The Cleveland Guardians are in a really good position at the moment and with the future in mind.
Their roster is good enough that they made the AL Championship Series, and their farm system is among the best in the league.
They have quality prospects up and down the ladder, and one of them is outfielder Esteban Gonzalez.
Gonzalez wasn’t ranked as a top Guardians prospect by any of the most respected publications and specialists, but he is letting his play and stats do the talking.
He may not have the pedigree, but he does have an impressive work ethic.
In fact, he is working on his swing already, at the Guardians Complex in Arizona.
“Cleveland #Guardians 21yr old OF prospect Esteban Gonzalez working on his swing out at the organizations Goodyear Development Complex. Gonzalez hit .271 with 35 XBH and 41 SB to go along with a 120 wRC+ over 97 games between (Low-A) Lynchburg and (High-A) Lake County in 2024,” Guardians Prospective wrote on his X account.
Cleveland #Guardians 21yr old OF prospect Esteban Gonzalez working on his swing out at the organizations Goodyear Development Complex.
Gonzalez hit .271 with 35 XBH and 41 SB to go along with a 120 wRC+ over 97 games between (Low-A) Lynchburg and (High-A) Lake County in 2024.… pic.twitter.com/CU8VKdmzT3
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 6, 2024
In other words, Gonzalez has some pop and impressive speed.
If he can keep climbing up the ladder and showing similar power and speed, he might have a future in MLB.
His most immediate goal is performing well at High-A.
This past season, he posted a well above average 135 wRC+ in Single-A, but produced a mediocre 81 wRC+ in 28 High-A games.
It often takes some prospects a little time to adjust to a new, harder level.
That will probably be Gonzalez’s goal in 2025.
From there, the sky is the limit as long as he continues to work hard on his dream.
NEXT: Athletics GM Shuts Down Trade Speculation On Potential Guardians Target
