⚾ 2024 GUARDIANS Baseball ​​​​​​​News, Rumors and more. ⚾ [ * <--▪︎ You can just put it here ! ]

[mjp28]

⚾   2024 GUARDIANS Baseball News, Rumors  and  more*. ⚾        [  * <--▪︎  You can just put it here ! ]

This is the thread for 2024  Guardians stories,  at least for the time being in 2023.   Thank you.

And still the  ▪︎-->  

[mjp28]

The Cleveland Guardians will start the 2024 season with one of the youngest rosters in baseball  yet again !  Their youth is one of the strongest parts of their organization and this was recognized in Baseball America's newest top 100 prospects list for the 2024 season.   Strong part  but when does experienced step in to make the Guardians an even  stronger  team in the  AL Central.   Enough with the exciting kid stuff.

Now -  two Guardians appeared on their list and should be recognized as some of baseball's best young talent. 

29. Chase DeLauter

The first prospect to make this list is outfielder Chase DeLauter. Cleveland drafted him 16th overall in the 2022 draft out of the James Madison University. The outfield is one of the prime areas of need for the Guardians and DeLauter has the potential to be a cornerstone for years to come.

The 22-year-old is ranked as Baseball America's 29th best prospect heading in 2024.

DeLauter really made a name for himself in the 2023 Fall League. He slashed .299/.385/.529 with an OPS of .914 while also being voted to the Fall Stars roster. DeLauter will start the 2024 season at the Double-A level as of now, but could quickly be promoted if he recreates these stats in the minors.

80. Brayan Rocchio

The next prospect to appear on Baseball America's list is one who already has Major League experience under his belt. That's Brayan Rocchio who BA has ranked as their 80th best prospect.

 

 

Jun 2, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (6) fields a ball hit by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

© Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Rocchio appeared in 23 games for the Guardians in 2023. He did put together a two week stretch from August 7 to August 21 where Rocchio had a batting average of .294 on a wOBA of .305 while playing stellar defense. 

The Guardians still have questions that need to be answered at the shortstop position and Rocchio could emerge as the leading candidate with a strong Spring Training showing. 

[mjp28]

~       One of the recent and  2024 Guardians big concerns is the  STARTING OUTFIELD,  exccept of course for the GOLD GLOVE  lead off hitter  Steven Kwan.

▪︎  [ NOTICE ]  I do not like how this did print out and may have to redo it.   mjp.

Don't be surprised by shakeups as Guardians evaluate outfield

■  January 24th, 2024

    Mandy Bell.   @MandyBell02.           

[mjp28]

~       One of the recent and  2024 Guardians big concerns is the  STARTING OUTFIELD,  exccept of course for the GOLD GLOVE  lead off hitter  Steven Kwan.

▪︎  [ NOTICE ]  I do not like how this did print out and may have to redo it.   mjp.

We’re back with another edition of Around the Horn. If you’ve missed any of the previous installments, our goal is to go position by position to examine what questions the Guardians may need to answer before the end of Spring Training.

Guardians Around the Horn: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS

We’ve covered all of the infield. Let’s move to the outfield.

Projected starters: Steven Kwan, Myles Straw, Will Brennan

Maybe instead of projected starters, we label this category as “placeholders” for now. The Guardians have some question marks across the outfield, and who could play where won't become clearer until Spring Training is underway. For now, we’ll stick with what they’ve turned to in the past. However, there could easily be some shakeups this year.

The one name that’s for sure is Kwan. The Guardians’ leadoff hitter will once again be a mainstay in Cleveland’s lineup. In 2022, Kwan had as consistent of a season as he could’ve asked for. Last year, he had one hot month (July, hitting .330 with an .899 OPS) and battled for the rest of the season. But the two-time Gold Glover still has excellent patience at the plate and above-average defense that makes him a no-brainer to get everyday at-bats despite any hiccups. And this year, he’s ready to right some of those wrongs.

“This offseason, I had [José Ramírez] as one of the guys I want to learn from,” Kwan said. “Just working on bat angles, bat speed. Bat speed’s been a big one. I’m just trying to get a little uptick anywhere I can. I don’t think it’ll sacrifice any of the contact, but I think if I can swing the bat a little harder, have a little more intent, anticipate a little more. ...”

What’s less certain is right field. We can leave Brennan in that slot for now, but he’ll have a lot to prove in Spring Training, considering his offensive production dipped quite a bit in ’23. And with a ton of other names now in the mix, it’ll be a more competitive battle for Brennan to earn the starting job.

Backup options: Ramón Laureano, George Valera, Johnathan Rodriguez, Estevan Florial, Jhonkensy Noel, Petey Halpin

Suddenly, the Guardians have a very crowded outfield pool. Laureano could be an option at any outfield spot. Florial, who was just acquired in December from the Yankees, is a natural center fielder who can play all over the grass. He hasn’t seen the same success in the big leagues (in a tremendously small sample size) that he had in the Minors, but the Yankees former top prospect may benefit from a change of scenery. Rodriguez is coming off a stellar year, hitting .286 with an .897 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A. And with a little more time, Valera, Noel and Halpin -- all of whom will get looks in Guardians camp -- could all be knocking on the big league door.

 

Question to answer: Can Straw hit?

If not, it’s going to be hard for the Guardians to continue justifying his role in the everyday lineup. Straw was confident that his ’22 struggles were behind him when he reported to Spring Training last year, yet his numbers were nearly the same in ’23, hitting .238 with a .597 OPS (a mere 69 OPS+). He’s an excellent defender, but the Guardians need offense. The team can sacrifice some leather for some wood. Whether it be having Laureano or Florial take over center field or moving Kwan to center and having any of the other outfield options man left, the Guardians now have a plethora of choices if Straw shows any indication that improvement is not in the immediate future. 

Who else is in the Pipeline?

No. 4 OF Chase DeLauter (age: 22, Double-A Akron)
No. 8 OF Jaison Chourio (age: 18, Single-A Lynchburg)
No. 13 OF/2B Jake Fox (age: 20, High-A Lake County)