is enough to push him up to low end starter status. Low ceiling / high floor guy.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
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5. Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45/55 | 50/60 | 35/30 | 55 | 45 | 50 |
Background: Arguably the largest surprise in the opening round of the draft last summer, the Guardians, who’ve never shied away from teenage bats in the opening round, snagged the big teenage catcher with the 23rd overall pick last July. Not only did the selection of Velazquez catch the industry off guard, but it also marks the second time in the last six years the organization used a first round pick on a teenage backstop, the riskiest investment when it comes to draft captial. In fact, the club is the only one in baseball to select a prep backstop in the opening round twice in the last six years. A product of Huntington Beach High School, home to Nick Pratto and Hank Conger, among others, Velazquez got off to a scorching start to his sophomore campaign, batting .593 before COVID prematurely ended the year. The lefty-swinging first rounder followed that up by hitting .316 with nine dingers and 25 RBIs as a junior. And he capped off his amateur career with a .402 average and six more homeruns. Cleveland signed the hulking teenage to a deal worth $2.5 million. Velazquez batted a scorching .348/.393/.739 in six Complex League games.
Scouting Report: While the jury is still out on Will Benson, who seems to have found a home in Cincinnati, the last time Cleveland successfully drafted and developed a high school power hitter would be Manny Ramirez, more than 30 years ago. Velazquez is the type of prospect that the more you watch, the more you wonder why he didn’t garner more hype heading into the draft. He mashed a pitch at the 14U East-West Perfect Game contest at 102.5 mph. And he’s only gotten better. Thick lower half with a lightning quick at bat, plus raw power, and a very good feel on how pitchers will approach him. Light tower power, especially pull side. But he’ll shoot a ball over the opposite field or straight away just as easily. He’s very likely going to outgrow the position and wind up at first base, but there’s a chance for an above-average hit tool and plus in-game power. He’s a very advanced high school bat. And we may look back and wonder how he lasted as long as he did.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2026/2027
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6. Jaison Chourio, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/55 | 30/50 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: The Acuna family is doing alright. Ronald is fresh off of winning the MVP Award. Luisangel has developed into a top prospect and was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Max Scherzer to the Rangers. And Bryan Acuna, the youngest of the ball playing brothers, commanded a $1.7 million bonus off the international scene a couple years ago. The Chourio family may not be the Acuna family, but they ain’t far from it either. Jackson Chourio is a consensus Top 5 prospect in the minor leagues and recently signed a long-term, big dollar deal (eight year, $82 million) with the Brewers before even making his debut in The Show. Jaison, his younger brother, is coming off of his second consecutive strong showing in the low levels of the minor leagues. After joining the Guardians on a $1.2 million deal, Chourio put together a .280/.446/.402 showing in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year-old. Last season the front office pushed the 6-foot-1, 162-pound switch-hitter stateside. Chourio handled the promotion to the ACL with aplomb, batting .349/.476/.463.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Chourio has the potential to develop above-average power and a matching hit tool.
