Cleveland Guardians 2025 top 20 prospects: Travis Bazzana, Angel Genao lead the way

Clevelands whole player development identity was built around their acumen with pitchers, but theyve stocked their system with bats, mostly guys up the middle, and are set up to create the foundation of a championship-caliber lineup.

They need one of these guys to outplay the expectations and become a star, especially in the power department, but this is still an impressive collection of position players at mostly key positions.

Also, they have a Tugboat.

(Note: Tools are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale; ages as of July 1, 2025.) Advertisement 1.

Travis Bazzana, 2B ( No.

25 on the top 100 ) Bazzana was the first pick in the 2024 draft out of Oregon State, where the Australian infielder had starred for three seasons as the Beavers second baseman, finishing with a .407/.568/.911 line as a junior.

Cleveland sent him right to High A, where he struggled a little out of the gate, enduring a five-game hitless stretch in his second week there before warming up for his last month-plus at the level and ending with a .238/.369/.396 line in his pro debut.

Hes a very polished WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) player, offering little in the way of physical projection but also earning plaudits everywhere for his acumen for the game, leading evaluators to believe he will be able to make adjustments as he faces better pitching.

He has an odd start to his swing with the bat back behind his rear shoulder and pointing down, but hes ready when it matters and has a short path to the ball once his hands get started.

He showed incredible plate discipline in college and most of that carried over into the minors, as he still didnt chase much (22 percent) and only struggled against sliders in that brief stint, particularly left on left.

Bazzana is limited to second base or possibly left field.

Clevelands trade of Andres Gimenez clears the keystone for him, and theres every reason to expect him to see the majors some time this year given his advanced approach and present power/strength.

Even if hes just average on defense, his propensity to hit for high averages and get on base with probably 20ish-homer upside should still make him an All-Star.

2.

Angel Genao, SS ( No.

54 on the top 100 ) Genao had a disappointing year in 2023 in Low A, hitting .263/.345/.385 in 72 games after missing the first two months with a torn meniscus, but he went back to Low A to start 2024 and hit all year long .341/.383/.553 repeating Low A, then .322/.377/.463 after a June promotion to High A.

Hes grown substantially since he was first measured at his official height and weight of 5-foot-9, 150, gaining significant strength but also getting to the point where he might end up outgrowing shortstop.

Hes a switch-hitter whos better from the left side but capable enough from the right side to keep it up, actually hitting with more power right-handed in each of the past two years.

Hes an average runner and not terribly twitchy, with second or third base more likely than shortstop, but his bat should still make him an above-average regular at either spot.

3.

Cooper Ingle, C ( No.

67 on the top 100 ) Ingle was a part-time catcher at Clemson when Cleveland took him in the fourth round in 2023 and announced him as a catcher, a project that of course would make his high-contact, low-power bat a lot more viable.

A year and a half later, the project looks like a resounding success, as Ingle reached Double A last year, has walked more than hes struck out as a pro, and has improved his defense to the point where hes clearly going to stay at catcher.

Ingle knows the strike zone extremely well, and he whiffed just 14 percent of the time he swung last year, with a short, quick swing that has a little more lift in its finish than it did in college, bringing his ground-ball rate down from 55 percent as a college junior to 45 percent last year.

His defense isnt pretty but he can catch and block, and a quick transfer helps his fringy arm play up to the point where hes adequate against the running game.

He hit 11 homers last year between High A and Double A, all off right-handed pitchers, and hell have to show he can make better quality contact against lefties, whereas now he just walks against them.

Hes small but well put together, and with his contact and on-base skills he could be a .375 OBP/.400 SLG guy, which is a heck of a regular behind the plate even if hes just fringy defensively.

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Jaison Chourio, OF ( No.

69 on the top 100 ) Chourio spent all of 2024 in Low A as a 19-year-old and ended up ranking 10th in all of the minors with 86 walks, the most drawn by any teenager in minor-league baseball last year.

Jacksons younger brother is also a centerfielder and an excellent athlete, a switch-hitter and center fielder right now who could end up in a corner as he continues to fill out and who may end up just hitting left-handed.

Hes a strong defender right now up the middle with above-average speed, so if he can maintain that even with the physical projection he has left, he could remain in center in the long term.

His plate discipline and hand-eye are outstanding, leading to chase and whiff rates well above (better than) average, although he needs to add some hand strength to get some more consistent loft in his finish.

His ground-ball rate in 2024 was 49.3 percent, which was actually his lowest rate at any stop in pro ball.

Hes been much better from the left side; batting right-handed last year, he hit just .245/.409/.283, with more walks (16) than total bases (15).

