When a prospect gets drafted or signed by an MLB team, the first thing that most talent evaluators and scouts look at is power. By now, it’s been well established that the ability to hit home runs is the most attractive trait a young player can have.
Of course, power without the ability to put the wood on the ball is nothing, but if the player in question can knock the ball out of the park, he will, at least, get some chances.
Then you have the speedsters, the forgotten stolen base artists who can change the course of the game with their legs. No, it’s not as impressive as a guy hitting 450-foot bombs regularly, but it can be quite captivating, too.
The Cleveland Guardians have one of the most impressive speedsters in the minor leagues in Tommy Hawke. The soon-to-be-24-year-old just set a record on Friday that requires your attention.
“Captains’ franchise record SB! Cleveland Guardians 23-year-old (2B/OF) prospect Tommy Hawke reached base 5x tonight (1-2, R, 4 BB, 6 SB), setting a Lake County record with six stolen bases, tying the Midwest League record. Hawke now has 92 SB over his last 103 games since the start of the 2025 season,” Guardians Prospective said.
Captains franchise record 6️⃣ SB!
Cleveland #Guardians 23yr old (2B/OF) prospect Tommy Hawke reached base 5x tonight (1-2 R 4BB 6SB) setting a Lake County record with six stolen bases tying the Midwest League record.
Hawke now has 92 SB over his last 103 games since the start of… pic.twitter.com/YrFHdAL1tR
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 20, 2026
Just like a power hitter is nothing without at least some contact, speedsters’ value is tied to their ability to get on base. Thankfully for the Guardians, Hawke is an OBP machine, or at least that has been the case in the low minors.
Without his keen eye at the plate, Hawke wouldn’t have been on base as many times as he was to have a chance to swipe six bags in one game.
This year, he has put together a jaw-dropping slash line of .301/.469/.376 with a 136 wRC+. The power is non-existent, as he has racked up just one home run since being taken in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, but his .418 OBP in his minor league career tells us he can get on base almost at will.
When he’s on, he wreaks havoc with his speed, as his 92 thefts since the start of last season prove. That’s an incredible total.
Hawke already has 27 stolen bases in the young 2026 campaign, and he has been caught just five times. Last year, he racked up 65 thefts and was caught just five times, too. The effectiveness is ruthless.
Hawke is slowly earning his promotion to Double-A, where his on-base ability and speed will be tested by better pitchers and catchers, respectively. What he’s done to this point, however, is amazing.
NEXT: Unexpected Guardians Player Is Trending Towards An All-Star Nod
