The Guardians have already cycled through a surprising chunk of their Opening Day group, with 10 of the 26 players from the first roster no longer in Cleveland. That works out to 38% turnover, and it includes pitchers Shawn Armstrong and Slade Cecconi, both of whom landed on the injured list.
The bullpen picture has shifted, too, with Peyton Pallette and Connor Brogdon among the names who opened the season there. On the position-player side, CJ Kayfus made the Opening Day roster in the outfield.
Roster movement doesn’t stop with the majors. The Guardians’ Triple-A and Double-A clubs each carry 28 players, while the two Class A teams go with 30-man rosters.
A promotion or demotion at one level can trigger a domino effect elsewhere, and that sometimes ends with a release. Players can also be placed on the injured list or moved to the developmental list.
As for the second half, the Guardians’ rough patch has been easy to see. After sweeping the Marlins into the All-Star break, some expected them to come out hot. Instead, the offense stalled, the bullpen wore down and the defense slipped.
There’s also been some understandable tension around the trade deadline and the roster churn that came with it, including the departures of Daniel Schneemann, Kyle Manzardo and David Fry, plus Gabriel Arias being designated for assignment. Even so, the effort level on the field has remained strong.
A few of the younger names are drawing attention, but there’s no rush to force the issue. Angel Genao is not being handed a future role at third base just yet, especially with José Ramírez still in the mix and perhaps getting more DH at-bats as he gets older.
Ralphy Velazquez is another prospect making noise. He’s hitting .277 with 100 hits in 361 at-bats, along with 17 homers and 69 RBI between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.
But he’s only 21 and has played 57 games at Triple-A, so the Guardians are in no hurry. Nathaniel Lowe, a left-handed hitter and first baseman, also came in via trade and fits the same spot Velazquez plays.
Chase DeLauter, meanwhile, is already producing at the top of the lineup. He leads the Guardians in batting average, hits, doubles, RBI and OPS, is tied for second in home runs, and has done it as a rookie for a team that has stayed in the race all season. He has also managed to stay in the lineup consistently aside from one stint on the injured list.
Travis Bazzana is still a work in progress at second base, though the organization believes he’ll put in the work to get better. The Guardians also think he could handle the outfield, but for now they want him focused on second.
And at first base, the door has opened a little wider for Rhys Hoskins. With David Fry and Kyle Manzardo sent down, Hoskins should get more chances to DH and share first base with Nathaniel Lowe. The hope is that he makes the most of it.
In Other News...
Ralphy Velazquez Is Making Clevelands First Base Future Hard To Ignore
The Guardians spent their latest roster-spinning stretch adding five veteran players without dipping into the top end of their farm system, a sign the organization is still trying to protect a young core it believes in. That makes Ralphy Velazquez worth watching closely in Triple-A, where the first baseman has kept forcing his way into the conversation with a power bat and the kind of offensive production that makes a future big-league role easy to picture.
Nathaniel Lowes arrival gives Cleveland more established help at first base, and that could slow the timeline for Velazquez even as he keeps doing his part. For now, the organization has a comfortable luxury - a prospect in Triple-A who is hitting well enough to stay on the radar, and a major league roster that can afford to be patient a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Steven Kwan's Hot Streak Now Leaves Guardians With One Big Worry
Steven Kwan has been carrying the Guardians lineup through his hottest stretch of the season, giving Cleveland exactly the kind of table-setting presence it has leaned on all year. Since July 1, he has been one of the most productive hitters in the majors, and his ability to keep traffic on the bases has mattered even more as the club pushes through a crucial part of the schedule.
The concern now is less about what Kwan has been doing at the plate and more about whether he can keep doing it after a scare in the field. He missed a game after crashing into the wall while chasing a catch against the Mets, and the Guardians are hoping he can be back for the upcoming series against the White Sox. With the season tightening, Cleveland can ill afford to be without one of its most reliable bats for long. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Need A Tough Rhys Hoskins Decision Soon
Rhys Hoskins has given the Guardians a veteran presence and a proven right-handed bat, but the last few weeks have made his place in the lineup feel a little less secure. Since June 1, the production has dipped, especially against left-handed pitching, and the strikeouts have climbed enough to make Cleveland think harder about how it wants to handle the position down the stretch.
The organization has options, which is part of the intrigue. Kody Huff has shown stronger offensive results against lefties and could earn a larger role if the club decides to lean into a platoon look at first base, with some catching sprinkled in as needed. If that path does not hold, Ralphy Velazquez is also lurking as another bat Cleveland could turn to at first base or designated hitter, giving the Guardians a few different ways to answer a difficult question without waiting too long. [Read more 🡒]