2025 MLB Farm Review: Cleveland Guardians

There was no shortage of talent on the Hillcats this season. Lynchburg, the team that won the Carolina League title, had help from a cornucopia of collegiate talent that came through late. Dean Curley, Nolan Schubart, Anthony Martinez, and Anthony Silva were among those individuals who got their feet wet in pro ball.

However, perhaps the most notables were the pitchers.

Lynchburg had two pitchers from the top four rounds of the 2024 Draft: first-rounder Braylon Doughty and Rafe Schlesinger. Both performed well. Doughty struck out 99 over 85 innings, while Schlesinger punched out 88 over 83.2 IP. Neither were major swing-and-miss guys. Both, though, had GB% rates north of 50%.

Twenty-year-old left-hander Melkis Hernandez struck out 116 over 113 innings and posted a Whiff% north of 32%.

For much of 2025, the Hillcats had two of the best swing-and-miss pitchers in the Carolina League: 21-year-old left-hander Luis Flores. Flores, a three-pitch pitcher (fastball, slider, changeup), struck out 71 over 43.1 IP for the Hillcats.

The other was Sean Matson, a starter/reliever from Harvard University who pitched well both collegiately and in the Cape Cod League as a bullpen arm. Matson struck out 70 over 59 innings, and opposing batters hit just .161 off him.

Moving to the bats, Welbyn Francisca was a bonus baby nearly three years ago, as the 19-year-old signed for $1.375MM in 2023. The good news was that Francisca didn’t have a ton of swing-and-miss (22% Whiff%), walked a lot (51 over 428 PA), and stole 45 bases. However, the slash line was .229/.320/.302, one year after he picked up 20 extra-base hits over 45 contests.

Lake County Captains

Over a year ago, the Guardians traded Andres Gimenez to the Blue Jays, a move that had cascading effects. Cleveland acquired Spencer Horwitz in the deal, who was quickly moved to the Pirates in exchange for three pitchers: Major Leaguer Luis Ortiz, and two prospects: Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy.

The acquisition of Ortiz worked — until it didn’t for off-the-field reasons. However, the two other pitchers were fascinating arms. Michael Kennedy was a former fourth-rounder who had fluctuating velo in Low-A, ranging from 87-94 MPH with his heater. Hartle, meanwhile, was a dynamite for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in 2023 but allowed a lot of hard contact in 2024.

Both pitched in Lake County this season. Kennedy’s peripherals were fine; he struck out 61 over 62.1 IP and allowed only five home runs, although he lacked swing-and-miss. Hartle finished 2025 with the best GB% in the Midwest League, one that sat just a shade below 62%. The left-hander posted a 26% Whiff% and struck out 100 over 103.1 IP.

Hartle, a five-pitch pitcher with mid-90s velocity on the four-seamer and two-seamer, coupled with a cut-slider, curveball, and changeup, has the weapons necessary to work both lefties and righties.

The big swing-and-miss pitcher on the Captains’ staff was Jackson Humphries, who posted a Whiff% north of 32% and struck out 102 over 96.2 IP. Opposing teams couldn’t hit him well. However, he walked 91, almost a batter an inning.

Matt Wilkinson (27.9% Whiff%) and Caden Favors (27.4% Whiff%) also averaged over a strikeout per inning, and walked fewer bats, as well.

As for the offense, it was a big year for former first-round pick Ralphy Velazquez, who blasted 17 home runs and 43 extra-base hits overall. He also took his walks at the dish, as Velazquez walked 40 times over 94 contests before he moved to Double-A. Also, not that much swing-and-miss, as he posted a sub-24% Whiff%.

The Captains had some power hitters, as Alfonsin Rosario and Wuilfredo Antunez both had slugging percentages north of .490. There’s also young outfielder Jaison Chourio, a switch-hitter and younger brother of Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio.

Jaison slashed .235/.380/.284 (.664 OPS) with two home runs and nine extra-base hits over 79 games. He’s not the kind of hitter Jackson is. However, he too made consistent contact.

Akron Rubberducks

No, Travis Bazzana didn’t make it to the Majors in his first full pro season, something that some of his other peers from the 2024 MLB Draft were able to do. However, despite multiple IL stints throughout the year, it wasn’t a lost one.

