Jaison Chourio is our No. 3 Guardians prospect. Who should be No. 4?

The talented switch-hitting center fielder is hoping to build off an MVP season at age 19.

A breakout season has cemented Jaison Chourio as the No. 3 Cleveland Guardians prospect, up seven spots from No. 10 last year. Chourio ran away with 46% of the vote totals, almost 100 votes ahead of second place.

Chourio was an international prospect signed in the 2022 international class out of Venezuela for $1.2 million. He was ranked as a top-50 prospect in the class at the time and has lived up to the hype thus far.

Chourio debuted in the Dominican Summer League in 2022, putting up impressive numbers, slashing .280/.446/.402 with nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts.

In 2023, the switch hitter debuted stateside in the Arizona Complex League and he put up even better numbers, slashing .349/.476/.463 while stealing 19 bases in 39 games, good for an elite 147 wRC+. His performance earned him a late-season promotion to full-season ball, where he played nine games with the Lynchburg Hillcats.

Jaison spent his entire 2024 season with the Hillcats, although he likely would have earned a late-season promotion to High-A Lake County if he hadn’t fractured his wrist in late August. Despite the injury, he was named the Carolina League MVP after putting up some impressive numbers, slashing .269/.414/.398 with a career-high five home runs while stealing a whopping 44 bases in 98 games played, good for a 144 wRC+. He walked more than he struck out and also represented Cleveland in the 2024 Futures Game.

Chourio might be known best because his older brother Jackson, who was No. 3 in the 2024 Rookie of the Year voting in the National League with the Milwaukee Brewers. Cleveland has been more patient with Jaison, and it might be paying off as he appears to have significantly filled out his 6-foot-1 frame in the offseason, which should help him catch up to his older brother in the power department.

Expect Jaison to begin the 2025 season at High-A Lake County, where he could move quickly if he adjusts well to the increase in competition. It’s likely he could solve Cleveland’s long history of center field woes in the post-Sizemore era.

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Juan Brito, SS (Age 23)

2024 (AAA): 652 PA, .256/.365/.443, 21 HR, 13 SB, 13.5 BB%, 16.1 K%, 113 wRC+

A top candidate for the vacant second base job in Cleveland, Brito impressed in a 2024 season spent entirely at Triple-A, where he blasted a career-high 21 home runs.

Daniel Espino, RHP (Age 24)

2024: ——

Cleveland’s 2019 first round pick, once compared to Jacob DeGrom and Gerrit Cole, has struggled to stay healthy and has not pitched since 2022 due to shoulder surgeries.

Welbyn Francisca, SS (Age 18)

2024 (AZL): 201 PA, .328/.418/.523, 6 HR, 11 SB, 12.4 BB%, 12.4 K%, 139 wRC+
2024 (A): 132 PA, .325/.402/.402, 1 HR, 8 SB, 10.6 BB%, 20.5 K%, 141 wRC+

A top international signing, Francisca dominated the Arizona Complex League last year in his stateside debut, then didn’t miss a beat in a late season promotion to Lynchburg at age 18.

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.

Cooper Ingle, C (Age 22)

2024 (A+): 305 PA, .313/.433/.500, 9 HR, 3 SB, 16.7 BB%, 13.1 K%, 170 wRC+
2024 (AA): 103 PA, .281/.379/.416, 2 HR, 4 SB, 13.6 BB%, 15.5 K%, 132 wRC+

Absolutely dominated High-A before impressing at Double-A following a midseason promotion. Walked more than he struck out while developing defensively.

Austin Peterson, RHP (Age 25)

2024 (A+): 14 GS, 85 IP, 2.44 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 27.1 K%, 1.9 BB%
2024 (AA): 13 GS, 75 IP, 2.88 ERA, 2.96 FIP, 25.1 K%, 5.2 BB%

Peterson broke out as one of the top performing pitchers in the Guardians MiLB organization in 2024 with consistent and elite dominance at both High-A and Double-A.

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.