2025 Guardians first-rounder emphatically breaks brutal streak to start pro career

Last summer the Cleveland Guardians made one of the shrewdest picks in the draft when they selected Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette. 

At one point early in his college career, LaViolette looked like he could be the No. 1 pick in the draft before injuries and strikeouts dropped his stock a little bit. 

Those factors led to him falling all the way to the No. 27 pick, where the Guardians happily scooped him up. 

And, after sitting out all of last season due to injury, LaViolette made his organizational debut for the Guardians this year at High-A Lake County. And while his early season returns left a lot to be desired thanks to an 0-for-13 start, he ended his hitless streak with a third inning double in Lake County’s 7-4 loss to Dayton. 

Guardians prospect Jace LaViolette finally got the monkey off his back last night

LaViolette’s hit had been a long-time coming, as he’s gone hitless through his first four games of the season with eight strikeouts. Not great. 

But he was finally able to snap that skid with his aforementioned double that came on a 96 mile per hour fastball over the middle of the plate.He also added a fifth inning single. 

While LaViolette played for three years in college, he’s likely a bit of a ways away from being a big league contributor thanks to those injuries and strikeout struggles. 

That said, he finished his college career with a .285 batting average with 68 home runs in 188 games and was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award (which is given to the national collegiate player of the year) in 2025 after he hit 18 home runs and 61 RBI. 

He’s a high-ceiling outfield prospect who has a bit more boom-or-bust potential than the Guardians usually go for, so Cleveland’s decision to pick him was exciting, even if he missed all of last summer thanks to a broken left hand. 

He played in three games for the Guardians in spring training and went 3-for-6 with a majestic home run. 

LaViolette’s slow start shouldn’t put a damper on any of the momentum around him, however. While it obviously would be better if he opened the season by setting the world on fire, he’s still ranked as the Guardians’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline and is clearly a big part of the team’s future. 

One of the biggest things to watch with LaViolette (along with his offense) is his defensive position, which has been split evenly across center field and right field so far this season. 

There are some questions about if LaViolette can stick in center due to his 6-foot-6 frame, but it seems like the Guardians are comfortable giving him a chance to stick there. 

There’s no denying LaViolette is a talented hitter (even if his early-season stats don’t make it seem like). It’s only going to be a matter of time until he starts stacking up hits in bunches.