The Cleveland Guardians kept adding arms in the MLB Draft over the weekend, and one of their later picks might be the most fascinating of the bunch.
After taking Florida right-hander Liam Peterson in the first round, Cleveland continued stockpiling pitching with a run of selections that included high school left-hander Logan Schmidt at No. 59 and Georgia right-hander Matt Scott at No. 243. But the name that stands out most from the group is seventh-round pick Savion Sims, a right-hander out of Prestonwood Christian High School in Texas.
Sims, taken No. 213 overall, is not the most polished arm in the class. He’s the kind of pick that asks for patience. But the ceiling is obvious enough to make him easy to dream on.
What makes Sims so tempting is the fastball. He reached 100 miles per hour last season and was regularly working in the mid-90s. That kind of velocity gets attention anywhere, and it’s the kind of trait that can make a late-round pick look a lot more interesting than his draft slot suggests.
The rest of the arsenal is still a work in progress, which is exactly why he lasted until the seventh round. He technically has a slider and a curveball, but both pitches remain very raw. He’s a developmental project, plain and simple.
Savion Sims (‘26 TX) goes 5 IP on 7ks. Dialed it in after a scattered first.
Fastball opened 93-97; settled 91-94. Slider 80-84 and cutter 87-89.
Change flashed at 84. Lengthy 6-8 frame at 205.
Number 90 on @PG_Draft board. #PGHS @Prestonwood_BSB #BoomerSooner commit. pic.twitter.com/wPOYCeXjpd
- Perfect Game Texas (@Texas_PG) April 15, 2026
Keith Law of The Athletic put the profile in blunt terms: “He doesn’t have an average breaking ball, with a slider that has velocity without great spin, and was mixing in a cutter when I saw him to try to get hitters off the heater. He’s a prospect, but definitely a long-range guy, and probably best suited for organizations that do well with pitch design and helping smooth out deliveries.”
That description fits Cleveland as well as just about any team in baseball. The Guardians have built a reputation for developing pitchers, and Sims looks like the kind of raw arm that can benefit from that kind of environment.
At 19, he’s still early in the process. Cleveland could even choose to hold him out for the rest of 2026, the way it did with last year’s first-round pick Jace LaViolette, and let him get work in the pitching lab before sending him to begin next season in the Arizona Complex League.
There’s also the Oklahoma commitment hanging over the pick. Sims has some leverage there, and if the Guardians want to pull him away from that, they may have to go beyond the slot value of $280,900.
Whether Sims signs or not, Cleveland came away from the draft addressing both immediate and long-term pitching needs. Peterson gives them a college arm with plenty of experience, and the Guardians also added eight more pitchers to the system.
Sims won’t be anywhere near Progressive Field anytime soon, but the Guardians have made a habit of turning raw arms into something more, and this is exactly the kind of bet they like to make.
In Other News...
Top Ohio Arm Saw His Draft Path Change In A Hurry
Landon Thiels path from Jackson High School standout to Ohio State signee had already taken an unexpected turn before the MLB Draft arrived, and the rest of his summer followed the same script. The right-hander had put himself on the radar with a fastball that kept climbing during his senior season, and even as scouts watched the progress, his future was always going to hinge on how his arm held up and where the next step would take him.
Instead, the focus shifted to recovery and the long view. Thiel had Tommy John surgery on June 16 and is expected to be back on a mound in about 10 months, with his college career still set to continue in Columbus. Jackson did get one player drafted when catcher Garrett Wright went in the eighth round to the Angels, but Thiels story became the one that changed fastest and will take the longest to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians First Place Push Could Soon Get A Major Lineup Lift
The Guardians are heading into the All-Star break with a four-game winning streak and a share of first place in the AL Central, and the timing could hardly be better. Cleveland has spent much of the first half piecing together its offense, but there are signs the lineup may be getting healthier and more productive at the same time, with Steven Kwan shaking off a rough start and driving in runs while still flashing the elite defense that has long been part of his value.
Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez are both nearing returns from injury, which would give the Guardians even more options as they try to hold their place in a tight division race. Hayden Grove also pointed to the possibility of deadline help, noting that Cleveland could be in position to add to the roster if it wants to deepen the group for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Ralphy Velazquez Put Guardians Fans On Notice At The Futures Game
Ralphy Velazquez used the 2026 MLB Futures Game to remind Guardians fans why he has been one of the more closely watched names in the system. The first baseman, playing for the American League Rising Stars, chipped in on both sides of the ball with a run-scoring hit and a sharp play around the bag, adding to a season that already had him moving from Double-A to Triple-A.
Velazquez has kept building momentum since arriving in Columbus, where his production has been solid enough to keep him on the radar without forcing the issue. For Cleveland, that is the kind of development worth tracking closely, especially when a prospect gets a national showcase and leaves it looking like he belongs in the conversation for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]