The people have spoken and Joey Oakie is our No. 15 Cleveland Guardians prospect for 2026. Oakie raked in an impressive 40.6% of the vote, beating out Alfonsin Rosario (20.8%), Juneiker Caceres (16.0%)
and (11.3%).
Oakie was Cleveland’s third round draft pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Ankeny Centennial High School in Iowa.
Unlike second round pick and fellow prep player Braylon Doughty, Oakie did not immediately debut in full-season Single-A to begin his professional career, instead kicking off in the Arizona Complex League in early May.
Oakie did not get off to the best start to his professional career, walking four players in two innings in his first game with three wild pitches. He ended up making 12 appearances (nine starts) with the ACL Guardians and while his strikeout rate was solid at 27.6%, he also posted a high walk rate of 13.5% with a whopping 7.46 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in 35.0 innings pitched.
Despite his struggles, Cleveland decided to promote Oakie to full-season Single-A Lynchburg. After arriving in the Carolina League, a switch got flipped for Oakie. Three of his six starts with the Hillcats were scoreless, with the final two being two of the most dominant outings of any pitcher in Cleveland’s system for all of 2025.
On August 28th, Oakie struck out 11 batters and did not allow a single hit while walking four in 5.0 innings against Washington’s Single-A affiliate. He followed that up five days later by obliterating the Baltimore affiliate with another 11-strikeout performance, this time only walking one and allowing one hit without allowing a run in 4.2 innings.
When the playoffs rolled around, Oakie was Lynchburg’s game one starter, tossing 4.0 innings with six strikeouts to lead the team to a 2-1 victory and Lynchburg went on to win the Carolina League championship.
Oakie stands 6-foot-3 with a significant amount of projection in every single one of his pitches. Walks still appear to be an issue, but the fact that Oakie’s performance got stronger in his final starts of this debut season is extremely promising. Most high school players struggle down the stretch, but if he can tap into the version of himself that became nearly unhittable, he could be one of Cleveland’s top prospects by the end of the 2026 campaign.
Now, it’s time to determine who is number 16 in the Guardians’ loaded farm system and you now have a whopping 10 players to choose from! Your options are below:
Juneiker Caceres, OF (Age 18)
2025 (CPX) 160 PA, .289/.419/.469, 3 HR, 5 SB, 16.9 BB%, 11.3 K%, 139 wRC+
2025 (A): 130 PA, .250/.331/.345, 1 HR, 2 SB, 6.9 BB%, 13.1 K%, 103 wRC+
Impressed at the complex league, then hit the ground running in a late season promotion to Single-A before running out of steam late in his age-17 season. Loaded with potential.
Dean Curley, 3B (Age 21)
2025 (NCAA) 294 PA, .315/.435/.531, 14 HR, 8 SB, 15.3 BB%, 16.0K%, 118 wRC+
2025 (A) 35 PA, .242/.286/.273, 0 HR, 1 SB, 5.7 BB%, 31.4K%, 67 wRC+
Cleveland’s second round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Curley plays all infield positions, but needs polish. He was part of Lynchburg’s championship run after joining the team late in the 2025 season.
Dauri Fernandez, SS (Age 18)
2025 (ACL) 176 PA, .333/.398/.558, 6 HR, 16 SB, 9.1 BB%, 12.5 K%, 147 wRC+
2025 (A): 24 PA, .273/.250/.318, 0 HR, 2 SB, 0 BB%, 12.5 K%, 57 wRC+
One of Cleveland’s top performers in the Arizona Complex League in 2025. Undersized, but makes solid contact and doesn’t strike out often. Earned a small taste of full-season ball at the end of the year.
Franklin Gomez, LHP (Age 20)
w/ Mets 2025 (A): 14 G, 82.0 IP, 1.85 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 21.4 K%, 11.7 BB%, 1.09 WHIP
w/ Mets 2025 (A+): 6 GS, 48.2 IP, 1.70 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 23.4 K%, 9.9 BB%, 1.83 WHIP
Acquired from the Mets in a trade for international bonus cash, Gomez lit up Single-A in his age-19 season, then improved his walk and strikeout numbers after being promoted to High-A.
Yorman Gomez, RHP (Age 23)
2025 (A+): 17 G, 76.0 IP, 2.84 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 27.3 K%, 9.5 BB%, 1.11 WHIP
2025 (AA): 10 G, 45.2 IP, 3.15 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 28.0 K%, 9.5 BB%, 1.25 WHIP
Venezuelan prospect who broke out in with increased velocity in 2025, putting up nearly identical numbers at both High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. Gomez was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster.
Josh Hartle, LHP (Age 22)
2025 (A+): 22 GS, 103.1 IP, 2.35 ERA, 3.06 FIP, 24.0 K%, 8.9 BB%, 1.05 WHIP
2025 (AA): 2 GS, 10.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 16.3 K%, 4.7 BB%, 1.50 WHIP
Acquired from Pittsburgh in the Spencer Horwitz trade, Hartle was one of Cleveland’s most successful starting pitchers in its minor league system in 2025. Stands 6-foot-6, but doesn’t have a ton of velocity.
Austin Peterson, RHP (Age 26)
2025 (AA): 11 GS, 55.0 IP, 1.47 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 23.9 K%, 4.9 BB%, 0.84 WHIP
2025 (AAA): 15 GS, 90.2 IP, 4.27 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 20.2 K%, 7.8 BB%, 1.37 WHIP
Absolutely dominated Double-A to begin 2025 looking well on his way to repeating his tremendous 2024 season, but then struggled after an early-season promotion to Triple-A. Remains on the 40-man roster.
Gabriel Rodriguez, SS (Age 18)
2025 (ACL) 122 PA, .294/.393/.402, 1 HR, 11 SB, 12.3 BB%, 18.9 K%, 116 wRC+
One of Cleveland’s top recent international signings, Rodriguez put up strong offensive numbers in his stateside debut in his age-18 season in 2025. Expected to transition to full-season ball this year.
Alfonsin Rosario, OF (Age 21)
2025 (A+) 354 PA, .268/.362/.490, 16 HR, 12 SB, 10.8 BB%, 25.1 K%, 139 wRC+
2025 (AA): 145 PA, .211/.303/.391, 5 HR, 2 SB, 10.3 BB%, 33.1 K%, 105 wRC+
One of Cleveland’s most impressive hitters in its minor league system during his stint at High-A Lake County as a 20-year-old. Rosario has a unique combination of speed and power, but will need to overcome his strikeouts.
Andrew Walters, RHP (Age 19)
2025 (AAA): 12 G, 12.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 1.91 FIP, 46.0 K%, 18.0 BB%, 1.17 WHIP
2025 (MLB): 2 G, 1.1 IP, 13.50 ERA, 9.89 FIP, 33.3 K%, 0.0 BB%, 1.50 WHIP
Walters maintains his rookie status due to limited MLB appearances because of an injury in 2025. If he returns at 100%, he’ll once again be a factor in the back end of Cleveland’s vaunted bullpen.
Our list so far:
1. Chase DeLauter, LHH OF
2. Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B
3. Parker Messick, LHP
4. Ralphy Velazquez, LHH 1B/RF
5. Angel Genao, SH SS
6. Braylon Doughty, RHP
7. Cooper Ingle, LHH C
8. Khal Stephen, RHP
9. Juan Brito, SH 2B/1B/RF/3B
10. Jaison Chourio, SH OF
11. Kahlil Watson, LHH OF
12. Daniel Espino, RHP
13. George Valera, LHH OF
14. Jace LaViolette, LHH OF
15. Joey Oakie, RHP
