Cleveland Guardians land five prospects on MLB Pipeline’s 2022 top 100

Akron RubberDucks outfielder George Valera (29) celebrates after he and Akron RubberDucks outfielder Jonathan Engelmann (13) scored on a hit by Akron RubberDucks infielder Jose Tena (4) during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the Class AA Northeast Championship series against the Bowie Baysox at Canal Park, Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Akron, Ohio.Rubberducks 7

Five Cleveland Guardians prospects find themselves in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects for 2022.

‘Tis the season for prospect rankings!

We’ve seen what Baseball America, FanGraphs, and Keith Law at The Athletic think of the Guardians’ farm system, and now MLB Pipeline has weighed in with its 2022 list of the top 100 prospects in the game.

The Guardians are well-represented with five players making the top 100: George Valera (47), Daniel Espino (53), Gabriel Arias (73), Brayan Rocchio (84), and Tyler Freeman (88).

The Guardians are one of five teams with five prospects in the rankings, joined by the Dodgers (finally a lucky break for those guys), Rangers, Rays, and Orioles. The Pirates, Marlins, and Mariners make up the three teams with six players in the list.

Of the five on the list for Cleveland, Arias seems like the most likely to be moved as part of any potential deal that might happen between now and the start of the season. Meanwhile, Tyler Freeman is the team’s top prospect depending on who you ask, and the 21-year-old Espino is already turning heads – just ask Orioles All-Star Cedric Mullins, who the Guardians should be trying to acquire themselves. Valera and Rocchio are expected to be major contributors on the big-league club within a couple years as well.

Beyond these top prospects, the Guardians are blessed with a deep well of talent in the minors. The question is, are they going to use any of it to make a move that will improve the roster for 2022?

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