Cleveland Sports Forum

Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 10/18-19/24


Arthur Kinney and Justin Lada
Oct 20, 2024

Arizona Fall League - Surprise Saguaros 7, Scottsdale Scorpions 6
Venezuelan League - Leones del Caracas 6, Tigres de Aragua 4
GUARDIANS PROSPECTS
Chase DeLauter (DH, Surprise): 2-4, 1B, BB, RBI - DeLauter was the DH for a fourth time this AFL season and had a 96 mph single and a 109 mph lineout 337 feet. Remember, AFL results don’t matter, but batted ball data is something you can always take something away from. And the Guardians need someone who can hit the ball hard consistently like DeLauter. The same way DeLauter needs two healthy legs consistently.

Milan Tolentino (2B, Surprise - 10/18): 2-4, 2 R, 1 K, 1 SB - Tolentino scored twice for the fourth time this fall, including each of his last three games, as,he extended his season-opening on-base streak to eight games with a pair of singles, including one in the Saguaros’ three-run top of the ninth rally.

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Milan Tolentino (3B, Surprise - 10/19): 1-3 2 RBI, BB - Tolentino has also done a good job hitting the ball hard in his chances as well and is playing all over the diamond.

Kody Huff (C, Surprise): 1-2, 2B, RBI, 2B SB - Huff is getting much needed experience in the AFL after skipping High-A in 2024, which is rare but he was older for the level when Cleveland acquired him. And he’s had some moments so far in the AFL.

Zak Kent (SP, Surprise): ND, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (earned), 1 BB, 1 WP, 2 K - Kent's second outing of the fall was a significant improvement over his AFL debut in terms of run prevention, albeit with a markedly lower strikeout rate.

Dylan DeLucia (RP, Surprise): BS (1), 3 IP, 6 H, 5 R (all earned), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR allowed - DeLucia's autumnal struggles continued on Friday night. After working out of trouble in the fifth and stranding a Scorpion on second in the sixth, he allowed a quartet of tallies in the seventh and was pulled following a leadoff single in the eighth. He has now allowed nine earned runs in only 5.1 innings. This AFL campaign looks to be largely an exercise in knocking off rust for Dylan.

Alexfri Planez (starting RF, Aragua): 1-2, 1 R - Planez continued his pattern of alternating one-hit and hitless games through his first five appearances of the Venezuelan campaign. Although, in this case, his quest for a multi-hit performance was short-circuited by his getting pinch-hit for in the sixth.

BA listing of best changeups in the minors includes Parker Messick, who peaked at Akron this summer; and fellow lefty Jackson Humprhies in low A

Parker Messick, LHP, Guardians
Swinging Strike Rate: 29.5%

A star for Florida State as a collegiate, Messick has continued to experience success as a professional. Over 26 starts split between High-A and Double-A, Messick pitched to a 2.83 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 1.14 WHIP with 165 strikeouts against 44 walks across 133.2 innings. Messick’s fastball sits just 91-93 mph, but he generates an above-average amount of ride for his release height, helping the pitch play up. Messick’s changeup is his primary secondary pitch, and he uses it effectively, generating lots of swings (56.4%) and chases (45.2%). He has around a nine mph delta between his average fastball and his changeup, and he gets good vertical separation with more than three degrees between his fastball vertical approach angle and his changeup.

Jackson Humphries, LHP, Guardians
Swinging Strike Rate: 27%

A high school lefthander the Guardians signed in the 8th round of the 2022 draft for $600,000, Humphries had his best season as a professional in 2024, making 23 starts for Low-A Lynchburg and striking out 29.1% of batters faced. Humphries still struggles with command, however, and he walked 12.3% of batters, which led to some struggles at times. Humphries’ fastball sits 89-90 mph but has above-average vertical break from a higher release point. While Humphries’ changeup doesn’t have much vertical separation off the fastball, it does have a nearly 10 mph difference in velocity and 14-15 inches of armside run. This allowed Humphries to generate a ton of whiffs against the pitch, generating them at a rate of 67.2% of all swings. fellow lef

on Saturday: DeLauter 2 singles and a walk still only DHing
Tolentino 1 single 1 walk 2 rbi
None of our relievers got into the game
Scorpions were off Sunday and Monday