Top 100 Countdown: Cleveland Guardians' Prospects, Nos. 3 and 2

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April 11, 2023

SportRelay.com continues our countdown of the Cleveland Guardians’ top 100 prospects for 2023 with Number 3: Will Brennan and Number 2: Gabriel Arias.

Brennan had an exceptional season across three levels in 2022 and continued to impress at spring training this year. He hit .283 with six doubles and a homer in 19 games to easily earn a spot on the major-league roster as the fourth outfielder behind regulars Steven Kwan, Myles Straw, and Oscar Gonzalez. Arias had a fabulous spring, batting .341 to nail down a job in Cleveland as a backup infielder. Best suited at shortstop, he has already played at first base and third this season for Cleveland. Manager Terry Francona is comfortable using him at second or even as a corner outfielder.

Either player would be a starter on several teams. Brennan’s rapid rise has been a bit of a surprise as an eighth-round draft pick four years ago. Arias has been heralded as a future star since getting a $1.9 million signing bonus at age 16 from the San Diego Padres. Scouts regard him as the player with the highest career ceiling of the six acquired by Cleveland in the trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego in 2020. That’s saying a lot. Cal Quantrill is in the starting rotation and Josh Naylor a middle-order bat. Austin Hedges was the Guardians’ starting catcher for the past two years and left as a free agent.

Here are the previous listings: 4-5|6-10|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

Where There’s A Will …

3. Will Brennan, OF 8th-round pick (250 overall) in 2019 6’0” 200 B: L T: L 2/2/1998

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He got $163,900 to sign. That could be absolute chump change should he ever produce at the big-league level the way he did in the minors a year ago. In 36 games at Double-A Akron and 90 more for Triple-A Columbus, Brennan was just short of sensational. He amassed 107 RBI with 13 homers, 40 doubles, 20 stolen bases and a .314 average. That production looked a little like Grady Sizemore, who had four fabulous seasons (2005-08) as Cleveland’s center-fielder before getting hurt. Brennan’s career slash line in the minors is .296/.367/.435. Sizemore’s was .289/.376/.411 along his minor-league trail.

Brennan displayed a fabulous batting eye in college. He drew 92 walks and fanned only 35 times in 162 career games for the Wildcats. Over three seasons at K-State, he hit .332, scored 123 runs, went 40-for-49 stealing bases, but hit only four homers. He also pitched in 28 games. Though his fastball was clocked at 92 mph, he was not a mound prospect. His arm is strong enough to play right field, however. Brennan is an instinctive fielder at all three outfield spots and very good in center. He has a fluid, compact, and level swing yet. The Guardians are trying to put a bit more launch angle to it and also eliminate his vulnerability to high-and-away fastballs. That could change with added experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Kf4U6fX-c

Wildcat Wonders

Brennan is the 10th player drafted by Cleveland out of Kansas State over the years. None of the previous nine came close to making the majors. Only 14 Wildcats have made it. Relief pitcher Ted Power (70 saves, 69 wins, 1981-93) had a 3-5 record, 3.32 ERA, and six saves for Cleveland (1992-93). The best K-State product was gangly submarine-style pitcher Elden Auker. He had a 130-101 record for three teams from 1933 thru 1942. Before that, he won nine varsity letters, three apiece in baseball, basketball, and football. Auker turned down an offer to be the quarterback of the NFL’s Chicago Bears to sign with the Detroit Tigers.

Growing Stature

2. Gabriel Arias, INF Trade from San Diego, 8/31/2020 6’1” 217 B: R T: R 2/27/2000

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He is the best of Cleveland’s long list of middle infield prospects behind starters Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario. Arias has the best arm and most power of any of them. His agility and fielding prowess are second only to Gimenez. A high strikeout rate and propensity for swinging at most anything are question marks, however. The skills are there. He had them at age 16 when San Diego gave him $1.9 million to sign. The Padres pushed him to full-season ball late during his age-17 season. By age 19, he hit .302 with 17 homers and 75 RBI in the High-A California League. The only blemish was an unsightly 25 walks compared to 128 strikeouts.

After missing all of 2020 due to the COVID shutdown of the minors and being acquired by Cleveland, he skipped Double-A ball. At Triple-A Columbus at age 21 in 2021, he hit .284 with 13 homers and 29 doubles. He missed eight weeks with a broken right hand and regressed in 2022, batting just .240. Arias again had 13 homers and did it in 38 fewer games. Cleveland called him up for a few games in September. Arias is extremely strong for a “defensive shortstop” and has potential 30-homer power. If he can quit chasing pitches and essentially getting himself out, he has Carlos Correa qualities without burdening the franchise with such a cumbersome contract.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ2shx9JxXA

The Future???

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Right now, Arias looks more like Milwaukee Brewers‘ slugging infielder Willy Adames at the plate. That means plenty of power, a lower batting average and lots of Ks. Orlando Arcia also comes to mind. A highly-touted Brewers prospect 10 years ago, he hit a few out but fanned too much with Milwaukee. He has seemingly jump-started his career in Atlanta at age 28. Javier Baez looked great when he was second in NL MVP voting with the Chicago Cubs in 2018. He hit .290 with 34 homers and 111 RBI although had the same red flags as Arias: Baez had 29 walks and 167 strikeouts. He’s been worse with the New York Mets and Tigers.

Being on Cleveland’s roster actually could be hurting Arias’ career. He needs more at-bats in order to improve his pitch recognition and develop better restraint. Arias’ batting skills, like those of Yu Chang, need constant playing time. Both players are able to play multiple positions and that makes them valuable utility players. Both also have swings that get out of whack when not used. Arias’ best hope could be for a trade. He’s potentially much better than Rosario, though the veteran’s steady approach and leadership are great assets. Should Rosario be dealt for a needed piece, Arias could, in time, be an even better player for Cleveland. The Guardians, however, may opt to deal Arias instead. There are several teams who would love to have him.