Cleveland Sports Forum

Further from the Guardians web page

he bios below are for first-time Major League Spring Training camp participants.

LHP Will Dion

Ninth round selection by Cleveland in the 2021 MLB Draft out of McNeese State (LA). Spent 2024 season at AAA Columbus after earning Baseball America Double-A All-Star honors at Akron in 2023. Also named 2022 Carolina League Pitcher of the Year at Single-A Lynchburg. Owns a Minor League career ERA of 3.18 in 85 games/74 starts. [for some reason they omit his 2024 stats 5.48 ERA in his AAA debut 21 homers in 117 innings; a slow throwing short lefty; good at lower levels]

RHP Bradley Hanner

Spent most of 2024 at AA Akron, posting an 8-4 mark with 6 saves and a 2.77 ERA in 43 relief outings (17ER/55.1IP/66K). Selected by Cleveland in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft (Minor League phase) from the Twins organization (selected by MIN in 2019 MLB Draft).

RHP Zak Kent

Acquired out of 2024 Spring Training from Texas, was limited to 14 games/3 starts at AAA Columbus due to a right elbow strain, which sidelined him from April 15 to Aug. 6. Originally selected by Texas in the ninth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of VMI.

LHP Ryan Webb

Spent most of the season in AA Akron before logging the final five weeks at AAA Columbus. His combined 2.80 ERA over the two stops was the 3rd-lowest mark in the organization as he also finished 4th in organizational strikeouts (151) and 5th in innings (career-high 141.1 IP). Owns a career Minor League ERA of 3.13 following his 2021 fourth round MLB Draft selection out of the University of Georgia. Currently ranked as the 28th-best prospect in the Guardians system (MLB Pipeline).

C Kody Huff

Spent first season in the Guardians organization at AA Akron following his acquisition from Colorado on Nov. 17, 2023 for RHP Cal Quantrill. Walked 44 times and posted a .340 on-base pct while throwing out 33% of would-be base stealers. Selected by the Rockies in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Stanford.

C Cooper Ingle

Named Midwest League MVP at High-A Lake County in 2024, batting .313 (79-for-252) with 18 2B, 9 HR and 55 RBI in 68 games (.433/.500/.933). Also named a Baseball America High-A All-Star. Finished year by hitting .281 in 25 games at AA Akron. Was selected by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Clemson. Currently ranked as the 13th-best prospect in the Guardians system (MLB Pipeline).No. 7 on the BA updated list

INF Dayan Frías

Since 2021, he has spent a season along each level of the club's Minor League system, spending the 2024 campaign in AA Akron while making double-digit starts at all four infield positions. Entered season ranked as the 29th-best prospect in the system (MLB Pipeline) and was a member of Team Colombia in the 2023 WBC. Signed by Cleveland in 2018 as an international free agent. [Joe saw him as a potential Jose Ramirez clone a couple years ago; see Winter ball folder for more details

INF Milán Tolentino

Spent year in utility role for AA Akron, earning Player of Month honors for July. Made 56 starts at shortstop, 36 starts at third base and 14 starts at second base. Was Cleveland’s fourth round selection in the 2020 MLB Draft out of Santa Margarita High School (CA). Father, José, helped the University of Texas win the 1983 College World Series before embarking on a 15-year professional career that included one year in the big leagues (44 games with Astros in 1991).[241/313/370 in 2024; had a good July won Eastern League player of the month]

INF Yordys Valdés

Posted career-bests in walks (44), OPS (.656) and on-base pct. (.339) in first season above Single-A ball, spending entire 2024 season at AA Akron. Made 62 starts at shortstop, 27 starts at second base and 18 starts at third base. Born in La Habana, Cuba, was Cleveland’s second round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of McArthur High School (Hollywood, FL), where he was coached by former Clevelander Oddibe McDowell. Father, Oscar, played outfield for the Cuban national team.
[Always been considered a much better glove than bat]

INF Will WIlson

Selected by Cleveland in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft (Minor League phase) from the Giants organization, where he split the season between AA Richmond and AAA Sacramento. Former first round pick (15th overall) by the LA Angels in 2019 out of NC State and later traded to the Giants in exchange for INF Zack Cozart.
[Another IF going nowhere with his drafted team; Cleveland needed him for depth in AA or AAA when they lost Christian Cairo in the major league phase of Rule 5. It seems awfully likely that Cairo will return] and Aaron Bracho as a minor league free agent.


OF Chase DeLauter

Posted a season OPS of .841 in a combined 39 games at AA Akron, AAA Columbus and the Arizona ACL club around three stints on the Injured List. Ended the season healthy following a successful AZ Fall League season, batting .340 (16-for-47) with 5 2B, 1 HR & 11 RBI in 12 games (.986 OPS) while also working out at the club's Goodyear Complex on scheduled off days. Martinsburg, WV native was Cleveland’s first round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft (16th overall) out of James Madison and is currently ranked as the 2nd-best prospect in the Guardians system (MLB Pipeline).

OF Kahlil Watson

Spent the 2024 season as a jack-of-all-trades utility player for Double-A Akron, routinely starting games at four different positions over four straight team games. On the year, he appeared in 38 games at second base (37GS), 26 in CF (25GS), 19 in LF (19GS), 6 at SS (6GS), 2 at third base (2GS) and 7 starts at DH. Finished tied for 9th in the Guards Minor League system in home runs (16). Acquired from Miami at the 2023 trade deadline for 1B Josh Bell and was Miami’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest (NC) High School. He had been projected as one of the top picks in the 2021 draft but slipped due to "character concerns"
He has had a suspension in the past for run in with umpires. None of that since he joined CLE organization
He still has a mix of power and speed but only 15/24 in steals; way too many strikeouts; and a batting average of 220

the rest of the invitees, who apparently have all been invited before:

Pitchers:
RH Mason Hickman and Jack Leftwich [who for awhile had been very highly touted as a breakhrough and had an excellent spring camp in 2024 and Tanner Burns
LHP Andrew Misiaszek and LHP Parker Mushinski

C Andchia and Nunez, veterans

INF: Micha Pries

OF: A couple names from the storied past: Future RF and middle of the lineup linchpin George Valera, who is invited but is as usual recovering from a major injury;
and last but not least in terms of salary: Myles Straw who in fact is likely to earn as much in 2025 as the other 22 put together