It might be a bat speed question, as his right-handed bat path looks fine and he actually gets a little more loft than he does left-handed.

He doesnt have Jacksons ceiling, but theres a scenario here where Jaison stays in center and figures out hitting against lefties enough to be a grade 60 player, with 20ish homers and very high OBPs, and the floor is really solid given his very real patience and likelihood of plus defense in a corner.

His 2024 did end with a broken wrist, so its possible he wont get all the strength back until sometime this summer.

5.

Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/OF ( No.

73 on the top 100 ) Cleveland drafted Velazquez in the first round in 2023 and immediately moved him out from behind the plate to allow him to develop his bat and perhaps reach the majors more quickly than he otherwise would have.

His first full pro season was a promising sign in that direction.

He got off to a great start as a 19-year-old in Low A, hitting .261/.371/.441 in the first half, before wearing down in the second half.

Hes a big, strong kid, but a better hitter than you might expect at first glance, striking out just 20.1 percent of the time in Low A even as one of the youngest players in full-season ball, and he does make hard enough contact to project to 25 homers at his peak.

He hits with a wide stance and no stride, just a toe-tap for timing, so he doesnt get all the power he could out of his lower half and his swing can flatten out because he doesnt fully rotate his hips.

The Guardians tried him in left field last year as well as at first base, and he was capable enough that theyll probably keep that alive as a possibility for him going forward.

His future is in his bat, with contact skills and zone awareness that set him up very well for future success, and cleanup-hitter upside if he loosens up a little to drive the ball more easily.

6.

Chase DeLauter, OF ( No.

90 on the top 100 ) Regular readers of mine know I dont like DeLauters swing at all, really.

Its the worst-looking swing on this list.

Im not even sure whos second.

But DeLauter has also had success everywhere hes played so far in the minors, and the biggest knock on him right now isnt the fact that looking directly at his swing will turn you to stone, but that he hasnt been able to stay on the field for a full season.

Since the Guardians took him with the No.

16 pick in 2022, at which point he was already out with a broken bone in his left foot, DeLauter has played in just 96 regular-season games, plus two stints in the AFL.

The original fracture cost him the remainder of 2022.

He required surgery that winter after he re-fractured it, then suffered another fracture in that foot in April 2024, then developed turf toe in his first game back from that injury.

He strained his hamstring in late August and missed another month.

On the plus side, hes hit very well when hes been able to play.

He destroyed A-ball pitching, hit .271/.353/.436 in 36 games in Double A across two years, and went 7-for-23 with two homers in Triple A this year, followed by his second straight year of excellent production in the AFL.

As for the swing, he opens his hips very early and then almost drags the bat through the zone, with a swing that looks like hes trying to scoop the ball and pull it out to right.

As a result, he doesnt hit anything on the outer third for any power at all, and in a small sample so far lefties have really crushed him, especially with breaking stuff.

Hes going to have to make some adjustments to get him on time to the zone more consistently, and I think major-league pitchers are going to attack that front hip with velocity up and in, which he can only hit on the ground, and then go soft away to exploit the swing.

Nobody has really done that effectively so far in his career, however, so maybe hes just good enough to work around them and use his high contact skills to force pitchers to pitch to his strengths Dustin Pedroia did something similar, and he had a very unorthodox swing as well.

DeLauters also a 55 runner and might be a plus defender in a corner, although I think his propensity to get hurt probably makes center field a non-starter.

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Juan Brito, IF Brito played all over the place for Triple-A Columbus last year, mostly second base but also getting time at third, at first, and in right field.

He hit .256/.365/.443 as a 22-year-old there, a solid performance for his age at Triple A that points to a potential soft regular at second or a good utility player.

The Guardians have worked with him to build his strength so he can drive the ball more, with middling results as his exit velocities in Triple A were still below average his EV50 was 97.6 and his hard-hit rate was just 33 percent, both of which would have been well below the MLB median.

He has an excellent eye at the plate, however, and is a solid-average defender at second if not a tick above, so he has multiple ways to add value to a big-league club and hes ready for a job right now.

8.

C.J.

Kayfus, 1B Kayfus made his full-season debut in High A last year and laid waste to the Sally League, with a .338/.437/.578 line in 40 games that all but forced the Guardians to promote him to Double A.

He hit .263/.366/.470 for Akron, which was a little surprising as he has always seemed like more of a hitter than a power guy, even in college at Miami.

Hes struggling more against breaking stuff now, though, and I think hes selling out a little bit to get to more power, although he hasnt lost his sense of the strike zone, which is around average or just below it.

He is first base only and has to produce one way or another; if its walks and homers with a low average, so be it.

