Cleveland Sports Forum

Martinez had a hot start and cold finish but still made the 8-12 range on most prospect lists.

Started hot; ended cold; I am surprised he's rated so high.

May and June 149-28-45-27 11 2b 4 3b 5 hr 19 bb 39 k 302/380/530
slowed in July 93-15-22-3 6 1 0 3 16 237/283/323
Aug and Sept 135-19-24-16 3 1 2 18bb 33k 278/274/259

XMan

Nice to see Hankins in uniform. He is one of their talented young pitchers but missed all last year with injury.

My friends at Baseball America posted their top 30s today. Maybe they did this previously, but here is the list today> For some reason all the names copied twice, but you get the point. I can post the comments on each player if I get around to it.:

1
Tyler Freeman
Tyler Freeman SS
2
Daniel Espino
Daniel Espino RHP
3
Brayan Rocchio
Brayan Rocchio SS
4
George Valera
George Valera SS
5
Gabriel Arias
Gabriel Arias SS
6
Nolan Jones
Nolan Jones 3B
7
Bo Naylor
Bo Naylor C
8
Gavin Williams
Gavin Williams RHP
9
Logan Allen
Logan Allen LHP
10
Angel Martinez
Angel Martinez SS
11
Jose Tena
Jose Tena SS/2B
12
Tanner Burns
Tanner Burns RHP
13
Richard Palacios
Richard Palacios 2B/OF
14
Peyton Battenfield
Peyton Battenfield RHP
15
Cody Morris
Cody Morris RHP
16
Bryan Lavastida
Bryan Lavastida C
17
Carson Tucker
Carson Tucker SS
18
Gabriel Rodriguez
Gabriel Rodriguez 3B/SS
19
Ethan Hankins
Ethan Hankins RHP
20
Jhonkensy Noel
Jhonkensy Noel 3B/1B
21
Doug Nikhazy
Doug Nikhazy LHP
22
Petey Halpin
Petey Halpin OF
23
Tobias Myers
Tobias Myers RHP
24
Ernie Clement
Ernie Clement 2B/3B
25
Aaron Bracho
Aaron Bracho 2B
26
Carlos Vargas
Carlos Vargas RHP
27
Steven Kwan
Steven Kwan OF
28
Xzavion Curry
Xzavion Curry RHP

29
Tommy Mace RHP

30
Konnor Pilkington LHP

Their ratings are based on potential ceiling more than current level of performance. Which I guess is why they have Kwan e.g. at No. 27 while some recent lists put him around No. 6. But for No. 27 this is a very positive summary

Track Record: Kwan starred at Oregon State, helping to lead the Beavers to the 2018 national championship. While in college he built a strong track record for on-base skills and hitting, and that carried over to pro ball. He had a breakout 2021 season while splitting time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. Scouting Report: Kwan’s size has always led to questions about his impact potential. What’s never really been in doubt, however, is his ability to put the bat on the ball. He has excellent feel for the barrel and rarely strikes out—he whiffed in just 9% of his plate appearances in 2021. That fit with his profile as a slap-hitting leadoff hitter prior to 2021, but in 2021 he produced surprising power. While Akron and Columbus are both hitter-friendly ballparks, he did his best to answer questions about his ability to drive the ball. Kwan is an above-average runner and tracks balls well in center field. The Future: Kwan’s 2021 season led the Guardians to add him to their 40-man roster in November, setting him up to make his major league debut as soon as 2022. While he’s likely to end up as a fourth outfielder in the long run, Kwan has exceeded expectations throughout his career and if his newfound power carries over to the big leagues he could do so again.

Lavastida is a guy who can hit but can he catch? Pretty well already, but could improve, they say

NO. 16
Track Record: Lavastida was an infielder coming out of high school and began to convert to catching as a sophomore in junior college. Cleveland drafted him as a catcher in the 15th round in 2018 and continued to develop him behind the plate. While that project continues to progress, he’s also impressed offensively and had a breakout 2021 season, reaching Triple-A Columbus. Scouting Report: Lavastida has a balanced swing and a good approach at the plate, allowing him to control the strike zone well. He makes a lot of hard contact and has average raw power, though his line drive-oriented swing means his pop plays more as doubles power. Lavastida is a good athlete and moves well behind the plate and has average arm strength. He quickly picked up the mechanical aspects of catching and is continuing to progress with the finer points, like pitch-calling. While he hasn’t appeared at any other position in the field as a professional, he has continued to work in the infield in practice settings. The Future: Lavastida was added to the 40-man roster in November and after his breakout 2021 season it’s possible he’ll be ready to debut in Cleveland in 2022. His defense still needs some work to be a big league regular, but his bat gives him intriguing upside.

MLB.com announcing its' top 100 prospects today; first they're doing the top 10 by positions and they are not big fans of the Guardians

Valera is the No. 8 outfielder
Jones is the No. 8 3B,which doesn't say much for that group
None of our myriad SS make this Top 10.
Espino doesn't make the top 10 RHP.

their top 100 showed 5 guardians; highest was Valera at 45. Espino 58. Arias, Rocchio and Freeman from78-88

Top 10 power prospects in the minors, per Baseball America include:

Jhonkensy Noel, 3B/1B, Guardians—There may not be a player 20 years or younger in affiliated ball that has as much raw power as Noel. The Guardians infielder was added to the 40-man roster in November in large part due to his plus-plus power and ability to hit for contact with impact. Noel needs to show in 2022 that he can hit more advanced pitching despite an extremely aggressive plate approach.

Hey civ - the broadcast team today said that Rocchio's nickname is 'The Professor" for his cerebral approach to the game.

For example apparently he positions teammates.

So I've heard. Part of why they like to say he's Lindor-like.

Cody Morris shut down.

Cleveland Guardians prospect Cody Morris sidelined 4-6 weeks with shoulder strain

out a little longer and he can go on the 60 day DL and clear a spot for Shaw.