Review of the Guardians 2024 Draft
News and Notes for Tuesday, July 16th, 2024
Let’s take a look at the full Cleveland Guardians 2024 draft class. To hear more of my thoughts on the Guardians’ choices and especially the insights of our own Brian Hemminger, check out the latest episode of Disgusting Baseball podcast.
For those of you on Twitter, please consider following Taylor Blake Ward, @TaylorBlakeWard, who provides a lot of great, free scouting on many of the lesser-known names below, and Antonio Urquidez, @Antoni0u, who provides a lot of free graphics summarizing each player’s metrics. Also, of course, Peter Flaherty, @PeterGFlaherty, who offered glowing praise of the Guardians’ top two picks and is a great analyst in general.
1. Travis Bazzana, 2B, LHH, 6’ 199 lbs, 21.11 years old, Oregon State. MLB Pipeline blurb, MyMLBDraft blurbs.
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 8, 2024
I was already all in on Travis Bazzana...
— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) July 16, 2024
and then we talked to his coach at @BeaverBaseball talk about who the @CleGuardians are getting and I'm convinced he's going to a 1st ballot HOFer now. pic.twitter.com/FJVrJ7BeO9
Travis Bazzana. Remember that name cause this kid’s gonna be a stud! He’s got Jose Ramirez power and Steven Kwan bat-to-ball skills. If he keeps progressing you’re gonna see him in the Big Leagues real soon! #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/5bV51RhAUP
— Sean Casey (@TheMayorsOffice) July 17, 2024
Travis Bazzana is impressed by what he's seen from this @CleGuardians team and organization.#ForTheLand | #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/gcuv7WLg60
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) July 18, 2024
36. Braylon Doughty, RHP, 6’1” 196 lbs, 18.7 years old, HS California. MLB Pipeline blurb, MyMLBDraft blurbs.
With the 36th overall pick, the Cleveland Guardians have selected RHP Braylon Doughty. Under control and low effort delivery. FB sits 92-94 (T5) with life at top of zone. High spin SL is +, distinct CB. CH is serviceable. Starter traits. LOVE this pick. pic.twitter.com/bhPwhheF86
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) July 15, 2024
48. Jacob Cozart, C, LHH, 6’3”, 222 lbs, 21.6 years old, North Carolina State. MLB Pipeline blurb, MyMLBDraft blurbs.
https://t.co/P0toiS3a3a pic.twitter.com/avZXOsrS81
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 15, 2024
84. Joey Oakie, RHP, 6’3” 200 lbs, 18.2 years old, HS Iowa. MLB Pipleline blurb, Perfect Game blurb.
I like the Cleveland Guardians drafting RHP Joey Oakie in the third round.
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) July 15, 2024
One of the best HS pitchers in the country. Young for his class, up to 97 mph with a ton of movement on his stuff
pic.twitter.com/cSzIfshQzB
113. Rafe Schlesinger, LHP, 6’3” 200 lbs, 21.6 years old, University of Miami-Florida, MLB Pipeline blurb, Perfect Game blurb.
Cleveland earlier selected LHP Rafe Schlesinger. Low launch FB explodes out of hand, up to 96 with run and ride through the zone. Long, sweepier SL is a plus pitch that is particularly tough on LHH. CH continues to develop. Intriguing development pairing.pic.twitter.com/gAgvkCcYV3
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) July 15, 2024
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 15, 2024
Schlesinger has overcome a challenge with a tic disorder and seems like a very easy kid to root for to become our next dominant lefty reliever.
