Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 8/9/25

To: me · Sun, Aug 10 at 10:17 AM
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Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 8/9/25
Yorman Gomez has a career outing, Junieker Cacares stays hot, Austin Peterson finds footing in Columbus
Justin Lada and Arthur Kinney
Aug 10







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SCOREBOARD

Columbus Clippers 2, Gwinnett Stripers 1 - Statcast
Akron RubberDucks 5, Chesapeake Baysox 1
Dayton Dragons 2, Lake County Captains 1
Carolina Mudcats 3, Lynchburg Hillcats 2 (F/7 - G1)
Lynchburg Hillcats 8, Carolina Mudcats 6 (F/7 - G2)
DSL Pirates Gold 6, DSL Guardians Mendoza 3
DSL Guardians Goryl 3, DSL Cubs Blue 1 (F/7 - scheduled)
HIGHLIGHTS

Austin Peterson (SP, Columbus): W (2-3), 8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R (earned), 8 K - Peterson came within two outs of the first Clippers nine-inning complete game since Adam Plutko’s no-hitter in 2018 in an outing that made it seem like his early struggles with adjusting to the Triple-A level are behind him. It would not be surprising to see him make the trip up 71 North sometime next season.

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Yorman Gomez (SP, Akron): 6IP, 2H, ER, BB, 10K - A career outing for Gomez with 10 strikeouts. His fastball sat in the low to mid 90s and his big 12-6 hook was working great. This is the deepest I’ve seen him hold his stuff into an outing this year with control. Let’s see if he can repeat this performance

Guy Lipscomb (DH, Akron): 3-4, 2 2B, SB RBI - Really impactful game for Lipscomb, who has nice skills that could make him a good extra outfielder if he can put it all together.

Braylon Doughty (SP, Lynchburg): 4.1IP, 2H, 7K - Doughty has dropped his FIP to 2.80 with another solid efforts as it looks like Cleveland is starting to cap his pitches/innings late in the year, only keeping him at 62 pitches over four innings.

Alexander Garcia (SP, Goryl): W (1-2), 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R (earned), 2 BB, 5 K - Garci gave up the same amount of runs and hits as he did last Saturday, albeit while getting four more batters out in a career-long six-inning performance that continued a stellar second season in the DSL (1.55 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 43:18 K:BB ratio and .129 opponents’ batting average).
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

George Valera (RF, Columbus): 2-4 - Valera was the only player on either team with a multi-hit performance in last night’s pitcher’s duel at the Corner of Neil and Nationwide.

Dayan Frias (1B, Columbus): 1-4, 1 R, 1 K - Frias, who has reached safely in all four games he has played in this week’s series, was the only Clipper to both get a hit and score a run last night.

Kody Huff (C, Columbus): 1-3 - Huff’s seventh-inning single was the only Clippers hit with a 100+ MPH exit velo (103.2 MPH).

Kahlil Watson (LF-CF, Columbus): 0-3, 0-2 - Watson, who moved to center field mid-game to replace Petey Halpin after he was injured on a spectacular catch, ended the game with his own defensive gem.

Joe Lampe (RF, Akron): 2-4, 2B - Lampe has his OPS up over .700 now with a nice July run that has carried slightly into August.

Alfonsin Rosario (CF, Akron): 0-4, 4K - Wrong reason for Rosario to end up in the notable performances section with the Golden Sombrero. He struggled with heat in the zone quite a bit and the potential for swing and miss is something to watch for with the promotion.

Jonah Advincula (LF, Akron): 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, SB - A solid day for Advincula who has the skills similar to Lipscomb to be a good extra outfielder.

Michael Kennedy (SP, Lake County): 5.2IP, 7H, ER, 3BB, 5K - Kennedy has had an up and down year but the ERA is down to 3.89 and I think we’re seeing some growth here.

Juneiker Caceres (CF, Lynchburg): 4-2, 2 2B, RBI, BB - In this small sample, Caceres has been an aggressive hitter but the results have been incredible so far.

