Guardians righty Braylon Doughty is arguably the hottest Low-A pitcher over the last month. He has a 36% strikeout rate and a walk rate under 1% over his last four starts. The 2024 first-round draft pick is flashing midrotation starter potential.
Guardians first baseman Ralphy Velazquez really came on strong over the last month before his promotion to Double-A. He produced a 202 wRC+ and four home runs in his last 71 plate appearances for High-A Lake County. His suface-level production is finally catching up to season-long Statcast metrics that are among the strongest for the level. Velazquez’s 106.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity is improved from last year (105 mph) as is his contact rate, which is up to 76% from 73% in 2024. His chase rate is still around league-average, but his barrel rate has exploded from 16% in 2024 to 25% this year. Velazquez is definitely a top 100 fantasy hitting prospect and may be sneakily underrated because his underlying metrics far surpass his surface stats.
Re: Minor Matters
13832civ ollilavad wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 9:18 am Ortiz had been with the Pirates for a few years and only pitched well the last half of 24. Cleveland overhyped him.
Was not overhyped. Best pitcher on the staff before gambling situation. Still think these accusations started in Pittsburgh.
Re: Minor Matters
13833If anyone's interested, here's a podcast on minor leaguers
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva= ... GLMLSRCVrV
Guardians of the Future is back once again! Mike Mahoney joins Justin Lada to discuss:
Parker Messick's MLB debut
John Means' rehab
Josh Hartle's promotion
Khal Stephen's Guardians org deubt
Braylon Doughty's unfortunate injury news
Ralphy Velazquez's exploding development
If George Valera needs to be called up.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva= ... GLMLSRCVrV
Guardians of the Future is back once again! Mike Mahoney joins Justin Lada to discuss:
Parker Messick's MLB debut
John Means' rehab
Josh Hartle's promotion
Khal Stephen's Guardians org deubt
Braylon Doughty's unfortunate injury news
Ralphy Velazquez's exploding development
If George Valera needs to be called up.
Re: Minor Matters
13834If anyone's interested, here's a podcast on minor leaguers
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva= ... GLMLSRCVrV
Guardians of the Future is back once again! Mike Mahoney joins Justin Lada to discuss:
Parker Messick's MLB debut
John Means' rehab
Josh Hartle's promotion
Khal Stephen's Guardians org deubt
Braylon Doughty's unfortunate injury news
Ralphy Velazquez's exploding development
If George Valera needs to be called up.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva= ... GLMLSRCVrV
Guardians of the Future is back once again! Mike Mahoney joins Justin Lada to discuss:
Parker Messick's MLB debut
John Means' rehab
Josh Hartle's promotion
Khal Stephen's Guardians org deubt
Braylon Doughty's unfortunate injury news
Ralphy Velazquez's exploding development
If George Valera needs to be called up.
Re: Minor Matters
13835https://x.com/CleGuardPro/status/196047 ... 12/photo/1
Above is list of minor league players that are eligible for 2026 Rule 5 draft.
Above is list of minor league players that are eligible for 2026 Rule 5 draft.
Re: Minor Matters
13837Other possibilities would be pitchers Gomez, who has had some nice recent writeups but just reached AA; Peterson who was great at AA and not so in AAA, so probably won't be protected; Huff, a solid defensive catcher if Hedges retires; Antunez, probably not but he's another OF who just might be able to hit.
wouldn't expect them to retain
pitchers Kent, Kroek, Aleman, ?Nikhazy
catcher Nunez
IF Wilson
OF Rodriguez
And those who will be free agents:
Junis, Means, Hedges [that's according to my CoPilot AI which isn't always reliable]
But will have to add back from 60-day DL
Pitchers Hentges, Lively, Walters.
OF Brennan.
And then there are Clase and Ortiz
delete 10, add back 6 leaves 4 spots.
Opinions will differ of course
wouldn't expect them to retain
pitchers Kent, Kroek, Aleman, ?Nikhazy
catcher Nunez
IF Wilson
OF Rodriguez
And those who will be free agents:
Junis, Means, Hedges [that's according to my CoPilot AI which isn't always reliable]
But will have to add back from 60-day DL
Pitchers Hentges, Lively, Walters.
OF Brennan.
And then there are Clase and Ortiz
delete 10, add back 6 leaves 4 spots.
Opinions will differ of course
Re: Minor Matters
13838Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 8/26/25
Angel Geano is grand in Akron, Anthony Martinez hits first career homer
REHAB
John Means (SP, Columbus): L (0-1), 3 IP, 3 H, 4 R (all earned), 2 BB, 2 K, 3 HR allowed - The good news is that Means is healthy enough to throw a 61-pitch outing. The bad news is that he hasn’t got enough work in to be prepared to face major league hitting yet. He is slated to start again in the series finale on Sunday. Hopefully, he’s able to keep the Reds’ farmhands in the yard then.
