Cleveland Guardians 'Just Missed' 2024 Prospects

This is a grouping of players listed in no particular order that didn’t make my rankings and won’t get a full report, but I thought were notable. You’ll see a list of international players below, including the Guardians top international signing in the 2024 class that has yet to play a professional game yet and I didn’t feel comfortable ranking, as I don’t with most international prospect.

Upside International Bats

OF Roberto Arias

Age: 17

Height/Weight: 6’2, 180

Bats/Throws: Left/Left

Level: N/A

Why he’s not ranked: In general, I do not rank international players that haven’t played stateside yet, especially ones from the current international class that don’t have any experience in games and don’t have any film available.

Why he’s here: Arias is the top ranked player in the Guardians 2024 internationally class, has a projectable frame and is reported to have good bat to ball skills. 

Comments: Arias has good size with some projection to go, and is considered to have a strong feel for contact. There’s a little bit of an awkward chop or hitch in his wing, so we’ll see how that plays against professional pitching, though you can’t glean too much from DSL matchups But Arias should get plenty of reps in center and hit DSL pitching, which is never a strong barometer. But given that he’s 16 and hasn’t played a professional game yet, there’s nothing to go on as far as ranking him, data and videos. 

OF Mason Bolivar

Age: 17

Height/Weight: 5-10, 162

Bats/Throws: Left/Left

Why he’s not ranked: See Arias above, except Bolivar has experience in the Dominican Summer League, and a strong one at that, but not enough to go on to rank him.

Why he’s here: The data, as unreliable as it is from the DSL, paints Bolivar as a high contact hitter with a good idea of the strike zone.

Comments: Walk rates in the minors aren’t as translateable to the majors as they used to be, especially this low in the minors, against some pitchers who might never move stateside. But at 16 years old, posting a 9.9 K% and 13.7 BB% is at least worth keeping an eye on.

OF Yerlin Luis

Age: 18

Height/Weight: 5’9, 155

Bats/Throws: Switch/Right

Why he’s not ranked: Luis doens’t have a big frame and struggled to make contact as a 17 year old in the DSL. While much data and stats from the DSL are wildly unreliable, struggling there doesn’t paint a great picture.

Why he’s here: Luis was still one of the top signings in Cleveland’s 2023 international class, was able to draw walks and appears to have decent speed.

Comments: Luis is more projectable as a top of the order outfielder, hopefully, with speed and plate discipline. But he did strike out a lot in the DSL at age 17 and may repeat the level in 2024.

OF Heribert Silva

Age: 17

Height/Weight: 5’9, 152

Bats/Throws: Left/Left

Why he’s not ranked: Essentially, size and lack of standout data, even in the DSL.

Why he’s here: There is good, yet again, unreliable data, for contact and strike zone control as a hitter for Silva.

C Victor Izturis

Age: 18

Height/Weight: 5’9, 165

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Why he’s not ranked: Izturis struggled to hit in the Arizona Complex League last summer at age 18 and didn’t remotely show any standout tools in limited look.

Why he’s here: There are bloodlines and potential strike zone control skills here for Izturis, who could be at Low-A in 2024.

Comments: Izturis is one of a few international catchers Cleveland has invested in, and has MLB bloodlines. So far none of them have really ‘hit’ yet but Izturis looks like he might have a good eye at the plate as a left handed hitting catcher.

1B/3B Luis Merejo

Age: 17

Height/Weight: 6’2, 185

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Why he’s not ranked: I’m very cautious about ranking international teenagers with no stateside appearances or data yet. Especially if I haven't seen them myself. And Merejo is a R/R corner infielder who probably ends up at 1B, which is a massively risky profile.

Why he’s here: He had some of the best 90th percentile exit velocities among DSL teenagers last year and ran just a 15.3 K% and an 11.8 BB% to go with a .321/.441/.485 line. He also excelled at pulling the ball (61%) and hitting the ball in the air (43.9%).

Comments: It’s hard to know how much of this data is sticky enough to translate over to stateside and as he moves up to more advanced levels. Data is just very noisy below High-A these days. We’ll get a look at him in 2024 and see. Perhaps we have another breakout candidate here or just a flash of excitement.

4th OF types

OF Connor Kokx

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 6’1, 195

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Why he’s not ranked: Kokx has yet to show enough contact skills to show he’ll be able to hit at the next level that would give him a chance to be a regular.

Why he’s here: While contact issues do plague Kokx, he does have other skills and can contribute in other ways, while having limite upside due to his hit tool.

Comments: Kokx is able to draw a walk with the best of them, showing patience and strike zone awareness. He also has average speed, so he can steal a base, and is a capable defender in the outfield with a good arm. That makes him good for a fourth or fifth OF type that might lack real offensive punch.

