• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

2024 Minor League Thread

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
MadThinker88 said:
Kudos to @Pierre Pan (he posted this info in another thread)...

From Kiley McDaniel and ESPN+ content :

Cleveland Guardians​

19th overall
15th in quality depth (prospects over 40 FV)
$187 million total value

1. Chase DeLauter, RF, 55 FV (42nd on the Top 100)
2. Brayan Rocchio, SS, 50 FV (79)
3. Kyle Manzardo, 1B, 50 FV (83)
4. Daniel Espino, RHP, 50 FV (92)
5. Juan Brito, 2B, 45+ FV (173)
6. Jaison Chourio, RF, 45 FV
7. George Valera, RF, 45 FV
8. Welbyn Francisca, SS, 40+ FV
9. Angel Martinez, SS, 40+ FV
10. Ralphy Velazquez, C, 40+ FV
11. Kahlil Watson, SS, 40+ FV
12. Petey Halpin, CF, 40+ FV
13. Angel Genao, SS, 40 FV
14. Jake Fox, 2B, 40 FV
15. Robert Arias, CF, 40 FV
16. Alex Clemmey, LHP, 40 FV
17. Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B, 40 FV
18. Joey Cantillo, LHP, 40 FV
19. Parker Messick, LHP, 40 FV
20. C.J. Kayfus, RF, 40 FV
21. Milan Tolentino, SS, 40 FV
22. Jose Tena, SS, 40 FV
23. Justin Campbell, RHP, 40 FV
24. Dayan Frias, SS, 40 FV
25. Johnathan Rodriguez, RF, 40 FV
26. Wuilfredo Antunez, CF, 40 FV
27. Will Dion, LHP, 40 FV
28. Andrew Walters, RHP, 40 FV

Notable 2023 graduations: C Bo Naylor, RHP Tanner Bibee, LHP Logan Allen, RHP Gavin Williams, 2B Tyler Freeman, SS Gabriel Arias, RF Will Brennan, RHP Xzavion Curry, RHP Hunter Gaddis, LHP Tim Herrin

2024 impact: Rocchio
Above 40 FV breakout: Chourio
40 FV breakout: Clemmey

Non-Top 100 scouting reports

It may sting a bit for the Guardians that they traded their 2016 second-round pick Nolan Jones before the 2023 season and he then posted a 3.7 WAR season for the Rockies, but the return was Brito who is also a solid prospect. He frankly fits the Guardians style of player, a hit-first type with a good approach and defensive value. Brito projects for plus OBPs and average power (15-18 homers) while being a fine but not great defensive second baseman who should get a look in 2024.

Valera was a big-bonus international signing in 2017 who now has only one minor league option year left, so he'll need to establish himself in the big leagues this season. He's a late-count hitter who racks up lots of walks, strikeouts and home runs so he can be more prone to streakiness or the vagaries of ball in play luck. On the upside, he could hit 25 homers and post a strong OBP. Velazquez was a well-known prep prospect from Southern California who was teetering on the wrong side of the catcher/first base spectrum. The good news is even his biggest detractors concede that the lefty hitter can really hit: he's above average at everything in the batter's box with plus raw power that he gets to in games. It'll be a bit of a letdown if he's just a true first baseman since he was the 23rd overall pick, but he may hit enough that it won't matter

You may recognize the name Chourio from the No. 2 prospect on the Top 100, recently extended for $82 million Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. Jaison is his little brother and he is broadly similar, but not quite the same level of talent right now. Jaison is an average runner who fits in right field with above-average bat control and the raw power potential to potentially profile as an everyday player there. He's a switch hitter who made it to Low-A as an 18-year-old after tearing up the domestic complex league with more walks than strikeouts. He'll need to lift the ball more to tap into his power in games, but it's still very early. Speaking of which, Francisca made his pro debut in the DSL last year after signing for $1.4 million in January. He is the familiar Cleveland type of shorter switch-hitter who fits up the middle, but doesn't have overwhelming physical tools. Francisca can really hit and has a strong approach, so he's a candidate to move up this list with his U.S. debut in 2024.

