Who were the hits and misses of the Guard’s 2023 draft?
As we continue our coverage of the upcoming 2024 MLB draft, which begins July 14th, I’ll be reviewing the last four Cleveland Guardians drafts, which have added considerable depth to their minor league system.
Unlike in the 2021 and 2022 drafts, Cleveland was unable to sign all 21 of their picks last year, failing to secure high school arms Mac Heuer (16th round) and Ryan Marohn (20th round), who both instead went to college.
Just FYI, the age listed below is the age of the players when they were drafted just about one year ago, so just add one year for their current age.
1 (23). Ralphy Velazquez. 1B/LHH. Age 18. $2.5M bonus.
Velazquez was a standout prep catcher from California. Here’s what senior vice president of scouting Paul Gillispie had to say about him after Cleveland made him their first-round selection:
“Ralphy was really a mainstay on the summer showcase circuit, and really stands out for his bat and ability to control the strike zone. He has a really impressive track record of success at Huntington Beach High School, and some of the best high school baseball competition in the country.”
Velazquez debuted in an impressive small sample size at the Arizona Complex League, blasting a pair of home runs in six games in 2023 after he signed with Cleveland.
Cleveland aggressively promoted him to Single-A Lynchburg for this season and Velazquez has responded with a rock solid .261/.371/.441 slash, good for a 139 wRC+. He no longer is catching, instead playing 61 of his 71 games at first base and two games in the outfield. He has an elite 14.4% walk rate and a reasonable 21.2% strikeout rate. He may earn a late promotion to Lake County.
2 (58). Alex Clemmey. LHP. Age 17. $2.3M bonus.
An intriguing southpaw prep arm out of the Northeast, Cleveland took a shot on Clemmey with its second round pick. Here’s what Gillispie had to say on draft day:
“The thing about Alex is not only is his work ethic sort of off the charts, but he has a really good understanding for not only his body and his delivery, but also especially for a high school kid, a really advanced understanding of pitch design.”
Cleveland aggressively moved Clemmey to full-season Lynchburg for the 2024 season for his pro debut. At first, the organization looked like they made a mistake as Clemmey struggled mightily in five April starts, posting a 12.60 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 15 walks allowed in 15 innings pitched.
Since April, however, Clemmey has dramatically shifted the conversation. He has only had one start where he gave up three runs. In the month of May, Clemmey had a 2.33 ERA in five starts, striking out 25 in 19 1⁄3 innings pitched. Since June, Clemmey has been even better, posting a 2.05 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched over six starts. White his strikeout rate has been elite, walks remain an issue and will be something worth keeping an eye on as he moves through the system.
3 (62). Andrew Walters. RHP. Age 22. $960K bonus.
Walters was a second-round competitive balance pick out of Miami, one of the top bullpen arms in the 2023 draft with one of the nastiest fastballs (Fangraphs gives it a 70 grade).
Cleveland was extremely aggressive with Walters, debuting him in Double-A Akron to begin the 2024 season. He lived up to the hype, posting a 1.35 ERA with an elite 46.3% strikeout rate while walking just 3.6 BB/9 in 17 appearances spanning 20 innings. This earned him a promotion to Triple-A Columbus, where Walters immediately struggled by allowing four runs in his debut. He had two more ugly outings in June, but has since settled down. Walters has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances at Triple-A, although his walk rate has spiked dramatically at the new level.
4 (93). C.J. Kayfus. 1B/LHH. Age 21. $700K bonus.
A first base prospect out of Miami, Kayfus got a taste of pro ball with a 17-game sample size at Lynchburg the year he was drafted and he dominated, slashing .271/.429/.542, which was good for a 171 wRC+.
