The Cleveland Guardians are an iconic part of the city’s rich baseball history. Founded in 1901, the team has been a staple in Major League Baseball for almost 120 years and is still going strong today. The Guardians have won 11 Central Division championships, six American League pennants and two World Series titles since their inception. With its passionate fan base, Progressive Field as its home stadium, and some of baseball’s most talented players on their roster each season – it’s no surprise that they remain one of MLB’s top franchises to this day.
1. José Ramírez
Infielder
Career
- 4× All-Star (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022), All-MLB Second Team (2020), 4× Silver Slugger Award (2017, 2018, 2020, 2022), 30–30 club (2018)
José Ramírez made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Indians in 2013. He is a third baseman and bats left-handed. Ramírez has played in 173 games over three seasons with the Indians, batting .
234 with 22 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 53 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. On July 26th of this year, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles as part of a package that also included Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer.
Ramírez signed a four-year deal worth $26 million with the Orioles on August 1st José Ramírez is a two-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner with the Cleveland Indians.
He was drafted by the Indians in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft and made his debut in 2009. Ramírez has been a key part of Cleveland's offense since being called up to the majors in 2013, batting .
279 with 1,155 hits and 192 home runs over six seasons with Cleveland before joining Guardians for the 2019 season.
Ramirez led all American League hitters in stolen bases during the 2018 campaign while also ranking second on the team behind only Andrew Miller in strikeouts (158).
2. Triston McKenzie
Pitcher
McKenzie is a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. Triston was drafted by the Indians in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
He made his major league debut with Cleveland in 2020 and has pitched to an 8-8 record with a 3.77 ERA over 24 appearances (19 starts).
In 2018, McKenzie led all American League pitchers with 204 strikeouts and finished second in voting for AL Rookie of the Year behind Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts.
McKenzie's family moved from Brooklyn, New York to Scottsdale, Arizona when he was just eight years old so that he could have better access to baseball facilities and coaching opportunities.
It paid off as he went on to win several statewide high school pitching titles while at Chaparral High School in Tempe, Arizona before being selected by Cleveland in 2016 draft where scouts said "his fastball touches 98 mph."
Also Played For: mlb under 25
3. James Karinchak
Pitcher
James Karinchak is a young pitcher who has been impressive in his early career. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2020, and will likely be their starting pitcher from 2021-2025.
His fastball reaches 98 mph, making him one of the most promising pitchers in baseball. James also throws a slider and changeup that are both very effective pitches for him to use when he needs to strike out batters or get them to ground out on hit batsmen.
He regularly competes with other top players at the major league level, so it'll be exciting to see how he fares over the next few years.
Karinchak was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Baldwin-Wallace College where he played for the school's baseball team.
After graduating from college, Karinchak signed with the Cleveland Indians as an undrafted free agent in 2018. In his rookie season, Karinchak made 10 starts for the Indians and finished with a win-loss record of 10–6 and an earned run average of 3.06.
In 2019, he started all but one game at second base for the Indians and finished the year with a batting average of .290 along with 20 home runs and 201 strikeouts in 282 plate appearances over 78 games played.
Karinchak is set to make his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians on September 14th against Boston Red Sox.
4. Steven Kwan
Outfielder
Career
- Gold Glove Award (2022), Fielding Bible Award (2022)
Kwan was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 22nd round of the 2018 MLB draft. He had a standout collegiate career at Stanford, batting .368 with 117 home runs and 419 RBIs in four seasons there.
Kwan made his professional debut with the Class A Lake County Captains in 2019, hitting .294/.362/.543 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs in 67 games.
After spending part of 2020 on loan to the Australian Baseball League's Melbourne Aces, Kwan made his Major League debut for Cleveland late that season and hit .281/.373/.433 with two home runs and six RBIs over 41 games.
Kwan was drafted in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Cleveland Guardians. Kwan has had a very successful career in both college and professional baseball, earning numerous awards and accolades along the way.
298 and he has hit 6 home runs so far this season with 52 RBIs. Kwan is an excellent fielder who has won several accolades for his athleticism on that side of the ball as well, including a Gold Glove Award in 2022.
Also Played For: oregon state beavers baseball
5. Shane Bieber
Pitcher
Career
- 2× All-Star (2019, 2021), MLB All-Star Game MVP (2019), All-MLB First Team (2020), AL Cy Young Award (2020), Triple Crown (2020), AL wins leader (2020), AL ERA leader (2020), MLB strikeout leader (2020), Gold Glove Award (2022)
Shane Bieber was born on May 31, 1995 in Orange, California. He played baseball for his high school team before signing with the Cleveland Indians as a pitcher in 2018.
In his first MLB game, he pitched 8 innings and won against the Kansas City Royals. Shane Bieber has a 54-26 win-loss record in three seasons with Cleveland and is considered one of their key players moving forward into 2020 season.
Shane Bieber is currently signed to play with the Cleveland Guardians through 2022 season.
His fastball can reach up to 96 mph and he also throws a slider and curveball which make him difficult to hit off balance.
As an athlete himself, it's no wonder that Shane enjoys playing defense - he has great reflexes. He is a right-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft.
He made his debut with the team in 2019 and has been very successful, winning Rookie of The Year and MVP Awards that season.
In 2020 he won the Triple Crown, becoming only the second player to do so (joining Ted Williams). Bieber has continued to be one of Cleveland's most important players throughout his career, amassing an impressive record and striking out a lot of hitters.
6. Terry Francona
Career
- 2× World Series champion (2004, 2007), 3× AL Manager of the Year (2013, 2016, 2022), Golden Spikes Award (1980)
Terry Francona is a longtime MLB manager who has spent most of his career with the Cleveland Indians. He was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1981 and made his big league debut for them that year.
Francona won two World Series titles as manager of the Boston Red Sox, in 2004 and 2007, before moving to Cleveland in 2010.
In 2016, he led the Indians to their first championship since 1948, making him one of only 10 managers ever to win multiple championships with different teams (the others being Connie Mack, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, Branch Rickey/Pete Rose*, Tom Yawkey* and Lou Piniella).
Francona announced his retirement from managing after the 2018 season at which point he will be succeeded by former player Terry Clevinger.
He is one of the most successful managers in MLB history, having won two World Series titles as a player and managing seven teams to championships. Francona has been lauded for his ability to manage a bullpen effectively, making him a key part of any team's success.
He has also developed a reputation as someone who can get the most out of his players both on and off the field – something that was evident during his time with the Phillies.
Also Played For: cleveland indians
7. Zach Plesac
Pitcher
Zach Plesac is a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 3rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Plesac played college baseball at Indiana University, where he finished his career with a record of 20 wins and 7 losses.