Carlos Garces (CF, Mendoza): 1-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI - Garces’ second triple of the week (he also hit one on Tuesday) got Mendoza’s three-run sixth going by driving in a pair.

Jose Riera (3B, Mendoza): 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 SB - Riera later drove in Garces to complete Mendoza’s scoring for the inning and the day - and then proceeded to steal both second and third to break a tie with Garces for the organizational DSL steals lead.

Freilyn Rodriguez (CF, Goryl): 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K - Rodriguez’s fourth-inning single tied the game by driving in Goryl’s first run of the contest. It would prove to be their only RBI of the day as their two fifth-inning tallies were the result of wild pitches (two of the four Cubs Blue hurlers threw in that frame).

Jose Marcano (1B, Goryl): 1-2, 1 R, 1 2B - Yesterday was all about the bottom of the order for Goryl as number eight hitter Rodriguez’s RBI was joined by the team’s lone extra base - a leadoff double in the fifth off the bat of number nine batter Marcano - from which he would later score the go-ahead and eventual winning run on one of the aforementioned wild pitches.

Angel Abreu (DH, Goryl): 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K - The story further up the order was largely about extending lengthy on-base streaks, with leadoff man Abreu bringing his to 16 games by extending it exclusively via walk(s) for the fourth time.

Steven Cruz (RF, Goryl): 1-1,1 R, 2 BB, 1 CS - Cruz’s streak is one game shorter at 15 but was extended yesterday by a much more impressive performance, as the number six hitter reached base in all three plate appearances he made in the scheduled seven-inning contest.

Gustavo Baptista (C, Goryl): 0-3, 1 K - Speaking of streaks, a notable one was broken on Saturday as Baptista, in his 38th pro game, failed to record a productive plate appearance for the first time in his career.

Lots of late season promotions announced
4 from Akron to Columbus: 2B Bazzana C Ingle Reliever Ross Carver and Starter Tommy Mace
4 from Lake County to Akron 1B/OF Ralphy Velazquez C Jacob Cozars who's hit well lately and rated a star defender 2B Christian Knapczyk Reliever Jack Jasiak
6 from Lynchburg to Lake County C Bennett Thompson IF Jeffrey Mercedes IF Garrett Howe -- none of who has done a great deal; LH starter Rafe Schlesinger who's been pretty effective especially recently; Reliever Conner Whittaker; and Pitcher Luis Flores with excellent K/IP ratio but high BB/IP and high ERA, intriguing possibilty
I assume that also means some 2025 draftees to Lynchburg, but not announced
And it could mean some veterans at Columbus released but not accounced

The accompanying stories are all about Bazzana and how close he now is to the majors and highlight his accomplishments this season. Since he was hitting 256 with 5 homers and 23 RBI in 51 games we're also told that he has improved since he returned from the IL; 265 and 779 OPS in 18 games.

I'm more excited about Velazquez who has really taken off in the past six weeks
and Ingle who has been a doubles and walk standout.

Ralphy Velazquez takes Midwest League Lead in homers before waves of internal promotions

Highlights:
Ryan Webb (SP, Columbus): W (5-6), 6.0 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 7 Ks - The southpaw Webb was very efficient in getting through six innings in under 80 pitches total and put himself in line for the pitching win with a quality start. He made it back-to-back games with a high strikeout total after nine of them in his start earlier this week against the Stripers. He allowed just one baserunner over the final three innings pitched and faced the minimum in that span after he induced a double play.

Ralphy Velasquez (1B, Lake County): 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs, HBP - It was a day to remember for the 20-year-old with his second multi-homerun game of the season and nine total bases is the most in a single game this year. Velasquez hit his first homerun of the day in the sixth to put the Captains in front and his dinger in the ninth made it a 7-2 game, but it was much needed with a mild comeback attempt by Dayton in the final inning. Velasquez now leads the Midwest League with 17 homeruns in 2025, but that may not last long because he will be heading to the Eastern League to play with the Akron RubberDucks.

