2025 Cleveland Guardians Prospect Scouting Report: #35 RHP Dylan DeLucia
A big game pitcher in college, what does a fully healthy 2025 look like for DeLucia?
Bio
Age (2025 season): 24
Acquired: 2022 Draft (Round 6)
2024 Level:High-A
Height: 6’1
Weight: 205
Throws: Right
2025 Scouting Grades
Fastball: 55
Slider: 50
Changeup: 40
Command: 45
Overall: 40
Risk: High
ETA: 2026
First impression
A bit on the short side. well built in the lower half. Intense competitor on the mound.
What Makes DeLucia Fun
There's some really interesting stuff in DeLucia’s arsenal. Metrically, he has a great fastball and his delivery at a very low release helps it play up with lots of carry up in the zone and deception. It plays above the velocity (typically 90-92, t94, though he has hit 97 as recently as 2024. His slider has plenty of sleep to it. He can throw both for plenty of strikes. His change also has some good metrics and some fade as well. DeLucia has some unique metrics thanks to his low release height, which helps with deception and movement overall. He throws enough strikes with everything to be effective. He is also a strong competitor on the mound and likes the big moment.
What Could Hold DeLucia Back
Despite the deception and unique metrics, DeLucia’s fastball could use another gear. He typically sits 90-92, though he has hit 97. A jump into a higher consistent velocity band could help him reach another level as a starter. The changeup has good separation from the fastball but continues to need work as well as consistency landing it. DeLucia is also slightly undersized for a starter. He also employs a chest high leg kick in his delivery. A lot of moving parts in the delivery, and holding runners would also be a challenge for him.
Key Metric
6.2% - DeLucia has solid stuff overall but what makes him successful in the first place is his ability to attack the zone and generate called strikes. Keeping his walk rate in this range of 6% is absolutely necessary into his future success.
Intangibles
DeLucia loves the big moment. He pitched in the College World Series and won Most Outstanding Players. He’s a fiery competitor on the mound and he also proved that in the playoffs for the Captains, showing his best stuff in the final game of the season.
Future
Size, delivery, especially his high leg kick, will go into DeLucia’s future and how far he can go as a starter. He had TJ in 2022 after Cleveland drafted him, so durability will be something to watch. There’s no reason Cleveland shouldn’t continue to deploy him as a starter, possibly sending him back to Lake County in 2025, with hopefully a quick graduation to Double-A Akron. If he can add some velocity to the fastball, things take a step forward for him as a starter, but his delivery and the ability to hold runners also comes into play as well. There’s a chance for a back of the rotation here, though there are some metrics with his stuff where a potential better velocity band helps him take off and this feels low. There’s also a high probability where DeLucia is a better reliever and really helps his fastball velocity and its metrics along with the slider where he could turn into a good relief weapon at that,
Role/Risk
40/High - Possible back of the rotation type arm/setup type relief arm