Bazzana slashed .256/.364/.426 with five home runs and 20 extra-base hits over 51 games, along with 29 walks. And, a 19.4% Whiff%. Diminished power numbers from Bazzana, who missed nearly two months on the IL with an oblique injury. He was moved to Columbus in August.

Arguably, the big standout this season was Cooper Ingle, who could be the future starting catcher in Cleveland. Ingle slashed .273/.391/.441 with nine home runs and 38 extra-base hits. He certainly sets a tone at the plate, as he walked 65 times over 92 games and sported one of the best take percentages in the Eastern League.

Ralphy Velazquez and Wuilfredo Antunez both hit well after in-season promotions. Velazquez posted a .994 OPS with five home runs and 16 extra-base hits over 28 games. And again, little swing-and-miss (24.3% Whiff%). As for Antunez, he slashed .301/.333/.528 with five home runs and 17 extra-base hits over 31 games.

Angel Genoa had a sub-20% Whiff% but didn’t have a big offensive year. One year removed from 10 home runs and 52 extra-base hits over 10 games, Genao slashed .259/.323/.359 against Double-A competition.

As for the pitching staff, there weren’t too many big names on the staff. Tommy Mace and Trenton Denholm, two former collegiate pitchers who’ve been in the system for a while, were among the innings leaders. Mace, once a high-end college prospect from Florida, had one of the 20 lowest Whiff% (21.9%) in the circuit (min. 250 swings).

Rorik Maltrud, an undrafted free agent picked up after the 2023 college season, had a 30.9% Whiff%. Maltrud walked 30 and struck out 68 over 63 innings.

One more note on Akron: Khal Stephen, acquired from the Blue Jays for Shane Bieber last July, struck out 11 but gave up 17 hits over 11.1 IP with the Rubberducks. It was a small sample size for Stephen, a dominant pitcher in A-ball and one with a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Mid-90s fastball, changeup, curveball, slider, and sinker, plus a cutter.

Columbus Clippers

We covered left-hander Parker Messick more extensively in August when the Guardians promoted him to the Majors. Messick, despite command troubles, was one of the most effective pitchers in the International League.

Messick struck out 119 batters over 98.2 IP, thanks in large part to a good fastball that played up in the zone, along with a good changeup and slider.

The 25-year-old was the standout among a Clippers’ pitching staff that had notable names. Will Dion, Ryan Webb, and former MLBer Doug Nikhazy all put up mixed results in the IL.

Right-hander Austin Peterson, a ninth-round pick from the 2022 MLB Draft, didn’t put up eye-popping numbers — at least in Triple-A. Peterson, who opposing hitters only hit .186 off of in the Eastern League this season, struck out 78 over 90.2 IP. However, that was enough to get protected in the Rule 5 Draft.

Offensively, Milan Tolentino hit 21 home runs but struck out 158 times. C.J. Kayfus hit for power and worked opposing hitters, even though he was willing to expand the zone at times. Kayfus hit 13 home runs and 31 extra-base hits over 68 games with Columbus.

Then, there’s Chase DeLauter. DeLauter, who showed a penchant to make consistent contact and hit for power throughout his Minor League career, slashed .278/.383/.476 with five home runs and 14 extra-base hits over 34 games. He earned a call-up during the 2025 Wild Card round.

However, injuries limited him again in 2025. DeLauter needed wrist surgery during the year.

Early Projected Top 5 for 2026

1. Travis Bazzana
2. Chase DeLauter
3. Cooper Ingle
4. Parker Messick
5. Jace LaViolette

Bazzana is the clear #1 of this group — although he may not be an eligible prospect for long. The former first-overall pick is on the cusp of cracking through to Cleveland.

After that, DeLauter is a potential impact who can be a dynamic hitter if he can stay healthy. Health has been the main limiter for him at the Minor League level.

Messick gets a bump after his strong August & September with the big club, making him the highest-rated pitching prospect, beating out the likes of Doughty and newcomer Khal Stephen.

Arguably, the big question among the top five is Jace LaViolette, who entered 2025 as a potential 1-1 pick but ended it with hit tool concerns. From a ceiling standpoint, LaViolette may be ahead of Velazquez, who has a legitimate argument to be in the top five.