OF Joe Lampe

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 5’11, 185

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Why he’s not ranked: A lot like Kokx, Lampe hasn’t showed the ability to impact the baseball in a meaningful way to be a regular in the majors at this point, and he carried a low average for a hitter with good contact skills.

Why he’s here: Also like Kokx, Lampe has good plate discipline and does make contact at a high rate. He can steal a base and play a solid outfield. Those are all skills of an outfield that plays on the major league bench at times.

OF Angel Zarate

Age: 24

Height/Weight: 5’11, 190

Bats/Throws: Left/Left

Why he’s not ranked: Zarate probably deserved, and needed to play at High-A in 2023. He had a strong start offensively but faded a little in ‘23 at Low-A, but not enough against a lower level of competition to warrant a ranking at this time.

Why he’s here: Zarate is a known plus defender at the corner spots, can handle center, has above average speed and appear to make good swing decisions and knows the zone. That combination gives him a chance to be a bench outfielder in the future.

Interesting potential SP

RHP Yorman Gomez

Age: 21

Height/Weight: 5’11, 167

Throws: Right

Why he’s not ranked: Gomez’s age and experience level, and his size make it hard to consider him for any sort of ranking at the moment.

Why he’s here: Despite some control issues in 2023, Gomez did put up over 100 innings as a starter and showed two average pitches at least.

Comments: Gomez has a fastball that can get into the mid-90s and a decent breaking ball. He’ll need to show a third pitch and miss more bats in High-A in 2024 to move up and look more lika a starter as he moves up the ladder.

RHP Hunter Stanley

Age: 26

Height/Weight: 5’11, 203

Throws: Right

Why he’s not ranked: Size and a lack of a third pitch make it hard to rank Stanley right now among other arms in the Guardians system, in addition to his age and not being above Double-A until possibly 2024.

Why he’s here: Stanley has a good fastball and changeup and would make a good reliever, which he was until 2023 when Cleveland moved him back into the rotation. His fastball velocity would tick back up in that role too.

LHP Steven Hajjar

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 6’5, 240

Throws: Left

Why he’s not ranked: Essentially, the inability to throw strikes consistently. If Hajjar had even fridge average control, he’d be an easy pitcher to rank in this system.

Why he’s here: Perhaps just lack of control isn’t enough to not rank Hajjar, who is big, left handed, can throw in the mid-90s and has a wipeout slider. 

Comments: If Hajjar’s command could improve as a reliever, that might be a better fit for him as a fastball/slider type arm. He had games last year where he could strike out double digits, or walk eight, which he did.

Intruiging Relief Options

LHP Shawn Rapp

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 6’2, 200

Throws: Left

Why he’s not ranked: Rapp projects as a middle relief option, maybe a left handed up type at best, which is generally not a top 50 prospect, even if he is an interesting relief prospect.

Why he’s here: As a left handed reliever with a tough arm slot and can throw up to 93-94, there’s always intrigue there, plus a solid slider.

Comments: Rapp was a tough at bat in Low-A and High-A last year and put up the numbers to match. He could throw a little harder more consistently to move his way up as more of a setup type option, but he does have two potentially above average pitches.

RHP Tyler Thornton

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 6’3, 200

Throws: Right

Why’s not ranked: Projects as a middle relief type and has below average control at the moment

Why he’s here: Thornton has the ability to miss bats, throws into the mid-90s with a low release.

Comments: With better control, Thornton could project as more of a seventh inning type arm with the way he misses bats with his 92-94 fastball and big slider from a tough, low slot. He certainly has interesting size and gets good extension.

LHP Erik Sabrowski

Age: 26

Height/Weight: 6’4, 230

Throws: Left

Why he’s not ranked: Sabrowski has been slowed by injuries, especially Tommy John that wiped out his 2022 season and most of 2023. Velocity wise, Sabrowski tops out in the mid-90s.

Why he’s here: Sabrowski gets great ride on his fastball and vertical carry, and as a left hander that can hit 95, and his size, that makes him an arm worth following.

Comments: A big left hander with a high arm slot that creates good vertical carry on his mid-90s fastball, Sabrowski could be an interesting southpaw option out of the bullpen, but needs to be healthy and showcase his oher offerings.

Utility Infield Types

INF Yordys Valdes

Age: 22

Height/Weight: 5’10, 170

Bats/Throws: Both/Right

Why he’s not ranked: Aside from a strong end of 2022 at the plate, and a strong start in 2023, Valdes hasn’t shown enough bat to project him as more than a utility infielder.

Why he’s here: Valdes has shown an elite glove at any position he’s put at and runs well.