Believe it or not, that was actually the worst Kayfus has looked thus far in Cleveland’s minor league system. He was promoted to High-A Lake County to begin the 2024 season and he absolutely raked, slashing .338/.437/.578 for a 184 wRC+ through 40 games with the Captains. Unable to hold him back any longer, Cleveland promoted him to Double-A and Kayfus actually got better. In his 29 games at Akron thus far, Kayfus is slashing .321/.440/.642, good for an elite 197 wRC+. He’s blasted eight home runs at Double-A and has 15 already on the season, which is incredible considering power wasn’t supposed to be one of his strengths.
The only thing worth keeping an eye on is Kayfus’ strikeout rate, which has increased six points to to 23.9% since his promotion, although he’s also increased his walk rate to an elite 14.2%. He’ll force Cleveland to promote him to Triple-A soon if he keeps this up.
5 (125). Cooper Ingle. C/LHH. Age 21. $400K bonus.
An impressive catching prospect with a high hit tool, Ingle impressed in a 17-game sample size at High-A in 2023, slashing .288/.464/.385 for a 153 wRC+.
Cleveland kept him at High-A for the 2024 season and he’s rewarded the organization handsomely by improving on that sample size. In 51 games thus far in 2024, Ingle has walked exactly as much as he’s struck out, currently sporting a 13.5% rate for both. He’s currently slashing .335/.428/.528 for the Captains, spiking his ISO by nearly a full point from 0.096 to 0.193. Defensively, he’s played 39 of his games behind the plate, where he’s thrown out 13 baserunners while allowing 41 stolen bases. He likely will be promoted to Double-A any day now.
6 (161). Christian Knapczyk. 2B/LHH. Age 21. $390K bonus.
A high-contact middle infielder out of Louisville, Knapczyk was placed at Single-A Lynchburg for his pro debut this season. He’s responded with an above average performance thus far, walking at a 12.2% clip while slashing .250/.372/.341, good for a 118 wRC+. Knapczyk has played second base, shortstop and third base, but primarily has played second this season. He has 16 stolen bases, but has been caught seven times. He’ll likely get promoted to High-A Lake County in a chain reaction once room has been made for him through other promotions, injuries, trades or roster moves.
7 (188). Tommy Hawke. OF/LHH. Age 21. $300K bonus.
Another strong contact-oriented hitter, Hawke has become a mainstay at the top of Single-A Lynchburg’s lineup this season. He’s slashing .258/.365/.339 while walking at a solid 13.5%, which has allowed him to score 30 runs and steal 18 bases in 50 games. He currently sports a 114 wRC+. Hawke hasn’t shown much power, currently having hit one home run, three triples and six doubles out of his 48 hits. He’s primarily played left field this year.
8 (218). Alex Mooney. SS/RHH. Age 21. $1M bonus.
Cleveland went way overslot for Mooney as a seventh round pick out of Duke. Like Ingle and Kayfus, he was given a 17-game cup of coffee at full-season ball in 2023, but he struggled with just a .152/.263/.212 slash and a 47 wRC+
Despite that, Cleveland aggressively placed Mooney at High-A Lake County for this season and the decision has paid off. Mooney has been a revelation with the Captains, helping them earn the nickname “Rake County.” He’s slashed .286/.360/.473 with a 134 wRC+ through 68 games. Mooney has 10 home runs, 31 stolen bases, 58 runs scored and 45 runs batted in already this season. He’s the only player in all of MiLB with at least 10 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He’s spent time at third base, shortstop and second base this season. He’s due for a promotion to Double-A any day now.
9 (248). Jonah Advincula. OF/LHH. Age 22. $150K bonus.
A speedy outfielder with strong contact ability, Advincula earned an aggressive placement to High-A to begin the 2024 season and he’s also performed better than the average hitter. Through 63 games primarily played as a centerfielder, Advincula has slashed .264/.363/.368 with a 113 wRC+. He walks 12.2% of the time while striking out 17.6% with 22 stolen bases.
10 (278). Jay Driver. RHP. Age 21. $151K bonus.
A bullpen arm drafted out of Harvard, Driver briefly pitched in the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Lynchburg the year he was selected. Cleveland placed him at High-A Lake County for this season and he’s been terrific, currently sporting a 1.57 ERA through 24 games spanning 28 2⁄3 innings of relief.