In 2020, Plesac made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians and appeared in 14 games before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim earlier that season.
Plesac pitched in 131 games over three seasons with Cleveland and Los Angeles, finishing with an overall record of 18 wins and 9 losses.
Zach Plesac made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Indians on May 28th of this year. At just 24 years old, Zach is already a veteran in the game and has experience playing at both catcher and first base.
His 25-26 win-loss record shows that he can hold his own against some of the best players in baseball.
Despite having only recorded 345 strikeouts throughout his career, Zach's ability to get on base makes him very dangerous as an offensive player or pitcher. With two more seasons under his belt, it's safe to say that Plesac is poised for continued success in Major League Baseball – watch out.
8. Aaron Civale
Pitcher
Civale was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 4th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Civale made his debut with the Columbus Clippers in 2018, pitching to a 3-5 record and 2.95 ERA in 13 starts.
Civale was promoted to AAA Akron that season, where he pitched to a 5-4 record and 1.99 ERA in 16 games (15 starts). In 2019, Civale finally got called up to Cleveland and started 10 games for them before being traded to Pittsburgh on July 20th for cash considerations..
After only 8 appearances with Pittsburgh, Civale was placed on waivers and claimed by Milwaukee on August 22nd.
He has since been released from the Brewers organization without appearing in another game. Aaron Civale is a 24-year old pitcher who made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Indians in 2019.
He had previously played for the Guardians, where he posted a record of 21-24 with an ERA of 4.08 and 312 strikeouts over 360 innings pitched. Aaron Civale is known for his strong pitching abilities and has been compared to current stars such as Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber.
9. Jim Thome
Career
- 5× All-Star (1997–1999, 2004, 2006), Silver Slugger Award (1996), AL Comeback Player of the Year (2006), Roberto Clemente Award (2002), NL home run leader (2003), Cleveland Guardians No. 25 retired, Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame, Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame
Jim Thome is a three-time All-Star and has had a lengthy MLB career. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1991 and spent most of his time with them, before being traded to Baltimore in 2012.
In 1998, he became one of only four players in history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season - an achievement that still stands today. Jim Thome currently resides outside of Chicago with his family.
Jim Thome is one of the most successful hitters in history. He has five All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger Award, and an AL Comeback Player of the Year award to his name.
Jim Thome played for Cleveland Indians from 1991 to 2002 before moving on to play for Philadelphia Phillies from 2003 to 2005 and then Chicago White Sox from 2006 to 2009.
In 2010, he joined the Minnesota Twins where he spent two seasons before signing with the Cleveland Indians in 2011.
Jim Thome retired as a Phillie in 2012 after playing just 11 games due to injury but continued his involvement with the team by being inducted into their Hall of Fame later that year alongside other greats such as Bob Feller, Lou Gehrig, and Joe Jackson.
10. Lou Boudreau
Infielder
Career
- 8× All-Star (1940–1945, 1947, 1948), World Series champion (1948), AL MVP (1948), AL batting champion (1944), Cleveland Guardians No. 5 retired, Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame, Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame
- High school: Thornton (Harvey, Illinois)
- College: Illinois (1937–1938)
- Position: Guard / Forward
- First-team All-American – MSG (1938)
Lou Boudreau was a shortstop and manager in the Major Leagues for over twenty years. He first appeared in the Majors with the Cleveland Indians in 1938 and last played for Boston in 1952.
Lou was known as one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball history, winning ten Gold Glove Awards during his career.
As a player, Lou led his teams to several division championships and playoff appearances, including an appearance in the 1951 World Series where he helped lead Boston to victory against the New York Yankees.
After retiring from playing, Lou became a successful manager, leading several teams to success including stints with both Cleveland (1956-1960) and Boston (1963-1971). In 2001, at age 84, Lou died after suffering from heart failure following surgery for cancerous growths in his bladder.
11. Bob Feller
Career
- 8× All-Star (1938–1941, 1946–1948, 1950), World Series champion (1948), Triple Crown (1940), 6× AL wins leader (1939–1941, 1946–1947, 1951), AL ERA leader (1940), 7× MLB strikeout leader (1938–1941, 1946–1948), Pitched three no-hitters (1940, 1946, 1951), Cleveland Guardians No. 19 retired, Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Bob Feller was one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball history. He won 266 games over a career that spanned 36 seasons and had an ERA of 3.25.
Feller was born on November 3, 1918, in Van Meter, Iowa. He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians on July 19th, 1936, and ended his career with the same team 18 years later.
In between those two stints with Cleveland (1956-1960), Feller pitched for six other teams: Brooklyn Dodgers (1951-1953), Washington Senators (1954-1955), Detroit Tigers (1957-1959), Cincinnati Reds (1960-1963) and Kansas City Athletics (1964).
Pitching is all he ever wanted to do; he never played any other position professionally or even tried out for one. After retiring from baseball, Bob became a sports broadcaster for NBC television in 1977 where he remained until his death at the age of 92 in 2010.
12. Manny Ramirez
Career
- 12× All-Star (1995, 1998–2008), 2× World Series champion (2004, 2007), World Series MVP (2004), 9× Silver Slugger Award (1995, 1999–2006), 2× AL Hank Aaron Award (1999, 2004), AL batting champion (2002), AL home run leader (2004), AL RBI leader (1999), Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Manny Ramirez was born on May 30, 1972, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1993 and finished his career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011.
Manny Ramirez is a three-time All-Star and won two Silver Slugger Awards as an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox.
His nickname "Manny" came from pitcher Fernando Valenzuela who called him that after seeing Ramirez play during a Little League game; however, most people know him by his first name alone.
After retiring from baseball, Manny became a regular commentator for Fox Sports' coverage of American sports including Major League Baseball and Basketball games as well as College Football contests between teams such as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and the Ohio State Buckeyes football team (he's also appeared on The Simpsons).
13. Francisco Lindor
Shortstop
Career
- 4× All-Star (2016–2019), 2× Gold Glove Award (2016, 2019), Platinum Glove Award (2016), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2017, 2018), All-MLB Second Team (2022)
Francisco Lindor is a shortstop for the Cleveland Indians. He was drafted by the club in 2015 and has been an important part of their team ever since. Lindor has had great success at the plate, batting over .300 each season and hitting more than 170 home runs in his career to date.
He's also driven in 581 runs during that time, making him one of MLB's most productive hitters. Lindor has made some big plays on defense as well, playing ss for one of baseball's best teams for several seasons now.
His combination of power and skills makes him a valuable player on any squad he joins next season.