Cleveland collects a lot of high floor/lower upside players but two recent acquisitions stand out for their loud tools and big upside. At draft time, Clemmey was a 17-year-old 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher who had touched 100 mph with an all-arms-and-legs delivery. He also mixed in a plus breaking ball but his command (as you'd expect with his long limbs and recent velo spike) was sorta all over the place. There's frontline upside if Cleveland's pitching dev machine can tease average command out of Clemmey. In the Rule 5 draft, Cleveland selected De Los Santos from Arizona, a corner type with explosive plus-plus raw power that chases too much and looks out of control at types. He'll have to stick the whole year in the big leagues for Cleveland to keep his rights and this isn't really the kind of player that does that, so I'm fascinated to see what the Guardians can do with him.
Click to expand...
Highest I think I have seen Tolentino.. Also kind of surprised no one has Jackson Humphries sneaking into the bottom of their list... I do - stay tuned.
 
Criznit said:
Highest I think I have seen Tolentino.. Also kind of surprised no one has Jackson Humphries sneaking into the bottom of their list... I do - stay tuned.
Click to expand...
Do you see Tolentino as anything more than a glove only guy & a ceiling of a defensive utility guy who stays on the dirt?..

Humphries has some ready now/nasty spinning stuff.. and he's so young that he's still not able to buy a beer at a bar.. It would not surprise this author to see him climbing in many of these lists with his FB and Slider/Cutter combination, alone.. Physically, he could use some more work in the lower body area.. but is otherwise a solid frame and approach.. The way he hides the ball during his delivery is particularly effective, imho..
 
Gson said:
Humphries has some ready now/nasty spinning stuff.. and he's so young that he's still not able to buy a beer at a bar.. It would not surprise this author to see him climbing in many of these lists with his FB and Slider/Cutter combination, alone.. Physically, he could use some more work in the lower body area.. but is otherwise a solid frame and approach.. The way he hides the ball during his delivery is particularly effective, imho..
Click to expand...
nextyearincleveland.com had a scouting report on Humphries which included this comment:

There’s always a lot of IFs with any prospect, especially high school arms. Cleveland has had very little success in developing them into major league contributors. Triston McKenzie and Sam Hentges are their best current wins with high school arms and before that was probably CC Sabathia.

I haven't fact checked this but if it's true I think it's shocking. We drafted CC in 1998. You mean we've only drafted TWO high school pitchers in the last 25 years that can be considered "wins"? Why are we even scouting high school pitchers? We certainly wouldn't want to draft any in the first five rounds at least.

And it's not like either Triston or Sam has lit up the majors, although I'm optimistic for both of them to break out this year.

We have the reputation of being a pitching factory but it seems the pitchers we have the most time to develop are...not getting developed. We are having more success with college arms that we can put the finishing touches on, like Bieber or Civale, for example. But the most success has come with prospects we acquired from other farm systems in trades, like Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clevinger, Masterson, and Clase. Hopefully Cantillo joins that group.
 
Last edited:
Wham with the Right Hand said:
nextyearincleveland.com had a scouting report on Humphries which included this comment:

There’s always a lot of IFs with any prospect, especially high school arms. Cleveland has had very little success in developing them into major league contributors. Triston McKenzie and Sam Hentges are their best current wins with high school arms and before that was probably CC Sabathia.

I haven't fact checked this but if it's true I think it's shocking. We drafted CC in 1998. You mean we've only drafted TWO high school pitchers in the last 25 years that can be considered "wins"? Why are we even scouting high school pitchers? We certainly wouldn't want to draft any in the first five rounds at least.

And it's not like either Triston or Sam has lit up the majors, although I'm optimistic for both of them to break out this year.

