MLB teams have a unique opportunity to add young talent to their organizations this weekend, with the 2026 draft starting on Saturday. This is where the Cleveland Guardians usually thrive.
In 2021, they took Gavin Williams with their first-round pick, and he went on to become a frontline MLB starter. In 2022, they selected outfielder Chase DeLauter with their first pick, and he is heating up again.
Their 2023 first-round pick, Ralphy Velazquez, is playing well in Triple-A, and the 1B/OF could make his MLB debut later this year. As for 2024 No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana, he is already an All-Star second baseman. The Guardians, clearly, know their stuff.
They have the 19th pick in the first round and are going into the draft with an open mind. There are certain players they like, and one of them is reportedly right-handed pitcher Cameron Flukey.
Keith Law of The Athletic believes, from what he has heard around the league, that Flukey would be the Guardians’ selection if he is available at 19.
“I’ve heard that Flukey won’t get past the Guardians. Generally, I’ve heard more college players here than high school players. I mentioned Chris Rembert, a young college player with strong contact skills and good batted-ball data, last time, as he also fits the archetype of their preferred hitter,” Law wrote.
Flukey is a 21-year-old right-hander with three years and 180.2 innings of experience at Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt Conference. He has posted a 4.08 ERA in college, with 232 strikeouts.
The 2025 campaign was his best, as he put up a 3.19 ERA in 101.2 innings with 118 Ks. His 2026 season was hindered by a rib injury.
Jackson Flora and Gio Rojas are the only two pitchers who are clearly ahead of Flukey on most draft boards, so the Guardians would be getting the third-best hurler in the class, which is good value at No. 19. The righty is armed with a mid-to-high-90s fastball with carry, a solid curveball, and a good slider. He is lacking a changeup to combat lefties, but the arsenal is excellent as things stand, and he has lots of room to improve, plus some experience.
He is the type of arm that the Guardians should covet if they decide not to go for a position player.
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