Thats just not quite the player I thought hed be, where I saw a high .200s average but maybe 15-20 homers before.

9.

Braylon Doughty, RHP Cleveland took Doughty, one of the top high school pitchers in the class, with the No.

36 pick in the 2024 draft, betting on his ability to generate huge spin rates on a future-plus curveball and his easy mid-90s velocity on his sinker.

He throws a sweeper, which Im sure the models loved, although I think his slot would work well for a true slider.

I suppose that makes me old-fashioned, though.

Hell have to develop his changeup and, of course, stay healthy.

Its probably No.

3 starter upside or better.

10.

Welbyn Francisca, SS/2B Francisca has already grown beyond that official listed measurement to 5-foot-11 or so, and hes going to be a physical kid who might outgrow shortstop and come into some real power.

He already got to 108 mph exit velocities in his U.S.

debut last year, where he mashed at two levels, including a .328/.418/.523 line in the Arizona Complex League and then .325/.402/.402 in 25 games in Low A before the season ran out.

He hit well both ways but was better at making contact from the right side; batting left-handed, he finishes way too open after a big leg kick, so he both misses more and puts the ball on the ground more often.

Hes super young and has barely begun to fill out.

Its 30-homer upside in a switch-hitting second baseman if he hits his ceiling.

11.

Parker Messick, LHP Messick is a stout-bodied lefty with fringy stuff and a lot of deception, working with a 55 changeup and just average velocity.

He actually pitched slightly better in Double A in the second half than he had in the first half at High A, with a higher strikeout rate and much lower ERA.

The breaking stuff is all fringy to 45 and theres effort to the delivery; when I saw him in Double A, he couldnt hold 93 and was more 88-91 by the fourth inning.

Between the body and the mechanics, its hard to project long-term durability, but he could pop up as a fourth starter for a few years.

12.

Matt Wilkinson, LHP The man they call Tugboat finished second in the minors last year with 174 strikeouts, behind only the No.

55 overall prospect, Cardinals lefty Quinn Mathews.

Wilkinson is very deceptive, so he misses a lot of bats with his 88-91 mph four-seamer, pairing it with a 55 slider and average changeup.

He dominated A-ball hitters at both levels, but stayed with Lake County through their playoff run so we didnt get to see if he could do this against Double-A hitters.

It would help if he could get even to 91-93, but its not exactly a projectable body.

Its worked so far, at least, and it would be very fun if he could keep it up.

13.

Jake Cozart, C Cozart was the Guardians second-round pick and their third selection in the 2024 draft out of North Carolina State.

He was coming off a breakout year for the Wolfpack where he hit .305/.437/.601.

Hes a good catch-and-throw guy who should hit for a .270-.280ish average, maybe peaking at 55 power, but has to lay off pitches out of the zone more and does need some minor swing work.

His pro debut was very short, and thats fine since he struck out 18 times in 49 PA.

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Jackson Humphries, LHP Humphries developed a stomach ailment early in the 2024 season and it affected him all year.

He was 88-90 much of the season when he was more 90-94 the year before and can be 92-95 at full strength.

He comes from a high three-quarters slot with huge break and tilt on the slider, needing to work on his changeup and generally on getting to a consistent release point.

He might be a breakout candidate for this year if he gets all his strength back.

15.

Johnathan Rodriguez, OF Rodriguez debuted in the majors last year, drawing a bunch of walks but not doing much else, which isnt a great representation of who he is he hit 29 homers in Triple A last year and eviscerated left-handed pitching to the tune of a .376/.444/.786 line.

Hes a corner outfielder with a cannon, maybe average defensively beyond that, and while he did walk a bunch in the majors hes probably going to be a low-OBP slugger if he plays every day.

At worst, hes a great platoon outfielder and bench bat on a contending roster.

16.

Joey Cantillo, LHP Cantillo missed the first two months of 2024 rehabbing from a hamstring strain, then split the last four months of the season between Triple A and the majors, with modest success but too many walks.

Hes a big deception guy, with top-of-the-scale extension over his front side so his average fastball plays up a little, working with a 55 changeup and average curveball thats got huge vertical break but doesnt generate a lot of whiffs.

He pitches away from contact to some extent, and the ABS (automatic ball-strike) system in Triple A appears to have particularly hurt his control numbers.

Hes probably a fifth starter in the end, or maybe best suited to long relief or bulk duty where he doesnt face any hitter more than twice in an outing.

17.

Joey Oakie, RHP Oakie was 93-97 to start his season last year but was worked way too hard and tapered off to 91-92 before the draft.

Cleveland took him in the third round and gave him a $2 million bonus.

