Cleveland Guardians 2023 prospect scouting report: #14 LHP Joey Cantillo

Cleveland's gamble on leaving Cantillo off the 40 in 2021 worked out, now he could be part of the next wave of arms in 2023 or 2024

Build, Background, and Delivery

Long levered, lanky build. High waisted. Tall and thin frame. Has filled out frame a little more the last few year. High arm slot with good, fairly clean delivery. High school pick with sleeper fanfare that has taken off in the Guardians system, albeit with health concerns the last two seasons.

What Cantillo does well

The best pitch in Cantillo’s arsenal is his vulcan-change. It has plenty of fade and run, separates from his fastball quite well and he’s thrown it for a strike and is confident in the pitch. Curveball had long shown promise with good shape, now has more velo and bite. Increased fastball velocity is now slightly above average for a lefty, with good extension on all his pitches that helps it play up. Working on a slider/cutter hybrid type pitch. Average control that could improve with more consistent reps if healthy.

https://twitter.com/JL_Baseball/status/1537271163382013952?s=20

 

What Cantillo needs to improve

After missing most of 2021 and half of 2022, Cantillo needs to build up and stay on the mound. He’ll look to improve his control of all four pitches. His curveball has improved but could still use work and the slider/cutter hybrid is a work in progress.

https://twitter.com/JL_Baseball/status/1537256725421637632?s=20

 

Intangibles

Smart pitcher eager to improve. Focused player who knows how to stay in the moment. Self aware. Has picked up on what Cleveland wanted him to do to improve quickly once he got into the system.

Future

Cleveland’s lucky they still have him after trying to sneak him through the Rule 5 draft in 2021 after he barely pitched that year, in a year where the R5 draft didn’t happen due to the lockout. In ‘22, Cantillo delivered on a lot of his raw talent and promise before a shoulder injury shut him down midseason. He needs to build up his body and arm to stay healthy for a full year. His breaking pitches still could use improving, but there’s enough there as a three pitch lefty with average control to be a 3/4 starter, especially with improved velocity. Any inability to prove he can’t handle a starters workload may lead to speculation of a bullpen role, where he would be dynamic as well. He should be in Double-A Akron again in 2023 and if healthy, should find himself in Columbus by mid-summer

Role- 45 - Mid-rotation type arm with health concerns at the moment

https://twitter.com/Official_CGBI/status/1592561932409585665?s=20