Guardians’ Chris Antonetti Looks Forward To Young Production In 2024

Cleveland's President of Baseball Operations recently addressed the importance of the organization's young talent to the Guardians' success.

The Cleveland Guardians have had a very young team over the past two seasons.

From back-to-back Gold Glove Award winner Steven Kwan, to this year’s AL Rookie of the Year Award runner-up Tanner Bibee, the Guardians have done a tremendous job of recently developing young talent.

In 2023, six originally-developed players made their MLB debut with Cleveland. They were:

• LHP Tim Herrin
• LHP Logan Allen
• RHP Tanner Bibee
• SS Brayan Rocchio
• RHP Gavin Williams
• SS José Tena

Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti recently spoke with MLB Network Insider Jon Morosi at MLB’s annual winter meetings, discussing how important the Cleveland organization's young talent is to the Guardians’ success.

“For us to be successful, we need to continue to get contributions from our young players and from our Minor League system. Again, we had the youngest team in baseball, in totality, once again last year. We’ll be young again this year. So we need to make sure that the group that’s at the Major League level continues to develop and progress. And then the guys from our Minor League system are prepared to come up and compliment that group.”

Nov 10, 2023; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti talks to the media during an introductory press conference for new manager Stephen Vogt at Progressive Field / © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

One name Morosi asked Antonetti about was Kyle Manzardo, whom MLB.com named the Guardians’ top 2024 Rookie of the Year candidate. 

Here is what Antonetti said about MLB’s 58th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, who has yet to make his MLB debut.

“Kyle finished the season extraordinarily strong. Got back healthy from the injury, played well in Columbus. Prepared for the Fall League, and then went out and had a great Arizona Fall League. So he’s positioned himself to have a really good offseason, and it should be fun to watch him compete in spring training.”

With four MLB Top 100 prospects, Cleveland has plenty of young talent throughout its organization that will produce in 2024.