Cleveland Guardians 2024 Prospect Scouting Report: #15 RHP Franco Aleman

How soon will Aleman force his way to Cleveland in 2024?

Franco Aleman Bio

• Age (2024 season): 24

• Acquired: 2021 Draft (Round 10)

• 2023 Level: High-A/Double-A

• Height: 6’6

• Weight: 235

• Throws: Right

Franco Aleman 2023 Stats

• G/GS: 39

• IP: 55

• ERA/FIP: 3.11/2.50

• K/BB: 84/18

• K%/BB%: 36.1%/7.7%

• WHIP: 1.13

Franco Aleman 2024 Scouting Grades

• Fastball: 70

• Sinker: 55

• Slider: 55

• Command: 45

• Overall: 45

• Risk: High

• ETA: 2024

Build & Background

Big, powerful frame with lank arms and legs. High waisted. Frame filled out. Lots of strength in lower and upper half. Big, mid near chest-high leg kick with moderate hip turn in delivery. Long arm swing, high 3/4 arm slot. Aleman was signed for $175K after Cleveland drafted him from Florida in the 10th round of the 2021 draft. He bounded around college before Florida. Cleveland converted him to the bullpen last year.

What Aleman Does Well

It’s big, bat missing stuff. His four seam fastball has enough ride and he backs that throwing it 94-98 and tops out at 99. It gets on hitters fast thanks to his extension and size. He also has a sinker that’s more 92-95 that moves down and away from lefties and in on right handers. His slider isn’t far behind, with late, two plane break that gets a lot of chase from right handers. Took a big step forward as a reliever in 2023.

Where Aleman Needs to Improve

Right now, Aleman is more of a control over command type pitcher. He didn’t walk a ton in Double-A when he got there last year in the second half, but mostly due to getting chases and just missing big stuff. He’ll need to make his command a little tiger as he moves up. His long arm swing and effortful delivery contribute to his fringe-command. Cleveland wanted Aleman to improve his conditioning and routine to be able to have better availability. Often times in a six games series in Akron, Aleman would pitch once or twice in a series and never back to back. He also doesn’t field his position well and it led to some issues last year due to unearned runs. That and his high leg kick make it hard for him to hold runners when traffic does get on.

Key Stats

Aleman went two days between appearances at best in Double-A a year ago. Often, it was between four-to-six games between appearances. He did go 20 appearances in a row at Double-A Akron without allowing an earned run. He gave up five  unearned runs during the year. 

It's often comical or looking for a reason, but Aleman legitimately needs to work on pitching back to back games and being available for most games, and holding runners or fielding his position. 

Intangibles

Aleman bounced around to three colleges before landing at Florida and Cleveland drafted him. There may be some untapped upside with how much he bounced around and lack consistent coaching and development. Cleveland did say they were glad how hard he worked in the weight room last year to really add strength and help him take off.

Future

Aleman is in Triple-A to start 2024 and looks like he should get a shot to make his major league debut some time this summer if all goes well. He’ll have to be added to the 40 man roster by November anyway, so Cleveland might give him a look this summer. He projects as a setup man with plenty of velocity and bat missing availability but does have some development to finish off.

Role

45 - Average setup man with swing and miss stuff, bouts of control issues