HIGHLIGHTS
Angel Genao (SS, Akron): 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI - Genao removed any doubt that remained about the result of last night’s contest with a gargantuan grand slam to right center (391 feet/101 MPH per the RubberDucks) - his second Double-A round-tripper. This was an especially notable blast given that salamis are not exactly a common occurrence for the Mallards of Main Street. In fact, the last one happened long enough ago that the guy who hit it is now on the Big Club (C.J. Kayfus last June 5).
Joe Lampe (LF, Akron): 2-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 K - While it wasn’t a grand slam, Lampe’s ninth-inning triple drove in a pair of insurance runs and would’ve been the high point of the Ducks’ offense on many nights this season. This big night at the plate continued a solid August (.290/.351/.536).
Jake Fox (CF, Akron): 1-3, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K - Speaking of two-run triples, Fox got the scoring started with one of his own in the top of the second - extending his on-base streak to fifteen games in the process. Unsurprisingly, his August slash line has been prodigious (.341/.449/.537 compared to .172/.298/.263 entering the month).
Jeffrey Mercedes (2B, Lake County): 2-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI - Mercedes’ third multi-base game in his last four was a masterpiece, with Jeffrey picking up the hardest half of the cycle in only his ninth High-A game for a domestic ball-high seven total bases (He amassed nine total bases for DSL Blue on June 14 vs. Royals Glass.). The aforementioned last four games have seen Jeffrey post a 1.200 OPS and .533 ISO.
Ryan Cesarini (LF, Lake County): 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - Two batters before Mercedes tacked on a run with his first triple as a Captains, Cesarini got the scoring started for the Eastlake nine with a two-run shot to right center. - making it seven straight games with a run scored and/or driven in.
Jogly Garcia (SP, Lake County): ND, 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 3 K - Garcia allowed only one earned run in an impressive High-A debut.
Conner Whittaker (RP, Lake County): W (2-0), 4 IP, 5 H, 4 K - Whittaker has also taken to the High-A level quickly with 8.1 combined innings of shutout baseball across his second and third outings for the Captains after a rough debut at the level (4 ER in 1.2 IP).
Anthony Martinez (1B, Lynchburg): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K - The Guardians’ eighth-round selection in last month’s Draft opened his professional extra-base account in grand fashion with a go-ahead two-run shot to right in the bottom of the first.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Jhonkensy Noel (1B, Columbus): 2-4 -Noel keeps rolling with his third two-hit performance in his last six games - the only multi-hit effort the Clippers would get in the series opener in Louisville. His second-inning single left his bat at 113.7 MPH, good for fourth on the International League leaderboard last night.
Cooper Ingle (DH, Columbus): 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB - Ingle opened his Triple-A doubles account with the Clip Show's only extra-base hit of the evening.
Jake Miller (RP, Columbus): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K - Miller hurled a pair of scoreless frames for his best Triple-A outing so far.
Jacob Cozart (C, Akron): 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K - Cozart is slashing .311/.373/.444 to open his Double-A career (eleven games) after his third straight multi-base effort.
Ralphy Velazquez (1B, Akron): 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB - You know you’re raking when reaching twice and scoring once is a “quiet” night for you.
Davis Sharpe (SP, Akron): ND, 3 IP, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K - While control was something of an issue, Sharpe opened a bullpen game designed to keep Khal Stephen from making two starts in a week so early in his recovery with a trio of no-hit innings - his third three-frame outing of the season.
Zach Jacobs (RP, Akron): W (3-3), 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K - The other bulk guy for the Ducks on Tuesday also matched a season high in innings by hurling a trio of shutout frames - in his case adding a quartet of strikeouts as the proverbial cherry on top of his sundae of scorelessness.
Jose Devers (SS, Lake County): 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SF - Devers proved his impressive last two weeks weren't merely the product of playing at the Corner of SOM Center and Vine with a multi-hit opener to the regular season's final road trip that included his 60th RBI of the 2025 campaign.
Nick Mitchell (RF, Lake County): 1-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 K - The same can be said of Mitchell, whose fourth-inning triple gave him his eighth multi-base game in ten played since the start of the previous two-week homestand (1.109 OPS and .444 ISO in that stretch).
Esteban Gonzalez (DH, Lake County): 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB - Gonzalez reached a pair of milestones on Tuesday with his 25th double and 20th stolen base of the season.
Yaikel Mijares (2B, Lynchburg): 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K - Little did Mijares know at the time he hit it that his second-inning RBI single would cap the Hillcats’ scoring for the day and prove to be the source of the game-winning tally.
