The Guardians stayed very on brand here, and the result is a draft class full of guys I like. They went below slot on seven of their first eight picks but still grabbed a ton of talent in the process, then went all in on two over slot talents in the eighth and tenth rounds. As usual, the focus was on crafty college pitching, high-upside, extra young prep arms, and hit-over-power college bats almost exclusively. Between Joe Lampe, Nate Furman, Guy Lipscomb, Tyresse Turner, Pres Cavenaugh, and Angel Zarate, opposing defenses will have to stay on their toes at all times with a ton of balls in play, while first rounder Chase DeLauter brings virtually all of the power in this class. Parker Messick is one of my favorite picks of the draft, while Javier Santos has a chance to be a massive bargain as an under slot eighth rounder and Jacob Zibin could be a steal in the tenth round, though he did sign for second round money. A lot of fun names here.
Full index of team reviews here. Full rankings here.
1-16: OF Chase DeLauter, James Madison. My rank: #14.
Slot value: $3.94 million. Signing bonus: $3.75 million ($187,600 below slot value).
We all know the Guardians love pitching and develop it well, but they're not just going to ignore a great hitter that falls into their laps. Chase DeLauter raked over his first two seasons at James Madison University in Virginia, then pushed himself into top five consideration by slashing .298/.397/.589 with nine home runs and more walks (21) than strikeouts (18) in the Cape Cod League over the summer. He lost some of that luster when he looked overmatched in a season-opening matchup against Florida State lefties Parker Messick (also drafted by the Guardians), Bryce Hubbart (Reds), and Ross Dunn, and even though he recovered to slash .437/.576/.828 with eight home runs and a 21/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 24 games, he never quite built his stock back up. DeLauter's season came to a premature end when he broke his foot in April, giving him unbelievable career numbers at JMU: 15 home runs, .402/.520/.715, 45/62 strikeout to walk ratio in 66 games. He shows plus raw power from the left side, tapping it consistently with wood bats and against elite pitching. It's a product of a big, strong, 6'4" frame and a loose, easy uppercut. The eastern West Virginia native is also extremely disciplined in the box, rarely ever getting himself out and punishing pitchers when they do come into his zone. Doubters will point to a relatively light schedule in the Colonial Athletic Association (he got hurt just before a series against Northeastern that would have pitted him against two of the conference's top draft arms, Yankees draftees Cam Schlittler and Sebastian Keane), an unorthodox slide with his back foot, and the fact that he got carved up in his ACC matchup, but I would point to the fact that Messick and Hubbart are an extraordinarily difficult way to begin your season, cold, after a long winter. I'd also point emphatically to his track record on the Cape, where he adeptly controlled the zone against college baseball's best. Together, it's a potential 30 home run bat that can post high on-base percentages and hit right in the middle of the order for a long time. DeLauter is also a good runner with a strong arm that can play a solid right field, and he's extremely young for a college junior with an October birthday.
CBA-37: RHP Justin Campbell, Oklahoma State. My rank: #48.
Slot value: $2.1 million. Signing bonus: $1.7 million ($401,800 below slot value).
Justin Campbell had serious interest in the first round, but the Guardians managed to snag him here about ten picks lower than he was potentially projected and still save over $400,000 in the process. Originally a two-way player when he reached campus at Oklahoma State, he steadily improved on the mound and after dropping hitting completely in 2022, he broke out for a 3.82 ERA and a 141/25 strikeout to walk ratio over 101.1 innings including fourteen strikeout performance against TCU. Campbell is a massive, 6'7" righty that comes from an extremely high slot, bringing the ball seemingly straight down on you. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball but has been registering more 96's and 97's at peak, and its high spin rates give it plenty of life to nicely counteract the approach angle. That means hitters see the fastball coming down on them and prepare to match the angle, but it deceptively stays just a bit higher than you'd think. He works in a big, deep curveball, a newer slider, and a changeup that flashes above average. With a big, durable frame and an easy delivery, he commands his stuff well and projects as a high probability big league starting pitcher. The Southern California native could climb the ladder rather quickly and contribute as a #4 starter in the near term before perhaps growing into a larger role.
2-54: LHP Parker Messick, Florida State. My rank: #46.
Slot value: $1.41 million. Signing bonus: $1.3 million ($107,100 below slot value).
This is one of my favorite picks of the entire draft, especially considering the Guardians managed to save over $100,000 here in the second round on a guy I thought looked like a first rounder frequently this spring. Parker Messick has been one of the better pitchers in the ACC for a few years now, and that was certainly the case in 2022 when he put up a 3.38 ERA (ironically a career-worst) and a 144/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 98.2 innings. He's kind of the opposite of Justin Campbell, standing just six feet tall to Campbell's 6'7". His fastball also sits in the low 90's, topping out at a modest 95 when he really reaches back, while supplementing it with a full arsenal. His curveball and slider are average pitches, flashing above average on his best days, but they don't really project to be true out pitches at the pro level. His changeup does, as a consistently above average pitch that flashed plus in his better starts this spring. He uses his stocky frame to his advantage, crouching down in his delivery and delivering the ball with a relatively flat approach angle. He hides the ball extremely well, which combines with the tough angle he creates, makes for a very deceptive look for hitters that really have trouble picking him up. On top of all that, he pitches with fire and mercilessly goes right after hitters, taking command and controlling at bats from start to finish to make his above average command play up further. The Tampa-area native did see his stuff flatten out a little bit late in the season, but that's not uncommon for these workhorse college starters that carry the load for their teams and frequently throw 110+ pitches. Messick doesn't necessarily project to be an ace, but I see him as a very high probability big league starter with a good shot to become a #3, especially in this system.
