Cleveland Sports Forum

3 lefties starting today

Allard in AAA Brennan with a leadoff homer to get things started well. He's hitting 333, 835 OPS In April: 381/428/512: that's before the homer is added in
Boone in AA
Hartle in HIgh A Lake County
RH Zibin for Lynchburg

As a Zibin fan, I'm happy to see him off to a very efficeint start: 2 innings, 17 pitches; a single.
Francisca with 2 singles and his 5th steal.
Hillcats up 3-0 after2

After 3 1/3 scoreless innings and only 41 pitches, Zibin loses command; a 4 pitch walk; 3 balls in a row to the next hitter inlcuding a wild pitch; then a single; and 2 runs are in. He's far from a finished product! But he was a very highly rated high school pitcher and if he's healthy he could be valuable in time.
He's out of the 4th, and I'll guess done for the day after 51 pitches.

Captains up 3-0 after 5; Jose Devers with a surprising 5th homer; Rosario 2 singles; Hartle 4 shutout innings 3 hits 1 walk 5 K. ERA now 2.38. More of the package for Andres Giminez.

Allard with his best outing; 4 1/3 1 run 4 hits 2 walks 3K.

2 singles for Velazquez today, nearly matches his 1-base hit season total coming in.

Akron up 1-0 mid 6. Rodney Boone with a 1 hitter, 1 walker, 3K, 58 pitches through 5
Kayfus with a double; Bazzana 0-3

Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 4/20/25
Several infielders are having good offensive starts including Tolentino and Cairo in Columbus, Devers at Lake County and Mendez with Lynchburg


SCOREBOARD:
Louisville Bats 7, Columbus Clippers 4 (Statcast)
Erie SeaWolves 5, Akron RubberDucks 1
Lake County Captains 4, Fort Wayne TinCaps 1
Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Salem Red Sox 2
HIGHLIGHTS:
Milan Tolentino (2B, Columbus): 2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBIs – Tolentino launched a two-run homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday to draw Columbus to within one, but the team was unable to complete the comeback after Louisville added insurance in the ninth. In total, Tolentino had three balls tracked at 100 mph or more off the bat, his second homerun of the year being one of them, but two of them resulted in outs as well as the two hardest hit balls of the game for the Clippers from Johnathan Rodriguez.

Rodney Boone (SP, Akron): 5.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 Ks – The 25-year-old left-hander further lowered his ERA to 0.75 with five innings of shutout baseball where he allowed just one hit and one walk. Boone was ultra-efficient in needing 58 pitches to get through five frames (40 strikes). While he has not allowed hits, walks have been a slight issue so it was great to see him put both together in this start. Boone continues to impress with every outing.

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Ralphy Velasquez (1B, Lake County): 3-for-5, R, 2B – Velasquez has struggled early in the year with results but has been hitting the ball hard and starting finally see success. In all three series this season, Velasquez has a homerun at Great Lakes and versus West Michigan and now a three-hit game in the finale in Fort Wayne. Velasquez is still looking to improve his batting average above .200, but is close after a successful day on Sunday.

Alfonsin Rosario (CF, Lake County): 3-for-5, RBI – Rosario wrapped up his series against the TinCaps with three multi-hit games and this was his first three-hit game in High-A. The 20-year-old has 11 RBIs in as many games this year and those RBIs have been spread throughout nine different contests.

Josh Hartle (SP, Lake County): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 5 Ks – Pitcher Josh Hartle had another excellent start at the High-A level in the month of April. He tossed four scoreless innings and it is back-to-back starts with zero earned runs charged to the southpaw. He had five groundouts compared to one flyball out and in his three starts has a 2.17 GO/FO ratio.

Melkis Hernandez (RP, Lynchburg): W (1-1), 5.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 6 Ks – Hernandez excelled in his role as a piggyback starter on Sunday and got the win with five shutout innings from the fifth through ninth. He struck out six to tie his affiliate high and allowed just one hit. He was still going strong late in the appearance with two strikeouts in the ninth.

Alberto Mendez (2B, Lynchburg): 3-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBIs, CS – Mendez launched his first career affiliate homerun in the win on Sunday and recorded his first three-hit game in Single-A as well. He begins his affiliate career by reaching base in seven consecutive games and is hitting .375 in the early goings.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Will Brennan (CF, Columbus): 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI, GIDP – Brennan led off the bottom of the first with a solo homerun, his second of 2025. He also extended his hit streak to eight consecutive games with that longball and he has reached base safely in all 16 games thus far in April.

Christian Cairo (3B, Columbus): 2-for-4, R, E5T – Cairo had a multi-hit game, his fourth of the season, to move his hit streak to five, however he was charged with an error at third base.

