Alfonsin Rosario’s 2026 season ended on a sour note, but the Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect is already working to change that story. The 22-year-old is spending his winter in Venezuela, playing for Bravos de Margarita in one of the most competitive offseason leagues in the world. He is also one of the younger players in the league, more than six years younger than the average player. Through his first few games, Rosario has shown the power that made him one of the more intriguing bats in Cleveland’s system.
“Cleveland #Guardians 22yr old OF prospect Alfonsin Rosario collected a pair of hits today (2-4 2R HR 2RBI SB) driving in two runs including an absolute rocket for his 1st HR in the Venezuelan Winter League for his club Bravos de Magarita! First 4 games of LVBP: 4-15 3R 1HR 3RBI 3BB 3SO 1SB AVG .267 OBP .389 OPS .856,” Guardians Prospective wrote.
Cleveland #Guardians 22yr old OF prospect Alfonsin Rosario collected a pair of hits today (2-4 2R HR 2RBI SB) driving in two runs including an absolute rocket for his 1st HR in the Venezuelan Winter League for his club Bravos de Magarita!
First 4 games of LVBP:
4-15 3R 1HR 3RBI… pic.twitter.com/oYtTB6tgWo
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 9, 2026
Rosario went 2-4 in that game with two runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base. Through his first four games with Margarita, he is 4-15 with three runs, a home run, three RBIs, three walks, three strikeouts and a stolen base. That works out to a .267 average, a .389 on-base percentage and an .856 OPS.
The power is no surprise. Rosario is a strong, right-handed hitting outfielder at 6 foot and 222 pounds, and he spent the first half of 2026 doing serious damage at Double-A Akron. In 66 games with the RubberDucks, he hit .270 with a .350 on-base percentage, a .569 slugging percentage, 16 home runs, 52 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. His .918 OPS earned him a promotion to Triple-A Columbus on July 13.
That is where things got tough. Rosario struggled badly in his first taste of Triple-A, hitting just .163 with two home runs and 65 strikeouts in 164 plate appearances over 42 games. He was more than four years younger than the average International League player, and the jump in competition showed. Overall, he finished 2026 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a .774 OPS across both levels, but he also struck out 155 times.
Strikeouts have been the biggest obstacle throughout his career. Rosario struck out 147 times in 2024 and 137 times in 2025, though he has consistently paired that swing and miss with real power and speed. He has topped 15 home runs in each of the last three seasons, and he hit 21 homers with an .806 OPS in 2025.
Rosario’s path to Cleveland was not a typical one. The Chicago Cubs drafted him in the sixth round in 2023 out of P27 Academy in Lexington, South Carolina, and he joined Cleveland’s organization before the 2025 season. The Guardians thought enough of him to invite him to big league camp this past spring.
This winter is a valuable chance for him to rebuild his confidence and work on his approach against quality pitching. If he can cut down on the strikeouts while keeping the power and speed that make him dangerous, Rosario could be ready for another crack at Triple-A next spring. For an organization that badly needs right-handed power in the outfield, a strong winter from Rosario would be a very welcome sign.
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