Four Candidates For 2024 Cleveland Guardians 40-Man Roster
With the Cleveland Guardians' managerial search underway, we will soon see a new face coaching Cleveland’s baseball team. That said, there could be some new faces on next season’s 40-man roster.
2023 saw the Guardians add three pitchers to their 40-man roster: Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, and Gavin Williams.
Sep 17, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (63) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field.
© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Here are four Cleveland Minor League players who could make their way onto the team’s 2024 40-man roster:
Johnathan Rodríguez
This year, across Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, the 23-year-old outfielder won the Guardians’ Minor League Triple Crown, hitting .286 with 29 home runs and 88 RBI.
Cleveland’s No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline also led the system in hits (142), extra-base hits (59), slugging percentage (.529), and OPS (.897).
Kyle Manzardo
Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Aaron Civale trade, the first baseman is Cleveland’s second-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline. He hit six home runs with 12 RBI and a 1.117 OPS in his final 11 games with Columbus.
In the Arizona Fall League, Manzardo currently ranks top-5 in home runs (three, tied for first), RBI (10, tied for fifth), extra-base hits (five, tied for second), total bases (19, tied for fifth), and runs (11, tied for first).
Chase DeLauter
In his first professional season, Cleveland’s fourth-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline played 48 games across High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. He hit .366 with four home runs, 35 RBI, and 19 doubles.
The outfielder is currently tied for the Arizona Fall League lead with 12 RBI.
Will Dion
Cleveland’s No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline, the lefty starting pitcher led qualified Guardians Minor Leaguers in ERA (2.39), opposing batting average (.216), WHIP (1.08), and winning percentage (.600), while ranking third in strikeouts (129).
As one of the youngest teams in baseball, Cleveland has an abundance of Minor League talent to choose from for its 2024 40-man roster.