3-92: OF Joe Lampe, Arizona State. My rank: #121.
Slot value: $670,200. Signing bonus: $800,000 ($129,800 above slot value).
Joe Lampe is an interesting prospect that has built his stock little by little since transferring from Santa Rosa JC in California to Arizona State, breaking out in 2022 to slash .340/.394/.590 with 12 home runs and a 30/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games. It's a fun profile that brings a lot to the table. Lampe is a contact hitter with a smooth, rhythmic load that gives way to a line drive swing. He has an all-fields approach and rarely swings and misses, and in 2022 he began to turn on the ball for some power to the pull side. His exit velocities are just average and Tempe is a hitter-friendly environment, so I don't think his power will play up too much in pro ball, but his plus speed means that he'll stretch plenty of gap shots into doubles and triples. Lampe hits everything in sight and likes to put the ball in play early in the count, leading to low walk rates, and he probably projects as a 5-10 home run hitter with high batting averages that can eke out an every day role if things break out right. He was drafted as an outfielder, where his speed should keep him in center field, but he also has experience at second base and can handle the infield if needed. These kinds of Swiss army knife types aren't terribly common any more, so it's a good profile to have in the system.
4-121: 2B Nate Furman, Charlotte. My rank: unranked.
Slot value: $497,900. Signing bonus: $300,000 ($197,900 below slot value).
There are no secrets with Nate Furman's profile. He's coming off an exceptional season at Charlotte, where he slashed .371/.502/.474 with two home runs and a 26/49 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 games – that's an 8.7% strikeout rate to a 16.3% walk rate if you're keeping track. Standing just 5'8", Furman is not a power threat at all, instead slashing balls to all fields with elite consistency. He tracks pitches extremely well, lets them get deep, spits on the bad ones, and drives the good ones to all fields with a quick, simple left handed swing. The Philadelphia-area native rarely gets fooled, gets on base, and finds the barrel virtually every time. There is virtually zero power in this profile, with his best chance at running up his slugging percentage coming when he splits the gap and lets his plus speed get to work. That impact will drop even further with wood bats, so his value will be entirely reliant on that on-base percentage. Having just turned 21 in July as a draft eligible sophomore, he should move through the minors very quickly and could be one of the Guardians' first draftees to crack the big league roster, likely ultimately slotting into a utility role. His best position is second base.
6-181: RHP Dylan DeLucia, Mississippi. My rank: #143.
Slot value: $284,200. Signing bonus: $275,000 ($9,200 below slot value).
Dylan DeLucia was one of the latest risers in the class, but when he did break out, it was loud. A transfer from Northwest Florida State, DeLucia was a steady hand in the Ole Miss rotation throughout the year, but really turned it on in super regionals, when he blanked Southern Miss for 5.2 innings with nine strikeouts. He followed that up with a gem against Auburn in the College World Series, then finished it off with his best performance yet in the Bracket 2 final against Arkansas. In that start, he tossed a complete game, four hit shutout with no walks and seven strikeouts to send the Rebels to the College World Series final, catapulting himself into Ole Miss lore and pushing himself up several rounds in the process. He finished the season with a 3.68 ERA, a run lower than it had been entering super regionals, and a 105/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 95.1 innings. The Daytona Beach native sits in the low 90's with his fastball and tops out around 94-95, adding in an above average slider with hard, tight sweep and a nice fading changeup. He has a stocky build with a strong lower half and puts it to good use with a drop and drive delivery. By getting down into his glutes, he creates a low release point and a flat approach angle with its fastball, making it appear more explosive than its average velocity and helping it play off his offspeeds. He can get scattered with his command, more so with his offspeed stuff than his fastball, but pounds the strike zone anyways and limits his walks as a result. The 6'1" righty is a bulldog on the mound and may thrive in a bullpen role where his command won't matter as much, but he's plenty strong enough to start with the ability to hold his velocity deep. It's an interesting profile for sure.
7-211: RHP Javier Santos, Georgia Premier Academy [GA]. My rank: unranked.
Slot value: $222,400. Signing bonus: $125,000 ($97,600 below slot value).
