The Cleveland Guardians may have landed a 2025 draft class that’s already turning heads.
With the next MLB draft arriving this weekend, it’s a natural time to check in on last year’s group - and so far, the early returns look strong. Cleveland’s 2025 class is producing enough at the lower levels that it’s starting to look like one of the organization’s better drafts in a long stretch.
The power is the first thing that jumps out. OF Nolan Schubart leads the class with a .936 OPS, while C Luke Hill is right behind him at .914. 1B Anthony Martinez is also among the current leaders in OPS.
Schubart’s production has been especially loud. He’s tied with Milwaukee Brewers prospect Andrew Fischer for the most home runs in the Midwest League with 20. Walton’s 15 home runs are tied for seventh.
And that’s before even getting to Cleveland’s top three picks.
Jace LaViolette, the No. 27 pick, has posted a .786 OPS with 13 home runs at High-A. Dean Curley, selected No. 64, owns a .906 OPS. Aaron Walton, taken No. 66, has matched that .906 OPS in his first professional season.
There’s no easy answer when it comes to which player in this group has the most upside. Curley, Hill, LaViolette, Martinez, Walton and Schubart all have cases.
What Cleveland seems to have targeted here is pretty clear: power, and plenty of it. Early on, that approach looks like it’s paying off.
Still, the class is only at the beginning of the climb. No position player from the 2025 group has reached past High-A yet, and numbers at this stage can change fast as players move through the system.
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Guardians May Be Running Out Of Time With Kody Huff
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Acquired from the Rockies in 2023, Huff has expanded beyond catcher and given Cleveland a look at him at first base and third base as well. That versatility matters for a club that has been willing to move prospects quickly when the roster calls for it, and it leaves the Guardians with a decision to make on how soon they want to test him at the highest level. [Read more 🡒]