Top 100 Countdown: Cleveland Guardians' Prospects Nos. 10 to 6

Cleveland Guardians Prospect Countdown: 10 to 6

April 2, 2023

SportRelay.com continues the countdown of the Cleveland Guardians’ top 100 prospects for 2023. Any or all of this group of five could be called upon to help the Guardians try to repeat as champions of the American League Central Division this year.

We have reached prospects 10 to 6. Each will be working 9 to 5 and then some to get to Cleveland. All five will start this season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. That’s just a couple hours down the ol’ Interstate-71 highway. Two of them made the drive up last year and back again this spring. Two are first-round picks along with a second-rounder, fifth-rounder, and a big pitcher acquired in a trade two years ago while he was still in Class A ball.

Here are the previous listings: 11-15|16-20|21-25|26-30|31-35|36-40|41-45|46-50|51-60|61 – 70|71 – 80|81 – 90|91 – 100

Marked Down From No. 1

10. Daniel Espino, RHP 1st-round pick (24 overall), 2019 6’2” 225 B: R T: R 1/5/2001

Daniel Espino throws a pitch for the Akron Rubberducks in 2022David Monseur/Accent Images/Courtesy Akron RubberDucks — Daniel Espino throws a pitch for the Akron RubberDucks in 2022
David Monseur/Accent Images/Courtesy Akron RubberDucks

Despite missing most of 2022 with knee tendinitis, he was forecast No. 1 on the SportRelay.com top 100 rankings of Guardians prospects this winter. As training camp opened, he was diagnosed with a slight tear in his right shoulder and won’t pitch until at least May. Espino had shoulder woes two years ago and this buildup of injuries is a huge concern. He’s only thrown 133 2/3 innings as a pro, although posting incredible numbers that include a rate of 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings. In five games at Double-A Akron last year, he fanned 35 and walked four, allowing nine hits in 18 1/3 innings. When healthy, his quality four-pitch mix highlighted by a fastball in the 98-102 MPH range makes the native of Panama one of the brightest prospects in the game. Espino’s devastating curveball and low-90s slider pile up Ks. He is limber, athletically strong, a diligent worker, and seems to have all the tools but has a body that looks indestructible yet breaks down.

It Happened Before

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Two years ago, it looked like Espino could be part of Cleveland’s rotation in 2023. Now, this year is about rehabbing, then hopefully regaining velocity and command. If he does come back throwing hard, until he regains durability, he could possibly be a big-time addition to the Guardians’ bullpen. Two decades ago, another Cleveland first-round pick seemed to be a can’t-miss power pitcher. Injuries kept Adam Miller from ever throwing a pitch in the majors. From 2003 thru 2006, the big right-hander just stepped back and fired. The radar gun registered triple digits – his strikeout totals did, too. A series of finger injuries on his right hand sent him to the disabled list year after year. He battled on until 2015, a shell of the pitcher he was when Cleveland considered him a likely replacement to C.C. Sabathia as staff ace. Here’s hoping Espino avoids that fate.

Battling Battenfield

9. Peyton Battenfield, RHP Trade from Rays, 7/30/2021 6’4” 240 B: R T: R 8/10/1997

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In 2021, this big right-hander posted unreal numbers over two organizations. He walked 19 and fanned 131 over 103 innings, allowing a measly 66 hits for a 7-1 record and 2.53 ERA. His style resembled that of John Lackey. That big right-hander won 188 games (2002-17) for four teams, going to the post-season with all four, too. Battenfield goes into battle with four pitches. He has developed a slider to replace a cutter and go with a low 90s fastball, good curve, and change. Last year at Triple-A Columbus, he led the farm system in innings pitched at 153 2/3. His walks skyrocketed to 57 and his strikeouts dipped to 109, however. This is an important year for him. If he shows marked improvement in his second season at Columbus, he could be a valuable mid-season addition in Cleveland. He has bullpen experience as he was a reliever in 59 of 60 career games at Oklahoma State.

Another big right-hander who pitched at Oklahoma State found success after signing with Cleveland back in 1939. Allie Reynolds spent four years in the minors, won 51 games over five years in Cleveland and became a huge winner after being traded to the New York Yankees for second baseman Joe Gordon. Reynolds pitched two no-hitters in 1951, against Cleveland and the Boston Red Sox. While Gordon helped Cleveland win its last World Championship in 1948 and slugged his way to the Hall of Fame, Reynolds fared rather well. He had a 131-60 record in eight years in New York and a 7-2 mark in six World Series (1947, 1949-53). The Yankees won them all.