Scouting Report: Chourio takes some healthy hacks at the plate, holding very little back on each swing. He’s had little trouble making consistent contact in both the foreign and stateside rookie leagues, but he took some ugly swings in Low-A that may suggest some pitch recognition issues. The bat speed is encouraging for future power growth. He seemed to handle pitches down in the strike zone very well. There’s talent to be an impact big league brewing, but he’s not as dynamic as his older brother.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2026
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7. Juan Brito, 2B/3B/SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 45 |
Background: It was a numbers crunch game, so the move in itself, was understandable – at that time. The front office decided it was time to move on from former top prospect Nolan Jones and completed a one-for-one swap with the Rockies following the 2022 season. A year later, after Jones’ emergence and Top 5 finish in the Rookie of the Year award, the outcome seems a lot murkier. Signed by the Rockies in 2018, Brito hit the ground running during his debut in 2019 and he hasn’t really stopped either. He made quick work of the foreign rookie league during his debut (.328/.403/.491), continued to swing it during his state side debut in 2021 (.296/.406/.432), and showed an uptick in power when he moved into full-season action a year later (.286/.407/.470). Last season, hit first in the Guardians’ organization, the 5-foot-11, 202-pound infielder bounced through three levels, going from High-A to Double-A and then finishing with a five game cameo in the International League. Brito would post an aggregate .271/.377/.434 slash line with career bests in doubles (31) and homeruns (14) with a triple and seven swipes (though he was nabbed eight times). His production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 26% above the league average.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: There’s not enough to project as an eventual starter, but the foundation and groundwork as a solid bench option are certainly in place. Second base-only certainly limits his ceiling.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only a pair of 21-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in any Double-A league (min. 350 PA): 120 to 130 wRC+, a 15.5% to 17.5% strikeout rate, and a double-digit walk rate. Those two bats: Ke’Bryan Hayes, the young Pirates cornerstone who batted .271/.309/.453 last season, and – of course – Juan Brito.
Brito kind of falls into a similar class of prospect as fellow Guardians minor league infielder Brayan Rocchio: lots of contact, production against older competition, middle infielder, average-ish power. The question, though, is simple: where’s the standout tool? There really isn’t one. High floor, low ceiling prospect with a high probability of spending at least several years at the big league level.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Low to Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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8. Angel Martinez, IF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 45/50 | 45 |
Background: Another one of the club’s long tenured middle infield prospects, Martinez, a switch-hitter out of the Dominican Republic, is now entering his seventh year in the Guardians’ farm system. Cleveland began to accelerate 6-foot, 200-pound infielder’s path to the big leagues two years ago as he split time between Lake County and Akron; he would finish the year with an aggregate .278/.378/.471 slash line with 23 doubles, four triples, 13 homeruns, and a dozen stolen bases. Last season, Martinez returned to the Eastern League for some additional seasoning at the minors’ toughest level. And he wrapped the year up with 37 games with the Clippers of Columbus. Overall, the Santo Domingo native finished the year with a .251/.321/.394 mark with 23 doubles, five triples, a career best 14 homers, and 11 stolen bases (in 14 attempts). His production between the club’s highest two affiliates, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 8% below the average mark.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: There’s the floor as a solid backup infielder with the ceiling as a league average starter.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only five 21-year-old bats met the following criteria with one club in any Double-A league (min. 350 PA): 90 to 100 wRC+, an 18% to 20% strikeout rate, and a 7.5% to 9.5% walk rate. Those five sticks: Tim Beckham, Mike Carp, Austin Romine, Sergio Alcantara, and – of course – Angel Martinez.
Martinez started the year out pretty slowly, batting .172/.278/.312 across his first 25 contests. For the remainder of the season, though, the young infield vagabond hit .269/.331/.412, which is more indicative of the actual offensive talent. Martinez is kind of the anti-Brayan Rocchio / Juan Brito middle infielder: he’s slightly below-average with the glove; there are questions about the hit tool, but he’ll buoy the production with some power. He’ll leave the strike zone a little too frequently, which puts emphasis on the rest of the tools. He’s looking like utility guy.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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9. George Valera, OF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 35 | 60 | 30 | 70 | 50 | 45 |
Background: The front office added a tremendous amount of talent during the 2017-18 international signing period, eventually coming to terms with Jose Tena, Alexfri Planez, Johnkensy Noel, Brayan Rocchio, and – of course – George Valera, who earned a hefty $1.3 million deal. A consensus Top 100 prospect for the past several seasons, Valera got off to a fast start to his professional career, making his debut in the Arizona Complex League at 17 and reaching Low-A the following year. After minor league ball returned to work from the COVID imposed hiatus, Valera would split the 2021 season between Lake County and Akron, batting an aggregate .260/.405/.505 with just five doubles, four triples, and 19 dingers in only 86 games. Cleveland’s brass would send the 6-foot, 195-pound corner outfielder back to the Eastern League for some additional seasoning to begin 2022, but after batting .264/.367/.470 in 90 contests he was promoted up to the final minor league stop. He was 21 years old. Valera would be limited to just 73 games in the International League last season, courtesy of an offseason surgical procedure – though he would struggle for the second consecutive season with Columbus. He hit .211/.343/.375 with 10 doubles, one triple, and 10 homeruns. His production with the Clippers, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 16% below the league average.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: He’s a natural pull hitter, so he may be exploited by good pitching / offspeed low and away.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only four 22-year-old hitters posted an 80 to 90 wRC+ with a 26% to 28% strikeout rate with one club in any Triple-A league (min. 300 PA): Joel Guzman, Anthony Gose, Sebastian Rivero, and – of course – George Valera.