Dom Nunez (C, Columbus): 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI – Nunez also left the yard for Columbus on Sunday, his third homerun of the season. It was the top distance for any hitter in the game at 394 feet.

Khalil Watson (DH, Akron): 1-for-3, 3B, BB, SB – Watson was the lone RubberDuck to reach base twice in Sunday’s loss. He tripled to lead off the second, but was left stranded.

Jose Devers (SS, Lake County): 1-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBIs, DP – A two-run homerun by Devers was the biggest difference in scoring for the Captains. The 21-year-old already has five homeruns on the year, including two games in a row and he is batting .281.


Christian Knapczyk (2B, Lake County): 2-for-3, HBP, CS, E4T – Knapczyk was credited with a multi-hit game and reached base a third time after he was hit by a pitch in the sixth, but was caught stealing and charged with his first error of 2025.

Jay Driver (RP, Lake County): S (1), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K – Driver locked up his first save of the year in his first opportunity for such with a scoreless ninth.

Welbyn Francisca (DH, Lynchburg): 2-for-5, R, SB – Francisca used his speed against Salem to steal three bases for the series, including one in a multi-hit series finale.

Bennett Thompson (C, Lynchburg): 2-for-5, R, RBI – The former Oregon Duck carried his hot start to 2025 into a multi-hit game on Sunday. He has a .389 batting average and has recorded a hit in all ten games this season.

Ryan Cesarini (RF, Lynchburg): 2-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 SBs, GIDP – Cesarini added nearly 100 points to his batting average in five games against Salem and capped it off by reaching base three times and swiping two bags in the finale win.

BA HOTSHEET

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... t-4-21-25/
None of ours

Guardians’ Recent Acquisition Showing Considerable Potential In High-A

April 21, 2025

By Andres Chavez

This past winter, the Cleveland Guardians traded second baseman Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Spencer Horwitz and minor league outfielder Nick Mitchell.

Then, a few hours later, Cleveland flipped Horwitz to the Pittsburgh Pirates for three pitchers: major league right-hander Luis L. Ortiz, and prospects Michael Kennedy and Josh Hartle.

Hartle was a third-round pick from last year and is brimming with potential, and that has Guardians officials very excited.

He is a projectable arm with a bright future entering a world-class organization when it comes to developing pitchers.

Hartle has been excellent for the Guardians’ High-A team, the Lake County Captains.

After another excellent start on Sunday, he is showing the full extent of his talent and has dominated in three starts for the Captains.

His last two have been particularly impressive.

“Cleveland #Guardians 22yr old LHP prospect Josh Hartle was dealing again for Lake County, fanning five Fort Wayne batters over four scoreless innings of work. Line – 4.0(IP) 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 5SO (57 Pitches 37 Strikes). Last two starts: 8.0 (IP) 6H 1R 0ER 2BB 11SO, 0.00 ERA,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1914345925314519062

Hartle has a brilliant 2.38 ERA in the young High-A season, in 11.1 innings.

He has allowed just three earned runs in those 11.1 frames, and they all came in his first game.

In the last two, he has been virtually unhittable.

Here is what MLB Pipeline wrote about Hartle’s stuff before the season:

“At his best, Hartle exhibits advanced feel for a plus slider, solid cutter, and average fastball and changeup. His heater sat at 89-92 mph and topped out at 94 with less life and command last spring, and he became reluctant to throw it when it got pounded. His low-80s slider and upper-80s cutter weren’t as sharp as in the past, and his sinking mid-80s changeup rarely landed in the zone.”

The Guardians will likely improve all his pitches, and there is certainly something to work with here even if the fastball is not special.

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2025 Cleveland Guardians Prospect Scouting Report: #15 RHP Franco Aleman

Next Year in Cleveland - Guardians Farm System Coverage
To: me · Tue, Apr 22 at 6:19 AM
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2025 Cleveland Guardians Prospect Scouting Report: #15 RHP Franco Aleman
Can Aleman stay healthy and breakthrough into the Guardians 'pen in 2025?
Justin Lada
Apr 22






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Bio

Age (2025 season): 24

Acquired: Draft (2021, 10th round)

2024 Level: Triple-A

Height: 6’6

Weight: 235

Throws: Right

First impression

Tall and lanky right hander that breathes fire. Gets his fastball on top of hitters quickly. A long arm swing and someone who looks like he might not throw consistent strikes, but has the physicality and the physical presence of a late inning relief type.
2025 Scouting Grades

Fastball: 60

Sinker: 60

Slider: 55

Command: 45

Overall: 45

Risk: Moderate

ETA: 2025

What Makes Aleman Fun?