We have the reputation of being a pitching factory but it seems the pitchers we have the most time to develop are...not getting developed. We are having more success with college arms that we can put the finishing touches on, like Bieber or Civale, for example. But the most success has come with prospects we acquired from other farm systems in trades, like Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Clevinger, Masterson, and Clase. Hopefully Cantillo joins that group.
Click to expand...
Surprising as it may seem.. The other aspect is the age.. It seems that so many of the youngest of the young SP's brought into the MiLB system of the CleFO via the draft or IFA signing.. fail.. or almost never live up to their potential. It may be why soooooo few IFA signings are pitchers.. the few the CleFO do pay attention to ( read: pay ), haven't developed to the extent.. Position players are vastly more useful to the CleFO's intent to build a talented system..

The best route for ML SP's.. is via astute trades.. and it remains the most cost effective.. The acquisition of a youngster with a future and before they see even Lake County (A+).. is when the CleFO really does well.. example:

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/163362

The SP in this deal.. has just made it to A+... he's a durable strike throwing machine who can and does command and control two pitches as a 19 year old.. This is what the Guardians need to be returning..

even if, they aren't going to contribute in 2024.. This comment is for the few that remain steadfast in believing it's the only way a deal gets done.. When I post a trade that has a nobody pitcher attached to the deal.. it's what works waaaaaaay more often than the "name brand" prospect trades..

Thoughts?
 
I stumbled across this tweet/ post on another board & I feel others should be aware. -MT88

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://twitter.com/jjcoop36


JJ Cooper (of Baseball America)

@jjcoop36

This year is the first year of a 175-player offseason and a 165-player inseason limit for domestic MiLB rosters. According to multiple agents and front office officials it's having an effect on veterans landing MiLB deals with non-roster invites.
 
Keith Law's Top 20 prospects for us:

1. Brayan Rocchio, SS (2024 top 100 ranking: 13)
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170 | Seasonal age in 2024: 23

This is Rocchio’s fourth year on my top 100, and I presume his final one, as he debuted in the majors last year and the Guardians appear to have cleared the path for him to be their opening-day shortstop. Rocchio’s outstanding feel for the game was evident even when he signed at 16, while he’s developed into a plus defender at shortstop and improved his pitch recognition and swing decisions as he’s moved up the chain.

He’s a true switch-hitter who hits from both sides of the plate, and he’s become extremely difficult to strike out, ranking in the top 4 percent of all full-season players (minimum 400 PA) last year in contact rate. He’s shown power in the past, with 33 homers in 2021-22 combined, and hits the ball hard for a smaller hitter, with top-end exit velocities higher than Alex Bregman’s were at ages 22-23, although I’d project a more conservative 15-18 homers a year for Rocchio. It’s plus defense, potentially elite plate discipline, quality contact already, and a track record of consistent improvements. Cleveland’s trade of Francisco Lindor should hurt a bit less now that his successor is here.

2. Kyle Manzardo, 1B (2024 top 100 ranking: 66)
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205 | Seasonal age in 2024: 23

Manzardo was the Rays’ second-round pick in 2021 out of Washington State, where he showed outstanding feel to hit but didn’t put the ball over the fence as much as you’d expect for his size or want for his lack of defensive value. Traded to Cleveland this past July for Aaron Civale, Manzardo started turning on the ball a lot more after he came off the injured list (for a shoulder issue) in August, with six homers in 21 games for Triple-A Columbus and six more in 22 games in the Arizona Fall League.

He’s an extremely disciplined hitter who doesn’t chase much and almost never misses on fastballs, destroying right-handed pitching with some trouble with lefties — he makes enough contact but had a .195 BABIP against them last year, which feels fluky given how hard he typically hits the ball. His best position is in the batter’s box and you’ll have to live with some limited defense at first base, which caps his ceiling somewhat, but if he closes that platoon split (or if it turns out to be at least partly bad luck) he’s got a .380-.400 OBP, 30 homer ceiling that will play anywhere.