146. Aidan Major, RHP, 5’11” 200 lbs, 21.2 years old, West Virginia University, MLB Pipeline blurb, Perfect Game blurb,
Guardians 5-146: Aidan Major, RHP, West Virginia -- bat missing TJ arm, low/mid 90s FB, tunnels short CUT/SL and CH to miss bats on countering e/w movement, blw-avg control w/ size limiting to relief outlook w/ healthy recovery from TJ
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 15, 2024
175. Caden Favors, LHP, 22.10, 6’3” 205 lbs, Wichita State, Perfect Game blurb.
Here is Caden Favors's Pitching Summary from a game earlier season https://t.co/lE0FVOM3Wx pic.twitter.com/qntgGtCtaK
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) July 15, 2024
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 15, 2024
205. Cameron Sullivan, RHP, 18.4 years old, 6’2” 200 lbs, HS Indiana, MLB Pipeline blurb, Perfect Game Blurb.
The Guardians just continue to build an exceptional class. They grab Cameron Sullivan out of Indiana. The prep RHP has mid- to upper-90s heat & a good BB to pair. Long-term upside is ⬆️#PGDraft x #MLBDraft // #ForTheLand
— Tyler Kotila (@tyler_kotila) July 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/8z3gEUTsiA
235. Donovan Zsak, LHP, 21 years old, 6’3” 185 lbs, Rutgers.
Second Scarlet Knight off the board with LHP Donovan Zsak going to the Cleveland Guardians. Zsak battled injuries the last couple of years but he's a great athlete with an explosive fastball up to 99 MPH in his last spot. Pitched well on the cape this summer. https://t.co/hXgrHTFElv
— Brian Recca (@brian_recca) July 15, 2024
265. Sean Matson, RHP, 22.1 years old, 6’2” 220 lbs, Harvard.
Guardians take RHP Sean Matson. Some footage from his final start this spring for Harvard. High effort righty w/ good extension that allows riding FB to play up. Best pitch is a parachute CH that recorded a whiff rate over 50%. Two breakers both fringy presently. Reliever profile pic.twitter.com/oC9XU8tiko
— Brian Recca (@brian_recca) July 15, 2024
295. Chase Mobley, RHP, 18.1 years old, 6’5” 205 lbs, HS Florida, MLB Pipeline blurb, MyMLBDraft blurbs.
Cleveland is going to WORK with this class. Not sure on signability here with Chase Mobley, may not have the $$, but another exceptional prep arm from FL joins the Guardians class. Up to 97 on the FB w/ good OS.#PGDraft x #MLBDraft // #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/WoYtlgfxl6
— Tyler Kotila (@tyler_kotila) July 15, 2024
Mandy Bell had a great review of day two of the Guardians’ draft for MLB dot com here.
325. Garrett Howe, SS, LHH, 5’11” 185 lbs, 22 years old, Samford University.
Guardians 11-325: Garrett Howe, SS, Samford -- smaller high contact LHH senior depth infielder, advanced feel for barrel w/ top of scale contact rates that will draw walks as well, blw-avg pwr, actions/arm to stay middle infield
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 16, 2024
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 16, 2024
355. Sean Heppner, RHP, 6’3” 215 lbs, 21.10 years old, University of British Columbia.
Sean Heppner highlights ⬇️ https://t.co/vTvCIlqPjs pic.twitter.com/IXXTk7g2Uj
— World Baseball Network (@WorldBaseball_) July 16, 2024
385. Bennett Thompson, C, RHH, 5’10” 196 lbs, 21.8 years old, Oregon.
Guardians 13-385: Bennett Thompson, C, Oregon -- projectable RHH catcher w/ contact/approach upside, twitchy hitter w/ good zone coverage and solid idea at the plate, blw-avg gap pwr, athletic w/ raw catching traits to project future behind plate w/ UT fallback
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 16, 2024
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 17, 2024
415. Ryan Cesarini, OF, LHH, 5’10” 196 lbs, 21.8 years old, Saint Joseph’s (PA)
Guardians 14-415: Ryan Cesarini, OF, St Johns -- high contact LHH outfielder, compact cut w/ feel for barrel and high contact w/ sneaky phys-based pop, advanced/mature approach, avg/abv runner w/ chance for whole OF dev
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 16, 2024
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 16, 2024
445. Conner Whittaker, RHP, 21 years old, 6’, 184 lbs, Florida State
RHP Conner Whittaker (@FSUBaseball) living low-90s & mixing all 3 well. SL is go-to w/ sharp spin in low-80s, sells the CH at 82-84. Sinking it & locating to corners.
