The Cleveland Guardians have several young hitters to choose from for fans who want to get a spring training glimpse of what the future of the team might look like. Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana headline a list of prospects who could make their mark as early as Opening Day.
However, another potential star may still be a year away, no matter how well he performs. Yet that won’t stop Ralphy Velazquez from doing the best he can.
The young Guardians slugger turned heads at spring training with an excellent debut against the Athletics.
“Cleveland Guardians [20-year-old] (1B) prospect Ralphy Velazquez reached base all three plate appearances today (2-2, R, 2 RBI, BB) vs the A’s, including this 2-run opposite field base hit in the 3rd inning,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians 20yr old (1B) prospect Ralphy Velazquez reached base all three plate appearances today (2-2 R 2RBI BB) vs the A's including this 2-run opposite field base hit in the 3rd inning.
Video – @CleGuardians#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/qyAkyhwwBM
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) February 22, 2026
Velazquez walked in his first at-bat in the second inning, and he followed this single with a leadoff base hit in the sixth inning. He came around to score on a groundout.
He was replaced by Carter Kieboom in the 6-0 victory, which was Cleveland’s third in a row to open the Cactus League season. In split-squad games against the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, C.J. Kayfus and Kyle Manzardo started at first base.
It goes to show the long odds Velazquez faces to make his major league debut this season. The position was made even more crowded by the spring training signing of veteran Rhys Hoskins, who could become part of a platoon with Manzardo while they also share time with Kayfus at DH.
Yet, it shouldn’t be long after that for Velazquez to make his presence felt with the Guardians. He ended last season as their No. 9 overall prospect, according to MLB.com, following a season when he posted a .994 OPS in 28 games after a promotion to Double-A.
A first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, he has 35 home runs and 154 RBIs in 229 games over two-plus minor league seasons. At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, he would not look out of place in any MLB lineup.
His first spring training home run should come sooner rather than later, and it will be something for fans to look back on as he works his way toward Cleveland someday.
NEXT: Guardians Reveal Starters For Key Spring Training Stretch