Juan Benjamin (3B, Lake County): 2-for-4, 2 2Bs, 4 RBIs, E5F - Benjamin had a pair of extra-base hits for Lake County as well with two doubles that tallied a team-high four RBIs. Four RBIs is the most he has had in a game in 2025 and matched his totals for the months of April and May earlier this year. He now has multiple hits in four of the six games in August that he has appeared in and two doubles in each of his last two games played. Benjamin is 9-for-23 (.391) with a 1.027 OPS in that span.

Josh Hartle (SP, Lake County): 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, BB, 7 Ks, PO - The left-handed throwing Hartle continues his stretch of dominance with the Captains with another outing with zero earned runs on his ledger. Over his last seven starts, Hartle has allowed just four earned runs in 35.2 innings pitched, a mark good for a 1.01 ERA. He has also allowed zero earned runs in each of his last five starts. Free bases has been something that has hindered Hartle slightly of late, but today’s game saw him allow just a single walk with no hit batsmen.

Notable Performances:
Will Wilson (3B, Columbus): 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBIs, E5F - Wilson was the difference maker in the game with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth that put the Clippers in front. He has 10 homeruns in 48 games played in Columbus with his 396-foot blast in the series finale.

Khalil Watson (CF, Columbus): 1-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB - Watson left the yard as well to provide an insurance run for Columbus with a 379-foot homerun in the seventh. The 22-year-old has a pair of homeruns in his last three games played.

Bradley Hanner (RP, Columbus): H (3), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 2 Ks - In just one inning of work, Hanner was able to get five total whiffs and at least one on each of his four-pitch mix.

Tim Herrin (RP, Columbus): H (2), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - In his third appearance of the series against Gwinnett, the left-handed throwing Herrin was able to go 1-2-3 in the eighth to preserve the lead.

Zak Kent (RP, Columbus): S (2), 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 Ks - Kent had to face the potential go-ahead run with one out in the ninth, but three punchouts sealed the deal for the team to earn a series split. Kent has not allowed a run in each of his last five appearances.

Alfonsin Rosario (RF, Akron): 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBIs, BB, GIDP - Rosario is just 3-for-17 since joining the RubberDucks, but now two of those three base hits have been homeruns. The 21-year-old swatted his second homerun in the last three games.

Steven Perez (RP, Akron): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - The 24-year-old Perez had been giving up hits recently, but this was the first hitless appearance for the southpaw since July 18th. Even with that, Perez has a season-long WHIP of 1.01 between Akron and Lake County.

Jacob Cozart (C, Lake County): 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB - Prior to his promotion to Double-A Akron, Cozart recorded a multi-hit game and reached base three times, a feat he has done twice in the last three games played.

Jaison Chourio (CF, Lake County): 2-for-4, 2B, BB, CS - Chourio reached base three times in the win as well, his third multi-hit game in the last four and a nice bounce back performance after his nine game hit streak was snapped on Saturday night. [And he even hit a double!!]

Jose Devers (SS, Lake County): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, E6T - Devers delivered his first extra-base hit in his last eight games played with a double on Sunday and scored twice.

BA shares the big news

Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians: A little more than a year after Cleveland made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Bazzana is headed to the highest level of the minor leagues. The team announced after Sunday's action that he was among a glut of moves up and down the system. Since returning from the injured list on July 18, the former Oregon State star has hit .265/.367/.412 with a home run and six RBIs.

