The Cleveland Guardians have always taken pride in their farm system.
They have outstanding scouts and a great development coaching staff.
That’s why everybody always keeps an eye on what they do in the MLB Draft.
And while they may not have a high draft pick this time, or at least not as high as they usually do, there’s still plenty of value where they pick.
With that in mind, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicted that they will roll with Clemson star OF Cam Cannarella.
While he may not be the type of player the Guardians usually roll the dice with early in the MLB Draft, he thinks he boasts a skill set that’s similar to Steven Kwan’s:
“The Guardians have a type, frequently targeting contact-oriented middle infielders, players with power as their carrying tool and high-floor pitching talent over the years. However, this is also the lowest they are drafting 2018, so they could take more of a best-available approach. Cam Cannarella checks the contact-oriented box with a 55-grade hit tool, and he adds secondary appeal as a sure-fire center fielder with Gold Glove potential. He hit .360/.453/.551 in 865 plate appearances during his three years at Clemson, and offers enough potential value to overlook his limited power,” Reuter wrote.
Kwan has emerged to become a perennial All-Star candidate and a fan favorite.
He’s one of the most productive and overlooked players in the league, and he’s going to continue being a bargain until he’s finally eligible for arbitration.
Even so, there have been some rumors about a potential trade, and while that may not be the case, having a potential replacement or complement joining the farm system would be nice.
It might even help soften the blow for the fans if the Guardians wind up trading Kwan.
Of course, these are all projections, and there’s never any type of certainty when it comes to the MLB Draft.
But, on paper at the very least, he looks like a solid pickup who could have a bright future in this league.
NEXT: Analyst Proposes Blockbuster Guardians, Phillies Trade
