Chase DeLauter just wrapped up one of the best rookie seasons by a hitter in recent Cleveland Guardians history, and there may be another bat on the way that could make a similar impact. The Guardians’ offense struggled for much of 2026, finishing near the bottom of the majors in runs, OPS and home runs, and finding more production at the plate is one of the top priorities this winter. Some of that help could come from inside the organization. Cleveland’s top prospect, Ralphy Velazquez, put together a monster season in the upper minors, and he is expected to be part of the big league picture in 2027. Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto, who has watched Cleveland’s farm system for decades, said he is excited to see what Velazquez can do, calling him “the best minor league hitting prospect” he has seen in the organization since DeLauter at Lake County in 2023.
“Guardians may have their next Chase DeLauter in farm system. “I’m excited to see what Ralphy Velazquez can do. He is the best minor league hitting prospect I’ve seen in the Cleveland farm system since I watched DeLauter at Class A Lake County in 2023,” Pluto wrote.
That is high praise, considering how DeLauter’s career has unfolded. After rising through the system, the former first-round pick hit .287 with sixteen home runs and a team best 131 OPS+ as a rookie this year. He then set a franchise record for hits by a rookie in a single postseason and was named to The Athletic’s All-LCS team after going 8-21 with a homer against the Rays.
Velazquez’s numbers suggest he could follow a similar path. The 21 year old hit .290 with 29 home runs and a .927 OPS over 121 games between Double A Akron and Triple A Columbus this season. MLB Pipeline ranks him as Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect and No. 29 overall. To put his power into perspective, no player who began the 2026 season with the Guardians hit twenty home runs at the major league level.
That kind of power is exactly what Cleveland needs.
His most likely landing spot is first base, where the Guardians have some uncertainty. Nathaniel Lowe and Rhys Hoskins are both free agents, and while Lowe is a potential reunion candidate, the bigger question is Velazquez’s timeline. Cleveland could bring in a veteran to hold down the position early in the season before handing the job to the young slugger, or it could give him the chance to win it right away. David Fry and Kyle Manzardo are also in the mix, though Manzardo was sent to Triple A after the trade deadline following a down season.
The Guardians have seen what can happen when they trust young hitters. DeLauter, Travis Bazzana and Petey Halpin all delivered big moments this October. If Velazquez develops the way Pluto expects, he could be the next young bat to change the look of Cleveland’s lineup, and perhaps the power threat this team has been searching for.
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