The Cleveland Guardians are struggling in 2025 thanks to a lifeless offense that has taken a step back, partly due to trading Josh Naylor in the offseason, which has left a seismic hole in the heart of the lineup that nobody has been able to fill.
The season is teetering on the edge of falling off a cliff, and there is a dire need for the farm system to start churning out some impact bats over the next few years to help turn things around, which is why it was nice to see one of the team’s top prospects get some national recognition for his performance of late.
MLB Pipeline shared on X recently that 2023 first-round pick Ralphy Velazquez has been bumped up to a top-10 first base prospect now that Kansas City Royals slugger Jac Caglianone has officially graduated to the majors.
#Guardians 2023 first-rounder Ralphy Velazquez enters the Top 10 1B Prospects list upon Jac Caglianone's graduation.
Scouting grades, stats and more on the 20-year-old who has 33 XBH at High-A this season: https://t.co/eZZdP6p6wH pic.twitter.com/DGDxiEYJXA
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 19, 2025
The 20-year-old Velazquez has just a .224 average with High-A, but he has shown some impressive thump at the dish with 15 doubles, six triples, and 12 home runs in 75 games.
He is listed at 6’3″ and 240 pounds, which is impressive for someone his age, and it will be exciting to see how much more strength and power he can add over the next few years, which should hopefully translate into even more pop at the dish.
Carlos Santana obviously isn’t the long-term solution at first base, and C.J. Kayfus should reach the majors before Velazquez and could be an answer at the position, though he has shown the capability to play the outfield.
Velazquez could be the cornerstone bat and first baseman of the future, and it’s nice to see him get some recognition for his uptick in power so far this year.
NEXT: Guardians Named Favorites To Sign Intriguing Shortstop Prospect
