The Cleveland Guardians made a very interesting move this week, adding 25-year-old right-hander Wes Burton on a minor league contract that will give them the chance to see what they have in their new guy and develop him under the organizational guidelines.
Burton is a veteran of college baseball, having pitched for Ole Miss, Indiana, and Tulane, and also the Cape Cod League, the Appalachian League, and the MLB Draft League.
Despite his rather extensive track record for someone of his age, he still has a promising arm that generates elite extension thanks to his 6’8” frame, and a solid fastball that peaks in the mid-90s.
Guardians insider Al Pawlowski sees potential in Burton and believes he could potentially reach the big leagues relatively soon, in a year or two, to be specific.
He did warn, however, about one specific flaw in his game.
“Very interesting prospect. Good downward movement on pitches. Needs to improve control and reduce walks. If his control improves, he could find his way to the Guardians’ bullpen in the next year or two,” Pawlowski said via X.
Very interesting prospect. Good downward movement on pitches. Needs to improve control and reduce walks. If his control improves, he could find his way to the Guardians’ bullpen in the next year or two. https://t.co/KesFYIZhvg
— Al Pawlowski (@AlPawlowski) February 24, 2026
Burton’s most recent pitching sample came in the MLB Draft League last year, and it was scintillating, to say the least.
He struck out 30 in just 11.2 innings of work, meaning he often looked like a man amongst boys.
However, he also walked nine, which does indicate that he has some control issues.
The Guardians will try to refine his mechanics and make them repeatable and clean, so he can throw strikes more consistently.
His stuff was excellent for the aforementioned circuits, but it remains to be seen how minor league hitters can fare against him.
The problems with control weren’t exclusive to the MLB Draft League, though.
Per Baseball Reference, he gave away 56 bases on balls in 56.2 college innings over five seasons.
That’s not going to cut it, so the Guardians and Burton himself know that there is a lot of work to do.
Expecting him to make the big leagues in 2026 would be unrealistic, but there is a chance Cleveland has unearthed a gem here.
NEXT: Guardians Coach Opens Up About Relationship With Stephen Vogt