The underlying metrics haven’t been quite as impressive as Driver’s strikeout rate has reduced significantly to 9.73 K/9 and his walk rate is an average 4.08 BB/9 which has caused his FIP to be over two runs higher than his ERA at 3.90. He may earn a promotion to Double-A anyway if he continues to outperform his metrics.
11 (308). Matt Wilkinson. LHP. Age 20. $110K bonus.
Perhaps the best story of the Guardians’ 2023 draft, “Tugboat” Wilkinson has been a revelation thus far in 2024. He flat out destroyed the opposition in eight starts with Single-A Lynchburg, sporting a 1.12 ERA and 1.48 FIP with a 48% strikeout rate. He led all MiLB pitchers in strikeouts through the first two months of the season. He made waves when he struck out 15 batters in six no-hit innings on April 25.
Wilkinson earned a promotion to High-A Lake County in late May and after an adjustment period, he’s settled in nicely with a 2.87 ERA through seven starts spanning 31 1⁄3 innings with the Captains. He remains one of the top strikeout artists in all of MiLB and has impressively struck out at least eight batters in 11 of his 15 starts this season.
12 (338). Johnny Tincher. C/RHH. Age 21. $150K bonus.
Drafted as a defense-first catcher out of Washington, Tincher is the first of Cleveland’s 2023 draft picks that has underperformed as a pro. Through 36 games at High-A this season, he’s slashing just .167/.257/.206 with a 40 wRC+. He’s also struggled a bit defensively, allowing 33 stolen bases in 28 games played at catcher while throwing out just five would-be basethieves with five past balls and five errors.
13 (368). Keegan Zinn. RHO. Age 18. $150K bonus.
A high school pitcher, Keegan Zinn has spent his pro career at the Arizona Complex League. He struggled in two appearances in 2023, but has improved in 2024, starting half of his 10 appearances thus far this year. Zinn has a strong 12 K/9, but has been hampered by a 8.25 BB/9, which has resulted in a 11.25 ERA. He has improved slightly in his last five starts, striking out 19 and walking nine in five appearances (three starts) spanning 15 innings, good for a 6.60 ERA.
14 (398). Jacob Bresnahan. LHP. Age 18. $380K bonus.
If Alex Clemmey and Matt Wilkinson hadn’t stolen his thunder, Jacob Bresnahan might have been the most exciting story of all pitchers drafted by Cleveland in 2023. In his age-19 season, Bresnahan has been the top pitcher at the Arizona Complex League in 2024. Through 10 starts spanning 42 innings, he currently sports a 2.14 ERA with an elite 12.64 K/9 and a 2.79 BB/9. It’s only a matter of time before he gets promoted to full-season Lynchburg.
15 (428). Zane Morehouse. RHP. Age 23. $150K bonus.
Morehouse struggled in a small sample size at the Arizona Complex League and Lynchburg in 2023, and was aggressively placed at High-A Lake County for the 2024 season. He’s impressed thus far, posting a solid 10.86 K/9 and reasonable 3.90 BB/9 through 27 relief appearances over 32 1⁄3 innings pitched. Morehouse has a 3.06 ERA on the season and an even more impressive 2.96 FIP. If a spot becomes available, he may earn a promotion to Double-A at some point.
16 (458). Kyle Scott. RHP. Age 21. $150K bonus.
Drafted out of Lackawanna College in Scranton, Scott has been given an opportunity to be a long reliever and occasional starting pitcher for Lynchburg in the 2024 season. He’s impressed with a 3.45 ERA in 16 appearances (six starts) over 57 1⁄3 innings pitched. Scott has a 9.10 K/9 and a 3.30 BB/9 on the season. He averages about four innings per appearance.
17 (518). Barrett Riebock. OF/LHH. Age 20. $150K bonus.
