The Guardians already put three rookies on the American League ballot this season, and there’s a path for at least two more names to enter that conversation in 2027.
Parker Messick finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting behind Kevin McGonigle, while Chase DeLauter landed sixth and Travis Bazzana came in 10th. That kind of showing keeps the pipeline in focus, and two hitters stand out as the most realistic candidates to draw votes next year: Ralphy Velazquez and Cooper Ingle.
Velazquez, Cleveland’s 2023 first-round pick, put together a huge year in the upper minors and made it clear he’s knocking on the door. The Guardians chose to trade for Nathaniel Lowe and keep Velazquez at Triple-A, concerned that a promotion would have cost him minor league time next year if a lockout happens. Lowe is now a free agent, which opens things up a bit for the young left-handed slugger.
The production was impossible to miss. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Velazquez hit .290/.379/.548 with 29 home runs, 93 RBI and a 142 wRC+.
The swing is there, the power is there, and the next step is simple: get him to the majors, let him settle in, and see what happens. If he gets enough runway, he has a real chance to get some AL Rookie of the Year attention in 2027.
Ingle’s case is a little messier, mostly because his brief seven-game look in 2027 went badly. He batted .095/.208/.095 over 24 plate appearances, finished with a -6 wRC+, was sent back to the minors, and also made a costly mistake in the field. That’s the kind of cameo that can stick in fans’ minds, but it’s far too small a sample to define him.
The Guardians seem to understand that. Ingle should get more chances in 2027, whether that comes in left field, behind the plate, or at designated hitter, especially if Austin Hedges leaves.
The exact defensive home is still up in the air, but the bat is the real selling point anyway. If he proves he can be a comfortably above-average hitter, Cleveland will find a way to get him into the lineup because the offense needs help.
And the numbers in Triple-A back that up. In 104 games and 473 plate appearances, Ingle slashed .297/.424/.528 with 20 home runs and a 151 wRC+.
He brings contact, power and strong plate discipline to the table. That doesn’t make him an AL ROY favorite just yet, but it does leave room for a season where he gets enough at-bats to collect a few votes.
In Other News...
Guardians Face A Tough Call On A Top Prospect Soon
Jaison Chourio has climbed steadily through the Guardians minor league system and is now at Triple-A, putting him on the doorstep of a decision Cleveland has been preparing for. The organization is expected to add him to the 40-man roster soon, a move aimed at keeping him out of the Rule 5 Draft and preserving one of the more intriguing young players in the system.
For the Guardians, it is the kind of roster call that comes with both urgency and patience. Chourio is viewed as a top prospect, but he still appears to be about a year away from making a regular impact in the majors, which means Cleveland has to balance protecting his future with the realities of a crowded roster right now. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Prospect Gets Another Shot With A Contender
Christian Cairo is getting another fresh start, this time with a contender that has a long track record of turning depth pieces into useful big league options. The former Guardians prospect was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers from the Mets, adding another stop to a pro career that has already taken him through four organizations over seven seasons without a major league appearance.
For Cleveland fans, Cairo remains one of those familiar names who never quite got the call despite sticking around the game and keeping himself in the mix. The Dodgers made a second roster move the same day by re-signing infielder Tyler Fitzgerald to a minor league deal, a reminder of how quickly the margins can shift for players trying to stay positioned for a breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Another Future Core Infielder On The Rise
Welbyn Franciscas rapid climb has given the Guardians another name to watch in the middle infield pipeline. The 20-year-old switch-hitting infielder from the Dominican Republic signed with Cleveland in 2023 and reached Double-A Akron this season, then backed up that progress with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. That combination was enough to land him at No. 98 on Bleacher Reports Top 100 prospect list, a notable step for a player still early in his professional career.
For a Cleveland system that has long valued homegrown infield talent, Franciscas rise adds to the sense that the organization may have another future core piece developing in plain sight. He is one of four Guardians prospects included on the list, which weighs both current ability and long-term upside, and his placement suggests evaluators are taking notice of how quickly his tools are translating. The next test will be whether he can keep that momentum going as he moves closer to the upper levels. [Read more 🡒]