Always heavily tilting towards the saber side of offensive production, Valera’s shown some Three True Outcomes results throughout his career. But there’s some problematic data buried in his Statcast results in Columbus last season – namely his in-zone whiff rate. Valera whiffed on 23% percent of his swings within the strike zone last season. He had a hard hit rate approaching 50%, on the other hand, which is the true dichotomy of George Valera. The power / on-base ability can help buoy the low batting averages that will follow. Add it the fact that he can play a passable centerfield, and Valera has the look as a decent low end option, not the star I thought he was once destined for. If he doesn’t bounce back in a large way in 2023, it’s safe to assume he’s heading down the Oscar Gonzalez path.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2024
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10. Alex Clemmey, LHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60/70 | 50/60 | 50 | 40/45 | 50 |
Background: Bishop Hendricken High School is no stranger to top draft prospects. Rocco Baldelli, who developed into one of the game’s premier young players, graduated from the Rhode Island-based high school in 2000 and the Tampa Bay Rays drafted him with the sixth overall pick. Four years later the Twins would select right-hander Jay Rainville with the 39th overall selection, one pick ahead of former All-Star closer Huston Street. Last summer, the Guardians of Cleveland used the 58th pick in the draft on behemoth left-hander Alex Clemmey. Standing an imposing 6-foot-6 and 205-pounds, Clemmey absolutely torched the competition during his senior year with the Hawks: prior to the state playoffs, he struck out 84 hitters in only 35.2 innings of work, allowing just seven singles to go along with his tidy 0.59 ERA. Cleveland drafted the big lefty in the second round, 58th overall, and signed him to a deal worth $2.3 million. He did not make his professional debut.
Scouting Report: Pre-draft write-up:
“Since 2010, Cleveland has struggled developing high school arms taken high in the draft. Failed selections include: Dillon Howard (2011, second round), Mitch Brown (2011, second round), Kieran Lovegrove (2011, third round), Juan Hillman (2015, second round), Ethan Hankins (2018, first round), and Lenny Torres (2018, first round). Triston McKenzie is the lone bright spot, with Justus Sheffield and Daniel Espino deserving mentions as well.
Tall and lanky with plenty of room on his frame to add bulk and strength. The big lefty possesses one of the better fastballs in the 2023 draft class, touching as high as 99 mph at points. The build looks athletic enough where throwing consistently in the upper 90s is a distinct possibility. He’ll complement the borderline plus-plus pitch with a curveball that will flash plus on occasion, but currently lacks consistency. He’ll also mix in a decent changeup. From Cleveland’s perspective, it’s easy to dream upon a big, athletic left-hander with a premium fastball, but he’s very much a project. Beyond inconsistent secondary offerings, Clemmey’s feel for the strike zone is lacking. The organization was able to coax Sam Hentges into throwing more strikes. Hopefully, Clemmey can hone in on the zone more frequently as well.”
Ceiling: 1.75- to 2.0-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2027
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, Baseball America, and X-user @mk237700 (for compiling Statcast Data)
