Now that Sept. 1 has arrived, the Cleveland Guardians are taking advantage of the opportunity to expand their roster to 28 players. They reportedly will promote utilityman Daniel Schneemann and relief pitcher Carlos Hernandez, who should be able to help the team during the pennant race.
But the Guardians are drawing criticism for leaving a potential impact player in the minors. Power-hitting first baseman Ralphy Velazquez certainly had done enough to draw serious consideration, but there are several factors at play that prevented his promotion.
Analyst Anthony Lima is questioning why the Guardians aren’t calling up Velazquez, lamenting the fact that fans will never know if he could have helped the team go on a long playoff run.
“Obviously, [Ralphy Velazquez’s] not getting the call-up. If he hits another eight home runs and he’s just cashing through time and time again, we’re just never gonna know. We’re just gonna be sitting here never knowing if this guy would’ve produced. It’s the whole sport. We’re just sitting here playing a guessing game on whether a guy is mature enough to handle something like that,” Lima said.
"Obviously, he's not getting the call up…we're just gonna be sitting here never knowing if this guy would've produced."
➡️ @SportsBoyTony and @KenCarman on whether the #Guardians should be calling up Ralphy Velazquez pic.twitter.com/fsuu8oAABz
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 1, 2026
A first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Velazquez proved beyond a shadow of doubt that he deserved his in-season promotion to Triple-A. He hit 21 home runs in 75 games with a slash line of .281/.364/.551.
It can be argued that in almost any other year, Velazquez would have been called up to make his major league debut long before now, especially when the Guardians were desperate for a solution at first base. However, the equation is made much more complicated by the ongoing labor strife between MLB and the players’ union.
With a lockout seen as the most likely path next season, the Guardians have to weigh Velazquez’s development against what he could provide this season. If he were to be put on Cleveland’s active roster, he would not be able to play in the minors next year in the event of a work stoppage. Not knowing how long that could last, it could greatly hinder a 21-year-old potential star like Velazquez.
“This lockout is getting in the way. Last year, it did not stop them from putting Chase DeLauter on the roster in the postseason, because they weren’t afraid of a lockout coming up last year,” Ken Carman said.
Based on their stellar reputation for handling their prospects, Cleveland can be given the benefit of the doubt for that decision. However, if the Guardians fall short of the playoffs, it will be rightfully second-guessed for a while, much like their similar decision regarding Francisco Lindor more than a decade ago.
Hopefully, it will all work out for Velazquez, and he will reach the majors during an uninterrupted 2027 season.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals How Many Wins Guardians Need To Make Playoffs