A junior college outfielder, Riebock has struggled out of the gate in the 2024 season. Through 22 games thus far, he’s struggled to make consistent contact, slashing .167/.317/.197. His saving grace has been a 13.4% walk-rate, but he’s also been held back by a 29.3% strikeout rate. He’ll need to turn it around if he wants to continue to progress in the Guardians system.
18 (548). Matt Jachec. RHP. Age 21. $50K bonus.
Jachec looked strong in a small sample size of seven relief appearances at Lynchburg in 2023. He repeated there this season and improved his strikeout rate (12.23 K/9) while dropping his walk-rate to an elite 1.53 BB/9. He was a bit more hittable with a 3.82 ERA, but had an elite 2.23 FIP.
His metrics earned him a promotion to High-A Lake County in late June, where he’s pitched 10 innings in four appearances. His strikeout rate actually increased to 15.3 K/9, but his walk-rate has tripled to 5.40 BB/9 in another small sample size.
19 (578). Josh Harlow. RHP. Age 22. $100K bonus.
Harlow has spent his entire 2024 season at Single-A Lynchburg, where he’s been an average bullpen option. Through 24 relief appearances and 34 1⁄3 innings pitched, he has a 4.19 ERA and 5.28 FIP. He’s impressively allowed a .226 opponent’s batting average, but has been held back by a 4.72 BB/9.
Undrafted free agents
Cleveland signed four additional players in 2023, all of them pitchers.
Jake Berry. LHP. Age 22.
Standing a whopping 6-foot-10, Berry entered this season loaded with potential. He posted an elite 13.5 K/9 through three games and 3 1⁄3 innings of relief, but has not appeared in a game since April 14. I haven’t seen anything about the specifics of his injury, but he was transferred to the 60-day injured list at Lynchburg on May 12.
Rorik Maltrud. RHP. Age 23.
Maltrud has made the best of his opportunities. Starting out as a piggyback partner at Single-A Lynchburg this season, he transitioned to starting pitcher. Maltrud dominated the opposition, sporting a 2.38 ERA and 2.56 FIP over 12 games (seven starts) and 53 innings pitched. He struck out 10.53 batters per 9 innings with a strong 2.38 BB/9.
This earned Maltrud a promotion to High-A Lake County, where he’s continued to perform well. His strikeout rate dropped and his walk rate increased through three starts, but he’s also held a 2.12 ERA through 17 innings pitched.
Carter Spivey. RHP. Age 23.
Hoping to follow in Gavin Williams’ footsteps out of East Carolina, Carter Spivey didn’t get signed immediately as a free agent after the 2023 MLB draft, instead pitching 47 innings in the independent Frontier League, where he had a 3.06 ERA and 41 strikeouts.
Cleveland signed Spivey to a minor league contract in January and he was placed at High-A Lake County, where he made his pro debut in early April. Spivey doesn’t exactly have nasty strikeout stuff, but he stays near the strike zone and has performed well thus far. Through 16 starts and 84 innings pitched, he has a 3.64 ERA. He’s strikeout rate was just 6.32 K/9 and his walk rate is 3.21 BB/9. He’s been a reliable innings eater for the Captains this season.
Javi Torres. RHP. Age 18.
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Judson High School in Texas, Torres was expected to debut in the Arizona Complex League this yeara, but unfortunately underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2024 season.
AAA: 1 (Andrew Walters)
AA: 1 (C.J. Kayfus)
A+: 10 (Cooper Ingle, Alex Mooney, Jonah Advincula, Jay Driver, Matt Wilkinson, Johnny Tincher, Zane Morehouse, Matt Jachec, Rorik Maltrud, Carter Spivey)
A: 6 (Ralphy Velazquez, Alex Clemmey, Christian Knapczyk, Tommy Hawke, Kyle Scott, Josh Harlow).
ACL: 3 (Keegan Zinn, Jacob Bresnahan, Barrett Riebock)
Injured: 2 (Jake Berry, Javi Torres)
Signed players/Still in the organization (23/23)