3. Chase Delauter, OF (2024 top 100 ranking: 81)
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235 | Seasonal age in 2024: 22

Delauter missed 15 months with a broken foot he suffered in college in 2022, re-aggravating the injury while rehabbing. He didn’t make his pro debut until a year after the Guardians took him with the 16th pick in the 2022 draft. He’s only played in 57 pro games, plus 23 more in the AFL, but to his credit he’s hit at every level up through a six-game stint in Double A, even with an ugly swing that doesn’t look like it’ll produce power or even let him be consistently on time. He’s an excellent athlete who might be a plus runner at full health and definitely has a plus arm, with the potential for big defensive value in right field. He’s shown great feel for the strike zone everywhere he’s ever played, including his time at James Madison and a summer on Cape Cod, where he was one of just four regulars to walk more than he struck out.

It is a really unfortunate swing, though; he opens his hips early and all but drags the bat to the zone that makes it look like he’s trying to scoop the ball with the bat head and poke it to right field. He hasn’t seen much velocity yet in pro ball, so he may not be tested until this year when he’s playing in Double A or Triple A. There’s real upside here with his defense and the contact skills he’s demonstrated, but the bad swing and injury history point to the downside risk that he’s just an extra outfielder. He reminds me some of Brett Jackson, another first-rounder with an awkward swing but great athleticism who hit everywhere he played until the majors.

4. Jaison Chourio, OF (Just missed)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 162 | Bats: B | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 19

Yes, that’s Jackson’s little brother, and while some of the hype from the No. 2 overall prospect in the game might be spilling over onto Jaison, he’s a solid prospect in his own right. He’s a real centerfielder with great reads there and projects to be a plus defender, with flashes of plus speed that should be more consistently there as he matures physically. He’s a switch-hitter, better from the more important side (left-handed) but with good swings from both sides of the plate.

The big difference between Jaison and Jackson, and the reason Jaison isn’t on the top 100 yet, is power: Jackson has it, and Jaison doesn’t, with just two homers in 406 professional plate appearances and no real projection for more than minimal power going forward. His exit velocities are improving as he builds strength, so there’s optimism across the board that he’ll be able to impact the ball against major-league quality pitching, but it’ll come in the form of base hits rather than homers. He’s also got a good eye, walking more than he struck out last year in the Arizona Complex League. It’s hard to see him as more than a solid regular unless he gets quite a bit stronger, or picks up some speed and projects as a 70 defender rather than a 60 as he currently does, although there’s a reasonable chance he’s a fourth outfielder even if he never gets beyond 30 power.

5. José Tena, SS
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 195 | Bats: L | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 23

I’m not sure why some teams or coaches are teaching guys this heel-up swing, but Tena tried it early in the year and it killed him; when he brought the heel partway back down and kept his front leg more upright while also getting his hands in lower and better position to hit, he took off, hitting .344/.415/.550 from July 1 until he was called up to the majors in September. He’s a no-doubt shortstop and has shown a good enough approach over the course of his career to believe he’ll get pitches to drive. I hope the plan for him this year is to leave him alone and let him have some extended success in Triple A.

6. Juan Brito, 2B
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 200 | Bats: B | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 22

The return for Nolan Jones quietly had a solid year at the plate across three levels, finishing with five games in Triple A and posting a .271/.377/.434 line on the season with above-average defense at second base. He’s got a very disciplined approach at the plate, taking his walks but looking for pitches to hit, and if he had another half-grade of power he would have been banging on the door of the top 100. As it is, he’s in the top ~130 or so, and has an above-average regular ceiling at second base.

7. Ralphy Velazquez, C
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 215 | Bats: L | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 19

Cleveland’s first-round pick from 2023 was Velasquez, a power-hitting catcher from a California high school who is more bat than glove right now but with the potential to stay back there. He’s more hit than power, though; there’s power in there if he stays back on the ball a little more to drive it consistently in games, with 25-homer upside if it all clicks, although I think his wide stance is holding down the power numbers. He’s not great behind the dish, with a plus-plus arm but needing a lot of help receiving, blocking, and so on, although to his credit he remade his body in the 2022-23 offseason to turn catching into a real possibility.

8. Alex Clemmey, LHP
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 205 | Bats: L | Throws: L | Seasonal age in 2024: 18

Clemmey hit 100 mph last spring for his Rhode Island high school, sitting 94-98 with feel for both a curve and change, but with a rough drop-and-drive delivery that inhibited his ability to throw strikes. He’s very athletic and shows top-of-the-line skills in things like range of motion, so Cleveland, which has a strong track record in pitching development, has a ton to work with here. Even just getting him a delivery he can repeat would make him a top 100 guy in a year.

9. Daniel Espino, RHP
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 225 | Bats: R | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 23

Espino hasn’t pitched since April 2022 due to first a knee issue and then, much more concerning, a shoulder issue that required surgery after that season and took him out for all of 2023. For a month in 2022, he was the best pitching prospect in baseball, but I have no idea if that guy is coming back — or when, really. Maybe he’ll be up to 100 mph again with command and out pitches, but the odds of that seem very low, and I’d bet if he comes back it’ll be in relief.

10. Kahlil Watson, SS/2B
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 180 | Bats: L | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 21

Watson was part of the return from Miami for Josh Bell at the trade deadline, and if anyone might benefit from a fresh start, it’s him, as he struggled on the field since the Marlins took him in the first round in 2021 and had frequent difficulties with staff — as well as a suspension in 2022 for pointing his bat at an umpire while holding it like a gun. He’s very toolsy, but was clearly more unfinished as a player when drafted than it seemed. It sounds like he’s going to focus on second base, rather than shortstop (which he wasn’t good at), and maybe mix in some centerfield to take advantage of his speed. He’s got more power than you’d expect from his size but has struggled with zone coverage, something else Cleveland intends to work on, keeping him on plane more through the zone so he can close some of those holes. Don’t be surprised if he takes at least a small step forward this year now that he’s in a new environment. I think it says something that Marlins people didn’t have anything bad to say about him even after the trade, too.

11. Angel Martínez, 3B/2B
12. Parker Messick, LHP
13. George Valera, OF
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195 | Bats: L | Throws: L | Seasonal age in 2024: 23

That was a huge fall for Valera, who went to Triple A and hit .211/.343/.375 in 73 games with a 27.2 percent strikeout rate around a slew of injuries, including one to his wrist and another to his hamstring. Some of the injuries may be because he was out of shape to start the year, but the injuries and the conditioning don’t explain why he was swinging and missing more often and at all pitch types. There’s still huge power here, and it’s possible that the wrist injury had some effect on his numbers, but scouts who saw him last year were unimpressed, and he has to make some significant changes this offseason to get back on track to even be a regular.
14. Alex Mooney, SS
15. Andrew Walters, RHP
16. Welbyn Francisca, SS
17. Kody Huff, C
18. Joey Cantillo, LHP
19. CJ Kayfus, 1B
20. Franco Aleman, RHP
 
Law is really down on DeLauter's swing. Seems like he views him as a fourth OF with pop.

Brito and Espino are too low while Tena is too high. Law seems to favor fresh faces with Chourio Clemmy and Velazquez over Espino and Valera.
 
Here's a little chart of how our prospects have been ranked.

PlayerMLB PipelineESPNThe Athletic/Keith Law
Brayan Rocchio121
Kyle Manzardo232
Daniel Espino349
Chase DeLauter413
George Valera5713
Juan Brito656
Ralphy Velazquez7107
Jaison Chourio864
Alex Clemmey9168
Angel Martinez10911
Joey Cantillo111818
Deyvison De Los Santos1217NR
Jake Fox1314NR
Angel Genao1413NR
Jose Tena15225
Welbyn Francisca16816
Kahlil Watson171110
Parker Messick181912
Andrew Walters192815
Tanner Burns20NRNR
Petey Halpin2112NR
Alex Mooney22NR14
Jackson Humphries23NRNR
Justin Campbell2423NR
Johnathan Rodriguez2525NR
Dayan Frias2624NR
Doug Nikhazy27NRNR
Will Dion2827NR
Jhonkensy Noel29NRNR
C.J. Kayfus302019
Robert AriasNR15NR
Milan TolentinoNR21NR
Wuilfredo AntunezNR26NR
Cody HuffNRNR17
Franco AlemanNRNR20
 

Always the downside of a new season but even more so this year with the new MiLB roster rules taking place. Domestic rosters can only carry 165 players during minor league season this year. In the off-season it can sit at 175 which the #Guardians are currently sitting at now. That means 10 cuts plus then depending on how many players come to the ACL from DSL they would need to cut that many more. So if they have 20 players come off the international roster to the domestic roster that's 20 more cuts.Additionally any player who is currently on the 40-man roster that doesn't make the MLB 26-man Opening Day roster will count against the 165 player limit. That could mean up to 14 more cuts depending on injuries etc...In all the new roster rule could easily lead to 40-50 players being released.
 
Criznit said:

Always the downside of a new season but even more so this year with the new MiLB roster rules taking place. Domestic rosters can only carry 165 players during minor league season this year. In the off-season it can sit at 175 which the #Guardians are currently sitting at now. That means 10 cuts plus then depending on how many players come to the ACL from DSL they would need to cut that many more. So if they have 20 players come off the international roster to the domestic roster that's 20 more cuts.Additionally any player who is currently on the 40-man roster that doesn't make the MLB 26-man Opening Day roster will count against the 165 player limit. That could mean up to 14 more cuts depending on injuries etc...In all the new roster rule could easily lead to 40-50 players being released.
Click to expand...

Does anyone know what it was in years past? It's kind or strange the MLBPA allowed this to happen!
 
33Y0 said:
Here's a little chart of how our prospects have been ranked.

PlayerMLB PipelineESPNThe Athletic/Keith Law
Brayan Rocchio121
Kyle Manzardo232
Daniel Espino349
Chase DeLauter413
George Valera5713
Juan Brito656
Ralphy Velazquez7107
Jaison Chourio864
Alex Clemmey9168
Angel Martinez10911
Joey Cantillo111818
Deyvison De Los Santos1217NR
Jake Fox1314NR
Angel Genao1413NR
Jose Tena15225
Welbyn Francisca16816
Kahlil Watson171110
Parker Messick181912
Andrew Walters192815
Tanner Burns20NRNR
Petey Halpin2112NR
Alex Mooney22NR14
Jackson Humphries23NRNR
Justin Campbell2423NR
Johnathan Rodriguez2525NR
Dayan Frias2624NR
Doug Nikhazy27NRNR
Will Dion2827NR
Jhonkensy Noel29NRNR
C.J. Kayfus302019
Robert AriasNR15NR
Milan TolentinoNR21NR
Wuilfredo AntunezNR26NR
Cody HuffNRNR17
Franco AlemanNRNR20
Click to expand...

I don't think any of us are surprised to see Aleman getting a vote by someone... Law is making the Quantrill trade look better right now at least since we got Huff for Quantrill

Do you happen to have any other lists so we can actually compare them all? I am curious...
 
sportscoach said:
Does anyone know what it was in years past? It's kind or strange the MLBPA allowed this to happen!
Click to expand...

Here is quick article where it could have gone to 150 from 180 / 190 (in season/ off season).

And, note, it says rostered in minors state-side, so that doesn’t inc major leaguers or 60-day mlb nor milb dl.

www.si.com

Report: MLB Seeks Ability to Reduce Minor League Roster Size Amid Lockout Negotiations

The MLB has asked the MLBPA to reduce the size of the Domestic Reserve List, effectively eliminating more minor league jobs.
www.si.com www.si.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-15: "Cavs Survive and Advance"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:15: Cavs Survive and Advance
Top