The people (or person?) have spoken and Parker Messick is our No. 3 Guardians prospect. Messick won by about 20 votes, earning about 40% of the vote total. He moves up a whopping 10 spots from No. 13 last
year.
Messick was Cleveland’s second round draft pick in 2022, selected No. 54 overall out of Florida State. He made a name for himself by winning the pitcher vs. hitter battle against Chase DeLauter when their teams duked it out.
He made his pro debut at Single-A Lynchburg in 2023, posting a 3.03 ERA and striking out 26% of opposing hitters with an elite 2.73 FIP over 13 starts. This earned him a midseason promotion to High-A Lake County, where he was a bit more hittable, but his strikeout rate actually climbed to 26.3% in 13 additional appearances spanning 65 innings while topping 10 K/9 for the first time.
Cleveland repeated Messick at High-A to begin 2024 and he improved in every facet as his strikeout rate to 28.2% with an excellent 3.38 FIP over 13 more starts and 68 innings. The biggest surprise was how the former Seminole performed when he was promoted to Double-A. Upon his arrival, everything started clicking. Messick’s K/9 jumped a full strikeout from 10.59 to 11.65 and opponents struggled to make consistent contact with a .190 batting average against. He also posted career-best 2.06 ERA with an elite 2.77 FIP.
Last season, Messick began the year with a promotion to Triple-A, where he was good, but not great, posting a 3.47 ERA over 20 starts with a 29.1% strikeout rate. Late in the season, Cleveland gave him an opportunity and he took full advantage, pitching extremely well to the tune of a 2.72 ERA over seven starts with the Guardians, becoming an important staple of a six-man rotation that carried Cleveland to a stunning Central Division title. Most impressive was Messick’s control, walking a miniscule 3.6% of batters he faced, a career low.
Messick will have every opportunity to earn a spot in Cleveland’s starting rotation to begin the 2026 season.
Now, it’s time to determine who is number four in the Guardians’ loaded farm system! Your options are below:
Jaison Chourio, OF (Age 20)
2025 (CPX) 27 PA, .261/.370/.304, 0 HR, 1 SB, 14.8 BB%, 37.0 K%, 95 wRC+
2025 (A+): 353 PA, .235/.380/.284, 2 HR, 9 SB, 18.7 BB%, 21.8 K%, 103 wRC+
Chourio was lining up to be Cleveland’s top prospect after a sensational 2024, but he was slowed in 2025 by a nagging shoulder injury and had a very average season. He’s looking to bounce back in 2026.
Braylon Doughty, RHP (Age 20)
2025 (A): 22 GS, 85.1 IP, 3.48 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 27.3%, 6.4%, 1.25 WHIP
Cleveland’s competitive balance first round pick in 2024, Doughty debuted in full-season ball and put up solid numbers in his age-19 season at Single-A, showcasing elite control.
Angel Genao, SS (Age 21)
2025 (CPX) 32 PA, .308/.438/.654, 3 HR, 0 SB, 18.8 BB%, 12.5 K%, 177 wRC+
2025 (AA): 341 PA, .259/.323/.359, 2 HR, 6 SB, 8.5 BB%, 15.8 K%, 103 wRC+
Had an average regular season in 2025 after missing the first two months with a shoulder sprain, which likely sapped his power after he came back in June.
Cooper Ingle, C (Age 23)
2025 (AA) 403 PA, .273/.391/.443, 9 HR, 0 SB, 16.1 BB%, 17.4 K%, 148 wRC+
2025 (AAA) 107 PA, .207/.383/.329, 1 HR, 0 SB, 19.6 BB%, 16.7K%, 105 wRC+
Ingle has shown excellent offensive tendencies for a catcher. Will his defense and power be enough to earn an opportunity in Cleveland this year?
Jace LaViolette, OF (Age 22)
2025 (NCAA) 262 PA, .258/.427/.576, 18 HR, 7 SB, 21.8 BB%, 25.2K%, 120 wRC+
Cleveland’s first round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the 6-foot-6 LaViolette instantly becomes one of the top power hitting prospects in the system. Strikeouts and contact have been an issue, however.
Khal Stephen, RHP (Age 23)
w/ TOR 2025 (A) 7 GS, 39.1 IP, 2.06 ERA, 1.97 FIP, 31.4 K%, 4.6 BB%, 0.92 WHIP
w/ TOR 2025 (A+): 9 GS, 48.1 IP, 1.49 ERA, 2.70 FIP, 26.6 K%, 5.4 BB%, 0.85 WHIP
w/ TOR 2025 (AA): 1 GS, 4.0 IP, 6.35 ERA, 1.88 FIP, 11.1 K%, 5.6 BB%, 1.68 WHIP
2025 (AA): 4 GS, 11.1 IP, 9.00 ERA, 9.54 FIP, 21.9 K%, 3.9 BB%, 1.50 WHIP
Acquired from Toronto in the Shane Bieber trade, Stephen rocketed through the minor league system in 2025 before hitting a wall in Double-A. He instantly became one of Cleveland’s top pitching prospects.
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B (Age 20)
2025 (A+) 418 PA, .245/.323/.469, 17 HR, 1 SB, 9.6 BB%, 20.3 K%, 120 wRC+
2025 (AA): 126 PA, .330/.405/.589, 5 HR, 0 SB, 9.5 BB%, 15.1 K%, 188 wRC+
Was Cleveland’s most impressive hitter in the minor leagues in the second half of 2025 after getting off to a slow start at Single-A. Dominated after being promoted to Double-A Akron.
NOTE ON POLL: We have moved to Google Forms Surveys in an attempt to eliminate vote spammers. Please vote below. Voting will close at 10pm ET
