As the Guardians’ minor league teams close their seasons, let’s take a look at some names who are standing out and bear watching for the future.
Columbus Clippers
Hitters
Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B – 151 wRC+, 22.9/23.9 K/BB%
Chase DeLauter, LHH RF – 130 wRC+, 15.4/14.8 K/BB%
Kahlil Watson, LHH CF – 117 wRC+, 25.6/12 K/BB%
Pitchers:
No particular standouts here, but I will mention that Austin Peterson has shown flashes of brilliance and doesn’t walk guys. He still has potential as a fifth starter-type.
Analysis:
I am fearful of the swing-and-miss and chase for Watson, but, I think if he can get his centerfield defense major-league ready, he could have a place as a guy whose pop gets him to around 100 wRC+. Bazzana has had his ups and downs but, as long as he finishes strong, I think we should feel optimistic about him helping the big league team early in 2026. With the news today that DeLauter will play in the Arizona Fall League again, let’s hope he can stay healthy and be the starting right fielder for Cleveland in April.
Akron Rubber Ducks
Hitters
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/OF, LHH 20 years old – 209 wRC+, 15.2/12.1 K/BB%
Wuilfredo Antunez, OF, RHH 23 years old – 162 wRC+, 17.3/4.5 K/BB%
Jacob Cozart, C, LHH 22 years old – 110 wRC+, 25/7.9 K/BB%
Angel Genao, SS, SHH 21 years old – 96 wRC+, 16.9/8.9 K/BB%
Notes: Alfonsin Rosario and Jonah Advincula ended in Akron after great years with Lake County, but neither player has particularly proven they can handle Double-A yet. Advincula is 24 and Rosario is 21, leaving a good bit more hope for Alfonsin becoming at least a lefty-masher corner outfielder someday.
Pitchers
Yorman Gomez, RHP, 22 years old – 2.47 FIP, 11.51/3.98 K/BB/9
Matt Jahec, Jake Miller and Steven Perez have had solid seasons in relief work. None have looked like locks to be major leaguers, yet, but all bear continued monitoring.
Analysis: There are still lots of reasons to be optimistic about Cozart and Genao, but neither is looking like a potential 2026 call-up yet. Which is ok! Cozart’s year, especially, has been wildly encouraging. I will be interested to see if Antunez has done enough to put himself on the 40-man this December; otherwise, he’ll again be exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Velazaquez and Gomez are the exciting names on this list. If Ralphy continues what he’s been doing, he’ll force his way on to the Guardians’ roster in 2026, and Gomez looks like he has solid ML relief floor.
Lake County Captains
Hitters
Bennett Thompson, RHH C, 22 years old – 145 wRC+, 13.3/14.7 K/BB%
Ryan Cesarini, LHH OF, 22 years old – 138 wRC+, 16.4/10 K/BB%
Nick Mitchell, LHH OF, 22 years old – 128 wRC+, 16.9.15.1 K/BB%
Pitchers
Rafe Schlesinger, LHP, 22 years old – 3.01 FIP, 10.8/4.05 K/BB/9
Josh Hartle, LHP, 22 years old – 3.06 FIP, 8.71/3.22 K/BB/9 (just promoted to Akron)
Michael Kennedy, RHP, 20 years old – 3.79 FIP, 8.81/3.61 K/BB/9
Analysis: Some older hitters here for the playoff Captains (Thompson, not so much, given he is a catcher), but all three provide excellent contact ability and have shown some surprising pop. I’d start all three in Akron to begin 2026 and hope they continue their current trajectories. The pitchers, meanwhile, are all quite exciting. If Hartle can get some more whiffs, Kennedy can stay healthy, and Schlesinger can control the walks, all three are looking like major league starters at some point and should begin 2026 in Akron together. (Note how young Kennedy is, as well!).
Lynchburg Hillcats
Hitters
Luke Hill, RHH 3B, 21 years old, 179 wRC+, 17.7/17.7 K/BB%
Nolan Schubert, LHH 1B/OF, 21 years old, 163 wRC+, 36.4/22.7 K/BB%
Riley Nelson, LHH 1B, 21 years old, 148 wRC+, 18.5/4.6 K/BB%
Aaron Walton, RHH OF, 21 years old, 111 wRC+, 29.6/9.6 K/BB%
Juneiker Caceres, LHH OF, 17 years old, 102 wRC+, 13.1/6.9 K/BB%
Pitchers
Jogly Garcia, RHrP, 21, 1.42 FIP, 15.85/4.11 K/BB/9
Sean Matson, RHrP, 23, 2.40 FIP, 10.56/2.41 K/BB/9
Xavier Martinez, RHrP 22, 2.48 FIP, 11.71/4.06 K/BB/9
Logan McGuire, 22, RHrP, 2.50 FIP, 10.07/1.48 K/BB/9
Braylon Doughty, RHP, 19 years old, 2.84 FIP, 10.44/2.43 K/BB/9
Melkis Hernandez, RHP, 20 years old, 3.84 FIP, 9.18/4.04 K/BB/9
Joey Oakie, LHP, 19 years old, 4.48 FIP, 11.47/5.55 K/BB/9
Analysis: You really can’t argue for a better start to a professional career than what Hill, Schubert, Nelson and Walton have achieved so far for playoff Lynchburg and it will be exciting to see if they respond well to a promotion to Lake County early in 2026. Schubert’s K-rate is high, and he’ll have to work on lowering that. Walton looks like he needs some swing adjustments, which should help lowering his whiff rate if the Guardians’ hitting group can help him make those changes. Caceres, along with Dauri Fernandez, are teenagers playing in High-A which is exciting in itself, but Caceres has held his own which will probably get him on top 100 lists.
Hillcat pitching probably deserves an article on its own, with Garcia making his way to Lake County after a lengthy injury but looking like he’s got a chance to be a good major league reliever and all of the M-boys also showing major league reliever potential in Matson, Martinez and McGuire. The teenage hurlers, Doughty and Oakie, are quite exciting, and hopefully Doughty’s early end to the season was simply due to load management (sore shoulders being common for all pitchers). Don’t sleep on Melkis Hernandez, though, who may end up a back of the rotation guy before it’s all said and done.
Overall, this has been a very solid year for the Guardians’ system. If Lynchburg manages a solid playoff run, Bazzana finishes strong, and these talented young pitchers end the year healthy, Guardians’ fans should feel good about the system’s health for the future.
