Last summer, the Guardians were thrilled to watch Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette slide to them at No. 27 in the MLB Draft. He had been viewed as a possible No. 1 pick at one point, so Cleveland wasn’t about to complain about the way the board broke.
That same kind of opportunity could be staring them down again in 2026, this time with Auburn second baseman Chris Rembert.
Rembert has quickly emerged as a name to watch for Cleveland, and The Athletic’s Keith Law added more weight to that idea earlier this week. In his latest mock draft, Law had the Guardians taking Rembert with the No. 19 pick.
The Auburn infielder just wrapped up his sophomore season with a .858 OPS, four home runs and 46 RBI in 58 games. Those numbers are solid, but they also came after a stronger freshman year, when he put up a 1.022 OPS, hit 10 homers and drove in 46 runs.
There may be a reason for that drop. Rembert was limited this spring by an ankle injury, which only adds to the sense that his stock could be shaped by health and timing as much as raw talent.
The profile also brings some familiar questions. MLB Pipeline’s scouting report on Rembert raises the issue of whether his long-term home is at second base or in a corner outfield spot. That kind of uncertainty is not exactly new territory for Cleveland.
It’s the sort of player type the Guardians have shown they can work with, and it fits the organization’s appetite for finding value when a talented player slips. If Rembert is still on the board, he would look like a clean fit for a system that already has a wave of MLB-ready position players such as Ralphy Velazquez and Cooper Ingle, along with another group of prospects still a couple years away, headlined by LaViolette.
There’s also been some chatter that Cleveland could target a college arm with this pick in order to move him through the minors quickly, especially with so many of the club’s top prospects already being position players. Law noted in his mock that he hadn’t heard the Guardians were tied to any high school players, which leaves room for that same logic to apply to Rembert as well.
Rembert has already had his share of big moments, including a four-RBI game that drew attention during college baseball action.
The draft matters plenty to Cleveland every year, but it feels especially significant this time around with the roster where it is. And if Rembert is still there when the Guardians are on the clock, it’s hard to imagine them letting that chance pass.
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
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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 🡒]