Lindor will be 29 years old when the 2021 season starts, so there is still plenty left in the tank if he wants to continue putting up good numbers across all facets of his game. Francisco Lindor is a top-rated shortstop in the MLB who has excelled for Cleveland Indians since being drafted in 2013.
Lindor won his first Gold Glove Award as a rookie and followed it up with another two years later, earning Platinum Glove honors in 2016.
He was an All-Star selection in each of the four seasons he played before joining the Mets this season. In 2019, Lindor became just the third player ever to record at least 125 stolen bases and 25 home runs over three consecutive seasons, while also batting over .
300 in all three campaigns. With his career looking promising, Lindor will look to continue his success when he plays for New York next year.
14. Josh Naylor
First baseman
Josh Naylor was born on June 22, 1997 in Mississauga, Ontario. He attended Oakville Secondary School and played for the school's varsity baseball team as a shortstop.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled at York University where he played college baseball for the Golden Hawks.
In 2019, Josh Naylor signed with the San Diego Padres as an undrafted free agent and made his MLB debut that season playing in 14 games and hitting .294/.374/.524 with two home runs and four RBIs.
In 2020, he split time between Triple-A El Paso and the Majors where he hit .303/.408/.533 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs over 135 games overall across both levels of play combined.
On July 7th of 2020, Naylor was traded to Cleveland along with Austin Allen in exchange for Francisco Mejia and Ryan McMahon who were both major league-ready players at that point.
With Cleveland in 2021, Josh had a breakout year batting .290/.412/.560 with 24 home runs (tied for third most) 59 RBIs (second most), 27 doubles (third most), six triples (tied for second most) , 104 walks (fourth most), 15 stolen bases (.150 average percentage).
While fielding mostly left field but also spending some time at first base due to injuries to Jose Ramirez.
He won his first Gold Glove Award accolade as well as being named an All Star starter by fan voting in total Josh finished 2nd on the Indians behind only Mike Trout in MVP voting results earning him The American League Most Valuable Player award.
15. Larry Doby
Career
- NgL All-Star (1946), 7× All-Star (1949–1955), Negro World Series champion (1946), World Series champion (1948), 2× AL home run leader (1952, 1954), AL RBI leader (1954), Cleveland Guardians No. 14 retired, Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Doby was one of the most celebrated African American players in baseball history, playing for four different teams over a 14-year career. Doby made his MLB debut with the Indians on July 5, 1947, and helped lead Cleveland to their first World Series victory in 1948.
In 1957, Doby became the first black player ever elected to play in an All-Star Game and led Cleveland to another championship that season.
After spending three seasons with the White Sox, Doby moved on to play for the Dragons in Japan before retiring at age 38 after being traded back to Cleveland in 1960.
Following his retirement from baseball, DBY served as a manager for several minor league teams before passing away in 2003 at the age of 79 Doby became the first African American to play in MLB when he played for the Cleveland Indians in 1947.
Doby was a key player on two championship teams, with the Indians in 1948 and again with the White Sox in 1955.
After leaving baseball, Doby worked as an executive for several major league organizations before returning to playing baseball full-time in 2000. In 2011, Larry Doby was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum along with Jackie Robinson.
16. Earl Averill
Career
- 6× All-Star (1933–1938), Cleveland Guardians No. 3 retired, Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Earl Averill was a center fielder for the Cleveland Indians from 1929-1941. He batted .318 with 2,019 hits in his career. Earl Averill had a distinguished military career before becoming a major league player.
He served in World War II and also played on the United States Olympic team in 1936 and 1948. Earl Averill died in 1983 at 81 years old after having spent most of his life playing baseball. Earl Averill was one of the most successful hitters in baseball history.
He led his teams to six All-Star appearances and won three MVP Awards. Earl Averill also had a distinguished career as a fielder, being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975. In addition, he is honored with a number 3 retired by the Cleveland Guardians franchise and a place in the Guardians Hall of Fame.
Born in 1915, Earl Averill played for Cleveland Indians (1929–1939), Detroit Tigers (1939–1940), and Boston Braves (1941) before retiring after World War II at age 34.
17. Franmil Reyes
Right fielder
Franmil Reyes is a 27-year-old outfielder who played in the Indians organization before being traded to the Brewers. 2. He has good speed and power, but his biggest asset may be his ability to hit for average.
Injuries have hampered him in recent years, but he's still an attractive option as a free agent.
His contract status will likely depend on how much playing time he can get this year, as well as his health going forward Reyes made his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres on May 14, 2018.
In his rookie season, Reyes batted .251 with 106 home runs and 278 RBIs in 341 games played. The outfielder is a three-time All-Star selection and was named to the National League All-Star team in 2019.
Reyes signed a four-year contract extension with the Padres on January 25, 2020 that will keep him with the team through 2022. Franmil Reyes is an excellent all-around player who can hit for power and average at bats alike.
18. Cal Quantrill
Pitcher
Quantrill was signed by the San Diego Padres as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He made his MLB debut with the Padres on May 1st against the Colorado Rockies and recorded two strikeouts over one inning of work.
Quantrill spent most of 2019 appearing out of bullpen, but he did make five starts for Triple-A El Paso before getting called up to San Diego in midseason.
In 2020, Quantrill started 10 games for El Paso and posted a 3-5 record with a 3.12 ERA before being traded to Cleveland in July where he currently pitches for their Guardians team in the MLB Advanced League (MLBAA).
At age 27, Cal is still young enough that there may be more opportunities ahead of him although it will likely be at lower levels than what he has experienced thus far due to his lack of experience at higher levels.
19. Omar Vizquel
Career
- 3× All-Star (1998, 1999, 2002), 11× Gold Glove Award (1993–2001, 2005, 2006), Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Omar Vizquel was a shortstop for the Seattle Mariners from 1989-2002. He then played for the Toronto Blue Jays until 2012, winning two AL MVP Awards and three Gold Gloves in that time.
Vizquel was known as one of the best defensive shortstops of his era, earning him numerous accolades including 3 American League Gold Glove Awards and 2 American League Most Valuable Player Awards along with 80 home runs over his career.
Omar Vizquel is now retired after playing in the last game for the Blue Jays on October 3rd against Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Omar Vizquel is a multiple-time All-Star and Gold Glove award winner.
Omar Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, and Chicago White Sox in his 14-year career.
Omar Vizquel was born on October 24th of 1966 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After playing baseball in the DR for several years, Omar Vizquel signed with the Seattle Mariners as an amateur free agent in 1989 and made his MLB debut later that season.
Omar Vizeline played a big role on some of Seattle's most successful teams including their championship seasons in both 2001 and 2005 while with the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers respectively.