This pick has a *chance* to be the bargain of the draft. You usually have to pay a premium to divert a high school pitcher away from college, especially when they have stuff like Javier Santos, but the Guardians managed to get it done with just $125,000 and instead of Northwest Florida State, he'll jump right into their system. Santos is a premium arm talent, sitting in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and getting up to 98 with great ride. He adds a projectable curveball with good spin rates, flashing above average at time but it's very inconsistent and can soften up. His changeup is a distant third pitch. The Dominican has an explosive right arm that promises even more velocity, though he has a ways to go. In addition to refining his secondary stuff, he needs to get stronger to hold his velocity deeper into starts while also getting more consistent with his delivery in order to hit spots more consistently. The ceiling is tremendous, especially in a system like Cleveland that develops pitching extremely well, though he's a bit undersized at six feet tall and could end up in the bullpen. He turned 19 more than a month before the draft, making him very old for the class, and is coming from the same Georgia Premier Academy that produced fellow electric Guardians arm Daniel Espino.
8-241: LHP Jackson Humphries, Fuquay-Varina HS [NC]. My rank: #141.
Slot value: $180,000. Signing bonus: $600,000 ($420,000 above slot value).
Jackson Humphries represents one of the biggest over slot signings in the Guardians class to skip out on a Campbell commitment, and for good reason. He came out of the gate hot this spring and had scouts flocking to Raleigh-area high school, pushing his way into second round consideration, but he couldn't maintain it and saw his stock fall back down as a result. At his best, Humphries sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and has hit 96, coming in with some riding action despite a steeper release. He can really spin the ball, with a deep slider that flashes plus at its best and dives under bats at the last second in addition to a curveball that has flashed above average, while his changeup is a fourth pitch. The 6'1" lefty is a good athlete that held the zone fairly well early in the season, but he struggled with command later in the season and hasn't shown enough for scouts to call that a fluke. While his command faltered, his stuff also backed up and his breaking balls didn't look as sharp, so the Guardians have some work to do. If they can get him back to the guy he looked like early this spring, Humphries could be a legitimate impact starting pitcher. If not, his feel for spin should serve him well in a bullpen role.
10-301: RHP Jacob Zibin, TNXL Academy [FL]. My rank: #76.
Slot value: $152,000. Signing bonus: $1.2 million ($1.05 million above slot value).
Jackson Humphries was a nice get, but all those under slot deals throughout the first nine rounds, they were mostly saving up for this one right here. Jacob Zibin earned roughly the slot value for the 61st overall pick here in the tenth round, turning down a strong commitment to Kentucky in the process to go pro. Originally from Canada, Zibin moved from Vancouver to Orlando to attend TNXL Academy and reclassified to be eligible for the 2022 class, making him one of the youngest players drafted this year with a 2005 birthday. His profile has taken a big step forward, with his fastball now sitting in the low to mid 90's and scraping the upper 90's, adding a sweepy slider and an above average changeup to go with it. There is some rocking back and forth in his delivery which moves his center of gravity, but he's a great athlete with otherwise sound mechanics that fills up the strike zone very well for someone so young. The 6'4" righty is very projectable and could sit in the mid 90's soon, and if he can continue to sharpen up that offspeed stuff while allowing his command to progress, there is #2 starter upside here. It's one of the most well-rounded profiles I've ever seen from the 17 year old and my #76 ranking, albeit 55 spots ahead of MLB Pipeline and 51 ahead of Baseball America, may prove too conservative.
14-421: OF Pres Cavenaugh, UNC Greensboro. My rank: unranked.
Slot value: up to $125,000. Signing bonus: $125,000.
Pres Cavenaugh made a name for himself in the Cape Cod League last summer, when he slashed .319/.400/.407 with a solid 16.2% strikeout rate, then continued that success by hitting .340/.403/.507 with eight home runs and a 27/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 games at UNC Greensboro this spring. He's yet another hit-over-power bat that makes a ton of contact to all fields, employing an aggressive approach that limits his walks somewhat at the same time. Still, he gets the barrel to the ball all over the zone and it hasn't hurt him to this point, even against elite pitching on the Cape. The power here is fringy, as he's not a big guy at six feet tall, but he can turn on one and punish you if you leave it over the plate. The Charlotte native is not quite as fast as some of the other hit-over-power types in this Guardians draft class, so he's a likely left fielder and will have to hit to move up. If he can show enough speed to hold down center field in a pinch or tap a little more power, he could be a very solid fourth outfielder that racks up hits and gets on base.
17-511: OF Angel Zarate, North Carolina. My rank: unranked.
Slot value: up to $125,000. Signing bonus: $100,000.
Angel Zarate represents a very similar profile to Pres Cavenaugh, albeit over a year older. He's a fifth year senior that picked up just one hit in seventeen at bats over his first two seasons at UNC, but he's been an on-base machine for the Tar Heels over the past three seasons with a .350/.432/.498 slash line, 13 home runs, and a 65/72 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 games in that span. Not overly physical, he makes a lot of contact and has great innate feel for the barrel, spraying line drives to all fields from a simple left handed swing. He has tapped some power at UNC by recognizing good pitches and catching them out front, and he could continue to be an ambush threat in pro ball. But most of his value will come from posting high on-base percentages and driving line drives to the gaps. The northern North Carolina native probably a tick worse of a defender than Cavenaugh, profiling as a corner outfielder, so ideally the power will have to play in pro ball for him to cut it as a fourth outfielder.