Guardians Prospective
@CleGuardPro
Cleveland #Guardians have released the following minor league players:

C Jake Anchia - Columbus
RHP Luis Frias - Columbus
LHP Shawn Rapp - Akron
RHP Robert Wegielnik - Lake County
RHP Dwayne Matos - Lake County
OF Mason Bolivar - ACL

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Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 8/10/25

To: me · Mon, Aug 11 at 9:15 AM
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Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 8/10/25
Ralphy Velazquez takes Midwest League Lead in homers before waves of internal promotions
Matthew Kennell
Aug 11






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Scoreboard
Columbus Clippers 3, Gwinnett Stripers 1 - Statcast
Chesapeake Baysox 7, Akron RubberDucks 3
Lake County Captains 7, Dayton Dragons 5
Carolina Mudcats 8, Lynchburg Hillcats 3
Highlights:

Ryan Webb (SP, Columbus): W (5-6), 6.0 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 7 Ks - The southpaw Webb was very efficient in getting through six innings in under 80 pitches total and put himself in line for the pitching win with a quality start. He made it back-to-back games with a high strikeout total after nine of them in his start earlier this week against the Stripers. He allowed just one baserunner over the final three innings pitched and faced the minimum in that span after he induced a double play.

Ralphy Velasquez (1B, Lake County): 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs, HBP - It was a day to remember for the 20-year-old with his second multi-homerun game of the season and nine total bases is the most in a single game this year. Velasquez hit his first homerun of the day in the sixth to put the Captains in front and his dinger in the ninth made it a 7-2 game, but it was much needed with a mild comeback attempt by Dayton in the final inning. Velasquez now leads the Midwest League with 17 homeruns in 2025, but that may not last long because he will be heading to the Eastern League to play with the Akron RubberDucks.

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Juan Benjamin (3B, Lake County): 2-for-4, 2 2Bs, 4 RBIs, E5F - Benjamin had a pair of extra-base hits for Lake County as well with two doubles that tallied a team-high four RBIs. Four RBIs is the most he has had in a game in 2025 and matched his totals for the months of April and May earlier this year. He now has multiple hits in four of the six games in August that he has appeared in and two doubles in each of his last two games played. Benjamin is 9-for-23 (.391) with a 1.027 OPS in that span.

Josh Hartle (SP, Lake County): 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, BB, 7 Ks, PO - The left-handed throwing Hartle continues his stretch of dominance with the Captains with another outing with zero earned runs on his ledger. Over his last seven starts, Hartle has allowed just four earned runs in 35.2 innings pitched, a mark good for a 1.01 ERA. He has also allowed zero earned runs in each of his last five starts. Free bases has been something that has hindered Hartle slightly of late, but today’s game saw him allow just a single walk with no hit batsmen.
Notable Performances:

Will Wilson (3B, Columbus): 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBIs, E5F - Wilson was the difference maker in the game with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth that put the Clippers in front. He has 10 homeruns in 48 games played in Columbus with his 396-foot blast in the series finale.

Khalil Watson (CF, Columbus): 1-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB - Watson left the yard as well to provide an insurance run for Columbus with a 379-foot homerun in the seventh. The 22-year-old has a pair of homeruns in his last three games played.

Bradley Hanner (RP, Columbus): H (3), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 2 Ks - In just one inning of work, Hanner was able to get five total whiffs and at least one on each of his four-pitch mix.

Tim Herrin (RP, Columbus): H (2), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - In his third appearance of the series against Gwinnett, the left-handed throwing Herrin was able to go 1-2-3 in the eighth to preserve the lead.

Zak Kent (RP, Columbus): S (2), 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 Ks - Kent had to face the potential go-ahead run with one out in the ninth, but three punchouts sealed the deal for the team to earn a series split. Kent has not allowed a run in each of his last five appearances.

Alfonsin Rosario (RF, Akron): 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBIs, BB, GIDP - Rosario is just 3-for-17 since joining the RubberDucks, but now two of those three base hits have been homeruns. The 21-year-old swatted his second homerun in the last three games.

Jake Fox (CF, Akron): 1-for-2, 3B, RBI, 2 BBs - Fox was able to reach base in three of his four plate appearances in Sunday’s loss - a day that was highlighted by his RBI triple in the seventh.

