Top 30 Cleveland Guardians Prospects To Target In Dynasty Leagues

Continuing our trek through my Top 30 Organizational Prospect Rankings, we move on to the Cleveland Guardians, one of the best systems to deep dive into because of the sheer depth. When creating these prospect rankings I started with a list of over 70 prospects which is not something that happens often or at all in these breakdowns. Some prospects couldn’t crack the top 30 in this list but could still skyrocket up rankings in 2024. For now, let’s dive into the top 30 prospects in the Cleveland Guardians system to target in dynasty leagues.

Top 10 Guardians Prospects

Chase DeLauter, OF

(57 GP, .355/.417/.528, 5 HR, 35 R, 39 RBI, 6 SB)

The first-round draft pick of the Guardians in the 2022 MLB draft out of James Madison University (JMU), Chase DeLauter had a smooth swing with big raw power going into the MLB draft. A fractured foot kept DeLauter from debuting until midway through the 2023 season. The majority of DeLauter’s games were played at High-A Lake County where he slashed .366/.403/.549 with four home runs, 31 RBIs, and three stolen bases in 42 games played. During the 2023 season, Delauter never had a strikeout rate above 13.2% and while his walk percentages fluctuate from 5.7% to 21.1% he typically is a high OBP player who takes walks at a high clip.

🌵🏜️CLE OF Chase DeLauter is heading to the @MLBazFallLeague! Missing most of the season with a foot injury DeLauter hit

• .355
• .417
• .528
• 5 HR
• 6 SB
• 57 GP

Excited to see the advanced bat of DeLauter continue to impress as he finishes of 2023. @Fantrax https://t.co/IKjdCzbbGF

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) October 2, 2023

The Guardians sent Chase DeLauter to the Arizona Fall League to cap off his season. In 23 games, DeLauter slashed .299/.385/.529 with five home runs, 19 runs scored, and 27 RBIs with five stolen bases. The strong performance in the AFL boosted my opinion that Chase DeLauter is going to be a guy the Guardians push in 2024 and he could crack the Major Leagues by the end of the season.

Kyle Manzardo, 1B

(97 GP, .237/.337/.464, 17 HR, 50 R, 55 RBI, 1 SB)

Coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays midway through the 2023 season, Kyle Manzardo was underperforming expectations were for the Rays and dynasty managers alike. Prior to the 2023 season, Manzardo hit at every level he was assigned to. In 63 games at High-A Lake County, Manzardo hit .329/.436/.636. Manzardo never had an average below .323 or an OBP below .402. until 2023.

TBR 1B Kyle Manzardo crushing a 119 mph home run in AAA Durham! Won’t be long till he will be doing this at the Trop! @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer @KyleTMazardo @RaysBaseball https://t.co/xDRECEkUVg

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) April 15, 2023

After the trade to the Guardians, Manzardo’s numbers got a bit better. In 21 games at Triple-A Columbus, Manzardo slashed .256/.348/.590 with six home runs and 16 RBIs. The strikeout rate came down to 15.2% while the walks maintained at 13%. Manzardo finished the 2023 season with a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League where he slashed .272/.340/.565 with six home runs and 19 RBIs in 22 games. If you are looking for a cornerstone first baseman for dynasty leagues Kly Manzardo is the guy to target.

Brayan Rocchio, SS

(23 GP, .247/.279/.321, 9 R, 8 RBI- MLB)

Brayan Rocchio made his major league debut in 2023 with the Guardians, slashing .247/.279/.321 in 23 games but we can expect more from him in 2024. Rocchio slashed .280/.367/.421 with seven home runs, 81 runs scored and 25 stolen bases over 116 games in Triple-A Columbus before the call-up. The astronomically high strikeout rate of 31.4% is out of character for Rocchio as he stayed true to his career strikeout rate of 12.3% while in Columbus. What encourages me about Rocchio is that he had a career-high walk percentage as well in Triple-A at 11.2%; up 4.3% over his 2022 performance in Triple-A.

I believe  Rocchio can play second, shortstop, and third base at the Major League level. This makes him extremely appealing in dynasty leagues as a super utility player who can offer solid average and stolen bases.

Daniel Espino, RHP

(Did Not Pitch In 2023)

Injuries have been a problem for Daniel Espino who has not pitched since 2022. The dominant right-hander is recovering from an Anterior capsule repair of his right shoulder and could be cleared to pitch in 2024. When healthy, Espino is one of the minor league’s most dominant pitchers, logging 221 strikeouts in just 133.2 combined innings since 2019. Espino has a four-pitch mix with a high 90s fastball that regularly touches 100 mph, a sweeping slider that induces a ton of swing and miss, paired with an above-average curveball and a change-up that flashed plus before the injury.

When healthy Daniel Espino could be an ace for dynasty leagues making him an intriguing trade target this off-season if the Guardians want to start him back at Double-A Akron.

Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B

(113 GP, .254/.297/.431, 20 HR, 73 R, 61 RBI, 4 SB)

Selected in the Rule-5 draft from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Deyvison De Los Santos must be on the Guardians MLB roster for the entire season (or be offered back to the Diamondbacks) at just 20 years old. This is a prospect that has big raw power coming from a corner infield position and seems like a placeholder until Manzardo is ready to be called up after his “Super Two” deadline passes in July.

