The American League Rookie of the Year race already has one winner in Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle, who beat out Parker Messick and Chase DeLauter on Monday after a huge all-around season. But the conversation around next year’s award is already starting to take shape, and MLB Pipeline’s latest look at a potential Rookie of the Year from every team put Ralphy Velazquez in the spotlight for Cleveland.
That choice hardly comes out of nowhere. Velazquez is only 21 and still hasn’t made his MLB debut, but his stock keeps climbing.
He put together a strong year across Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .290/.379/.548 with 29 homers in 117 games. That kind of production turns heads fast, and it’s easy to see why he’s being talked about as a breakout candidate for 2027.
The Guardians may also have a path to make room for him. This winter could open things up at first base if Nathaniel Lowe is allowed to walk in free agency and David Fry is non-tendered. Lowe handled the position well for Cleveland down the stretch last season, but Velazquez and Kyle Manzardo bring the kind of long-term upside that makes the future picture look different.
There’s also a wrinkle to all of this: the looming lockout. Even so, Velazquez’s development shouldn’t be thrown off much, since he isn’t on the 40-man roster and would still be able to play in the minors no matter what happens at the big league level.
In a normal year, a player with his profile starting in the minors would feel like a delay. This time, it could actually work in his favor.
And if he does get his shot whenever the season begins, Velazquez could be in line for a serious Rookie of the Year push. A top-three finish would bring Cleveland a PPI pick, the same kind of bonus the Guardians got from Parker Messick this season.
MLB Pipeline’s list also serves as another reminder of how much young talent is stacked in Cleveland. Messick, DeLauter and Travis Bazzana all received votes in this year’s ROY race, while Gavin Williams, Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis remain under team control for multiple seasons through arbitration. José Ramírez and his team-friendly extension are still part of the picture, too.
Still, the future conversation starts with Velazquez. He’s the best slugging prospect in the Guardians’ system and one of the most exciting rising names in the minors.
In Other News...
Guardians Just Made A Quiet Hire With Real Defensive Upside
The Guardians have made a low-key addition to their staff with some real defensive value, bringing in Alex Burg as their new quality control coach. Burg arrives from San Francisco, where he served as the Giants field coordinator and catching coach, and his background gives Cleveland another experienced voice in a part of the game the organization has long treated as a priority.
His arrival also creates a familiar link for catcher Patrick Bailey, whom Burg previously coached with the Giants. For Cleveland, the hire is about more than one big-league backstop, though. It gives the club another resource for a catching group that includes prospects the organization wants to keep developing, with Cooper Ingle among the names in that mix as the Guardians continue building depth behind the plate. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Could Have A Buy Low Trade Chance Worth Watching
The trade market around Dylan Crews is starting to get some attention, and that is the kind of development the Guardians tend to monitor closely. According to The Athletics Spencer Nusbaum, multiple teams have shown interest in the Nationals infielder, who is still just 24 and coming off his first full season in Washington. The offensive production was modest, but the pedigree remains obvious, which is why a player like this can suddenly move from long-term project to buy-low target.
For Cleveland, the fit is easy to see on paper. The Guardians have built their roster around pitching depth and have been willing to explore creative ways to add talent without straying far from their usual approach. A player with Crews upside could make sense if the price is right, especially if Washington is open to listening, but there is no official trade or even confirmed negotiation yet. For now, it is more a name to track than a deal in motion, which is enough to keep it on the radar in Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Shortstop Suddenly Has Real Pressure On His Future
Brayan Rocchio has spent most of the last three seasons as the Guardians starting shortstop, and the case for keeping him in that role has always started with the glove. He has shown strong defensive skills, while the offense has been more uneven, even if his 2026 numbers moved in the right direction and settled closer to league average.
This winter brings a different kind of pressure. Rocchio is now arbitration-eligible, and with other infield prospects pushing for opportunities on the roster, Cleveland has a decision to make about whether he still fits as part of the long-term picture or whether his name could come up in trade discussions. [Read more 🡒]