2023 Next Year in Cleveland Guardians Breakout Prospect of the Year

Jan 01, 2024

Unfortunately, it was not a banner year for the Guardians farm system in terms of the prospects who did start in the minors all year. It was another strong year, graduating Logan Allen, Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, but there were not as many standout performances as 2022. Still, there were a few prospects who really stood out in 2023 who put their name on ‘breakout’ status as future impact major leaguers soon.

RP Franco Aleman

55IP, 3.10 ERA/2.50 FIP, 36.1 K%, 7.7 BB%

Rare to put a reliever on a list like this, but Aleman’s performance at Double-A was hard to ignore, though he was unable to pitch on back to back days (something to note going into 2024). A scoreless streak like that is impressive and he now looks like a potential impact reliever that could force his way to Cleveland in 2024 if he can carry some of that momentum over from 2023 and work on his availability.

INF Juan Brito

.271/.377/.434, 31 2B, 14 HR, 7/15 B, .370 wOBA, 126 wRC+

After just one year, many are quick to declare the Rockies as the “winners” of the trade that involved Nolan Jones and Juan Brito. However, plenty of indicators suggest Jones might be due for some regression from his standout 2023 season and Brito had a strong Cleveland-system debut in his own right. He had strong stretches in High-A but actually took off a little more when getting to Double-A. Defensively, a home for him might be a bit complicated and it’s also fair to wonder about his level of success as a right handed hitter. But Brito has a discerning eye at the plate and shows the ability to lift the ball to his pull side as a left handed hitter, traits that really paint the picture of an impact offensive player capable of producing 20 homers to go with strong on base numbers. His bat should play no matter where the defensive home ends up.

LHP Will Dion

116.1IP, 2.39 ERA/2.86 FIP, 27.9 K%, 7.6 B%

Alo hard to ignore is the success Will Dion continues to have as he moves up every level despite topping out at 92. His deception, command and above average to plus offspeed stuff worked against Double-A hitter to the same level they were working against hitters at lower levels, forcing one to take his ability a little more seriously to replicate that success as he keeps moving up. He is certainly the second best left handed pitching prospect in the system at the moment behind Joey Cantillo.

OF Chase DeLauter

355/.417/.528, 22 2B, 5 HR, .428 wOBA, 159 wRC+

A truncated season due to injury didn’t stop DeLauter from hitting in the pro’s. Once he was healthy, the Guardians 2022 first round pick started to hit exactly the way he did in college and he had a solid AFL season as well. It might be complicated to say DeLauter should be considered a ‘breakout’ prospect given his status as a first round pick, but the health and doubt about whether he would be exposed as a pro due to coming from a smaller school and also health issues in college seem to be enough of an argument here.