Two overpowering fastballs that play very well off of each other. They look very similar out of his hand and both have plus velocity. His long, lanky arms and legs and extension help his delivery and gets his fastball on top of hitters even faster than its already plus velocity. Aleman can miss bats in the zone at high rates with his fastball and his slider, though it needs to be more consistent, has plenty of vertical break, late and gets swings and misses too. A big, physical reliever that looks the part and has finally taken off in a consistent role and organization given lack of a stable background previously brings exciting development that could see him compete for a back of the bullpen role.

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What Could Hold Aleman Back?

Aleman’s control is more average and isn’t really a command type reliever. It’s stuff over location. He struggled through a lat strain for much of 2024 that knocked his velocity down and delayed his chances of making it to the majors. HIs delivery is long with a big leg kick and long arm swing, so holding runners is a concern for him if he is pitching with runners on. Aleman has had issues with fielding as well in the past. Cleveland has also mentioned wanting to see Aleman work to be more available. He’s had past stints where he was going almost five days between appearances, and as a potential back end reliever, they want to see him work to have better availability going forward.
Key Metric

68.9% - The rate at which hitters made contact vs. Aleman in 2024, which would have put him in the top 30 in the majors last year. His zone contact rate of 81% was a little more in the middle, which is why location is so important for him. His 35.4% chase rate was right behind Emmanuel Clase’s 35.5% in 2024, 13th best among qualified relievers.
Intangibles

Aleman had previously bounced around at three colleges in three years, both starting and relieving. Now in 2023 and 2024, he’s had a consistent role with the same coaching and it’s helped him take off. Cleveland talked in 2023 about wanting to see him make strides on his availability as well as his fielding, putting in the work behind the scenes to make that happen.
Future

The lat strain probably knocked Aleman’s chances at a 2024 debut out. If he stays healthy in 2025 and going forward, he somewhat safely projects to be a setup type arm with premium velocity and swing and miss stuff. Command and issues with holding runners might get in the way of some effectiveness and we’ll have to see about how he bounces back with bigger, more consistent workloads. But this is what a hard throwing setup arm looks like, something in the seventh of eighth inning long term as long as his velocity holds.
Role/Risk

45/Moderate; Setup reliever

If Ortiz continues to pitch as he has his last two games; Hartle reaches the majors as a starter and perhaps Kennedy or Mitchell has some success, the Giminez trade could turn out to be a big plus. Lots ofs of MAYBES of course but also factor in the current and future 2nd basemen: Arias, Brito and Bazzana; Giminez's salary; and perhaps the return to reality of his offense and we come out ahead in that deal

Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 4/22/25
No cooling off CJ Kayfus

SCOREBOARD
Lehigh Valley IronPigs 7, Columbus Clippers 3 - Statcast
Akron RubberDucks 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels 1
Great Lakes Loons 9, Lake County Captains 3
Lynchburg Hillcats 6, Fayetteville Woodpeckers 5

HIGHLIGHTS

Will Brennan (RF, Columbus): 2-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI - Brennan extended his org-leading on-base streak to 17 games with the only multi-hit performance of a lackluster night for the Clipper bats. His evening was highlighted by a 103.2 MPH ninth-inning double that provided the final two runs of the Clip Show’s mini-rally.

C.J. Kayfus (1B, Akron): 2-4, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB - Kayfus extended the longest current hitting streak in the org to 14 games with this two hit effort, which brought his season slash line to .434/.524/.698 with eight extra-base hits (three doubles, four triples, and a homer) and 10 RBI over the course of his season-opening streak. For those doing the math, yes, that’s a 1.222 OPS on April 22. C.J. should be preparing for a trip down 271 in the not-so-distant future.

Kahlil Watson (LF, Akron): 1-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 SF, 1 K - While it’s a smaller sample size due to a season-opening injury, Watson has been nearly as impressive as Kayfus. After a hitless season debut, Kahlil is 5-for-15 with two doubles, a triple, a homer, and five RBI in four games since.

Tommy Mace (SP, Akron): W (2-2), 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (earned), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR allowed - Mace “rebounded” (if you can call it that from his only multi-run start of the season so far (3 ER in 5.1 IP last Wednesday) with a stellar performance in his longest outing of 2025 to date. While his control issues (6.33 BB/9) persisted, there's no way that coming within one bad pitch of hurling six frames of one-hit shutout baseball is anything but a highlight.

Steven Perez (RP, Lake County): 3 IP, perfect, 3 K - Perez’s unblemished trio of innings in relief of Tugboat after a night that was…not exactly his best…was the highlight of a largely forgettable night of baseball in Eastlake. This was his second straight three-frame effort and saw him return to shutout baseball after allowing a single baserunner to cross home safely last Wednesday in Fort Wayne. Like Kayfus, Perez might be headed down I-271 soon, albeit on a more northern stretch of the highway.

