The Cleveland Guardians needed another reliable arm down the stretch last season. With 24 games in as many days, manager Stephen Vogt had to turn to young pitchers to put together a six-man rotation.
It worked like a charm, and it propelled the late-season surge to make the playoffs. Perhaps more importantly, it also introduced another potential star.
Parker Messick, a left-hander who had been turning heads in the minors, finally got promoted to the majors, and he was even better than advertised. As shown by Guardians Prospective, he was one of the best pitchers in the American League from his debut on Aug. 20 through the end of the season.
Cleveland #Guardians LHP Parker Messick made seven starts making his MLB debut in 2025.
Messick's rankings amongst American League starters over his seven starts from 8/20/25 to the end of the season.
2) BB% 3.6%
3) SO/BB 6.33
3) BB/9 1.36
3) LOB% 86.2%
5) FIP 2.98
6) fWAR 1.0…— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) December 1, 2025
In seven starts, he ranked second in walk percentage (3.6 percent). He was third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.33), walks per nine innings (1.36), and left on base percentage (86.2 percent).
If that wasn’t impressive enough, he also ranked fifth in FIP (2.98) and sixth in fWAR (1.0) and ERA (2.72). Last but not least, he posted the ninth-best strikeout-to-walk percentage (9.4 percent) and the 10th-best home run per nine innings rate (0.91).
Despite not drawing as much attention as other prospects, Messick climbed his way up the farm system with his impressive performance at Triple-A Columbus. Now, he should be a lock to make the Opening Day roster. He and fellow rookie lefty Joey Cantillo should be two of the main starters taking the mound in 2026 and for many years to come.
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