Guardians’ Prospect Named Top Candidate For MLB Callup

Heading toward spring training, the Cleveland Guardians are planning to solve their offensive woes by adding some heralded prospects to their lineup. Rookies Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana could both make their regular-season MLB debuts as soon as Opening Day.

After that, there is another young player in line to join them, maybe sooner rather than later. Though Juan Brito has been with the organization much longer than either of the other two, the 24-year-old could finally make his MLB debut this season.

Insider Tim Stebbins recently identified the Guardians’ utility prospect as a top candidate for an MLB callup in 2026.

“Brito has long been one of the Guardians’ most intriguing position-player prospects. The switch-hitter has a career .273/.382/.449 slash line over six seasons in Cleveland’s organization, and he can play around the diamond. He played at second, first and right field in the minors last season, while also playing at second and first in winter ball this offseason with Toros del Este in the Dominican Republic. The Guardians gained a fourth minor league option on Brito due to his injuries last year. If he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, he’ll be one of the top initial candidates for a callup from Columbus,” Stebbins wrote.

As Stebbins said, Brito can play both the infield and outfield, which could put him in line for a promotion at multiple positions should the need arise. That could be because of an injured list stint or subpar play by one of the incumbents on the major league roster.

Like DeLauter and Bazzana, injuries have delayed his MLB arrival so far. Last season, thumb surgery and a hamstring injury limited him to 24 games in Triple-A. However, in 2024 for Columbus, he appeared in 144 games and posted an OPS of .808 with 21 homers.

For a team starving for run production like the Guardians, adding another bat like that would be highly beneficial. DeLauter, an outfielder who made his MLB debut in the 2025 postseason, is expected to give a boost to the lineup right away, as is Bazzana, a second baseman who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

However, if either of those top prospects falters out of the gate, Brito could be an intriguing option to replace them. Cleveland is also likely looking for more offense from potential shortstops Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio, so Brito could be a replacement there as well.

With a minor league option remaining, Brito could have his debut delayed past the season opener, but he is surely in line to get the call at some point this year.