The Cleveland Guardians are one of the most prolific pitching factories in MLB.
They are particularly adept at producing high-end relief pitching prospects, which has certainly contributed to a league-best bullpen in 2024.
They have drafted, signed, or traded for exciting relievers like Cade Smith, Andrew Walters, Pedro Avila, Tim Herrin, Emmanuel Clase, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis, and many more currently in the minor leagues waiting for their chance.
One of those in the last group is Jack Leftwich, a 26-year-old righty.
Leftwich was a seventh-round draft pick in 2021 and spent the entire season in Double-A Akron.
Determined to maximize every drop of talent he has in his body, Leftwich went where dozens of aspiring minor leaguers and even experienced major leaguers go when they want to improve their overall performance: Driveline.
“Cleveland #Guardians RHP relief prospect Jack Leftwich currently training @DrivelineBB this off-season. Leftwich struckout 68 batters over 59.1 innings collecting 10 saves for Double-A Akron in 2024,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians RHP relief prospect Jack Leftwich currently training @DrivelineBB this off-season.
Leftwich struckout 68 batters over 59.1 innings collecting 10 saves for Double-A Akron in 2024.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/h2Ya8hvVZG
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) December 21, 2024
With an above-average strikeout rate stemming from a good fastball and an even better slider, Leftwich definitely has a future in MLB and it could potentially come as early as 2025.
According to Guardians reporter Justin Lada, he experienced an amazing turnaround in performance this year in the summer, after a couple or rough opening months.
“From April-June, Leftwich compiled a 7.97 ERA with a 5.65 FIP. He had a 32/10 strikeout to walk rate in 35 innings. From July-on, it was 2.93 with a 3.53 FIP, with 38 strikeouts and 15 walks in 43 innings,” he wrote.
His final ERA in Double-A was 4.25, but he showed he can be a factor in MLB one day with his second half performance.
He will probably start next year in Triple-A, and from there, everything will depend on his performance.
NEXT: Guardians Infielder Receives Cool Reminder Of Winter Success Last Year
