2027 Rookie of the Year race could give Ralphy Velazquez first chance to etch his name into Guardians’ lore 

On Monday, Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle beat out Parker Messick and Chase DeLauter for American League Rookie of the Year on the back of a fantastic all-around season. 

But just because the ink is barely dry on McGonigle’s win doesn’t mean that it’s too early to start preparing for next season’s award, which is exactly what the team at MLB Pipeline did in their new story where they picked out a potential Rookie of the Year winner from each team. And, to the surprise of no one, Raphy Velazquez was the Guardians' nominee. 

While Velazquez is just 21 and has yet to make his MLB debut, his inclusion on the list is another example of his rising profile ahead of what could be a breakout 2027 campaign. 

KLJLKJ

It’s not hard to see how Velazquez could help the Guardians win next season given he’s coming off a season where he slashed .290/.379/.548 with 29 homers in 117 games across Double-A and Triple-A. 

And while that kind of performance is good enough to earn a roster spot no matter what, the Guardians have a great opportunity to clear a spot for him this winter by letting Nathaniel Lowe walk in free agency and non-tendering David Fry. Lowe did well as the Guardians' primary first baseman down the stretch last season, but he doesn’t have the same kind of long-term upside as Velazquez and Kyle Manzardo. 

Even though this year’s offseason is going to be a bit different due to the impending lockout, that uncertainty shouldn’t impact Velazquez’s development too much since he’s not on the 40-man roster and would be able to play in the minors regardless of what happens with the big league season. Normally a player of Velazquez’s caliber starting the season in the minors would be a point of frustration, but this year it could be a blessing in disguise. 

But Velazquez will be a favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award whenever the season starts, which could provide the Guardians with an additional bonus since a top-three finish from him would net Cleveland a PPI pick (like what happened with Parker Messick this season).

Even with that uncertainty, MLB Pipeline’s list is another reminder of how exciting the Guardians’ young core is. Not only did Messick, DeLauter and Travis Bazzana all earn votes in this year’s ROY race, but roster staples like Gavin Williams, Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis all still have multiple years of team control remaining via arbitration. Oh yeah, and there’s José Ramírez and his team-friendly extension. 

But any conversation about the Guardians’ future begins and ends with Velazquez, who is the best slugging prospect in Cleveland's system along with being one of the biggest rising stars in the minors.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow