a second solo homer off Nikhazy. Those the only hits he's allowed in 4 innings. But that is a worry for a slower-thrower

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Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 3/28/25
Triple-A is back!
Arthur Kinney
Mar 29






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SCOREBOARD

Columbus Clippers 8, Toledo Mud Hens 5 (Statcast)
HIGHLIGHTS

Juan Brito (2B): 3-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 SF, 1 K - While it’s only one game, Brito made an excellent opening argument in his case for a call-up to the Big Club with this Manzardoan effort. While not explosive, his contact was solid with three of his four batted balls coming off his bat in the mid-90s MPH. He was also clutch, driving in a pair of game-tying runs as well as an eighth-inning insurance tally.

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Will Wilson (3B): 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K - It’s easy to forget that Wilson’s Opening Day was a multi-hit one given how good THAT hit was. For those of you just learning about this contest now, the hit in question was a gargantuan 429-foot homer (109.0 MPH exit velo) in the seventh that landed on Monroe Street beyond left field and bounced off the Glass City Center (convention center) across the street. Two fun facts about this blast: First, not only did the Triple-A Rule 5 selection top the Clippers’ velo chart for the day, he also posted the team’s lowest exit velo of the game on a fly ball with a 79.5 MPH flyout to right in the ninth. Second, while he tied Buffalo (Toronto) OF Joey Loperfido for the second-longest homer of Triple-A Opening day, it wasn’t even the longest of the game as Toledo (Detroit) 1B Justyn-Henry Malloy tagged Clippers starter Doug Nikhazy for a 443-foot (110.8 MPH) moonshot in the fourth.

Angel Martinez (LF): 2-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K - While it’s easy for other performances to get lost in the bright lights of efforts like Brito’s and Wilson’s, it’s important not to overlook Martinez’s multi-double effort. Starting the season with a pair of hard hit (high-90s exit velos) doubles, including one that gave the Clip Show their first lead of the season, is nothing to sneeze at.

Dayan Frias (1B): 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB - Rounding out the quartet of multi-hit Opening Days is Frias, who showed both power and plate discipline in a well-rounded offensive effort - all while playing his least familiar offensive position during the bottom of each frame. This was only his 19th professional game at 1B, compared to a minimum of 63 career appearances at each of the other infield spots. The only position he has played less (other than positions he’s never played) is LF, which he has played thrice, all for the 2019 Dominican Summer League Indians (for those new to following the farm system, Cleveland only had one DSL affiliate back then).

Doug Nikhazy (SP): ND, 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R (both earned), 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR allowed - Malloy’s Ruthian blast aside, Nikhazy was impressive in the opener of his first full Triple-A campaign. In fact, the longball was his main nemesis on Friday as he came within two bad pitches of hurling five frames of one-hit shutout baseball. Despite his fastball only sitting in the low-90s, it combined well with a mid-80s slider and a high-70s curveball for an effective three-pitch arsenal. Come to think of it, this may not be a full season of Triple-A for him as a trip up I-71 may be in his near future.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Milan Tolentino (SS): 1-3, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 BB - Reaching base twice, including on a 100.8 MPH triple, and scoring both times sounds like a pretty impressive Triple-A debut to me.

Kody Huff (C ): 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K - Huff likewise shone in a Triple-A debut marked by multiple trips to the basepaths.

Nick Mikolajachak (RP): S (1), 1 IP, perfect, 1 K - After blowing his only save opportunity of 2024, Mikolajchak needed only one game to ensure that the goose egg in the saves column would not be repeated.

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2025 Cleveland Guardian Prospect Scouting Report: #27 LHP Doug Nikhazy
Can Nikhazy find more control with new mechanical changes?
Justin Lada
Mar 29






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Bio
Age (2025 season): 25

Acquired: 2021 Draft (2nd Round)

2024 Level: Triple-A

Height: 6’0

Weight: 210

Throws: Left

First impression
Undersized arm with an array of offerings, fringe control that can miss some bats and turn a lineup over once.

2025 Scouting Grades
Fastball: 45

Slider: 55

Curveball: 45

Changeup: 45

Command: 40

Overall: 40

Risk: Moderate

ETA: 2025

What Makes Nikhazy Fun
Part of Nikhazy’s story now that does make him a potentially fun prospect (again), is his redemption arc in 2024 from a disappointing second round pick to now being on the 40 man roster. Nikhazy now looks more like a crafty-lefty type as he throws a four seam, sinker, slider (that he can cut), curve and a change. He’s revamped his mechanics and now has a more cross body motion into a 3/4 arm slot, down from his more over the top/high 3/4 look. The mechanical changes helped him halve his walk rate from 2023 and boosted his slider a little in favor of his curveball. His changeup is effective and has some more depth now. The slider runs away from lefties and can dive under bats against lefties. His fastball can be effective when he locates it, and he’s seen a slight bump in velo at times (91-93 in some starts where he sustains it).

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What Could Hold Nikhazy Back
Nothing sinks a pitcher faster than free passes. Watch Triston McKenzie’s career arc and Logan Allen in 2024. And Nikhazy’s stuff is OK but not good enough to outpitch mistakes in the zone and with walks. His control is still an issue. His walk rate went from being a serious barrier from how much longer he might last in the organization to being below average. Nikhazy now has a good slider as his best offering. Due to the change in his slot and release, his once plus curveball is a bit fringy now. The changeup is useable and effective, but mostly flashes fringe/average. Velocity wise, his fastball is fringy even with a slightly raised floor on it and it doesn’t come with enough spin and carry like it used to.

Key Metric
10.8 - Nikhazy’s walk rate was a career low. That says a lot about where his control was. He’s still got work to do in terms of reigning that in. Furthermore, his first pitch strike rate was 47% last year, which would have been 10% lower than the lowest figure among qualified starters in major league baseball last year.

Intangibles
Nikhazy has long been well liked by teammates for his mind on pitching. They say they love talking to him about it and bouncing ideas off one another. Nikhazy also showed something last offseason finally agreeing to make some changes to his delivery despite his college success and realizing he needed to adopt some changes to improve.

Future
The issues throwing strikes at a consistent level still make it skeptical just how effective of a role he’ll have in the majors. Perhaps he has enough stuff and pitchability to overcome some of those issues. Being on the 40 man roster, the Guardians maybe believe that year two of his mechanical changes will further cut down the walk rate. That’s still something I think he’ll need to do in order to find any sort of consistent major league role. Control/stuff wise, he profiles more as a up and down depth starter or a reliever. Cleveland saw enough improvement last year to add him to the 40 over Ryan Webb and protect him from the Rule 5 draft. That might indicate they think he’s capable of more control going forward. His fastball/slider might have some chance to be more effective in a relief role.

Role/Risk
40/High - Up and down starter/middle relief.

Ryan Webb with the start today. The lefty was impressive in his AAA debut last summer, in 7 games ERA of 2.60 WHIP 1.27

Projections suggest he's most likely to have major league success in the bullpen,

Webb went 4 allowed 1. Martinez a 2 run double. Nunez 3 run homer.

sunday: Trent Denholm AAA debut allowed 3 quick runs in the first; no more over 3 1/3. Mason Hickman whose release can't be far off 3 runs in 1inning.
Brito double and single
Martinez 2 singles
Wilson 3 singles
Huff 2 singles
Weakest link is Will Brennan 1-14 with no walks; could well be feeling depressed

No mention of Brito ?

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Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 3/30/25
Brito and Will Wilson keep hitting
Matthew Kennell
Mar 31






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Scoreboard
Toledo Mud Hens 6, Columbus Clippers 5 (Statcast)
Highlights

Will Wilson (3B): 3-for-5, R, RBI - Wilson begins the 2025 regular season with five hits in ten at-bats thanks to a 3-for-5 effort on Sunday. Despite five players turning in a multi-hit day, Wilson was the only batter with a three-hit performance. His RBI single in the top of the ninth sparked a three-run inning, but it was not enough to complete the comeback. His single in the fourth was hit at 102.9 off the bat.

Juan Brito (1B): 2-for-5, R, 2 2Bs - Brito led the team with four total bases on the day. Both doubles and a flyout were hit between 95 and 98 mph off the bat. Three of his five hits in the opening weekend went for doubles.

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Notable Performances

Angel Martinez (CF): 2-for-5, 2 R, OF assist - Martinez had the hardest hit ball of the day for the Clippers, but unfortunately it was hit right at the center fielder for a lineout. The highlight for Martinez came defensively when he saved his pitcher a hit by throwing out a runner at second base.

Kody Huff (C): 2-for-5, RBI - Both singles for Huff were tracked at over 100 mph off the bat. It was feast or famine at the dish, however, with three strikeouts on the 24-year-old’s ledger as well.

Christian Cairo (2B): 2-for-4, R, BB, SB - Cairo was able to reach base three times in total thanks to a pair of hits and a walk. His speed was on display with two infield singles, both hit to the first baseman for the Mud Hens, and a stolen base.

Dom Nunez (DH): 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, BB, HBP - Nunez also reached base three times with a hit, walk and he was hit by a pitch. His RBI double in the ninth put him in scoring position as the game’s tying run.

Trenton Denholm (SP): L (0-1), 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, BB, 3 Ks, WP - It was a rough first inning for Denholm, but once he got out of the first, he settled in for seven straight outs in the first through third. He threw 55 pitches, 33 for strikes and got six groundball outs. The cutter was effective for Denholm with five swings and four whiffs.