If you've watched the Guardians as of late, the pipeline from Akron to Cleveland in terms of prospects is strong.
Expect that to continue. The RubberDucks open the season at Richmond on Friday, and the 2024 Eastern League Southwest Division champions have a plethora of top prospects within an eyelash of making it to Progressive Field.
Here are five players the USA Today Network thinks could get the call-up by September:
Travis Bazzana, second base
- How acquired: No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft
- Birthday: Aug. 28, 2002
- Bats/Throws: Left/right
- 2024 Batting Stats: .238 batting average/.369 on-base percentage/.396 slugging percentage, three home runs, 12 RBIs
- Why be excited: Bazzana's numbers were through just 27 games for the Midwest champions Lake County Captains. His bat-to-ball skills are off the charts. He's the No. 1 prospect in the Guardians organization and is ranked ninth overall by MLB Pipeline. He left Oregon State with single-season school records in home runs (28), runs (84) and slugging percentage (.911) and tied the single-season record with 74 walks. Bazzana batted .407, had 87 hits, drove in 66 and had a .568 on-base percentage. He added 16 stolen bases, 16 doubles and four triples on top of that.
Cooper Ingle, catcher
- How acquired: No. 125 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft (Fourth round, Pick No. 23)
- Birthday: Feb. 23, 2002
- Bats/Throws: Left/Right
- 2024 Batting Stats: .305/.419/.478, 11 home runs, 67 RBIs
- Why be excited: Ingle’s incredible control at the plate means he’s going to connect with the pitch more often than not. The seventh-ranked prospect in the Guardians organization isn't going to go crazy at the plate in terms of home runs, but he will produce a lot of hard hit groundballs that will drive in plenty of runs as his ...
