To get an idea of how good the Cleveland Guardians have been at the MLB Draft recently, look no further than their current roster. The Guardians remain a legitimate playoff contender thanks to the ability of the players who were selected over the past few years.
Cleveland’s pitching staff is led by 2021 first-round pick Gavin Williams and 2022 second-round choice Parker Messick. The Guardians’ lineup is being powered by outfielder Chase DeLuater, a first-round pick in 2022, and second baseman Travis Bazzana, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2024.
They also have had success in the important later rounds, with outfielder Steven Kwan a fifth-round pick in 2018, and pitchers Hunter Gaddis and Tanner Bibee as fifth-round picks in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Valuable untiltyman Daniel Schneeman was a 2018 choice in the 33rd round, which doesn’t even exist anymore.
This year, the Guardians have landed on an impressive list with their 2026 draft haul, with MLB.com ranking their class at No. 4.
“Known for their ability to develop pitching, they snared three high-upside arms: Liam Peterson (first round), whose stuff rivals anyone’s in the college ranks; Logan Schmidt (second), who’s already reaching 98 mph at age 17; and Savion Sims (seventh). As for bats, Houston outfielder Tre Broussard (third) and Louisville outfielder Lucas Moore (fifth) were two of the fastest college players in the draft; Wake Forest first baseman Kade Lewis (fourth) was one of the better pure hitters in the college ranks; and Oklahoma catcher Deiten Lachance (sixth) has huge raw power,” Callis wrote.
Cleveland is ranked behind the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 1, the AL Central rival Chicago White Sox at No. 2, and the Tampa Bay Rays at No. 3. The White Sox and the Rays had the advantage of having the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks, respectively, and the Cardinals had the benefit of multiple supplemental selections.
The Guardians drafted 20 players, with 13 pitchers and seven position players. The group was headlined by Peterson, a 6-foot-5 right-hander out of the University of Florida. Schmidt and Sims are high school pitchers with upside who are committed to play at LSU and Oklahoma, respectively.
Broussard may be a hidden gem, as he and Moore add a different profile to the Guardians’ system that is a bit top-heavy with free-swinging power hitters. Lewis is projected to be used at both corner infield positions, and if Lachance can provide power from the catching position, it would be a boon for the organization overall.
With one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, the Guardians need to rely on successful drafting to remain successful, and this latest class is the next part of that process.
NEXT: 2 Guardians Who Need A Better Second Half Than First