Riley Nelson (DH, Lynchburg): 1-3, 1 HBP, 1 K - Nelson reached multiple times for the fifth straight game and sixth time in eight professional games.
Jacob Zibin (SP, Lynchburg): ND, 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (earned), 3 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K - Zibin has pitched into the fifth inning while allowing only one run in each of his last two starts.
Cam Schuelke (RP, Lynchburg): S 91), 1.1 IP, perfect, 1 K - Schuelke, who picked up his first save of the 2025 campaign to remain perfect in three career save opportunities, has not allowed a run in his last five outings (8.1 combined innings).
Angel Geano is grand in Akron, Anthony Martinez hits first career homer
REHAB
John Means (SP, Columbus): L (0-1), 3 IP, 3 H, 4 R (all earned), 2 BB, 2 K, 3 HR allowed - The good news is that Means is healthy enough to throw a 61-pitch outing. The bad news is that he hasn’t got enough work in to be prepared to face major league hitting yet. He is slated to start again in the series finale on Sunday. Hopefully, he’s able to keep the Reds’ farmhands in the yard then.
HIGHLIGHTS
Angel Genao (SS, Akron): 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI - Genao removed any doubt that remained about the result of last night’s contest with a gargantuan grand slam to right center (391 feet/101 MPH per the RubberDucks) - his second Double-A round-tripper. This was an especially notable blast given that salamis are not exactly a common occurrence for the Mallards of Main Street. In fact, the last one happened long enough ago that the guy who hit it is now on the Big Club (C.J. Kayfus last June 5).
Joe Lampe (LF, Akron): 2-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 K - While it wasn’t a grand slam, Lampe’s ninth-inning triple drove in a pair of insurance runs and would’ve been the high point of the Ducks’ offense on many nights this season. This big night at the plate continued a solid August (.290/.351/.536).
Jake Fox (CF, Akron): 1-3, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K - Speaking of two-run triples, Fox got the scoring started with one of his own in the top of the second - extending his on-base streak to fifteen games in the process. Unsurprisingly, his August slash line has been prodigious (.341/.449/.537 compared to .172/.298/.263 entering the month).
Jeffrey Mercedes (2B, Lake County): 2-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI - Mercedes’ third multi-base game in his last four was a masterpiece, with Jeffrey picking up the hardest half of the cycle in only his ninth High-A game for a domestic ball-high seven total bases (He amassed nine total bases for DSL Blue on June 14 vs. Royals Glass.). The aforementioned last four games have seen Jeffrey post a 1.200 OPS and .533 ISO.
Ryan Cesarini (LF, Lake County): 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - Two batters before Mercedes tacked on a run with his first triple as a Captains, Cesarini got the scoring started for the Eastlake nine with a two-run shot to right center. - making it seven straight games with a run scored and/or driven in.
Jogly Garcia (SP, Lake County): ND, 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 3 K - Garcia allowed only one earned run in an impressive High-A debut.
Conner Whittaker (RP, Lake County): W (2-0), 4 IP, 5 H, 4 K - Whittaker has also taken to the High-A level quickly with 8.1 combined innings of shutout baseball across his second and third outings for the Captains after a rough debut at the level (4 ER in 1.2 IP).
Anthony Martinez (1B, Lynchburg): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K - The Guardians’ eighth-round selection in last month’s Draft opened his professional extra-base account in grand fashion with a go-ahead two-run shot to right in the bottom of the first.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Jhonkensy Noel (1B, Columbus): 2-4 -Noel keeps rolling with his third two-hit performance in his last six games - the only multi-hit effort the Clippers would get in the series opener in Louisville. His second-inning single left his bat at 113.7 MPH, good for fourth on the International League leaderboard last night.
Cooper Ingle (DH, Columbus): 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB - Ingle opened his Triple-A doubles account with the Clip Show's only extra-base hit of the evening.
Jake Miller (RP, Columbus): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K - Miller hurled a pair of scoreless frames for his best Triple-A outing so far.
Jacob Cozart (C, Akron): 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K - Cozart is slashing .311/.373/.444 to open his Double-A career (eleven games) after his third straight multi-base effort.
Ralphy Velazquez (1B, Akron): 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB - You know you’re raking when reaching twice and scoring once is a “quiet” night for you.
Davis Sharpe (SP, Akron): ND, 3 IP, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K - While control was something of an issue, Sharpe opened a bullpen game designed to keep Khal Stephen from making two starts in a week so early in his recovery with a trio of no-hit innings - his third three-frame outing of the season.
