{"id":2525,"date":"2023-03-06T18:17:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T02:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=2525"},"modified":"2023-03-07T13:32:50","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T21:32:50","slug":"cleveland-guardians-prospect-countdown-70-to-61","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/03\/06\/cleveland-guardians-prospect-countdown-70-to-61\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleveland Guardians Prospect Countdown: 70 to 61"},"content":{"rendered":"

GOODYEAR, Az. — The hits just keep on counting down here at SportRelay.com as we present 10 more players from our top 100 Cleveland Guardians<\/a> prospect results with numbers 70 to 61 for 2023.<\/p>\r\n

The countdown is still working its way through a number of future prospects. Until about No. 40, it will be rare to see a ranked player suddenly pop up in uniform to play at Progressive Field. These players have potential yet need substantially more work and instruction in the minors. In some instances, these players may have more raw talent and the potential to exceed what those ranked lower may accomplish.<\/p>\r\n

An age-old question has been: Are great ballplayers born or made? The truthful answer is yes and yes. Born with natural talent, their work and the instruction they get along the way make them into big-league players. For now, however, it is wait-and-see. Mark down the names. Follow them here throughout their minor-league seasons.<\/p>\r\n

Here are the previous listings: Guardians Prospect Countdown 80 – 71<\/a> | Guardians Prospect Countdown 90 – 81<\/a> | Guardians Prospect Countdown 100 – 91<\/a><\/b><\/p>\r\n

Two Dominicans and a Cuban\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
    \r\n
  1. Jerson Ramirez<\/a>, RHP\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2017 International free agent (Dominican Republic)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 6\u20191\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 210\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 B: R\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 T: R\u00a0 \u00a0 11\/24\/1998<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Until putting up terrible numbers last year at Double-A Akron, the right-hander\u2019s future looked bright as a prospective closer. In his first three pro seasons, he went 8-5 with 31 saves in 74 games. In 105.2 innings, he yielded only 63 hits, striking out 138 with a 1.88 ERA, though he did walk 45. It all went into the dumper last year in 31 innings over 31 games: a 6.68 ERA, and 26 walks (7.5 per nine innings). Once a very confident closer with an exuberant style, he became understandably tentative as the season wore on and he sat in the bullpen instead of being used.<\/p>\r\n

    He must gather himself in 2023 and get back on track if he can. A clue as to his demise comes from a fine fastball, clocked in the mid-90s, that doesn\u2019t show enough movement. Combined with inconsistent breaking stuff and he discovered that more advanced hitters are going to hit straight pitches no matter the velocity. Here\u2019s another project for organization coaches. They can\u2019t fix them all, but Ramirez\u2019s early numbers show it is worth the time and effort to give it a serious go.<\/p>\r\n

    Clutch-hitting Cuban<\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n
    1. Raynel Delgado<\/a>, INF\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 6th-round pick (193 overall) in 2018\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 6\u20192\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 200\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0B: L\u00a0 \u00a0 T: R\u00a0 \u00a04\/4\/2000<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      Considered an advanced offensive player in high school in Florida, the native of Cuba had a college commitment to Florida International that pushed him down in the draft. Cleveland believed its scouting reports were worth changing that and paid him $900,000 to sign, well above the $235,000 slot value for a 6th-round choice in 2018. There were concerns about his defense. Yet he has been mostly solid at every infield spot except for an unsightly 18 errors with the High-A Lake County Captains in 2021<\/a>. He cut that to nine in combined time with the Captains and Double-A Akron RubberDucks in 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

      The offense has disappointed everywhere, attributable to a 27% strikeout rate. In 320 pro career games, he has only 16 homers and a .242 average. Yet he does seem to come up big in late-inning pressure situations. The quick, slightly uppercut swing is there. Perhaps better concentration in every at-bat can improve things. How can that be accomplished? Thousands of former minor-league hopefuls wonder about that for years.<\/p>\r\n

      The DR is Not in, Yet<\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      1. Elvis Jerez<\/a>, RHP\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2019 International free agent (Dominican Republic)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 6\u20194\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0210\u00a0 \u00a0B: R\u00a0 \u00a0 T: R\u00a0 \u00a0 2\/5\/2000<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

        He has pitched all 70 of his pro games in relief and though he has 137 strikeouts and only 66 hits allowed in 99 innings, way too many walks (78, or 7.1 per 9 innings) have stymied his progress. He added muscle to a powerful frame and may have turned the corner in 2022 at High-A Lynchburg with a 2.22 ERA, 9 saves, 15 hits, and 17 walks in 28.1 innings with 40 strikeouts. That was still too many free passes though.<\/p>\r\n

        He must begin to command a moving fastball in the 94-95 mph range, curve with a fine spin rate, and developing changeup. He has 12 pro saves, but his best save effort has come off the field. Signed for only $5,000 at age 18, he gave some of that money and began a GoFundMe account to try and provide clean drinking water for a low-income town near his home in the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\r\n

        Fun Outfielders To Follow<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
          \r\n
        1. Connor Kokx<\/a>, OF\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 12th-round pick (366 overall) in 2021\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a06\u20191\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0200\u00a0 \u00a0B: R\u00a0 \u00a0 T: R\u00a0 \u00a0 2\/24\/2000<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

          He had a nice .366\/.481\/.571 slash line with 7 homers and 14 steals in his third and final season at Cal-Long Beach in 2021. Last summer, it was fun to watch his development at the plate at High-A Lake County. Often looking lost and batting only .224 with 14 RBI over the first four months, he hit .297 with 15 RBI in 92 fewer at-bats after August 1. He clearly displayed much more confidence at the plate with a better ability to work the count (12 walks, 12 strikeouts) and wait for a pitch he could drive.<\/p>\r\n

          He was consistently smooth and confident all year at all three outfield spots with only one error. Kokx hit .563 (9-for-16) in the Captains\u2019 final five games and went off for more work in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .283 in 18 games there. He will likely move up to Double-A Akron in 2023. If he can consistently get on base to go with his speed and defense, he is at least a fourth-outfielder prospect.<\/p>\r\n

          Beach Batter Bingo<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

          Embed from Getty Images<\/a>