The people have spoken and Chase DeLauter is Covering the Corner’s No. 1 Cleveland Guardians prospect for 2026. Delauter who pulled in an impressive 59.5% of the vote totals, more than 155 votes ahead of second place. Guardians fans are ready to see him in action at the MLB level (during the regular season).
DeLauter was the Guardians’ first pick in the 2022 MLB Draft (16th overall) after a spectacular college career at James Madison University and a strong performance in the Cape Cod League.
A nagging
foot injury prevented him from debuting the year he was drafted, and offseason surgery on said foot delayed the start to his 2023 season, but once he started, he never stopped hitting.
DeLauter clobbered the ball at High-A Lake County in 2023, slashing .366/.403/.549 over 42 games with 18 doubles and four home runs. He eventually earned a late season promotion to Double-A Akron, where he kept on hitting, slashing .364/.464/.409 in a small sample size.
Perhaps most impressive was DeLauter’s performance in 2024 Spring Training, where he went postal, slashing .474/.545/.842 in 11 games with a pair of home runs, calling for some fans to demand he make the team’s opening day roster.
Unfortunately, DeLauter’s 2024 season included three separate stints on the injured list with a left foot sprain, turf toe, and finally a hamstring injury that ended his season. Before that, he advanced to Triple-A Columbus and continued to impress (when healthy).
It seemed 2025 was going to be DeLauter’s year, but injuries again delayed his breakout. He missed the beginning of the season with hernia surgery. Upon his return, he fractured his hamate bone and required surgery again. Incredibly, he was healthy at the end of the season, putting up a 130 wRC+ at Triple-A in 126 plate appearances and Cleveland felt it was time to debut him at the MLB level — during the freaking 2025 MLB playoffs. DeLauter played a pair of games in the wildcard round, earning a walk and collecting his first MLB hit (does it count as your first hit if it’s not in the regular season?).
With Cleveland not adding any major free agents in the offseason and letting Will Brennan, Jhonkensy Noel and Lane Thomas go, it appears a starting outfield opportunity is wide open for DeLauter as long as he can stay healthy — which is a big question mark. DeLauter’s maximum games played in a single season thus far has been … 57 in 2023. I’m keeping my fingers crossed he could make it over 100 this year.
Travis Bazzana, 2B (Age 23)
2025 (CPX): 26 PA, .222/.462/.333, 0 HR, 1 SB, 30.8 BB%, 15.4 K%, 137 wRC+
2025 (AA): 228 PA, .256/.364/.426, 5 HR, 9 SB, 12.7 BB%, 24.1 K%, 136 wRC+
2025 (AAA): 120 PA, .225/.420/.424, 4 HR, 2 SB, 24.2 BB%, 26.7 K%, 138 wRC+
Selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bazzana was remarkably consistent at both Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, although he was hampered by a pair of oblique injuries.
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.
Parker Messick, LHP (Age 25)
2025 (AAA) 20 GS, 98.2 IP, 3.47 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 29.1 K%, 10.3 BB%, 1.22 WHIP
2025 (MLB): 7 GS, 39.2 IP, 2.72 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 23.0 K%, 3.6 BB%, 1.31 WHIP
Guardians 2022 2nd round pick. Pitched well at Triple-A, then improved his numbers after earning a late-season promotion into Cleveland’s starting rotation.
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.
This poll will close at 10pmET tonight.
