Tuesday, August 12

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

CHICAGO -- The way Jace LaViolette looked at it, his decision was simple.

LaViolette suffered a broken left hand on May 22, when he was hit by a pitch during Texas A&M’s second-round win over Auburn in the 2025 SEC Tournament. Given the opportunity to not miss any time, he underwent surgery at 7 p.m. that night. 

He was back in the Aggies’ starting lineup on May 23, for their quarterfinal matchup with LSU.

“I think everybody in my position would have done the same thing,” LaViolette said recently.

Texas A&M went down, 4-3, to LSU, but LaViolette’s fortitude and grit nonetheless stood out, certainly given his performance. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a sac fly in the loss, which proved to be his final collegiate game.

The Guardians selected LaViolette 27th overall in the 2025 MLB Draft last month. His competitive spirit is only one trait that stood out to Cleveland in the scouting process.

“He has a really big personality. He’s engaging. He is funny,” said Paul Gillispie, the Guardians’ senior vice president of scouting. “He's a person that really always talks about being a real competitor. He talks about winning all the time. He's also known as a great teammate. 

“He's always there for his guys. … Just an extreme competitor, and we're super excited to have him.”

LaViolette enjoyed a decorated career in College Station, where he set Texas A&M records in home runs (68) and walks (169) over three seasons. He hit 29 homers in 2024, when he led the Aggies to the College World Series final, and added 18 as a junior in ‘25.

As a 6-foot-6, 230-pound left-handed hitter, LaViolette has the type of power that’s easy to dream on for the long-term. That’s only one side of his game that he prides himself on.

“I would first talk about my defense before anything else,” LaViolette said. “I pride myself on any ball that's hit out there, just don't let it touch the grass. That's how I talk about it, and then obviously I like to hit the ball a long way.”

LaViolette played corner outfield in 2023 and spent the past two seasons in center. The Guardians plan for him to start his pro career in center, and they’re confident in his ability to stick out there. Even with his size, LaViolette is a good athlete and has a strong arm.

Right now, the biggest focus for LaViolette is getting back to full strength. He underwent a cleanup procedure on his left hand around the time of the Draft, and he has been rehabbing at the Guardians’ complex in Arizona.

While LaViolette is unlikely to play affiliate ball this season because of that second surgery, he is soaking up as much as he can.

“I'm most excited just to come in and learn some new things with my swing, and just try to keep progressing in that way,” LaViolette said. “Just keep doing what I've been doing in the outfield and keep progressing there. I think that's what this game is all about -- just how much can you progress.”

LaViolette sounds like a guy ready to get things going.

“I can't say anything but I'm just so blessed to be a part of this organization,” he said. “They care so much, and I'm excited to get to work. I was with my family [when I was drafted], and it was a rush of emotions. 

“It was something that I've been kind of working my whole life up to this point to get to.”

Here is a look at some recent top performers around the Guardians’ farm system.

Triple-A Columbus: LHP Parker Messick (No. 10 prospect)
Messick allowed three runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings on Friday while striking out a season-high-tying nine batters. The lefty (who represented Cleveland at the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta last month) has recorded a 3.30 ERA in 92 2/3 innings over 19 starts with the Clippers this season.

Double-A Akron: OF Alfonsin Rosario (No. 11 prospect)

The Guardians promoted Rosario from High-A Lake County to Akron on Tuesday after he slashed .268/.362/.490 with 16 homers and 47 RBIs over 82 games with the Captains this season. The 21-year-old (whom the Guardians acquired from the Cubs on Nov. 20 for Eli Morgan) hit his first homer with the RubberDucks on Friday.

High-A Lake County: 1B/OF Ralphy Velazquez (No. 9 prospect)
Velazquez has been one of the hottest hitters in Cleveland’s system over the past month. Entering Saturday, he had slashed .321/.392/.545 in 28 games dating to July 1, with eight doubles, five homers and 21 RBIs.

Single-A Lynchburg: OF Juneiker Caceres (No. 13 prospect)

Caceres is only 17 years old, but you wouldn’t know it based on how he’s swinging the bat. The Guardians promoted him to Lynchburg from the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League on July 28. Entering Saturday, he was 10-for-24 (.417) with three doubles and one homer over six games with the Hillcats.

John Means, who has spent this season in Arizona recovering from June 2024 Tommy John surgery, was set to return to game action on Saturday. The lefty was lined up to start in a “bridge” game at the Guardians’ complex in Goodyear, Ariz. 

Bridge games are played between the end of the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League season and the start of the Arizona Fall League, which is set to begin on Oct. 6.

Means, who is on the 60-day IL, signed a one-year deal with the Guardians that includes a club option for 2026 on Feb. 19. He has been throwing live batting practice in Arizona, and Saturday’s outing could line up him to make a rehab start with one of Cleveland’s affiliates next.

Team president Chris Antonetti noted on June 28 that the timeline for Means’ return was in the ballpark of late August or early September.

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