The Cleveland Guardians aren’t the type of big-market team that’s just going to throw money out of the window to get stars. They take pride in finding and developing their own stars, mostly knowing that they can’t compete with big-market teams.
With that in mind, the MLB Draft is a pretty big deal for this organization. It might not draw as many eyeballs as the NBA or NFL Draft for obvious reasons, and it certainly takes much more patience, but still.
Considering that, the fans might be thrilled to know that the Guardians will be in a great position in 2026. As reported by MLB insider Joe Trezza, they will have the No. 19 and No. 29 selections.
The Guardians turned plenty of heads when they took Texas A&M slugger Jace LaViolette in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. While he was considered to be a potential No. 1 pick at one point, an injury – that ultimately ruled him out for the minor league campaign this season – and his strikeout rate ultimately made him fall to their laps.
He’s not the prototypical Cleveland Guardians draft pick, and it might signal the start of a shift in their approach. Given their need for power and more help in the outfield, they might prioritize those types of players going forward, as opposed to the defensive-minded, contact-oriented middle infielders they usually made a living out of getting.
NEXT: Analyst Names Guardians' 'Biggest Question' This Offseason
