The Cleveland Guardians have dug deep into their talented prospect pool this season, with 10 players making their MLB debuts. Some have been much more successful than others when given that chance.
Travis Bazzana became an AL All-Star at second base, while Juan Brito, who was promoted ahead of Bazzana, is no longer with the organization. Outfielder Chase DeLauter lived up to his advanced billing, but Cooper Ingle did not.
Infielder Angel Genao was the latest to make his debut, arriving this month as the organization’s No. 1 overall prospect, according to MLB.com. Meanwhile, its No. 2 prospect, first baseman Ralphy Velazquez, is waiting for his call.
While doing so, the Guardians prospect earned a nod among MLB’s biggest risers, moving up 57 spots in its overall prospect ranking, all the way to No. 32.
“With 42 newcomers and 10 draftees, that means we have 48 prospects who were on both the preseason list and this update. Of those 52 vacated spots, 34 graduated to the big leagues. Here are the 10 prospects who made the largest leaps up the list from the preseason: +57: Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/OF, Guardians (No. 89 to 32),” Jonathan Mayo wrote.
Since being promoted to Triple-A Columbus in mid-May, Velazquez has a .259/.341/.496 slash line with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs in 61 games. A first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the left-handed hitter has 56 homers in 326 career games.
The 21-year-old is seen as Cleveland’s potential first baseman of the future, and that future could have arrived this season. With Kyle Manzardo struggling, the Guardians went out and acquired Nathaniel Lowe from the Cincinnati Reds before the MLB trade deadline.
Manzardo was demoted to Triple-A, leaving a platoon of Lowe with veteran Rhys Hoskins at the position. It is an opening that could have been filled by Velazquez had he been just a little bit further along in his development.
Cleveland may not have wanted to make the same mistake it did with Ingle, bringing up, at the time, its No. 3 prospect. Inserted into the outfield after playing catcher for most of his minor league career, Ingle struggled both in the field and at the plate before being sent back down.
With major league rosters expanding by two players on Sept. 1, there is still a chance Velazquez could be the latest Guardians prospect to make his MLB debut this season, especially if the offense continues to struggle as it has for much of the campaign.
NEXT: Guardians Make Concerning Slide In Latest MLB Power Rankings
