Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 5/15/25
CJ Kayfus continues to take over RF and more injuries and rehabs still dominating Guardians minor league story lines
SCOREBOARD:
Columbus Clippers 14, Omaha Storm Chasers 10
Akron RubberDucks 9, Chesapeake Baysox 2
Lake County Captains 9, Great Lakes Loons 1 (Game 1)
Lake County Captains 2, Great Lakes Loons 0 (Game 2)
Lynchburg Hillcats 4, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3
ACL Padres 5, ACL Guardians 3
Right now, Travis Bazzana is out with an unknown injury from Wednesday, May 14. Ralphy Velazquez missed both ends of Lake County’s double-header Thursday. Jaison Chourio is on the IL with a shoulder strain and Alfonsin Rosario has missed a week with a wrist injury. A lot of position player injuries for the Guardians right now is unfortunate, but some players are rehabbing and making comebacks.
REHAB
David Fry (DH, ACL): 0-2, BB, K, R - Fry has been the DH twice and drew his first walk in rehab action so far as he ramps back up.
George Valera (RF, ACL): 0-2, K - This was Valera’s first game back after a torn patella tendon last year. Interesting timing that the Guardians have so many players hurt in the minors right now and guys like Valera and DeLauter are rehabbing, making comebacks. Now we just need Daniel Espino…
Nick Mitchell (CF, ACL): 1-2, BB, CS - Mitchell should be getting close to joining Lake County since they need bodies soon and he’s player a few rehab games now in the ACL.
HIGHLIGHTS
CJ Kayfus (RF, Columbus): 4-6, 3B, 2 RBI, K, Assist - Kayfus had himself another hot game with four hits, including another triple and he added an outfield assist from RF as he continues to get more work there. Again, the strikeouts are up in Triple-A and he’s not ready for the majors right now, but he’s really developed well this year and is making a case as an option in 2025 if right field doesn’t keep working out. It will be very interesting to see what happens with RF between Kayfus and DeLauter returning.
Brayan Rocchio (SS, Columbus): 2-6, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K - Well, you can say Rocchio hasn’t taken his demotion lying down. He’s hitting since he got there. We’ll have to wait to find out if he’s making any true tangible changes that will help him in the majors eventually or if he’s really good at hitting Triple-A pitching.
Kahlil Watson (CF, Akron): 3-6, HR, 3 RBI - Watson has gotten off to a hot start to 2025 after missing the very early part of the season with an injury. The strikeouts are still a bit high but is down over last year and the batted ball profile is good (more fly balls than grounders but not as many as a year ago, but still a good pull percentage overall and less flares the opposite field). Still important to note that he’s only 22 as of a month ago and has big tools, talent and overall athleticism.
Cooper Ingle (C, Akron): 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K - Speaking of players who really have it going recently, despite a lower average because of a slower start, Ingle has a similar OBP and a better slugging percentage at Double-A than a year ago now. He’s also transformed his batted ball profile, now hitting more fly balls than grounders (45.4% a year ago, now 30% and up to 47.4% fly balls and a higher pull rate -42%). Ingle is scorching in May at .324/.479/.649 with 11 walks and 11 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances. There is a case for him to see Triple-A this year at this rate.
Tommy Mace (SP, Akron): 5.2IP, 3H, 3BB, 7K - Mace is having himself a good season but is 26 in Double-A in his second year. This is one of his better games with strikeouts but the walks are up this year above a year ago.
Jacob Cozart (DH-C, Lake County): 3-6, 3B, HR, RBI - Unfortunately, Cozart has struggled to hit pro pitching since being drafted last year but this was his first homer and he hit it pretty good to the opposite field.
Josh Hartle (SP, Game 1, Lake County): 5.2IP, 5H, ER, 4K - It’s very safe and easy to say that Hartle has been the best pitching in High-A Lake County this year. The velo is still sitting around 90-92 and hitting 93, but his control is better and his cutter/slider combo looks much better too, as does his change. He should have a chance to get to Double-A this year now that he’s regained some of what made him good at Wake Forest.
Yorman Gomez (SP, Lake County): 4IP, 3H, BB, 6K - We haven’t seen much of Gomez this year as he had a late start due to injury and has been a piggyback arm but it was a solid outing overall in the double header and he kept his control.
Jogly Garcia (SP, Lynchburg): 5IP, 4H, ER, 7K - Garcia has had a lot of good outings this year but this might be his best, not allowing a walk and fanned seven more in five innings. The 21 year old with a good breaking ball is at least drawing attention to himself in Low-A so far this year.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Johnathan Rodriguez (LF, Columbus): 3-3,3 RBI - I’ll point out once again Rodriguez hasn’t stopped hitting again this year. But the fact Cleveland has given more reps to Kayfus in RF and moved Rodriguez to LF, where there is no path in Cleveland and where offense isn’t needed, is telling about their interests and the pecking order.
Vince Velazquez (SP, Columbus): 3IP, 0H, 6BB, 5K - Well, Velazquez didn’t allow any hits in a game where there were a lot, but he walked six. So if he’s back on the 40 man roster again this year, that might be a worst case scenario again.
Joe Lampe (RF, Akron): 2-4, SB - Lampe has a solid four steals this year despite a low batting line.
Dayan Frias (3B, Akron): 1-3, HR, RBI, 2 BB, K - Frias has shown some good power this year with four homers so far and is drawing some walks. He’s striking out a ton, but as a good defender with pop that can switch hit and walk and run, he might make a nice utility player. He’s similar to Jose Tena, though Tena had better bat to ball skills at this level and was younger.
Christian Knapczyk (2B, Lake County): 2-7, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 SB, 2 BB, 4K - It wouldn’t be a normal day for Lake County without Knapczyk continuing to hit and he even drew three walks, which is good, and added three steals. It is worth noting he did strikeout four times as well. He continues to have a great breakout at High-A this year.
Jeffrey Mercedes (3B, Lynchburg): 1-3, 3 RBI - Mercedes’ single in the eighth inning gave the Hillcats the win and he’s been solid overall in Low-A despite not being a big name prospect.