Zach Jacobs (RP, Akron): W (3-3), 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K - The other bulk guy for the Ducks on Tuesday also matched a season high in innings by hurling a trio of shutout frames - in his case adding a quartet of strikeouts as the proverbial cherry on top of his sundae of scorelessness.
Jose Devers (SS, Lake County): 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SF - Devers proved his impressive last two weeks weren't merely the product of playing at the Corner of SOM Center and Vine with a multi-hit opener to the regular season's final road trip that included his 60th RBI of the 2025 campaign.
Nick Mitchell (RF, Lake County): 1-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 K - The same can be said of Mitchell, whose fourth-inning triple gave him his eighth multi-base game in ten played since the start of the previous two-week homestand (1.109 OPS and .444 ISO in that stretch).
Esteban Gonzalez (DH, Lake County): 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB - Gonzalez reached a pair of milestones on Tuesday with his 25th double and 20th stolen base of the season.
Yaikel Mijares (2B, Lynchburg): 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K - Little did Mijares know at the time he hit it that his second-inning RBI single would cap the Hillcats’ scoring for the day and prove to be the source of the game-winning tally.
Riley Nelson (DH, Lynchburg): 1-3, 1 HBP, 1 K - Nelson reached multiple times for the fifth straight game and sixth time in eight professional games.
Jacob Zibin (SP, Lynchburg): ND, 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (earned), 3 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K - Zibin has pitched into the fifth inning while allowing only one run in each of his last two starts.
Cam Schuelke (RP, Lynchburg): S 91), 1.1 IP, perfect, 1 K - Schuelke, who picked up his first save of the 2025 campaign to remain perfect in three career save opportunities, has not allowed a run in his last five outings (8.1 combined innings).
Re: Minor Matters
13839As a fan of Jacob Zibin i"m pleased by his debut season after 2 years with injury. He's pitched deeper into games and more effectively as the season has progressed' although disappointed by the 3 walks last time out.
July and August totals:
28 1/3 innings; 24 hits; 5 earned runs; 13 walks; 26 strikeouts. Zero homers. 1.58 ERA 1.32 WHIP
I haven't read anything in the way of a scouting report on him since his predraft writeup which was quite impressive.
Does he now make the team's top 30 prospect list?
July and August totals:
28 1/3 innings; 24 hits; 5 earned runs; 13 walks; 26 strikeouts. Zero homers. 1.58 ERA 1.32 WHIP
I haven't read anything in the way of a scouting report on him since his predraft writeup which was quite impressive.
Does he now make the team's top 30 prospect list?
Re: Minor Matters
13840Jogly Garcia was a breakout surprise of the early months of the season with mammoth strikeout numbers for Lynchburg [57 in 33 innings]. Then sat him down with injury,'
returned yesterday with his Lake County debut 3 innings, 1 run, 3 strikeouts.
returned yesterday with his Lake County debut 3 innings, 1 run, 3 strikeouts.
Re: Minor Matters
1384110 MLB Prospects With Big Exit Velocity Gains In 2025
Juneiker Caceres, OF, Guardians
2024 90th Percentile EV: 101.2
2025 90th Percentile EV: 105.9
Gain: 4.7 mph
One of the top performers in the Arizona Complex League this summer, Caceres has established himself as one of the top players to come stateside in 2025. In 40 ACL games, Caceres hit .289/.419/.469 with more walks than strikeouts. He has hardly missed a beat since arriving in Low-A, slashing .304/.375/.443 over his first 20 games. Caceres’ isolated slugging has dropped slightly with the jump to the Carolina League, but that’s expected given the change in league environments. Caceres’ strong all-around profile and excellent performance could see him begin 2026 with High-A Lake County. He has an excellent blend of plate skills, power and angles on contact. Players with his combination of abilities typically scale well as they reach higher levels.
Juneiker Caceres, OF, Guardians
2024 90th Percentile EV: 101.2
2025 90th Percentile EV: 105.9
Gain: 4.7 mph
One of the top performers in the Arizona Complex League this summer, Caceres has established himself as one of the top players to come stateside in 2025. In 40 ACL games, Caceres hit .289/.419/.469 with more walks than strikeouts. He has hardly missed a beat since arriving in Low-A, slashing .304/.375/.443 over his first 20 games. Caceres’ isolated slugging has dropped slightly with the jump to the Carolina League, but that’s expected given the change in league environments. Caceres’ strong all-around profile and excellent performance could see him begin 2026 with High-A Lake County. He has an excellent blend of plate skills, power and angles on contact. Players with his combination of abilities typically scale well as they reach higher levels.
Re: Minor Matters
13842Currently listed No. 26 on our top 30 from BA; not among the top 30 at MLB.com