The Guardians already have one eye on 2027 and beyond, and Jhordari Jimenez is the kind of arm that makes that look a lot more interesting.
The 18-year-old right-hander has started to flash the sort of velocity that turns heads fast. In the Dominican Summer League this season, he struck out 32 batters over 35.0 innings, and Guardians Prospective noted that he was “consistently topping out in the upper 90s with his fastball nearing triple digits.”
Jimenez’s rise has come quickly. Cleveland signed him as an international free agent in January 2025, and he turned 18 on June 25 of this year.
His first look in pro ball came in 2025 with Goryl of the DSL, when he worked out of the bullpen for seven relief appearances. That debut was rough: in 6.2 innings, he gave up eight hits, 11 walks, and 11 runs while striking out six.
This year, though, the raw stuff began to translate a little more. Jimenez made 11 starts and logged 35.0 innings, allowing 25 hits, 30 walks, and 27 runs with 30 strikeouts. His H/9 dropped from 10.80 to 6.43, and his BB/9 fell from 14.85 to 7.71.
He’s still a long way from the majors, but Cleveland’s pitching depth gives the organization plenty to work with. According to MLB.com, right-hander Braylon Doughty is the club’s No. 2 overall prospect behind first baseman Ralphy Velazquez.
Other pitchers in the system drawing attention include right-handers Liam Peterson at No. 6, Justin Campbell at No.
9, Khal Stephen at No. 11, and Joey Oakie at No. 13.
The Guardians also had five pitchers make their MLB debuts this season: right-handers Peyton Pallette, Franco Aleman, Daniel Espino, and Austin Peterson, plus left-hander Will Dion.
Cleveland is expected to bring back all of its most-used starters from last season, while also sorting through whether to re-sign free agent Foster Griffin, who was added at the trade deadline. The bullpen could use some adjustments, but it should stay mostly together.
For Jimenez, the target is clear: eventually, he wants to be part of that staff. The next few years will show how far his arm can carry him through Cleveland’s development pipeline.
In Other News...
Guardians Could Be Closing In On A High-Upside Infield Boost
The Guardians have spent the last few seasons leaning into youth, and it has helped push them into contention, including a recent trip to the ALCS. That approach has made Cleveland one of the more intriguing development stories in the league, with the front office continuing to look for the next wave of infield talent to add to the pipeline.
John Cruz appears to be the latest name to watch. The Dominican shortstop prospect is reportedly favored to sign with Cleveland, though he is not eligible to put pen to paper until the Jan. 15, 2027 international signing period. There is still plenty of time before anything becomes official, and details on Cruz remain limited, but the Guardians seem to be positioning themselves for another potentially high-upside addition. [Read more 🡒]
Two Guardians Arms Just Earned Serious October Respect
Postseason reputation can change fast, and two young Guardians arms just got a sizable boost from one of the games more familiar evaluators. Dan Plesacs list of the top 10 pitchers based on October impact included Cade Smith and Gavin Williams, a notable nod for a Cleveland staff that leaned heavily on both pitchers during its 2026 postseason run.
Williams checked in sixth after turning in a 2.16 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 16.2 innings, while Smith landed seventh with a 2.38 ERA across 11.1 innings and nine appearances. For a club that has spent plenty of time building around pitching depth, seeing both names land that high on a postseason list only reinforces how much those two mattered when the games tightened up. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Could Make Three Tough Roster Calls Before Deadline
With the non-tender deadline approaching, the Guardians are staring at a familiar kind of winter decision-making, the sort that can quietly reshape a roster before the real offseason even gets going. Three arbitration-eligible names sit in the middle of it all: Jo Adell, Slade Cecconi and David Fry, each bringing a different mix of recent performance, cost control and trade interest that could make them more useful as chips than as keepers.
For Cleveland, the question is not just who can help in 2025, but who fits the payroll and the long view. The article frames all three as possible trade candidates as the front office weighs whether to move on before the deadline rather than carry them deeper into arbitration talks, and the speculation alone says plenty about how tight these roster calls can get. Nothing is settled yet, but the Guardians appear to be weighing a few uncomfortable choices in the name of flexibility. [Read more 🡒]