After spending two seasons (2006-2008) coaching at UCLA before taking over as manager of the Angels of Anaheim from Mike Scioscia following Los Angeles' disappointing 2013 season, Omar retired after one more major league campaign with Detroit Tigers in 2017.
Also Played For: seattle mariners, san francisco giants
20. Amed Rosario
Infielder
Career
- AL triples leader (2022)
Rosario is a young shortstop with big potential who has made great strides in his development since debuting in the MLB. He was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, but moved to the United States when he was just 10 years old.
Rosario signed with the New York Mets as an international free agent in 2016 and made his MLB debut that same year.
In 2018, he led all shortstops with 138 runs scored while batting .293/.374/.472 (.784 OPS) across 176 games played for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas Wranglers.
The following season (2020), Rosario will be playing for the Cleveland Guardians of the American Association - one of several foreign-born players on their roster including fellow Dominicans Yoan Moncada and José Fernández Jr. Amed Rosario is a young shortstop who has been tearing up the league in 2017.
He was drafted by the Mets in 2016 and has since become one of their most important players. Amed Rosario plays an aggressive style at shortstop that can lead to some mistakes, but he makes up for them with his speed and hitting ability.
His 54 home runs are sixth-most all time among shortstops, while his 276 RBIs place him ninth on that list.
In addition to being a great hitter, Amed Rosario also fields well, making several spectacular catches this season alone (including one over the center fielder's head).
With two years remaining on his contract with the Mets, there is no doubt that Amed Rosario will continue playing at a high level for years to come.
21. Myles Straw
Outfielder
Career
- Gold Glove Award (2022), Fielding Bible Award (2022)
Myles Straw was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2018 MLB draft. Straw made his professional debut with Houston Astros in September of 2018. The outfielder batted .269 with 4 home runs and 17 RBIs over 77 games played for the Guardians that season.
In 2019, he split time between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno, batting a combined .291 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs across both levels of baseball.
On July 29th, 2020, Straw signed a minor league contract extension with the Astros organization that will keep him under team control through 2022 seasons at an estimated value of $6 million dollars annually..
Myles has been mentioned as one to watch out for during the 2021 season due to his elite bat speed and ability to hit for power regardless of where pitches are located on the strike zone.
22. Andrés Giménez
Shortstop
Career
- All-Star (2022), Gold Glove Award (2022), All-MLB Second Team (2022)
Giménez is a shortstop and second baseman who made his MLB debut for the New York Mets in 2020. Giménez was born on September 4, 1998, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
Giménez has played for the Cleveland Guardians of the American Association (AA) since 2018. He led the team with 77 RBIs this season and helped them reach the playoffs as runners-up to Omaha Storm Chasers.
The 20 year old has also represented Venezuela at both U16 and U18 level before making his full international debut for their senior side in 2017 aged 18 years old playing against Australia scoring 3 runs from 5 balls including 2 doubles helping win that match by 8 wickets.
Gimenez hit .286/.361/.500 with 11 homers and 67 RBIs across AA/AAA this season while displaying excellent defence at shortstop (+14).
Scouts are optimistic about his future potential as a middle infielder or third baseman if he can continue to improve his batting average (.280-.300 zone).
23. Oscar Mercado
Center fielder
Mercado was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. Mercado made his professional debut with the AZL Indians and hit .287/.341/.419 with 2 home runs over 49 games.
Mercado spent all of 2017 with Columbus, slashing .291/.361/.468 with 6 home runs in 139 games.
On July 26th, Mercada signed a major league contract with St Louis Cardinals and began playing for their Triple-A affiliate Springfield Cardinals that season..
In 47 games total he slashed .323/.385/563 while also hitting 8 triples on the year to lead all minor leaguers in both categories. Mercado played most of 2018 with Memphis (AAA), where he slashed .283/.355./458 before being called up to St Louis on September 1st.
He appeared in 4 games for STL before being placed on waivers and claimed by Oakland Athletics two days later.
After appearing briefly for AAA Midland Angels, mercato was traded back to STL on December 20th as part of a deadline trade that sent Dexter Fowler to OAK.
In 41 appearances between Memphis, St Louis & Oakland this year mercado has slash line of .284/.348./463 batting 5 HR along wtih 25 SB.
Overall he has accumulated an impressive statline throughout his career including: a combined average of over .280 at each stop from A ball through AA.
24. Emmanuel Clase
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2022), All-MLB First Team (2022), MLB saves leader (2022), Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year (2022)
Emmanuel Clase is a 24-year old pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He was drafted by Texas in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft and made his debut with them this past season.
Emmanuel Clase has an impressive repertoire that includes a fastball, curveball, and changeup. His pitches are all rated as average or better by Baseball Prospectus and Fangraphs respectively.
Emmanuel Clase's biggest asset may be his ability to stay healthy; he has only missed 26 total games over 4 seasons in the MLB so far.
Despite having an impressive rookie campaign, some fans are skeptical of whether or not Clase will live up to expectations moving forward due to questions about his mechanics and control.
Emmanuel Clase is a relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He has had a record of 9-12 and an ERA of 1.47 over the course of his career. Emmanuel Clase was named to the All-Star team in 2022, and he also earned First Team honors in that same year.
One of Emmanuel Clase's most notable achievements is that he led all MLB relievers with 172 strikeouts in 2018.
In 2020, Emanuel Clase set a new MLB saves record with 67 saves - making him one of the top closers in baseball at this point in his career. As for awards, Emmanuel Clase has won AL Reliever of the Year twice (in 2022 and 2023).
25. Bob Lemon
Career
- 7× All-Star (1948–1954), 2× World Series champion (1948, 1978), 3× AL wins leader (1950, 1954, 1955), AL strikeout leader (1950), Pitched a no-hitter on June 30, 1948, Cleveland Guardians No. 21 retired, Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Lemon played for the Cleveland Indians from 1941 to 1958 and had a successful career, winning 207 games while losing 128. Lemon was born in San Bernardino, California, on September 22nd, 1920, and died in Long Beach, California on January 11th, 2000 at the age of 79 after a long illness.
Lemon spent most of his playing career as a starting pitcher but also managed several teams over the years including the Indians (1948-1950), Baltimore Orioles (1968-1969), Los Angeles Dodgers (1973), and Detroit Tigers (1976).
Lemon is well known for his distinctive uniform number - 7 which he wore throughout his professional career.
In retirement Lemon became an executive with various baseball organizations before passing away in 2000 at the age of 79 Lemon was a talented pitcher in the MLB and is best known for his time with the Cleveland Indians.
He won two World Series titles as a player and managed three teams in total, including a stint with the Kansas City Royals.
Lemon retired from professional baseball after the 1984 season. Lemon's career totals include 1,277 strikeouts over 430 games pitched (an average of 12 per game).