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) March 24, 2024
Jr./‘24 elig. pic.twitter.com/PJY8PZA9AY
475. Jacob Remily, RHP, 6’6” 190 lbs, 18.2 years old, Maryknoll HS (HI).
Jacob Remily ➡️ Cleveland Guardians
— Mahoning Valley Scrappers (@mvscrappers) July 16, 2024
Congratulations to 2024 Mahoning Valley Scrappers RHP Jacob Remily on being selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 16th round of the 2024 #MLBDraft! pic.twitter.com/wxW9YJnNf7
505. Logan McGuire, RHP, 6’3” 215 lbs, 21.10 years old, Georgia Tech
Guardians 17-505: Logan McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech -- starter kit arm, low 90s FB w/ run plays well w/ run/fade CH that shows abv/plus, inconsistent breaker, good phys w/ enough control markers returning from TJ to start in dev if he can find true breaking ball
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 16, 2024
535. Izaak Martinez, LHP, 5’10” 185 lbs, 22.10 years old, UC San Diego
Izaak Martinez (‘24, elig.) has been unreal this season. Reliever role but has thrown 37 innings, 0.49 ERA with 42K/7BB. Stands out w/ his highly efficient and high usage FF (87-90,T92) that has legit plus carry. Will flash an effective CH (76-78) he kills lift on. @PGCollegeBall pic.twitter.com/nVJ29rIlBy
— Joey Cohen (@JoeyCohenPG) April 12, 2024
565. Cam Schuelke, RHP, 6’ 205 lbs, 22.7 years old, Mississippi State
News: @HailStateBB has landed the top JuCo relief pitcher in the United States in RHP Cam Schuelke. Throws from both over the top and submarine, won Cape League Reliever of the year in ‘22. FB up to 91 OTT, overhand SL 3,100 RPM, overhand CB 2,950 RPM, subby SL 2,800 RPM. Lethal! pic.twitter.com/ps8xNidVJa
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) March 5, 2023
595. Cam Walty, RHP, 6’ 216 lbs, 22.2 years old, Arizona
Cam Walty (@cameron_walty) Last Two Starts:
— Arizona Baseball Analytics (@AZStatCats) April 15, 2024
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Dominant. pic.twitter.com/qDOZhXRugk
The three members of the University of Arizona Wildcats' starting rotation for the have all been drafted! https://t.co/NoxcuOqxM7 pic.twitter.com/ngD8Ywjho4
— Antonio Urquídez (@Antoni0u) July 16, 2024
As we consider this draft class, I think it’s important to remember that research shows an average MLB draft brings to each team two hitters who make the majors and around three pitchers who make it. So, to have a good draft, Cleveland needs merely more than five players from this class to make it to the bigs at some point. It’s exciting to dream on players’ potential and ceilings, but we should always remember how hard it is to succeed at this game.
I am very excited about the Bazzana choice and I think he’s got a good shot at impacting the team at some point in the second half of 2025, perhaps finding himself cemented into the second spot in the lineup. I really like the Cozart pick and hope to see him as a defense-first backup catcher you actually don’t mind seeing hit every fourth game in Cleveland someday. I love the gutsy choice of trying for some high value in high school arms like Doughty, Oakie, Sullivan and Mobley. I like the chances of finding their usual underrated value in college arms like Favors, Heppner and Matson. And, there are some good relief arms and contact-first hitters to dream on, as well.
The rumors are that Cleveland is expecting to sign their whole class so let’s hope they can do it soon and get everyone into their various programs and ready to impact their minor league system as soon as possible!