It’s been quite a journey for Daniel Espino as Covering the Corner readers have selected him as our No. 12 Cleveland Guardians prospect. Espino won a nailbiter earning 24.6% of the vote, beating out Jace Laviolette (23.7%) and George Valera (22.9%). Espino returns to the prospect rankings after missing out last year and previously being No. 1 in 2023 and No. 4 in 2024.
Espino was a first round draft pick by the Guardians back in 2019 when the then-Indians selected him from Georgia Premier Academy
with the No. 24 pick overall. He impressed in his professional debut in 2019, then got a year off due to the lost MiLB season from the COVID pandemic. In 2021, he split time between Single-A and High-A, improving his numbers after his promotion.
In the leadup to the 2022 season, Espino’s hype started to skyrocket and he became a top 10 overall prospect in MLB. He blew away Major League hitters in Spring Training, then dominated Double-A to the tune of a disgusting 51.5% strikeout rate.
But then the injuries began.
It started with some knee soreness, and while rehabbing the knee, he sustained a compensation injury to his shoulder, causing him to miss the final four months of the 2022 season. Many hoped the injuries would heal on their own, but Espino instead required anterior capsule repair surgery on his shoulder in May 2023. To make matters worse, he required additional surgery on the same shoulder the following year.
In total, he missed over three full years of baseball before he finally returned to the mound to pitch two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Columbus late last season. He zipped his fastball at 98 mph and his slider looked as devastating as ever. He then logged 4 and 2/3 scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League with seven strikeouts. He’s back … knock on wood.
I doubt Cleveland stretches Espino back out to be a starting pitcher again, but if he does — and he stays healthy — Cleveland has an ace up its sleeve. More likely is him becoming a key cog in the back end of the bullpen. Regardless, I couldn’t be more excited for his 2026 season.
Now, it’s time to determine who is number 13 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.
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)
2025 (A): 14 G, 82.0 IP, 1.85 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 21.4 K%, 11.7 BB%, 1.09 WHIP
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.
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.
Joey Oakie, RHP (Age 19)
2025 (ACL): 9 GS, 35.0 IP, 7.46 ERA, 4.67 FIP, 27.6 K%, 13.5 BB%, 1.69 WHIP
2025 (A): 6 GS, 24.1 IP, 2.22 ERA, 4.48 FIP, 30.7 K%, 14.9 BB%, 1.32 WHIP
Cleveland’s 3rd round pick in 2024 out of high school, Oakie got off to a rough start in the Complex League, but then absolutely dominated when promoted to Single-A Lynchburg with a pair of 11 strikeout performances.
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.
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.
George Valera, OF (Age 24)
2025 (ACL) 63PA, .421/.460/.702, 4 HR, 0 SB, 7.9 BB%, 17.5 K%, 196 wRC+
2025 (AAA): 107 PA, .255/.346/.457, 3 HR, 0 SB, 12.1 BB%, 25.2 K%, 114 wRC+
2025 (MLB): 48 PA, .220/.333/.405, 2 HR, 0 SB, 14.6 BB%, 27.1 K%, 113 wRC+
Former top prospect returned from a torn knee and put up good enough numbers to finally make his MLB debut with Cleveland in 2025. Hit a memorable home run against the Detroit Tigers in the playoffs.
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, RHH OF
12. Daniel Espino, RHP