He holds several records for pitchers, most notably averaging 11 strikeouts per game during his seven All-Star appearances.
Lemon was inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985, making him one of only twelve players to be elected to both clubs simultaneously.
After retiring from playing professionally, he worked as a television analyst until his death at age 84 on January 16th, 2016.
26. Corey Kluber
Pitcher
Career
- 3× All-Star (2016–2018), 2× AL Cy Young Award (2014, 2017), 2× AL wins leader (2014, 2017), AL ERA leader (2017), Pitched a no-hitter on May 19, 2021
Corey Kluber was born on April 10, 1986, in Birmingham, Alabama. He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2011 and has been a mainstay on their rotation ever since.
Corey Kluber is well-known for his dominant pitching performances both at home and on the road – he's led the American League in wins twice and ranks fifth all-time among AL pitchers with 246 victories.
In 2018, Corey Kluber won his first Cy Young Award following an outstanding season where he posted career highs in innings pitched (232), strikeouts (253), and complete games (25).
A two-time All-Star selection, Corey Kluber is widely considered to be one of the best pitchers in baseball history - if not THE best pitcher of our generation.
Corey Kluber is a 3-time All-Star and 2x AL Cy Young Award winner. He led the AL in wins twice, as well as ERA in 2017. Corey Kluber pitched a no-hitter on May 19th, 2021 which was an incredible feat.
27. Bryan Shaw
Pitcher
Bryan Shaw was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 3rd round of the 2007 amateur draft. Bryan Shaw made his MLB debut with the Tribe in 2011 and has since pitched for Cleveland, Florida, Milwaukee, Boston, Colorado and Atlanta.
He is a three-time All-Star (2012–2014) and has been named to two postseason teams (2013 NLDS & 2017 NLCS).
In 2018 he signed with Oakland as a free agent and won 18 games for them before being traded to Arizona at midseason where he finished third in Cy Young voting behind Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer.
He returned to Oakland on a one-year deal this off season which will expire at the end of 2020 season Bryan Shaw is a veteran pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Bryan Shaw has had success in the past with teams such as Cleveland and Colorado, but his tenure with the Mariners was less than desirable. Bryan Shaw throws a fastball, slider, and changeup which he uses to get strikeouts and ground balls.
Bryan Shaw will likely continue pitching in MLB into at least 2022 season since he is still under contract with the Diamondbacks.
28. CC Sabathia
Pitcher
Career
- 6× All-Star (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010–2012), World Series champion (2009), AL Cy Young Award (2007), ALCS MVP (2009), 2× MLB wins leader (2009, 2010)
CC Sabathia is a 42-year-old pitcher who has spent his entire career with the New York Yankees. Over the course of his 15-year MLB career, Sabathia has compiled an impressive record of 331–221 and 3,154 strikeouts in 5,097 innings pitched.
In 2019, CC Sabathia made his final appearance for the Yankees after announcing he would be retiring at the season's end. A two-time AL Cy Young Award winner (2009 and 2010), Sabathia was also named to five All-Star teams and finished in the top ten in voting on four occasions.
Known for his strong fastball ball rotation and effective changeup pitch, CC Sabathia will go down as one of the greatest pitchers in Yankee history. CC Sabathia is a seven-time All-Star and two-time MLB wins leader.
He has had an impressive win–loss record, posting 251 victories against 161 losses in his career.
In 2007, CC Sabathia won the AL Cy Young Award after leading the league in ERA (3.74) and strikeouts (3,093). After spending eight years with Cleveland Indians, he was traded to Milwaukee Brewers before signing with New York Yankees in 2009.
Sabathia helped lead the Yankees to back–to–back World Series titles in 2016 and 2017 before retiring at the end of the 2019 season due to an injury.
29. Gabriel Arias
Shortstop
Arias is a young Venezuelan shortstop who was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the fifth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Arias has experience playing both first base and shortstop, but will likely be a long-term starter at short for the Guardians.
Arias has shown surprising power potential through his minor league career, batting over .300 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs across three seasons.
Arias is an aggressive hitter with good plate discipline, making him tough to strike out even against top pitching prospects.
Defensively, Arias shows promise with solid actions at shortstop and accurate throws to second base on double plays. Gabriel Arias made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Guardians in April of 2022. He batted .191 with one home run and five RBIs during his rookie season.
3. Gabriel is from Venezuela and has played in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (VPBL) since 2017 where he was named MVP twice.
In 2019, Gabriel signed with the Cleveland Guardians as a free agent and spent the entire season with them before being promoted to the major leagues later that year.
Gabriel has been compared to Yasiel Puig due to his powerful bat-speed combination and speed on the bases which makes him dangerous at any point in an inning or game.
30. Bo Naylor
Bo Naylor is a catcher for the Cleveland Guardians. At just 22 years old, Bo Naylor has already played in over 100 games at the minor league level and hit .290 with 21 home runs.
In 2022, Bo Naylor signed with the Columbus Clippers as a free agent and made an immediate impact on their roster, batting .300 with 10 home runs in 80 games.
Bo Naylor's impressive numbers have caught the attention of MLB teams and he is currently being considered for rookie of the year awards throughout all levels of professional baseball.
Bo Naylor is an excellent fielder who makes difficult plays look easy; his defensive skills will be key to any team that drafts him or signs him to a contract after 2021 season concludes. Bo Naylor made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Guardians on October 1, 2022.
In just over a year and a half in the majors, Bo has yet to record an extra-base hit or homerun.
Despite having little power at the plate, Bo is still putting up solid numbers with a batting average of .000 and zero home runs.
The 23-year-old infielder likely lacks confidence given that he's only recorded one RBI thus far in his career - but he should continue to put together strong performances as long as he remains consistent at the plate.
With Cleveland currently languishing near the bottom of their division standings, it will be interesting to see if Bo can help turn things around this season - even if it is mostly through hard work on the field rather than big hits (or homers).
31. Oscar Gonzalez
Right fielder
Oscar was drafted in the first round (29th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2018 amateur draft. He has played for both the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Lake County Captains of the American Association during his career.
In 2017, he led all minor leaguers with a .368 batting average while also ranking second in RBIs and stolen bases (14).
Gonzalez made his professional debut with Lake County on July 8, 2018 against Toledo Mud Hens and collected three hits including a home run off Francisco Liriano in addition to scoring two runs batted in (.500/3/6).
On September 1st, Gonzalez hit another HR off Luis Castillo of Bowling Green Hot Rods as part of an eight-hit performance over six innings pitched (1 ER / 7 IP) which helped lead Lake County to a 9-8 victory over their opponents from Northern Ohio.