He raised his arm slot last year, previously coming from a low three-quarters slot that gave him that low attack angle teams love and gave the fastball more carry.

Hes a good project for a team that has had a lot of success tweaking pitchers deliveries and arsenals, just not without risk given how quickly he went backward last spring and summer.

18.

Chase Mobley, RHP Mobley was a surprise pick and signing in the 10th round last season, as it appeared by then that hed end up at Florida State.

Hes tall but his arm slot is down below three-quarters, getting big sink on his fastball, which can bump 99 but tapers off over the course of games.

Hes throwing a curveball now, despite a slot that is more suited to sliders.

Cleveland targeted several high school pitchers last year and one thing they all have in common is that they have something specific that Cleveland can fix or address to try to get some rapid improvement.

19.

Petey Halpin, OF Halpin repeated Double A and didnt improve like a league repeater should; in his defense, he played through a wrist injury most of the year and as a result he posted a career-low BABIP of just .281.

Hes still a 55 defender in center and 55 runner who gets raves for his playing style and instincts, and while the year was a disappointment, he did achieve some modest gains in his walk rate, strikeout rate, and even his power output, hitting a career-best 12 homers in 90 games.

If he can hit 15-plus homers this year with his more typical .320-330 BABIP, which seems well within reason, hed be a potential regular for someone in center or a high-end fourth outfielder for just about any team.

20.

Kody Huff, C Huff remains one of the best defensive catchers anywhere in the minors and continues to make enough contact to project him as a backup in the majors, probably one who plays for a long time because of his receiving, game-calling, and overall baseball IQ.

He hit .245/.340/.364 in Double A with a 22.4 percent strikeout rate, nailing a third of would-be base-stealers there and again in the AFL (where he was 3-for-9).

Catchers who defend like this are hard to find and teams covet them thats why Cleveland picked him up in the trade that sent Cal Quantrill to the Rockies last offseason and Huff could get a long big-league career out of his present skill set.

Others of note Lefty Michael Kennedy was part of the trade that sent Spencer Horwitz, who was a Guardian for a hot second, to Pittsburgh.

Kennedy is a pitchability guy with an 88-92 mph fastball, 55 command, an average slider and changeup, all from a low release point that gives him a little more deception.

He could still have some projection left but hasnt gained any velocity since he was drafted.

...

Lefty Josh Hartle was also in that trade, a 55 command/control guy with a 55 changeup whose velocity dropped in his draft year, making him very hittable and homer-prone.

Hed be a steal if the velocity loss was a temporary blip.

...

Left-hander Doug Nikhazy is another junkballer, like Wilkinson and Messick, but without their control or deception.

Hes 90-92 with a whole kitchen sink, nothing plus, but enough to get left- and right-handed batters out.

He could be a fifth starter but I think major-league hitters will get to him the second time around and hes better suited to long or short relief.

Every time I write his name I hear Das EFX in my head: I gave a oopsy daisy, now youve got Nikhazy....

Right-hander Andrew Walters got to the majors last year, just a year after Cleveland drafted him in the compensation round B.

Hes 94-96, up to 98, with a high-ride four-seamer he likes to throw at or above the top of the zone, with a short mid-80s slider with sharp downward break.

Its straight relief and while hes gotten lefties out so far in pro ball, I expect some platoon issues to emerge.

...

Right-hander Cameron Sullivan rounded out Clevelands collection of high school arms from the 2024 draft.

Hes 92-95 and spins a good slider that might be plus, needing say it with me some help with his delivery.

Advertisement 2025 impact If DeLauter can just stay healthy, hes going to play in the majors this year, maybe all of it.

Walters should be in the Opening Day bullpen, and Nikhazy, Cantillo, and Messick will probably get some big-league innings.

Id be surprised if Bazzana isnt up by Sept.

2, but his year for impact is probably 2026.

The fallen Daniel Espino was the top pitching prospect in baseball three years ago, but hes had two shoulder surgeries since then and hasnt pitched in a game since April 29, 2022.

Id be surprised if he pitches again, and if he does, itll probably be in a limited relief role.

Sleeper Clearly that would be Francisca, given his emerging power and his production to date, although Id feel better if he didnt have that ridiculous finish to his left-handed stride.

Additional top prospect coverage GO DEEPER Top 100 MLB prospects 2025: Keith Laws rankings, with Roman Anthony at No.

1 GO DEEPER MLB prospects who just missed Keith Laws top 100 ranking: Caissie, Saggese and more GO DEEPER MLB 2025 farm system rankings: Keith Law ranks all 30 teams, Mariners are new No.

1 (Top photo of Bazzana: Andrew Woolley / Four Seam Images via Associated Press).

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