Covering the Corner top Cleveland Guardians prospects for 2025 voting
Get out your good shoes and best debatin’ pants — it’s time for the prospect countdown!
Arguably one of the best times in the Covering the Corner calendar is finally here — the annual Top Prospect Countdown!
This may also be the best time to follow the prospects of the Cleveland Guardians with their depth and top-end talent. Some of them were drafted, some of them were signed internationally and some arrived in trades.
Last season the Guardians saw an explosion of young talent reach the majors. In total, eight of our top 20 from last year made it to the major-league roster. Cade Smith, our No. 19 prospect, finished fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.
Out of the rookies to debut with the club, the biggest impact was in the bullpen as Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sobrowski and Andrew Walters became staples of the Guardians’ rotation of mighty relievers while Cleveland sported the best bullpen in baseball. Position players contributed too as Brayan Rocchio won the starting shortstop job and finished the year strong after a long learning curve and Kyle Manzardo also lost his rookie status and will be one of the team’s featured first basemen for 2025. Others, like Jhonkensy Noel, helped create some of the season’s most memorable moments.
Looking ahead, it appears a majority of Cleveland’s top prospects once again are position players, but then again, that’s for you to decide!
For the newcomers to voting, here’s how this works: Beginning today and then running from every Monday through Saturday, from now until we reach 20 prospects, you’ll have an opportunity to vote on which prospect should be in that day’s spot. Voting will take place between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. and the winner will be announced and discussed in the next day’s post. The choices are curated by Covering the Corner staff, but the final vote is entirely up to who the community chooses. Vote in the poll below, and drop your feelings on the current rankings, as well as who you feel should be included in the next poll, in the comments.
Passion about prospects and their respective positions in the list is what makes this series so much fun, but remember to keep it civil. Debate other people’s opinions; do not resort to personal attacks.
Travis Bazzana, 2B (Age 22)
2024 (A+): 122 PA, .238/.369/.396, 3 HR, 5 SB, 13.9 BB%, 25.4 K%, 126 wRC+
Selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bazzana signed quickly with Cleveland and made an immediate impact at Lake County, helping the Captains win a championship.
Jaison Chourio, OF (Age 19)
2024 (A): 432 PA, .269/.414/.398, 5 HR, 11 SB, 19.9 BB%, 16.0 K%, 144 wRC+
The younger brother of top Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio, Jaison represented Cleveland in the 2024 Futures Game and was the Carolina League MVP.
Chase DeLauter, OF (Age 23)
2024 (AA): 128 PA, .252/.328/.441, 5 HR, 1 SB, 10.9 BB%, 14.8 K%, 118 wRC+
2024 (AAA): 27 PA, .304/.407/.779, 2 HR, 0 SB, 14.8 BB%, 7.4 K%, 185 wRC+
2024 (AFL): 59 PA, .340/.475/.511, 1 HR, 2 SB, 20.3 BB%, 10.2 K%
Guardians’ 2022 1st round pick had an incredible spring, then was slowed by multiple lower body injuries at AA. Finished the year strong then destroyed the Arizona Fall League (again).
Angel Genao, SS (Age 20)
2024 (A) 196 PA, .341/.383/.553, 6 HR, 12 SB, 7.1 BB%, 14.3 K%, 166 wRC+
2024 (A+): 300 PA, .322/.377/.463, 4 HR, 13 SB, 8.0 BB%, 16.3 K%, 140 wRC+
Impressed at both Single-A and High-A while actually improving his eye at the plate after being promoted. Had the best offensive season of any Guardians prospect.
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B (Age 19)
2024 (A) 373 PA, .243/.362/.414, 10 HR, 8 SB, 15.0 BB%, 20.1 K%, 131 wRC+
2024 (A+): 80 PA, .176/.275/.250, 1 HR, 0 SB, 12.5 BB%, 25.0 K%, 54 wRC+
Guardians 2023 1st round pick. Impressed as one of the youngest players at Single-A and represented Cleveland in the 2024 Futures Game, showcasing prodigious power.