Oscar is currently playing for the Akron RubberDucks of Minor League Baseball where he has posted impressive stats: 15 homers and 68 RBIs through 116 games played this season as well as being named to both MiLB's Midseason All Star Team and Post Season All Star Team.AkronR Ducks - 2019 Midseason Review.
32. Sam Hentges
Pitcher
Hentges was drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians. Hentges pitched for Division II Shoreview State University before being drafted.
In 22 starts with SHSU, he had a 3-5 record and an ERA of 3.95, striking out 111 batters in 87 innings pitched.
Hentges made his professional debut with the Columbus Clippers in 2019 and went 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA over 8 games (7 starts).
He was promoted to the Cleveland Guardians where he has started 5 games, going 0-2 with an 11:12 K/9 ratio and an ERAs of 9.00 in 6⅔ innings pitched (.571 BABIP).
Sam Hentges was born on April 20, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. He made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Indians on April 20th of the next year.
In his rookie season with the Tribe, he had a record of 4–6 and an ERA of 4.61. His strikeouts were 140 but also yielded 139 hits in just 104 innings pitched (an HR/9 rate of 1).
In 2022, Sam spent most of the year at AAA Columbus where he posted a 2-1 record with a 3.90 ERA before being called up to help out during September and October as needed by Cleveland; posting an 0-0 record while appearing in four games (three starts).
Overall, Hentges finished his rookie campaign having appeared in 16 games (15 starts) and registering an 8-7 record with a 5.03 ERA overall.
33. Will Brennan
Will Brennan was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on February 2nd, 1998. He played high school baseball at Monument High School where he batted .362 with 45 home runs and 158 RBIs in his career.
After high school, Will attended Arizona State University where he played for the Sun Devils’ baseball team from 2016-2018 as a left fielder and designated hitter.
In 2018, Will led ASU with an average of .410 and 22 home runs while also posting 71 RBIs en route to being named a first team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and ESPN The Magazine (coincidentally both organizations who drafted him).
On June 25th, 2018 the Cleveland Indians selected Brennan in the second round of the MLB Draft (56th overall) after trading up from their original selection (#66).
At 6'1", 205 lbs., Brennan is considered to be a power hitter with the speed that could develop into above-average defense in right field or centerfield down the line.
His inexperience there at present due to only playing outfield since age 17 including this past season primarily as a DH role for ASU while also spending time at third base throughout college.
34. Kenny Lofton
Career
- 6× All-Star (1994–1999), 4× Gold Glove Award (1993–1996), 5× AL stolen base leader (1992–1996), Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Kenny Lofton is a retired MLB player who spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He was one of the most consistent and productive players in baseball history, averaging over 27 home runs and 130 RBI per season.
Lofton was also an excellent fielder, making seven All-Star appearances during his career. After leaving the MLB in 2007, Kenny Lofton has since enjoyed a successful career as a coach and commentator for various sports networks around the world.
Kenny Lofton was an all-star outfielder for the Cleveland Indians from 1991 to 2001. Lofton batted .286 with 622 stolen bases in his career, making him one of the most successful base stealers of all time. He is also a three-time Gold Glove winner and a four-time Silver Slugger Award recipient.
Kenny retired as the second-highest all-time leader in home runs (behind only Babe Ruth) and total bases (behind only Barry Bonds).
35. Richie Palacios
Richie Palacios is an outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians in the Independent Professional Baseball League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign with them.
Instead, he chose to play college baseball at Rice University. In his senior year at Rice, Palacios led all NCAA Division I players in home runs (26) and slugging percentage (.583).
After his collegiate career ended, Palacios signed with the Guardians and has since been one of their most consistent hitters both on offense and defense.
His 27 home runs as a Guardian are second only to Brent Rooker's 34 homers over that same span of time; additionally, he leads all defenders in total bases (161) and doubles (27).
Richie Palacios is a 26-year-old first baseman who made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022. Palacios spent most of his professional career playing in the Mexican League, where he batted over .300 and won several awards.
He signed with the Guardians as a free agent this past offseason and has been impressive so far; batting over .232 while slugging just under one home run per game.
The 6'0", 210-pounder is also known for his strong defense at first base, which could give him an edge early on in his career.
It's still too early to tell if Palacios will be able to stick around in Cleveland for long - but given how well he's performing thus far, there's no doubt that he has the potential to be something special.
36. Will Benson
Benson was born in 1998 and is 24 years old as of the 2022 season. Benson played for the Columbus Clippers in the minor leagues in 2018 before being called up to play for Cleveland Guardians later that year.
Benson has a left-handed swing and batted .272 with 12 home runs and 67 RBIs in 121 games during his rookie season with Cleveland Guardians.
Benson will be playing out his third season with Cleveland this coming year, looking to improve on his impressive first two seasons in MLB He is a switch hitter and has played both outfield and first base in his career.
He was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. In 2019, he led all minor leaguers with 129 RBIs while batting .294/.357/.540 with 14 home runs and 82 stolen bases for the Class A Lake County Captains.
Benson made his Major League debut on September 5th, 2021 playing third base for the Cleveland Guardians against Milwaukee Brewers.
Benson finished his rookie season batting .236/.309/.382 with 3 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 133 games played across three seasons (2021-22, 2022–23, 2023).
37. Bryan Lavastida
Bryan Lavastida was drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians. Lavastida batted .317 with 5 home runs and 36 RBIs for Columbus in 2017 season.
He made his professional debut with Class A Short Season Kinston during the 2018 season, batting .321/.349/.469 with 2 home runs and 16 RBIs in 39 games played.
Lavastida is a switch-hitter who throws right-handed but bats left-handed, making him an unusual prospect at catcher.
The 24 year old has shown promise as a hitter, displaying impressive power potential while still demonstrating good plate discipline skills for a young player such as himself.
Bryan Lavastida is a 21-year old rookie outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians. He was drafted by the Guardians in the 5th round of the 2020 MLB draft.
Bryan has played all three outfield positions in his career, but he's primarily been used as a right fielder so far with Cleveland.
In 49 games this season, Lavastida has hit .222 with 2 home runs and 10 RBIs - putting him on pace for a modest offensive output given his limited experience at the major league level so far.
38. Konnor Pilkington
Konnor Pilkington is a 25-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB Draft and also played college baseball at Mississippi State University.
In 2018, he posted a 2.94 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 135 innings pitched between Double A and Triple A ball with the Guardians.
Konnor has been praised for his strong command of both his pitches, as well as his ability to keep hitters off balance with them both fastball and slider; however, he's still working on developing an effective changeup pitch which could make him even more dangerous down the line.
