Guardians’ Recent Acquisition Showing Considerable Potential In High-A

This past winter, the Cleveland Guardians traded second baseman Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Spencer Horwitz and minor league outfielder Nick Mitchell.

Then, a few hours later, Cleveland flipped Horwitz to the Pittsburgh Pirates for three pitchers: major league right-hander Luis L. Ortiz, and prospects Michael Kennedy and Josh Hartle.

Hartle was a third-round pick from last year and is brimming with potential, and that has Guardians officials very excited.

He is a projectable arm with a bright future entering a world-class organization when it comes to developing pitchers.

Hartle has been excellent for the Guardians’ High-A team, the Lake County Captains.

After another excellent start on Sunday, he is showing the full extent of his talent and has dominated in three starts for the Captains.

His last two have been particularly impressive.

“Cleveland #Guardians 22yr old LHP prospect Josh Hartle was dealing again for Lake County, fanning five Fort Wayne batters over four scoreless innings of work. Line – 4.0(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 5SO (57 Pitches 37 Strikes). Last two starts: 8.0 (IP) 6H 1R 0ER 2BB 11SO, 0.00 ERA,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.

Cleveland #Guardians 22yr old LHP prospect Josh Hartle was dealing again for Lake County fanning five Fort Wayne batters over four scoreless innings of work.

Line – 4.0(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 5SO

(57 Pitches 37 Strikes)

Last two starts:

– 8.0(IP) 6H 1R 0ER 2BB 11SO 0.00 ERA… pic.twitter.com/u4agLHLoNX

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) April 21, 2025

Hartle has a brilliant 2.38 ERA in the young High-A season, in 11.1 innings.

He has allowed just three earned runs in those 11.1 frames, and they all came in his first game.

In the last two, he has been virtually unhittable.

Here is what MLB Pipeline wrote about Hartle’s stuff before the season:

“At his best, Hartle exhibits advanced feel for a plus slider, solid cutter, and average fastball and changeup. His heater sat at 89-92 mph and topped out at 94 with less life and command last spring, and he became reluctant to throw it when it got pounded. His low-80s slider and upper-80s cutter weren’t as sharp as in the past, and his sinking mid-80s changeup rarely landed in the zone.”

The Guardians will likely improve all his pitches, and there is certainly something to work with here even if the fastball is not special.