The Guardians are heading into the 2026 MLB Draft with a different kind of question hanging over them: after breaking from their usual approach last year, do they lean that way again?
Cleveland’s 2025 class was built around raw power and big swing-and-miss upside, a clear departure from the organization’s recent tendency to target high-contact position players. That shift was headlined by first-rounder Jace LaViolette, and it came on the heels of the 2024 draft, when the Guardians used the No. 1 overall pick on Travis Bazzana, who is now their everyday second baseman and leadoff hitter in Cleveland.
This year, the Guardians will enter the draft with the No. 19 overall pick in the first round. They also own picks at No. 59 in the second round and No. 95 in the third. Cleveland originally had a Competitive Balance Round A selection at No. 29, but sent it to the San Francisco Giants in the Patrick Bailey trade.
Because last year’s draft went so far off script, projecting Cleveland’s next move is tougher than usual. Still, a couple of names stand out as possible fits at No. 19: Texas A&M second baseman Chris Hacopian and Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese.
LaViolette remains the most visible reminder of that 2025 class. The Guardians took him at No. 27 overall, then followed with Dean Curley at No.
64, Aaron Walton at No. 66, Will Hynes at No. 70 and Nolan Schubart at No.
- LaViolette is now at High-A Lake County, where he’s hitting .235 with a .340 OBP, 12 home runs, 11 doubles, 51 RBIs and seven stolen bases this season.
Looking back over Cleveland’s recent first picks, the list includes Bazzana, Ralphy Velazquez, Chase DeLauter, Gavin Williams, Carson Tucker, Daniel Espino, Bo Naylor, Quentin Holmes and Will Benson. Bazzana, the club’s top choice and overall No. 1 pick in 2024, was recently selected to his first All-Star Game.
The 2026 MLB Draft begins July 11, with the first three rounds taking place that day and coverage starting at 1 p.m. Rounds 4 through 20 are set for July 12.
Fans can watch the draft on NBC and Peacock. The first round will air on NBC, while the rest of the draft will be available on Peacock.
In Other News...
Guardians Fans May Not Love Where Stuart Fairchild Just Resurfaced
Stuart Fairchilds stop in Cleveland was brief, and his next landing spot already looks a little more promising. After being designated for assignment by the Guardians and then electing free agency, the outfielder has resurfaced in the Mariners organization, where he wasted little time making an impression in the Arizona Complex League by homering in his first game.
For Guardians fans, the more frustrating part may be the timing. Fairchild never found much traction during his stint in Cleveland, but Seattles rash of outfield injuries could give him a clearer path upward if he keeps producing. It is the kind of roster turn that can make a short-lived move look a lot more consequential in hindsight. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Trade Deadline Wish List Just Got A Lot More Real
The Guardians search for a lineup boost is starting to feel a lot less theoretical as the trade deadline approaches. Cleveland has been linked to outfield help, and the names surfacing fit the kind of swing the front office has been chasing - a player with real power and another who could bring longer-term value without forcing the club to empty the cupboard.
Mickey Moniak and Garrett Mitchell each offer something different, which is part of what makes the situation worth watching. Moniak brings the appeal of a bat that has flashed big slugging production and a contract situation that would make him more of a short-term add, while Mitchell would be a tougher pull from a contending Brewers club but comes with years of control attached. With the AL Central and Wild Card races both tightening, Clevelands deadline plan may come down to how aggressively it wants to push for help now versus protecting what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Be Running Out Of Time With Kody Huff
The Guardians have already leaned heavily on their player pipeline this season, bringing nine players to the majors before the All-Star break, and that kind of churn has only sharpened the focus on who might be next. Kody Huff has put himself into that conversation with a breakout offensive year, hitting .272/.384/.498 with 14 doubles and 11 home runs, while also showing he can handle more than one spot on the field.
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 🡒]