Konnor Pilkington made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Guardians in April of 2022. Konnor is a right-handed pitcher and he has been able to compile a win-loss record of 1-2 thus far in his career.
He also has an earned run average (ERA) of 3.88, which shows that he's notched 51 strikeouts over 46 innings pitched so far in his career.
Konnor throws a fastball, slider, and changeup and all three pitches have seen success so far in his professional career - giving him plenty of options for different batters depending on what they are hitting him with at any given time.
Konnon was born on October 17th, 1998, making him just 20 years old when he made his MLB debut this year.
39. Trevor Stephan
Pitcher
Trevor Stephan is a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He was drafted by the Tribe in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Texas A&M University.
In his rookie season, he appeared in 20 games, posting an 8-5 record with a 3.48 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 103 innings pitched.
Stephan made his major league debut during September of 2017 and went on to post a 2-1 record with a 5.69 ERA over 27 appearances (27 starts).
His 2018 campaign was cut short due to Tommy John surgery but he returned in 2019 and posted an 11-7 record with a 3.85 ERA and 166 strikeouts over 161 innings pitched between Triple-A Columbus and Cleveland's regular rotation.
Trevor Stephan was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 21st round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
He made his major league debut with the Tribe on April 3, 2021. In 96 total games over two seasons with Cleveland, Stephan has a 9-6 record and an ERA of 3.54.
Trevor is known for his control and strikeouts – he's struck out 157 batters in 96 games played. Trevor is currently a member of the Guardians (a minor league team) after being acquired from Cleveland in late August 2022.
40. Owen Miller
Infielder
Owen Miller is a 26-year old infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. Miller was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft and played his first professional season with their rookie league team, the AZL Indians.
In 2018, he made his debut with Milwaukee's Double-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox where he batted .287/.341/.514 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs in 132 games.
He continued to play well during 2019 at Triple-A Oklahoma City hitting .292/.371/.547 with 16 homers and 66 RBIs in 127 games before being called up to Milwaukee on September 1st.
Owen Miller made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Indians in 2021. He batted .231 with 10 home runs and 69 RBIs in 82 games during his rookie season. 3. Owen Miller is a switch-hitter who primarily bats left-handed, but can also hit right-handed if needed.
The 23-year old was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2017, but traded to Cleveland before the 2018 season started.
5. Owen Miller attended Clemson University where he won two ACC titles and was named an All American twice (2017&2018). 6. In 2020, he was part of Team USA's World Baseball Classic squad which finished fourth overall after losing to Japan in the semi finals.
41. Hunter Gaddis
Hunter Gaddis is a pitcher who played for the Cleveland Guardians in 2021. Hunter Gaddis has been described as having a "solid" pitching arsenal and good control of his pitches.
In 2021, Hunter Gaddis totaled 14 saves with the Lake County Captains, helping them to win the Southern Division championship.
After being drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2019 MLB Draft, Hunter Gaddis made his professional debut later that year with their Rookie-level affiliate, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
As a rookie in 2020 with Mahoning Valley Scrappers' Class A Short Season team, Hunter pitched to a 2-1 record and 0 ERA before injuring his elbow during an outing against Jamestown Jammers on July 20th.
He underwent Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter and missed most of 2020 season while rehabbing from surgery.
In 2021 with Lake County Captains (Class AA), playing alongside potential future teammates such as Manny Machado and Bryce Harper (both then prospects with Washington Nationals) helped him acclimatize to professional baseball at age 24 while also impressing scouts enough for Cleveland's entry draft selection.
42. Xzavion Curry
Xzavion Curry is a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians. He was born in 1998 in Orangeburg, South Carolina and attended high school there. Xzavion signed with the Guardians as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and has since made 10 appearances out of the bullpen, recording a 3-1 record with a 2.85 ERA.
His best outing came on July 12th against the Akron RubberDucks where he gave up one run over six innings while striking out seven batters.
The Guardian's hope is that Curry can develop into their No 1 starter down the road and help them win some games this season while they're rebuilding.
As it stands now, Xzavion will likely spend most of his time pitching out of relief for Cleveland but if he continues to show promise then he may see more starts down the line Xzavion Curry was born on August 15th, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio.
He attended the University of Florida and played for their baseball team there before being drafted by the Guardians in the 2nd round of the 2020 MLB draft.
In his rookie season with the Guardians, he had a record of 0–1 with a 5.79 earned run average (ERA). His biggest contribution came from striking out 33 batters in just 26 innings pitched.
In 2021, Curry helped Team USA win gold at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) as part of their bullpen staff. The following year he again helped Team USA to victory at WBC 2018.
Where he posted an ERA of 1.17 over 7 games while striking out 16 batters per 9 innings pitched - more than any other player on either side during that tournament.
43. Eli Morgan
Pitcher
Eli Morgan is a right-handed pitcher with the Cleveland Guardians of the American Association. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 3rd round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2018, he made his MLB debut as part of a bullpen stint for Washington and recorded 1 innings pitched without allowing an earned run on 2 hits while striking out 2 batters.
Morgan has spent most of his time in professional baseball splitting between pitching and batting practice roles with different organizations including: Akron RubberDucks (AA), Columbus Clippers (AAA) and Cleveland Guardians (AA).
As a batter, Eli Morgan bats left handed but also throws right-handed which gives him some versatility when it comes to playing multiple positions on defense or at first base if needed during games.
Morgan has shown flashes of brilliance with an ability to miss bats both as a pitcher and hitter making him someone teams will want to watch closely going forward due to his potential impact on game outcomes.
44. Enyel De Los Santos
De Los Santos was selected in the 2nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. The right-handed pitcher has spent most of his career playing for the Guardians, starting with their inaugural season in 2020.
De Los Santos is a workhorse on the mound and relies heavily on his fastball and slider to get batters out. He finished 4th in MVP voting for Guardians in 2021, posting an impressive 0.74 ERA across 69 innings pitched that year.
In 2022, De Los Santos led all pitchers with 11 wins as Cleveland won its first Eastern League Championship since 1954 (and first championship overall since 1901). Enyel De Los Santos made his MLB debut for the Philadelphia Phillies on July 10, 2018.
The 23-year-old was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 4th round of the 2016 draft but traded to Philadelphia before making his big league debut.
He has appeared in 132 games over two seasons with a record of 8 wins and 2 losses while averaging 4.70 ERA and 133 strikeouts per season.
De Los Santos signed a contract extension with the Phillies that runs through 2022 at the end of this year's season.
45. Nick Sandlin
Nick Sandlin is a 26-year-old pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians. He was drafted in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but elected to sign with Cleveland instead.
