2 Guardians Prospects Who Could Get Called Up By The End Of The Summer

Once upon a time, Naylor was a long shot to make it to the majors.

So how is he already on the precipice of a call-up?

A major improvement, that’s how.

In 2021, Naylor was dreadful, hitting .189 for Akron.

But so far in 2022, Naylor has put those problems squarely in the rearview.

With Triple-A Columbus, Naylor is slashing .300/.410/.560, with three homers and 11 RBIs through 13 games.

Further, Naylor is highly athletic, with 12 stolen bases so far this season, which explains this write-up from MLB.com:

“He’s quicker and more athletic than most backstops and has become adept at receiving, framing and blocking pitches. His solid arm strength enabled him to throw out 31 percent of basestealers last season.”

So the Guardians need a catcher, and Naylor is waiting in the wings.

Seems like an easy decision, right?

Not so fast.

It’s apparently going to take a lot for Manager Terry Francona to lose faith in Cleveland’s current backstop Austin Hedges.

Hedges, while offensively nonexistent, is an excellent defender, and the pitching staff generally does better when he suits up.

Throwing Naylor in might give the team a boost, but he’ll need to build up chemistry and rapport with pitchers, and that only comes with time.

Logan Allen, LHP

Another tradition of call-up season is giving future big-league starting pitchers a few innings of work.

And Logan Allen might be the next name to do so.

So far this season, Allen owns a 4.29 ERA and is holding opposing batters to a .233 average.

Allen came over to the Guardians in the Trevor Bauer trade; MLB.com provided the following analysis of the lefty:

“One of the most polished pitchers in the 2020 college class, Allen expertly mixes three pitches, the best of which is a plus low-80s changeup with fade and sink that’s effective against both left-handers and right-handers.”

If the Guardians’ current woes continue, expect Cleveland to make a few deals to better position themselves in the long-term.

That might include shipping off another pitcher, like Zach Plesac.

But lest fans be worried about moving yet another starter, there could be better options in the offing, including Daniel Espino and Gavin Williams.

But first, expect Logan Allen to get some time, especially if the staff wants to look at its future pitching options.