Cleveland Baseball Insider

Cleveland Guardians 2023 Top 50 Prospects, No. 44 LHP Will Dion

Dion whose delivery resembles Clayton Kershaw was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the year in 2022.

Todd Paquette

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As the future of the organization prepares for a new year and spring training to begin, there’s no better time to bring you the Cleveland Baseball Insiders top 50 prospects for the upcoming 2023 season.

The Guardians are widely regarded as having one of the deepest and top farm systems in all of baseball. So deep, in fact, that it was very difficult to trim the list down to just 50 players I think could have an impact at the MLB level. I probably could easily have ended up listing 75 or more players.

I am implementing the Fangraphs future value grading scale which you will be able to locate under each player video. Future Value is a grade on the 20-80 scale that maps to anticipated annual WAR production during the player’s first six years of service.

My rankings are based off seeing the players live, watching video and having conversations with other evaluators and writers. While prospect lists are fun and entertaining for fans, they are not an end-all-be-all in terms of who make it eventually to the major leagues. Remember, Jose Ramirez was never a top 100 prospect nationally and Oscar Gonzalez wasn't even a top 20 prospect in the Guardians organization.

The ultimate goal here is to inform our readers and give you information on some of the young talent in the organization that they can follow and look forward to seeing in the future at the MLB level.

No. 44 Will Dion - LHP

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2022 Stats

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Bio

Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitching prospect Will Dion made his pro-debut in 2021 after being drafted in the ninth round out of McNeese State University. He pitched in only five games (four in the Arizona Complex League and one with Low-A Lynchburg) totaling 12.0 innings. Over those 12.0 innings, he struck out 21 batters allowing just one hit and one unearned run innings while batters only hit .036 against him.

2022 Season

In 2022 Dion was assigned to Low-A Lynchburg out of spring training. At Lynchburg he made 23 starts before being promoted to High-A Lake County August 29th where he made two more starts to finish the season. 

Over Dion's 25 starts on the year, he posted 2.11 ERA and 3.16 FIP over 128.0 innings pitched. He struck out 157 batters on the year good for a 11.04 SO/9 inning rate while just allowing 34 walks. Batters only hit .203 against him on the season.

Dion was named the Low-A Carolina League Pitcher of the Year after the season. He led the Carolina League in ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts and Avg Against. 

Arsenal

As you can see in the video's posted above Dion's delivery is uncannily similar to Dodgers star left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Unlike Kershaw he is smaller in stature and doesn't currently throw nearly as hard. 

Dion offers a four-pitch mix with his money pitch being his curveball grades above average. His fastball sits only around 88 mph and tops out at around 91 mph. He also offers a slider and changeup that both grade out as average pitches. If he can add more velocity as he continues his development than his prospect rank and outlook could jump significantly.

2023 and Future Outlook

Dion should start out the 2023 season back at High-A Lake County where he finished 2022 season making just two starts after his promotion at the end the year. If Dion pitches well, he could earn a promotion later in the season to Double-A Akron. It may be tough though with so many talented arms ahead of him in the Guardians farm system.

His future ceiling currently is that of a fifth starter or a spot starter at the MLB level. If Dion can add some more velocity to his fastball to go with his deceptiveness and above average curveball than his ceiling could possibly be much higher. 

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Read More:

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Triston McKenzie Looks Strong In First Start Of Spring Training

WATCH: Josh Bell Hits First Home Run In A Guardians Uniform

Guardians 2023 Top 50 Prospects, No. 45 SS Welbyn Francisca

Shane Bieber Picks Up Right Where He Left Off In First Start Of Spring Training

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Todd Paquette
TODD PAQUETTE

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