In 2017, he made his major league debut and finished 4th in Rookie of the Year voting while posting a 3.02 ERA in 66 innings pitched between rookie ball and Triple-A Columbus.
He returned to the majors full time in 2018 and posted an impressive 3.13 ERA over 80 innings pitched across all three levels of baseball before being traded to Seattle on July 31st as part of a blockbuster deal that sent James Paxton from Seattle to Toronto.
He has been one of Seattle's most consistent pitchers this season, finishing with an 8-6 record and 2 saves while posting a 0.91 WHIP and 95 strikeouts over 103 1/3 innings pitched.
46. George Valera
George Valera was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2018 MLB draft by the Cleveland Guardians. George is a left-handed outfielder and has played for Team USA in international competition.
He attended high school at Central Michigan University before transferring to Oklahoma State University where he played two seasons of baseball before being drafted in 2018. In his rookie season with the Guardians, George hit .259 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs in 118 games.
With a strong 2019 campaign, including 47 hits (including 6 doubles) and 15 home runs, George was named to Baseball America's Midseason All-American team as well as earning First Team Eastern League honors from both The Sporting News and Baseball America magazine.
47. Albert Belle
Career
- 5× All-Star (1993–1997), 5× Silver Slugger Award (1993–1996, 1998), AL home run leader (1995), 3× AL RBI leader (1993, 1995, 1996), Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Albert Belle was one of the most popular and successful players in baseball history. He is best remembered for his time with the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago White Sox.
Belle spent the majority of his career playing right field, but he also had experience at first base and catcher. In spite of being one of the biggest hitters in MLB history, Belle never won an MVP award or a Cy Young Award during his lengthy career.
After retiring from professional baseball, Albert Belle started broadcasting games for ESPN's Baseball Tonight show from 2005 to 2009 before moving on to work as an analyst for Fox Sports 1 On October 1st, 2000.
Albert Belle died in a car accident near San Diego while driving with two other people who were also killed in the crash Belle was one of the best sluggers in baseball history.
He won five All-Star games and three Silver Slugger Awards during his career with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. Belle also led the American League in home runs twice (1995 and 1996) and RBIs once (1993).
After a successful playing career, Belle became a highly respected member of both his team's community and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Albert Belle passed away on January 19th, 2014 at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer.
48. Brayan Rocchio
Rocchio was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Rocchio finished his junior year at Oregon State with a 2.19 ERA and 111 strikeouts over 124 innings pitched.
Rocchio has been compared to current Cleveland starter Corey Kluber, who is also 24 years old and from Oregon State University.
Rocchio made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Cavaliers in late May and went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in six starts before being promoted to Double-A Akron early this month.
Where he's posted a 4-0 record, 0.94 ERA, and 49 strikeouts over 42 innings pitched so far this season Rocchio is a right-handed pitcher with a fastball that can reach the mid-90s.
Rocchio has also shown good control of his offspeed pitches, including a slider and curveball. Rocchio was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft but did not sign with them.
Rocchio signed with the Tampa Bay Rays organization and made his pro debut in 2014, pitching for their Rookie League team before being called up to AA Montgomery later that year.
In 2015, Rocchio moved up to AAA Durham where he pitched well enough to be named an Eastern League All Star after posting a 3-1 record and 2 saves between levels.
49. Grady Sizemore
Outfielder
Career
- 3× All-Star (2006–2008), 2× Gold Glove Award (2007, 2008), Silver Slugger Award (2008)
Grady Sizemore was born on August 2, 1982, in Seattle, Washington. He played his first MLB game with the Cleveland Indians on July 21, 2004, and last appeared for the Tampa Bay Rays on October 3, 2015.
In total, he played in 949 games over 12 seasons (2004-2015) batting .261 with 211 home runs and 893 RBIs. After leaving baseball Grady enjoyed a successful career as a professional golfer where he won two PGA Tour events .
The Barclays in 2014 and The Deutsche Bank Championship in 2016 Grady Sizemore was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 2003 amateur draft.
He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2004 and spent all but one of his nine seasons with them through 2011.
In 2006, he became just the fourth player ever to win both a Gold Glove Award and an MVP award in their rookie season, winning both awards unanimously. Between 2007 and 2009, Sizemore led the American League in runs scored five times each (he also finished second once).
He signed with Boston Red Sox as a free agent prior to the 2014 season and helped lead them to their first.
World Series title since 1918 while batting .318/.371/.522 over 111 games played including 25 home runs and 21 stolen bases en route to earning AL Most Valuable Player honors for 2013 playoff run as well as 3× All-Star selection at designated hitter.
50. Mel Harder
Career
- 4× All-Star (1934–1937), World Series champion (1948), AL ERA leader (1933), Cleveland Guardians No. 18 retired, Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame
Mel Harder was a pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball for over 30 years. He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in April of 1928 and played until 1947 with the team.
Harder is best known for leading the Indians to their first World Series title in 1948, as well as pitching a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers on September 7th that same year. After finishing his playing career, Harder served as player/manager for several other teams before retiring permanently in 1962.
Mel Harder passed away at 93 years old after spending many years living in Chardon, Ohio near where he grew up Harder was a key part of the Indians' 1948 World Series championship team.
Harder played for Cleveland from 1928 to 1947 and managed the team from 1961 to 1962. Harder is one of only six players in MLB history with 4 MVP awards (1937, 1938, 1939, 1940).
He led the AL in ERA twice (1933 and 1934) and finished second once (1935). Harder ranks eighth all-time in hits with 2,231 and fifth in doubles with 548 during his 19-year career.
After retiring as a player, Harder served as manager of the Indians from 1961 to 1962 before returning to play minor league baseball until 1967.
51. Cody Morris
Cody Morris was drafted in the 36th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians. Cody Morris played collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he pitched to a record of 10-4 with a 2.93 ERA in his final season.
After being drafted by the Guardians, Morris made his professional debut with their rookie league team and went 3-1 with a 1.92 ERA over 43 innings pitched.
In 2017, Morris split time between Class A Advanced Lynchburg and Double-A Akron and posted stellar numbers across both levels; he finished with a combined 11-5 record and an 0.91 WHIP while striking out 167 batters in 151 innings pitched (.168 batting average against).
Cody Morris so far; he has started 20 games for Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate Columbus Clippers (9-7 record) and compiled an impressive stats line: 12 wins, 2 losses, 1 save, 143 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched (.195 opposing batting average), 45 walks (1 intentional walk).
Final Words
. . . The Cleveland Guardians are an iconic part of the city’s rich baseball history. Founded in 1901, they have had many great players over the years including Ted Kluszewski, Lou Whitaker and Jim Thome.
It is no wonder that they are often considered one of the best teams in baseball history.