Tommy Hawke (LF, Lynchburg): 2-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 SB - Hawke continued a spectacular season so far with this multi-hit, multi-walk, multi-steal effort. Tommy is now slashing .333/.467/.375 with 18 stolen bases - the latter number good for second not only in the Carolina League, but also all of North American professional baseball (behind only Royals OF prospect Asbel Gonzalez [22 year old deserves prompt promotion to Lake County]

Luis Merejo (1B, Lynchburg): 0-1, 2 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 3 SB - Merejo continued to display the impressive plate discipline that has marked the early portion of his 2025 campaign on t Tuesday with a season and career-high four walks, bringing his total for the year-to-date to 16. Coupled with his two HBPs, free passes have accounted for 18 of Luis’s 26 trips to the basepaths this season, good for a .236 isolated plate discipline. If he can improve the batting average part of his on-base percentage (currently at .190), he will be dangerous at the plate. [Just a teenager; lots of time to develop]

Yordys Valdes (SS, Columbus): 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB - Valdes topped the Clipper exit velo chart in his Triple-A debut with a 105.3 MPH single to center in the ninth.

Christian Cairo (2B, Columbus): 1-3, 1 BB - After getting a hit in all five games he played in last week’s homestand against the Louisville Bats, Cairo picked up right where he left off in the opener of this week’s series in Allentown, Pa.

Travis Bazzana (2B, Akron): 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K - Bazzana’s fifth-inning single brought his season RBI total into double digits.

Jake Fox (CF, Akron): 1-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 K - One-quarter of Fox’s hits this season (two of eight) are triples.

Esteban Gonzalez (LF, Lake County): 1-3, 1 R,1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - Gonzalez’s sixth-inning solo shot provided the only Captain extra-base hit and RBI of the evening.

Alfonsin Rosario (RF, Lake County): 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB - Rosario extended his team-leading hit and on-base streaks to eleven and twelve games, respectively, by reaching twice last night.

Jaison Chourio (CF, Lake County): 1-4, 1 R, 2 K, 2 SB - Chourio opened his High-A stolen base account by swiping both second and third in the bottom of the eighth.

Bennett Thompson (C, Lynchburg): 1-3, 1 R,1 RBI, 1 HBP, 1 SB - Thompson’s third-inning RBI single extended his team-best hit streak to eleven games in a contest that saw his OPS actually decrease by twelve points (from .994 to .982) due to lack of multiple hits.

Jose Pirela (CF, Lynchburg): 1-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K, 1 SB - While Pirela had an all-around solid game at the plate and on the basepaths last night, what everyone will remember this performance for is his first non-complex homer - an absolute blast to right field of the kind that makes you wish Single-A had statcast.

On the other hand:

LHP Parker Messick in Columbus: 3 1/3 4 hits 5 runs 4 earned 4 walks 5 strikeouts
First 2 starts totaled: 9-8-0-0-2-10
Next 2 starts totaled: 8.2-8-9-8-7-12
Time to adjust back
LHP Tugboat Wilkinson in Lake County: 4 7 hits 2 walks 5 runs 4 earned 4 strikeouts. He's been up and down so far this spring

A reminder; BA featured 3 "breakout prospects" for CLE this season:
well known high draftee high school RH Braylon Doughty who is a young regular starter for Lynchburg.
Robert Arias top bonus from International Draft who'll be in Arizona and this summer
and lesser-known [to me}

Juneiker Caceres, OF

Preseason Rank: 21
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Caceres signed for $300,000 out of Venezuela in Cleveland’s 2024 international class and played most of the 2024 season as a 16-year-old in the Dominican Summer League. Despite his youth, Caceres was one of the most impressive hitters in the DSL and slashed .340/.425/.504 with more walks than strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Caceres is a 5-foot-10, 168-pound lefthanded hitter and outfielder who lacks much in the way of physical projection, but stands out for his barrel skills and batting eye. Caceres has an uppercut path but an advanced ability to use the entire field with an approach that some scouts view as overly opposite-field oriented. He’ll need to pull the ball more frequently to tap into his power as he ages, and while he might not add massive amounts of strength or power in the future, his 90th percentile exit velocity of 108 mph is already an exceptional figure for a 16-year-old. He’s an aggressive hitter who likes to swing and so far that approach has worked just fine. Caceres played all three outfield positions but is a fringy runner who should fit best in a corner outfield spot. He will need to work to become a fringe-average defender.

The Future: Caceres should be ready to take his exciting hit/power combo stateside in 2025. His offensive tools give him everyday upside but he’s got plenty of development time ahead.

Scouting Grades: HIT: 55. POW: 50. RUN: 45. FLD: 45. ARM: 50. [expected date of delivery?? 2030?]