Guardians’ Roster Revealed For Inaugural MLB Spring Breakout
From March 14 through 17, MLB will hold its first-ever Spring Breakout, which will showcase Minor League prospects from every Major League club.
According to MLB, the Spring Breakout will be, “A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization’s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates our sport’s budding talent.”
The Cleveland Guardians will participate in one of these 16 contests, when a team of Guardians prospects will face a team of Cincinnati Reds prospects on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. ET.
On Thursday, Cleveland’s roster for the event was revealed. Here is a positional breakdown of the 23 prospects who will represent the Guardians during the 2024 MLB Spring Breakout (MLB Pipeline (MLB), Baseball America (BA), and The Athletic (ATH) Cleveland rankings in parentheses).
Pitchers (8)
Alex Clemmey, LHP (No. 9 MLB, No. 10 BA, No. 8 ATH)
Jackson Humphries, LHP (No. 14 MLB, No. 16 BA)
Parker Messick, LHP (No. 23 MLB, No. 27 BA, No. 12 ATH)
Andrew Walters, RHP (No. 27 MLB, No. 18 BA, No. 15 ATH)
Will Dion, LHP (No. 28 MLB)
The 23-year-old had a remarkable 2023 season, for which he was named MLB Pipeline’s 2023 Guardians Pitching Prospect of the Year.
He made 26 appearances (19 starts) across High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron, leading qualified pitchers in Cleveland’s player development system in ERA (2.39), opposing batting average (.216), WHIP (1.08), and winning percentage (.600). Dion also ranked top-10 in the Guardians’ system in strikeouts (129, third), games started (19, tied for ninth), and innings pitched (116.2, sixth).
He has also been said to have a similar delivery to three-time NL Cy Young winner and 2014 NL MVP Clayton Kershaw.
Justin Campbell, RHP (No. 28 BA, Of Note ATH)
Doug Nikhazy, LHP (NR)
Ryan Webb, LHP (NR)
Catchers (3)
Kody Huff, C (No. 17 ATH)
Cleveland acquired the 23-year-old this offseason when it traded Cal Quantrill to the Colorado Rockies.
Huff played his first full professional season with Single-A Fresno last year, hitting .262 with 77 hits, 14 doubles, five home runs, 36 RBI, and a .731 OPS in 86 games.
Cooper Ingle, C (NR)
Bryan Lavastida, C (NR)
Outfielders (5)
Chase DeLauter, OF (No. 1/31 Overall MLB, No. 1/29 Overall BA, No. 3/81 Overall ATH)
After nine injury rehab games in the Arizona Complex League, the 23-year-old had a remarkable stretch with High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron.
In 48 combined games, DeLauter hit .366 with 68 hits, 19 doubles, four home runs, 35 RBI, a .966 OPS, and just 25 strikeouts. He was eventually named a 2023 Arizona Fall League Fall Star.
So far this spring, DeLauter has hit .455 with five hits, one double, one home run, two RBI, and a 1.356 OPS in seven Cactus League games.
Feb 29, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (6) grounds out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
© Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jaison Chourio, OF (No. 6 MLB, No. 8 BA, No. 4 ATH)
Petey Halpin, OF (No. 17 MLB, No. 14 BA)
Jake Fox, OF/2B (No. 20 MLB, No. 24 BA)
Joe Lampe, OF (NR)
Infielders (7)
Kyle Manzardo, 1B (No. 2/59 Overall MLB, No. 4 BA, No. 2/66 Overall ATH)
Earlier this offseason, the 23-year-old was named the Guardians’ top Rookie of the Year candidate by MLB Pipeline for the upcoming campaign.
Currently on Cleveland’s 40-man roster, he had a remarkable performance in the 2023 Arizona Fall League. So far this spring, Manzardo has hit .417 with four hits, one double, one RBI, and a 1.033 OPS in seven Cactus League games.
Angel Genao, SS/3B (No. 12 MLB, No. 15 BA)
Kahlil Watson, SS/2B (No. 16 MLB, No. 22 BA, No. 10 ATH)
Jose Devers, SS/3B (No. 21 MLB, No. 20 BA, Of Note ATH)
Alex Mooney, SS (No. 22 MLB, No. 14 ATH)
Rafael Ramirez Jr., SS (No. 25 MLB, No. 17 BA)
C.J. Kayfus, 1B/LF (No. 19 ATH)