Comments: After a hot start offensively in 2023, Valdes slid back to a light bat utility infielder. If he can pick that back up, he could move back up the list.

INF Milan Tolentino

Age: 22

Height/Weight: 6’1, 185

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Why he’s not ranked: Tolentino has had contact issues each of the last two seasons and doesn’t hit for the kind of power to overcome that offensively.

Why he’s here: Tolentino is a stong defender at shortstop and all three infield spot’s he’s been at.

Comments: A better feel to hit would put Tolentino into the conversation as a major league infield prospect. He shows a good understanding of the strike zone and can draw a walk to go with his strong defense, but strikeout issues have plagued his ability to hit and move up as a contender for a future major league job above a utility player.

Backup Catchers

C Johnny Tincher

Age: 22

Height/Weight: 5’8, 170

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Why he’s not ranked: While he showed some pull power in the PAC-12 last year, Tincher’s bat projects him to be a backup type.

Why he’s here: Tincher’s defense, athletiicsm and charisma as a teammate should land him as a backup catcher, favorite teammate and potential future coach.

Comments: Tincher is a small sized catcher that does show plenty of athleticism that makes his defense worth watching. He also comes to the organization with a reputation of a leader that makes him ideal for a backup catcher and future coach role.

C Kody Huff

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 5’10, 198

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Why he’s not ranked: At 22 in Low-A lat year, Huff was able to draw walks against younger and less experienced pitching but didn’t show much in the way of hitting.

Why he’s here: Huff was one of the best defensive catchers at Low-A last year, maybe the best. His defense could be strong enough to carry him to a backup role.

Comments: Huff was probably too old to be in Low-A last year and in High-A this year may still be too old. We’ll see if his plate discipline carries to the next level as it might be his best offensive ability to pair with his defense that could give him enough of a skill set to pair with his defense to fill a future backup catcher role.

Fallen Prospects

RHP Tanner Burns

Age: 25

Height/Weight: 6’0, 210

Throws: Right

Why he’s not ranked: Burns was moved into a bullpen role late last year and throughout the year saw his usually good control slip and still hasn’t quite carried his velocity from college to Double-A as a starter.

Why he’s here: Will a new bullpen role help Burns’ stuff tick up a little and thrive in a way he wasn’t in 2023 as a starter? He has the pedigree of SEC success and is a former first round pick.

Comments: Burns’ velo didn’t take much of a step forward as a reliever late last year and it will be interesting to see if he sticks in that role and what kind of opportunity he’ll have in 2024. The Guardians did invite him to major league spring training. 

RHP Lenny Torres Jr.

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 6’1, 190

Throws: Right

Why he’s not ranked: It’s been a tough couple of years for Torres Jr., andh he’s moved into a bullpen role to take advantage of his stuff and negate his control issues. As a former first rounder (competive balance round), his control and stuff just hasn’t developed as projected.

Why he’s here: Torres Jr. can run it up to 99 and has a big slider and could make a good back end type reliever if he can harness it.

Comments: In two years in a bullpen role now, Torres Jr. has shown he can miss bats with his velocity and slider, but hasn’t been consistent enough with his control and can get hit hard at times when he misses his spots, despite the big stuff. This is a big year for Torres Jr., potentially his last before hitting minor league free agency.

1B/OF Micah Pries

Age: 25

Height/Weight: 6’3, 210

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Why he’s not ranked: At 25 in Triple-A last year, it was a big spot for Pries to take advantage of a weak spot in the organization (otufield and first base) to build off his big 2022 season. Unfortunately he had contact issues and didn’t hit the way he did in 2022 despite playing in a more hitter friendly park.

Why he’s here: Even though it was a down year for Pries in ‘23, he still has enough pop, speed and versatility as an outfielder and first baseman to be a potential bench bat.

Comments: Pries has long been a late bloomer in many ways as a prospect, so even though he will turn 26 in a few weeks, it won’t be a shock to see him rebound in 2024 to have a solid year at Triple-A. The question will be if it will be enough to earn him a big league look.

3B Gabriel Rodriguez

Age: 22

Height/Weight: 6’3, 215

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Why he’s not ranked: Rodriguez saw his strikeout rate spike and his ability to make contact take a serious hit in his first taste of Double-A.

Why he’s here: Rodriguez is still a slick fielding third baseman, has the ability to work a walk, and has good raw power. He’s also still the highest paid international prospect for the Guardians in the J2 era.

Comments: It looked like Rodriguez was finally seeing his potential reazlied with a strong 2022 with the bat. But that took a step back in 2022, showing more swing and miss issues. He was coming off a shoulder injury in 2022, but Rodriguez never looked comfortable against Double-A pitching and he has a lot to prove with it in 2024 as he’ll probably repeat the level.