Still Could Be A Hit

8. Tyler Freeman, INF 2nd-round pick (71 overall), 2017 6’0” 190 B: R T: R 5/21/1999

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He bounced back in 2022 from a torn labrum in his left shoulder that had stopped a fine 2001 campaign at Double-A Akron after only 41 games. After missing all of 2020 due to the COVID restrictions that set back so many prospects, Freeman hit .323 at Akron. Despite missing all that time, he moved up to the majors for 24 games a year ago. In 72 games at Triple-A Columbus, he batted .280 with 6 homers and 44 RBI. Used in a utility role by the Guardians, he hit .247. His versatility is an asset, yet combined with a lack of power, could relegate Freeman to a career as a backup. His keen eye at the plate and fine bat-to-ball ability present another double-edged sword as it reduces the number of walks he takes.

Signed for $817,500 as a high-school shortstop, he has some speed but is not a burner on the bases. In a way, he is a right-handed version of Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. Freeman batted .311 with a nice .376 on-base percentage in the minors. He makes all the plays at third and short, though is probably best suited for second. Cleveland just gave second baseman Andres Gimenez a seven-year contract in excess of $130 million so Freeman’s best value now may be in an emergency role for an injured infielder or used as part of a trade. He can be a big-league regular but needs a chance.

Ready To Catch On?

7. Bo Naylor, C 1st-round pick (29 overall), 2018 6’0” 205 B: L T: R 2/21/2000

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He and Guardians first baseman/DH Josh Naylor (No. 12 overall by Marlins, 2015) are the first Canadian siblings to both be first-round draft picks. Bo got a $2,578,137 signing bonus, much of it based on a booming bat that reached the finals of the High School Home Run Derby at the 2017 All-Star Game. He’s got a strong though erratic arm. Improved footwork has cut the 13 errors he had in 85 games in 2019 to a total of 11 in 171 games the past two years. Many off-target throws were saved by infielders, however. Great Britain ran wild on him in the World Baseball Classic, stealing five bases in the first two innings last month with Naylor behind the dish for Team Canada.

The boom has not exactly gone bust in his bat, though he has not hit as expected. Naylor has only a .239 career average in the minors and appears to struggle against hard stuff up and in. Nevertheless, Bo bopped 51 extra-base hits in a career season in 2022, batting .263 with 82 walks across two levels. He has speed (18 triples, 42 stolen bases in 345 games in minors) and is agile behind the plate. Naylor remains rough around the edges in all aspects. He has great physical attributes for baseball. Growing up in the Canadian cold, he simply did not play as much as others his age when younger. In America, he may have become a star linebacker or fullback. It may take a while longer for him to consistently display what scouts have forecast.

Bibee A Bieber?

6. Tanner Bibee, RHP 5th-round pick (156 overall), 2021 6’2” 205 B: R T: R 3/5/1999

One year into his pro career, Bibee (pronounced BUY-bee) looks almost ready for prime time. Like current Cleveland ace Shane Bieber, he showed remarkable command in 2022 between High-A Lake County (2-1, .259 ERA) and Double-A Akron (6-1, 1.83 ERA). He walked only 27, whiffed a whopping 167, and yielded 101 hits in 132 1/3 innings. All those numbers were way better than anything he showed in four years at Cal State Fullerton. He can thank organization instructors for tinkering with his delivery. His fastball went from 88-92 MPH to 95-98 and his sweeping slider from 80 to 85 with the same break.

Bibee made strides by altering his stride. Who would think that changing where his front foot lands would put power behind his pitches? Why of course, it was those wizened pitching professors in the Guardians organization, helped by the Cecil B DeMille’s of baseball in the team’s vast video department. Now it is time for them to concoct a plan to build a better Bibee curve and changeup. Should Bibee command those pitches in the strike zone at Triple-A Columbus while retaining his velocity, he just may be asked to throw strikes in Cleveland later this year.

As for me, I’m just disheartened that Bobby Bradley no longer plays first base in Cleveland. Not because I saw him strike out so much, but it takes away the chance for a take off on a popular song from the Walt Disney movie Cinderella, called “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo“. How about a double play turned by Tanner, Bradley and catcher Bo Naylor? That would be Bibee-to-Bobby-to-Bo. Oh, well.