Two Cleveland Guardians’ Prospects Knocking On The Big League Door

With the Cleveland Guardians offense continuing to sputter, there are some potential reinforcements waiting in the wings.

To this old scout, two credible Guardians prospects could see playing time in the second half of the season.

Those two prospects include:

Chase DeLauter-OF

C.J. Kayfus-1B/OF

Each of them could bring good contact hitting, and much needed power.

Chase DeLauter-Age 23-Bats Left/ 6-3, 235 pounds

Chase DeLauter was the Guardians No. 1 draft pick in 2022.

Selected out of James Madison University, DeLauter was the No. 16 player chosen in the draft.

The Guardians gave DeLauter a $3.75 million signing bonus.

DeLauter can hit, but so far, he has been plagued by injuries in his pro career.

DeLauter broke his foot running the bases in 2022, and then after having surgery, he re-injured the foot after he was drafted. Sadly, he broke it again last April.

Now recovered, DeLauter is playing at Triple-A Columbus, where he is getting playing time in right field, and at designated hitter.

DeLauter has played all three outfield position in the past, so he may be on the Guardians radar to play center or right at the big league level.

The Guardians are careful with DeLauter, as they want to take things easy as he returns from so much time away.

As of June 10, DeLauter is hitting .250/.362/.400/.762, with three doubles, one home run, and five RBIs in 47 plate appearances, covering 11 games at Triple-A Columbus.

For this old scout, DeLauter is a Grade 55 player, which means he is better than average in more than one tool.

For DeLauter, his best tools are hitting for average, hitting for power, and his strong arm.

C.J. Kayfus-Age 23, Bats Left/ 6-0, 192 pounds

An intriguing prospect with yet to be determined power potential, Kayfus is zooming up the prospect rankings.

It seems Kayfus is on the fast-track to Cleveland.

Kayfus was a 3rd round draft pick in 2023, out of University of Miami.

The Guardians signed him for $700,000, and he will likely eclipse that figure with his production.

Kayfus slipped in the draft, because teams looked for more power from first base candidates at draft time.

Last year, however, Kayfus opened eyes at both Class-A Advanced Lake County, and Double-A Akron. Combined, he hit .291/.393/.511/.904, with 17 homers, and 92 RBIs in 481 plate appearances.

Kayfus has shown a good eye at the plate, and a willingness to accept a walk.

There is some strikeout in his game, but that is to be expected as he climbs his way to Cleveland.

The Guardians have him taking reps at first base, left field, and right field at Columbus.

So far this year, Kayfus is hitting .302/.373/.524/.897, with seven doubles, three triples, five homers, and 16 RBIs in 33 games, and 47 plate appearances at Triple-A Columbus.

This old scout grades him as a 55, an above average hitter with good pop, a good batting average, and good defensive projections.

Outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez was promoted back to the Cleveland Guardians June 8.

Rodriguez was a 3rd 2017 draft pick of the Guardians out of Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, in both Florida and Puerto Rico.

The Guardians signed Rodriguez for $450,000.

Rodriguez never got the opportunity to play with Cleveland on a regular basis, so evaluating him against big league pitching is difficult.

This may be his chance.

Rodriguez does have power. Last year, in 118 games at Triple-A Columbus, Rodriguez hit .301, with 29 homers, and 94 RBIs.

Rodriguez will likely assume the right-handed platoon role in right field. But, to this old scout, he has the ability to play everyday.

Due to his power and hitting potential, this scout grades Rodriguez as a Grade 55, better than average player.

What About?

Travis Bazzana-2B-currently dealing with an oblique strain at Double-A Akron. The injury occurred May 14, and he is expected to be out another eight weeks.

Juan Brito-INF-He has had surgery to repair a high-grade ligament sprain of his right thumb. He sprained the thumb April 17, at Triple-A Columbus.

Cooper Ingle-C-A name to remember, Ingle is a very good hitting catcher, with little to no power. But he makes contact, and he could be knocking on the Guardians door by next year.