The Cleveland Guardians made a big-time selection on Sunday night.
Taking Texas A&M OF Jace LaViolette with the No. 27 overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft might turn out to be one of the biggest steals of the night.
At least, that’s how Jensen Lewis feels.
Shortly after the Guardians made the selection, the MLB analyst gushed about his potential:
“Top-5 potential, plenty of big time pop & a necessity for a team who needs middle of the order power,” he said.
.@CleGuardians took Travis Bazzana at No.1 overall last year & follow that up with Jace LaViolette, who many believed had a shot to be the No.1 overall pick entering this season.
Top-5 potential, plenty of big time pop & a necessity for a team who needs middle of the order power
— Jensen Lewis (@JLEWFifty) July 14, 2025
LaViolette was projected to be taken in the early 20s, so it was kind of surprising to see him slide a little further.
He’s turned plenty of heads since his days in high school, looking like a grown man among toddlers and showcasing impressive power.
He’s coming off a down junior season, and he clearly has to improve his plate discipline.
But when it comes to a pure upside and physical perspective, LaViolette might end up being the best player in this class.
He set Aggies records with 68 home runs and 169 walks, and he played a huge role in leading the school to the College World Series Finals last year.
LaViolette possesses an impressive left-handed stroke and mesmerizing power.
He’s built like a small forward, standing at 6-foot-6 and towering over most of his opposition.
On a down note, his .258 batting average has plenty to do with his tendency to chase pitches, even fastballs, and he had a 25 percent strikeout rate in his final year in college.
Still, given the team’s needs and his unlimited upside, this was a pick the Guardians just had to make at that point in the first round.
NEXT: Guardians' Top Picks Prove They Went To The Draft With 1 Clear Mission
