GOODYEAR, AZ. — While covering spring training activity for the next month, SportRelay.com will also preview our list of the top 100 prospects in the Cleveland Guardians‘ organization.
The news Tuesday was not good for Guardians fans. Cleveland lost a split-squad game at home to the Kansas City Royals, 12-6, and another on the road to the Seattle Mariners, 9-8. Minor leaguers played a major role. The farm system was key to Cleveland claiming the 2022 AL Central crown as an astounding 17 players made their MLB debuts along the way. Outfielders Steven Kwan and Oscar Gonzalez contributed mightily and are now considered key players for the 2023 season. Others such as Will Benson, Nolan Jones, and Ernie Clement have been traded away. Some remain on our prospects list, such as Will Brennan, Gabriel Arias, Richie Palacios, Bo Naylor, and others.
Before we get into the top prospects for 2023, let’s look at how the 2022 club was put together through the draft, amateur free-agent signings, MLB free agency, and trades:
2022 Cleveland Guardians System
TEAM
LEVEL
LEAGUE (DIVISION)
W-L
PLACE
Cleveland Guardians
MLB
American (Central)
92-70
First
Columbus Clippers
AAA
International (West)
85-64
Third
Akron RubberDucks
AA
Eastern (Southwest)
79-59
Second
Lake County Captains
High-A
Midwest (East)
76-53
First
Lynchburg Hillcats
Low-A
Carolina (North)
63-68
Fifth
ACL Guardians
Rookie
Arizona Complex (Central)
28-24
Third
Guardians Blue
Rookie
Dominican Summer (North)
31-29
Fifth
Guardians Red
Rookie
Dominican Summer (North)
17-42
Seventh
A total of 316 players were in the Guardians’ system at some time in 2022:
RHP
OF
2B-3B-SS
LHP
C
1B-DH
145
47
44
39
27
16
Fifty players appeared in at least one game for Cleveland in 2022:
23 were Cleveland draft picks
16 were acquired in trades
5 were signed as MLB free agents
3 were signed as amateur free agents
1 was claimed in the Rule 5 Draft
1 was claimed off waivers
1 had his contract purchased from an MLB team
17 made their MLB debuts
34 played in Cleveland’s farm system before their debut for the Indians/Guardians
GOODYEAR, AZ – FEBRUARY 23: Josh Bell #55 of the Cleveland Guardians poses for a photo during the Cleveland Guardians Photo Day at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
First baseman Josh Bell, the Guardians’ prize free-agent signing, hit his first homer in a Cleveland uniform. The two-run shot came with two outs in the first inning. Triston McKenzie pitched two scoreless innings, but Touki Toussaint was touched for three runs in 1 1/3 innings and lefty Tim Herrin yielded two runs in an inning. Still, Cleveland led entering the ninth when the Royals rocked minor-leaguers Juan Zapata and Yeury Gervacio for six runs on four hits and three walks. Outfielder Joe Lampe, a third-round pick last year, had two of Cleveland’s 10 hits.
Mixed Day for Minor Leaguers in Loss to Mariners
Logan Allen and Aaron Pinto each yielded four runs and three hits as Cleveland fell behind, 8-1, in the second inning at Peoria. Then backup catchers Zack Collins (2-for-3 as a DH), Michael Berglund (1-for-2, run, 3 RBI as DH), Meibrys Viloria(1-for-2, run) and Bryan Lavastida (1-for-2) helped tie it at 8. Outfielder Connor Kokx (2-for-3, 2 runs) and RHP Peyton Battenfield (4 Ks in two hitless innings) chipped in. RHP Ross Carver yielded an eighth-inning run and was the loser.
