The Cleveland Guardians have made very good use of their prospects this season, with rookies Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana among those who have helped them control first place in the AL Central. But as would be expected given the depth of their farm system, the Guardians have a host of other players making their mark throughout the minor leagues.
One of the potentially overlooked prospects from that group is Alfonsin Rosario, who is ranked No. 13 in the Guardians’ pipeline by MLB.com. In his first full season at Double-A, the 21-year-old is showing that his path to the majors remains on track.
The Guardians’ outfield prospect recently earned a notable minor league recognition, as he was named to MLB.com’s Prospect Team of the Week.
“The 2023 sixth-rounder has one of the best power-speed combinations in the Guardians’ farm system — it’s just been a matter of making enough contact. Rosario struck out just twice in 29 plate appearances while collecting 10 hits and five walks. He also delivered his second multihomer game of the season while reaching base safely five times on Friday, aiding him to his first Prospect Team of the Week appearance since July 25,” Ben Weinrib wrote.
The team features one player from any minor league level at each fielding position, with a left-handed and right-handed starting pitcher, plus one reliever. Rosario earned his second career mention after posting a slash line of .455/.517/1.000 in six games for Akron, going 10-for-22 with three home runs, three doubles, 13 RBIs, and seven runs scored, with five walks and just two strikeouts.
As Weinrib noted, the lack of strikeouts is notable, as it was one facet of Rosario’s game that may have been holding him back. Last season, he struck out 137 times in 434 minor league at-bats, and this year he has 55 in 136 ABs.
A sixth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs out of high school, the Guardians acquired Rosario in a trade after the 2024 season for pitcher Eli Morgan, who had spent eight years in the Cleveland organization. Rosario could be a potential trade piece again at this year’s MLB deadline.
After a breakout 2025 season, Rosario this year has a slash line of .250/.342/.544 in 38 games with Akron, with nine home runs and 30 RBIs. He is one of a deep pool of outfield prospects that includes Ralphy Velazquez (No. 2), Jace LaViolette (No. 6), Juneiker Caceres (No. 8), Jaison Chourio (No. 9), and Kahlil Watson (No. 12).
That is a lot of competition for a major league roster spot, but if Rosario continues to produce, he could arrive in the next couple of years.
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