Tuesday, September 29

Welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter. My name is Tim Stebbins, and this is my second season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

CLEVELAND -- Buying at the Trade Deadline comes at a cost, as we saw with the Guardians this year. In the hours before the 6 p.m. ET Deadline on Aug. 3, Cleveland shipped away six prospects in a series of win-now moves.

The good news? Cleveland’s buying spree didn’t put much of a dent in their farm system. On MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Prospects list for the Guardians, lefty Josh Hartle was the highest-ranked player Cleveland traded (No. 25).

“I do feel fortunate that we have a very healthy and robust farm system, and we were able to make trades like this," Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said on Aug. 3. "Not only have players to be able to trade, but still feel we are in a great position post-trades to have a very healthy farm system that not only will impact us this year, but for years to come.”

Rookies Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, Parker Messick and Angel Genao have been key contributors for the Guardians this season. We’ve also seen Cooper Ingle, Franco Aleman, Daniel Espino and Kahlil Watson make their big league debut.

The interesting prospects storylines don’t stop there. Cleveland’s farm system is full of intriguing position players pushing toward the Majors, and it gained a bevy of promising new faces in the MLB Draft last month.

With the Draft and Deadline behind us, here is a look at Pipeline’s revamped Top 30 Prospects list for the Guardians.

Here’s a look at the Guardians’ top prospects:

1. Angel Genao, SS (MLB 29)

2. Ralphy Velazquez, 1B (MLB 32)

3. Braylon Doughty, RHP (MLB 72)

4. Juneiker Caceres, OF (MLB 82)

5. Cooper Ingle, C 

Complete Top 30 list » 

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: Justin Campbell, RHP (Preseason: Unranked | Midseason: 10)

Campbell, 25, is currently on the injured list with a left oblique strain, but he has been one of the best stories in the Guardians’ farm system this year. The No. 37 overall Draft pick in 2022 made his pro debut this season after he missed the previous three campaigns due to a pair of right elbow surgeries, including a UCL repair prior to the ‘24 season. The Guardians promoted Campbell to Triple-A Columbus on June 30 after he logged a 2.61 ERA in 51 2/3 innings over 15 starts with High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron.

Fall: Welbyn Francisca, SS (Preseason: 13 | Midseason: 21)

Francisca’s placement here speaks more to the depth of the Guardians’ farm system, certainly on the position player side. The 20-year-old has had a quality season with High-A Lake County. Entering Thursday, Francisca was slashing .271/.373/.543 with seven doubles, 15 home runs, 42 RBIs and 32 walks with 52 strikeouts over 55 games. That includes a nine-game stint in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

New to the list

Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

7. Liam Peterson, RHP (Drafted in first round)

19. Savion Sims, RHP (Drafted in seventh round) 

20. Tre Broussard, OF (Drafted in third round) 

26. Kade Lewis, 3B/1B (Drafted in fourth round) 

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade. (via Pipeline's Ben Weinrib)

Hit: 60 -- Angel Genao

Power: 60 -- Ralphy Velazquez (Nolan Schubart)

Run: 70 -- Tre Broussard

Arm: 70 -- Alfonsin Rosario

Defense: 60 -- Tre Broussard

Fastball: 70 -- Daniel Espino (Savion Sims)

Curveball: 65 -- Liam Peterson

Slider: 65 -- Daniel Espino (Joey Oakie)

Changeup: 60 -- Justin Campbell

Control: 60 -- Braylon Doughty

Which pitcher is the Cleveland franchise leader in strikeouts against the Padres?

A. Trevor Bauer
B. Corey Kluber
C. Cliff Lee
D. CC Sabathia

Foster Griffin will always remember the first time he pitched at Comerica Park, for better and worse. His return on Wednesday had a much happier ending.

Griffin helped the Guardians beat the Tigers, 6-4, when he allowed three runs (one earned) over five innings. It marked his first outing at Comerica Park since July 27, 2020, when he made his big league debut, on his 25th birthday, no less. Griffin picked up the win in the Royals' 14-6 victory over the Tigers, when he tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. 

Griffin’s debut, however, ended in heartbreaking fashion when he departed the game with a left forearm strain. It ultimately required season-ending Tommy John surgery, and he did not pitch in the Majors again until 2022. He then embarked upon a three-year stint in Japan and made his return to the Majors this season with the Nationals.

Wednesday had a much better outcome, in a much different setting. There were zero fans in the stands during Griffin’s debut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Definitely a weird experience coming here because obviously you remember everything from the clubhouse and the dugout and the field and everything,” Griffin said. “A little different vibe. A lot more energy tonight, and I didn't leave the field in tears [like] how I did last time. So, all things considered, a good day.”

• The Guardians have been scuffling since their Deadline buying spree. A few of their additions paved the way in a much-needed win on Wednesday. Read more >>

• Velazquez has been on a home run tear with Triple-A Columbus. Read more >>

• Gavin Williams’ historic stretch of strikeouts landed him on MLB.com’s latest starting pitcher power rankings. Read more >> 

B. Kluber

Kluber (who was San Diego’s fourth-round Draft pick in 2007) had 18 strikeouts in two starts vs. the Padres. Bauer and Lee each had 15 strikeouts over two starts, and Sabathia had 14 over two starts.

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