On Saturday, Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Parker Messick reminded the world that he is also a name to watch this season.
The Guards have about ten starters ahead of him in their depth chart, but that doesn’t mean Messick doesn’t deserve attention.
Quite the contrary, in fact: he has improved so much that many consider him a better prospect than many of the famous names in the system.
He tossed a gem from the mound on Saturday.
He was pitching against minor leaguers, yes, but it counts nonetheless.
In 3.1 frames, all Messick allowed was a single hit.
No runs, no walks, nothing.
Oh, and he struck out a whopping eight batters.
That’s right: of the ten outs he got, eight were via the strikeout.
A big part of his success stems from a physical transformation that saw him gain athleticism and take better advantage of his raw talent.
He is now throwing harder than ever.
“I’m not surprised to hear about Parker Messick sitting 94+ mph and popping 96+ mph yesterday (@CleGuardPro). Messick has worked hard to reshape his frame and get in better condition. As such positioning himself better paired with a stronger, more athletic frame,” prospects writer Willie Hood posted on X.
I'm not surprised to hear about Parker Messick sitting 94+ mph and popping 96+ mph yesterday (@CleGuardPro). Messick has worked hard to reshape his frame and get in better condition. As such positioning himself better paired with a stronger, more athletic frame.
— Willie Hood (@WillHoo99) March 9, 2025
A lefty throwing 94-96 is definitely someone to keep an eye on.
If he is athletic and can keep his velocity deep into games, the sky is the limit.
Messick is also young at 24 years old and has a strong track record of success as a prospect.
Last year, he posted a brilliant 2.83 ERA between High-A and Double-A, in 133.2 innings.
He fanned a mind-blowing 165 foes.
Messick was particularly dominant in Double-A, with a 2.06 ERA in 14 games (13 starts.)
If the Guardians are aggressive, they will place Messick in Triple-A Columbus to start the year and see what happens.
He could very well become a contributor in Cleveland later this year.
NEXT: Guardians' Senior VP Of Public Affairs Is Impressed With Star Pitcher's Recovery
