The Cleveland Guardians' future is bright, with Chase DeLauter leading the way as their top prospect. But who comes in at number two? Let's dive into the talent that's shaping the team's future.
The Top Prospect: Chase DeLauter
DeLauter, a rising star in the Guardians' organization, has already made a name for himself with his exceptional skills. After a stellar college career and a strong performance in the Cape Cod League, he was drafted 16th overall in 2022. Despite a nagging foot injury and subsequent surgery, he showed his mettle in 2023, hitting .366/.403/.549 in 42 games at High-A Lake County. His performance didn't stop there; he earned a promotion to Double-A Akron and continued to impress with a .364/.464/.409 slash line.
The real breakthrough came in 2024 Spring Training, where DeLauter went on a tear, slashing .474/.545/.842 in 11 games. This performance sparked fan demand for his inclusion in the opening day roster. However, his season was cut short by injuries, including a left foot sprain, turf toe, and a hamstring injury.
2025 seemed set to be DeLauter's year, but injuries once again intervened. Hernia surgery and a hamate bone fracture delayed his progress, but he managed to put up a 130 wRC+ at Triple-A in 126 plate appearances. The Guardians decided to debut him at the MLB level during the 2025 playoffs, where he played a pair of games, earning a walk and his first MLB hit.
With the team's lack of major free agent additions and the departure of Will Brennan, Jhonkensy Noel, and Lane Thomas, DeLauter now has a wide-open opportunity to start in the outfield, provided he can stay healthy. His maximum games played in a single season so far is 57 in 2023, and the hope is that he can surpass 100 this year.
Number Two Contenders
Travis Bazzana, 2B (Age 23): Bazzana was selected first overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and has shown remarkable consistency. In 2025, he performed well at Double-A and Triple-A, albeit hampered by oblique injuries. His numbers include a .222/.462/.333 slash line in 26 plate appearances at CPX, a .256/.364/.426 line in 228 PA at AA, and a .225/.420/.424 line in 120 PA at AAA.
Braylon Doughty, RHP (Age 20): Doughty, Cleveland's competitive balance first-round pick in 2024, made his full-season debut at Single-A at age 19. He showcased elite control with a 3.48 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 27.3% strikeout rate, and 1.25 WHIP in 85.1 innings.
Angel Genao, SS (Age 21): Genao had an average regular season in 2025 after missing the first two months with a shoulder sprain. He hit .308/.438/.654 with 3 HR in 32 plate appearances at CPX and .259/.323/.359 with 2 HR in 341 PA at AA. His power likely took a hit after his return in June.
Parker Messick, LHP (Age 25): Messick, a 2022 Guardians second-round pick, pitched well at Triple-A and then improved his numbers after a late-season promotion to Cleveland's starting rotation. His 2025 numbers include a 3.47 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 29.1% strikeout rate, and 10.3 BB% in 98.2 innings at AAA, and a 2.72 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 23.0% strikeout rate, and 3.6 BB% in 39.2 innings at MLB.
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B (Age 20): Velazquez was Cleveland's most impressive hitter in the minor leagues in the second half of 2025. He hit .245/.323/.469 with 17 HR in 418 plate appearances at A+, .330/.405/.589 with 5 HR in 126 PA at AA, and dominated after being promoted to Double-A Akron.
The poll to determine the number two prospect is open until 10 pm ET tonight. Who will come in second? The Guardians' future is looking bright, and these prospects are a big part of that.
