The Cleveland Guardians were in a position to make a high-risk/high-reward selection.
They had the No. 27 pick in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and with it, an opportunity to swing for the fences.
That’s why they did just that with Jace LaViolette.
The Texas A&M standout was one of the most intriguing prospects in this class, as he has the size, athleticism, and strength to be a deadly slugger at the next level.
Nevertheless, his struggles at the plate might give him a lot of trouble in the big show.
Even so, given his upside, raw power, and the fact that he was once in the conversation to be the first player off the board, Jack Murray of Bleacher Report gave the Guardians an A- grade for this selection:
“The Cleveland Guardians opted to snag a booming bat with their first round pick. Laviolette hit .258/.427/.576 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs in 56 games for Texas A&M. He has a 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame and was rated as the No. 20 overall prospect by MLB.com. He will likely not hit for average at the Major League level but his power should definitely translate. He was a four-year player for the Aggies and entered the 2025 season as a potential option for the top pick. Instead, the Guardians snag him late in the first round and will hope he can develop into a powerful bat,” Murray wrote.
Of course, it will take some time before LaViolette is ready to take his talents to the majors, if ever.
But the Guardians desperately crave some offensive help in the outfield and in the middle of the lineup.
From a physical perspective, LaViolette is built like an absolute unit, and he could certainly handle the wear and tear of a full MLB season and hold his own against MLB-caliber players.
Unfortunately, he still has plenty of things to clean up at the plate, starting with his tendency to chase pitches, even fastballs.
If he can be more disciplined at the plate and read pitches better, he could be an absolute wrecking ball.
NEXT: Guardians Prospect Named 'Biggest Boom-Or-Bust' Pick In Draft