Zach Jacobs (RP, Akron): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - Jacobs cooled an offense that had two homeruns in the inning prior with a 1-2-3 sixth.

Steven Perez (RP, Akron): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - The 24-year-old Perez had been giving up hits recently, but this was the first hitless appearance for the southpaw since July 18th. Even with that, Perez has a season-long WHIP of 1.01 between Akron and Lake County.

Jacob Cozart (C, Lake County): 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB - Prior to his promotion to Double-A Akron, Cozart recorded a multi-hit game and reached base three times, a feat he has done twice in the last three games played.

Jaison Chourio (CF, Lake County): 2-for-4, 2B, BB, CS - Chourio reached base three times in the win as well, his third multi-hit game in the last four and a nice bounce back performance after his nine game hit streak was snapped on Saturday night.

Jose Devers (SS, Lake County): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, E6T - Devers delivered his first extra-base hit in his last eight games played with a double on Sunday and scored twice.

Izaak Martinez (RP, Lake County): W (4-1), 3.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 2 Ks - It didn’t look pretty, but Martinez continues to be an effective long relief man for the Captains and he picked up his fourth pitching win in the last six games entered.

Jay Driver (RP, Lake County): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - Driver now has four consecutive scoreless outings after a zero in the eighth on Sunday.

Luis Merejo (DH, Lynchburg): 2-for-4, RBI - Merejo was the lone batter with multiple hits for a lineup that had just four in total in Sunday’s loss to the Mudcats. The 19-year-old has reached base safely in all six games played in August.

Welbyn Francisca (SS, Lynchburg): 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2 BBs, 2 SBs, E6T - Francisca reached base three times with the help of a pair of walks and swiped his 42nd and 43rd bases of the season.

Lots of 2025 draftees assigned to Lynchburg:

Competitive Balance Round B: OF Aaron Walton
Round 3: OF Nolan Schubert
Round 4: 3b Luke Hill
Round 5: 1b Riley Nelson
Round 7 RHP Will McCausland
Round 11: C Tyler Howard
Round 14: SS Anthony Silva
Round 16: RHP Luke Fernandez
Round 17: C Cannon Peebles [perhaps an appropriate first name for a catcher]
Round 18 RHP Aaron Petty

Released off the Lynchburg roster:

OF Christopher Espinola
C Robert Lopez

BAseball America Top 100 updates:


Biggest declines include:

Angel Genao, SS, Guardians (-13 spots from No. 33 to No. 46)
Genao gets a slight shift downward because of concerns about his offensive impact. He’s showing signs of being more of a bottom-of-the-order hitter, but he’s also trying to make up for lost time after missing multiple months with a shoulder injury.


Jaison Chourio from No. 82 to off the list; after declines throughout the year
Chourio is a better hitter than his .219 batting average or hard-to-fathom .254 slugging percentage would indicate. He actually hits the ball harder than the average Class-A hitter, but a steady diet of worm-burners means he has just six extra-base hits (and one home run) in 65 games. As much as his ability to grind out at-bats and play excellent defense in center field remains alluring, he has to prove he can do more damage.

CLE on the current 100
Bazzana 26
DeLauter 46
Genao 49
Kayfus 62

I would think that a 20 year old now in AA with top notch power, ie Velazquez and a 19 year old Braylon Doughty could find spots

Ralphy No. 5 on this week's Hot Sheet:
5. Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Guardians

Team: High-A Lake County (Midwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .375/.483/.883 (9-for-24), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BB, 2 SO

The Scoop: Velazquez already had an impressive week—and then he capped off Sunday by collecting his second two-homer game of the year. It’s a very encouraging sign from the young first baseman, considering he could not pick up much steam during the early part of the season. Velazquez possesses exceptional strength and explosive bat speed, consistently producing some of the highest exit velocities in the system. His raw power flashes plus-plus potential, with some scouts projecting it could reach a 70-grade ceiling as he continues to mature. (JC)