Looking at the Cleveland Guardians 2022 MLB Draft Class

The Cleveland Guardians finished up selecting their 2022 MLB Draft Class

The Cleveland Guardians have completed their selections in the 2022 MLB Draft, and, well…that’s really it. Unlike the NBA, NHL, or NFL, the draftees for Major League clubs will usually not be relevant for a while. You’re looking at at least four, but maybe even six years for some of these guys to be Major League ready.

Some will be ready sooner, some will be ready later, but none of them are going to see the Majors in 2023. This is why the MLB draft is far from others in terms of hype and value. These guys offer no immediate salvation the way a Chet Holmgren or Travon Walker will.

So there’s not as much reason to get hyped for these rookies, as you won’t be seeing them anytime soon. That said, there’s still a reason to look at who was drafted, as it does tell a bit of a tale, one of the front office and how they view their current minor leagues.

1. OF Chase DeLauter
2. LHP Parker Messick
3. RHP Justin Campbell
4. OF Joe Lampe
5. 2B Nate Furman
6. OF Guy Lipscomb
7. RHP Dylan Delucia
8. RHP Javier Santos Tejada
9. LHP Jackson Humphries
10. RHP Austin Peterson
11. RHP Jacob Zibin
12. RHP Magnus Ellerts
13. RHP Jack Jasiak
14. SS Tyresse Turner
15. OF Pres Cavenaugh
16. LHP Adam Tulloch
17. C Logun Clark
18. OF Angel Zarate
19. RHP Zach Jacobs
20. RHP Geo Rivera
21. RHP Shawn Rapp

The Cleveland Guardians limited pitching selections as compared to 2021

The 2021 MLB Draft saw the Guardians take almost all pitchers across every round. This year, however, wasn’t the case. They did take 13 pitchers this year, but last year they took 19. So, progress has been made in the minors at least with how they view their pitchers of the future.

While the Guardians’ current outfield looks impressive, assuming Myles Straw ups his batting average, they did still take an outfielder in the first round. This shouldn’t be surprising, as most of the best outfield prospects were either called up this year (Oscar Gonzalez and Steven Kwan) or could be years away from being ready.

Drafting Chase DeLauter was the right call. He’s a power-hitting outfielder that could provide some pop should he develop as many hope he will. Keep this in mind; when Jose Ramirez gets a hit, 20% of the time it’s a home run. When DeLauter got a hit as a senior, he was driving it over the fence 21% of the time.

Now, how he’ll develop with a wood bat, versus the aluminum bats in college, and his overall progress against better prospects will determine if his power gets better in the pros or if he’s even a viable hitter at the major league level.

Yet, he’s got big power, and a steady swing, so if anyone develops from this class, it should be DeLauter, but only time will tell.