Across 113 games at Double-A, De Los Santos slashed .254/.297/.431 with 20 home runs, 73 runs, 61 RBIs, and four stolen bases. De Los Santos finished the season with a 5.2% walk percentage and a 26% strikeout rate. This is an interesting pick by the Guardians with Josh Naylor entrenched at first base and Manzardo on the way but the upside could be big for De Los Santos who doesn’t turn 21 till June.

George Valera, OF

(79 GP, .220/.349/.397, 11 HR, 45 R, 38 RBI, 3 SB)

It seems like George Valera has been in the Guardians organization since their inception for some reason. Valera has followed up good stretches with equally bad stretches of baseball while in the minor leagues. Last season Valera played 73 games in Triple-A Columbus, slashing just .211/.343/.375 with 10 home runs, 40 runs scored, 35 RBIs, and one stolen base. One consistent for Valera is his ability to draw walks in 2023 he had a 16% walk percentage.

This might have just been a down season for Valera who will be 23 for the entire 2024 season. Hopefully, we will see him up with the big league club providing a bit of pop to a power-deprived big league club.

Jaison Chourio, OF

(48 GP, 321/.446/.419, 1 HR, 47 R, 28 RBI, 20 SB)

Jaison is different from his brother Jackson Chourio as he is a high-contact prospect with potential above-average to plus speed. In 2023, Chourio spent time between complex ball and Low-A. In the 39 games in the complex league, Chourio slashed .249/.476/.463 with one home run, 40 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases. Chourio’s eye at the plate has been solid as he had a 20.1% walk percentage and only struck out 19.6% while in the complex league.

📝One of the many exciting Guardians prospects Jaison Chourio slashed .280/.446/.402 with 1HR, 32R, 28RBIs & 14 SB in 40 GP in the DSL during the 2022 season. 22.9% BB and a 12.6% K rate makes him a must grab. #ForTheLand @CleGuardians @CleGuardPro @GuardsInsider @Fantrax https://t.co/hO50N9ZDhO

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 5, 2023

This might be a defensive center field prospect who could provide a solid average and OBP long-term and could be a stolen base threat around 25-30 per season early on.

Joey Cantillo, LHP

(26 GP, 24 GS, 119.1 IP, 146 K, 4.30 ERA)

The Guardians have to be happy with the full season Joey Cantillo put together in 2023 playing at both Double-A Akron and finishing the season in Triple-A Columbus. Across 20 appearances including 18 starts, Cantillo struck out 111 batters in 95 innings (10.52 K/9) with a .243 average against and finished with a 4.64 ERA. What concerns me with Cantillo has been the control issues throughout his minor league career. The 2023 season was no exception as he finished Triple-A with a 5.21 BB/9.

I still see reliever risk here, albeit he could be a high-leverage reliever with the high strikeouts he has produced thus far. I suspect we will see Joey Cantillo with the Guardians at some point in 2024, but with a rotation filled with young upside arms, he might not be able to lock down a rotational spot.

Kahlil Watson, SS/2B

(83 GP, .217/.329/.406, 14 HR, 43 R, 40 RBI, 25 SB)

The Guardians acquired Kahlil Watson from the Marlins in 2023 and I’ll start by saying I’m so glad Watson got a change of scenery. After the trade, you could see a difference in Watson’s approach and overall numbers trending in the right direction. In 23 games at High-A Lake County, Kahlil Watson slashed .233/.306/.442 with five home runs, 16 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. Once in the Guardians organization, Watson’s strikeout rate dropped by 3.5% while seeing a more aggressive approach on the base paths and he seemed to be recognizing balls to drive more so in Lake County.

Overall Watson has a long way to go to be back up in the top-100 prospect lists but this could be a solid fit for him in an organization. The Guardians thrive on developing hit tools and stressing the importance of getting on base making this a solid target in deeper dynasty leagues.

Jhonkensy Noel, 1B/3B/OF

(138 GP, .220/.303/.420, 27 HR, 81 R, 85 RBI, 1 SB)

If you are looking for big power to stash in your dynasty leagues look no further than Jhonkensy Noel. The 22-year-old Noel struggled a bit with the bat in 2023 playing the entire season in Triple-A Columbus. Across 138 games played Noel slashed .220/.303/.420 with 27 home runs, 81 runs scored, 85 RBIs, and one stolen base with the Clippers. Despite the low batting average, Noel walked 8.4% while striking out just 24.8% of the time.

💥😱Cleveland Indians/Guardians 1B Jhonkensy Noel has been promoted again!! Noel has had an amazing 21’ season slashing .376/.413/.655 with 11 HR & 45 RBI. Welcome to +A Noel 🔥#TheWeeklyStreamer @MiLB @Indians @indiansPro @CLEsportsTalk @LynHillcats @LCCaptains @TWS_Irish pic.twitter.com/Nu7vb10g6v

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) August 17, 2021

Early in his minor league career, Noel’s OBP was boosted by a high contact and low walk approach that caught up to him as he climbed levels. Over the last two seasons, the walk percentage has climbed along with the strikeouts. This is something we saw with Nolan Jones while in the Guardians organization with a “passive approach” at the plate. If Noel can work on pitch selection to hit and drive we are looking at a 30 to 40 home run bat at a young controllable age and for dynasty managers that is far too appealing to pass up.

Top 30 Cleveland Guardians Prospects Rankings