The Cleveland Guardians have plenty of young talent in their ranks. That’s not the only way to compete, but it certainly guarantees that they will stay competitive for years to come. Of course, that’s only the case if the young players step up.
With that in mind, team insider Paul Hoynes shared his thoughts on the three players he believes will break out in 2026:
“I’m going with Angel Martinez, C.J. Kayfus and Nolan Jones. Martinez hit well against lefties, Kayfus hit .286 (14 for 49) with an .885 OPS in September and Jones can’t go anywhere but up,” Hoynes wrote.
The Guardians aren’t going to spend big bucks in the offseason. If anything, they will just try to build the roster from the inside, calling up prospects and developing their young stars. If those players happen to break out and be as good as advertised, so be it. If not, they have more talent to choose from.
That should be the case again this season. Manager Stephen Vogt has already shown that he’s more than willing to give the young players a chance, up to the point where he made Chase DeLauter make his MLB debut in a playoff contest.
The Guardians have always hung their hat on their farm system, which continues to be one of the best in the game. And while banking all hopes on young players usually comes with plenty of risks, this has proven to be the right approach for this organization more often than not.
This team needs plenty of help at the plate.
And if Hoynes’ prediction is right, they will be a legitimate dark horse to come out of the American League next season.
NEXT: Guardians Linked To An Interesting Name In Free Agency
