One might think the Guardians’ farm system is barren after 17 players made their rookie debut in Cleveland last season, but such is not the case. Far from it.
With the start of spring training less than a month away, MLB Pipeline released its top 100 prospects ahead of the 2023 season. Seven of the 100 play for the Guardians. The Orioles with eight are the only team with more. The Dodgers also have seven in the top 100.
Not surprisingly, three of the seven Guardians prospects are pitchers. Right-hander Daniel Espino is ranked 16th. Gavin Williams, another right-handed starter, is ranked 42nd. Tanner Bibee, also a righty, is ranked 72nd. All three are starters and pitched for the Akron Rubber Ducks last season. Williams and Bibee started their 2022 seasons with the Captains.
“Espino can destroy hitters with his top-of-the-scale fastball and plus-plus slider,” the MLB scouting report says. “He operates at 95-98 mph and tops out at 103 with a four-seamer with plenty of arm-side run, and he can use it up in the zone with carry or leverage it lower in the zone with downhill plane. He has good feel for his two-plane slider, showing the ability to work in the mid-80s with increased depth or reaching 93 mph with more horizontal action.”
Right shoulder problems limited Espino, 22, to four starts last season. The Indians selected him from Georgia Premier Academy with the 24th pick in the first round of the 2019 draft.
Outfielder George Valera, who started 2022 with the Captains, is ranked 51st. Catcher Bo Naylor is ranked 64th. Second baseman/shortstop Brayan Rocchio, another Captain in 2022, is 75th and outfielder Chase DeLauter is 82nd on the list.
Delauter, chosen by the Guardians with the 16th pick in the 2022 draft, will likely start the season with the Captains.
Naylor was with the Guardians for the final eight games in 2022. He will likely leave spring training as the backup to primary catcher Mike Zunino.
Valera and Rocchio could also make the 26-man roster out of Goodyear, Ariz. Both players, though, would likely be in backup roles. Rocchio would have to beat out shortstop Amed Rosario or second baseman Andres Gimenez to start.
The outfield is set with Steven Kwan in left, Myles Straw in center and Oscar Gonzalez in right. Gonzalez could be the designated hitter on occasion, but the Guardians already have Josh Bell or Josh Naylor to fill that role.