3 top prospects Guardians should promote to further change AL Central race

While the Cleveland Guardians opened the year with the third-youngest roster in MLB, they haven’t gotten much production from rookies this year. 

In fact, they’ve only had four players make their MLB debut this year (Wil Wilson, Zac Kent, Doug Nikhazy and Nic Enright), and have gotten a combined -0.4 bWAR from them. 

But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room on the Guardians’ roster for young players to make a mark.

In fact, there are a variety of avenues for the Guardians to add some impact prospects to their roster. Here are three.

3 top prospects Guardians should promote to further change AL Central race

1B/OF C.J.Kayfus

Kayfus was recently promoted into MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospect list, which is a tangible example of his growth over the past few seasons.

Cayfus was promoted to Triple-A last month and has hit .318 with five home runs in 29 game since getting promoted. MLB Pipeline has him as the Guardians No. 5 prospect and he can play both first base and corner outfield. 

His path to the roster would come thanks to his bat. He’s mostly played left field in the minors (which is currently owned by Steven Kwan) and has only played right field three times, which is where the Guardians have an obvious hole. 

He could also play first base, though the Guardians have gotten above-average production from Kyle Manzardo and Carlos Santana. 

Still, Kayfus has played well in the minors, and has the kind of pop that we rarely see from Guardians prospects. 

Kayfus isn’t on the 40-man roster, but the Guardians should have some spots open soon due to Will Brennan and Andrew Walters’ injuries.

OF Petey Halpin

Another outfielder prospect, Halpin’s on the team’s 40-man roster and is in his first season at Triple-A. 

After hitting .233 with Akron last year, Halpin’s hit .289 with Columbus this year to go along with five home runs and 20 RBI. He strikes out a bit too much (60 strikeouts compared to 20 walks) but he can play all three outfield positions and is an above-average baserunner.

The only Guardians “prospect” who has received any playing time in the outfield this year is Johnathan Rodríguez, who got five at-bats at the beginning of the year and hasn’t been heard from since.

The Guardians need some fresh blood in their outfield, and Halpin fits the mold of the kind of outfielder that the Guardians covet.

LHP Parker Messick

While Logan Allen is getting the start for the Guardians against the Astros on Friday, Cleveland may have already tipped its hand about the left-handed starter by skipping his turn in the rotation last weekend. 

And although Joey Cantillo stands out as a natural replacement for Allen after the team demoted him to Triple-A earlier this month, Messick has also worked his way into consideration for the Guardians’ MLB rotation. 

Messick has a 2.64 ERA in 47 2/3 innings with the Clippers this year, and has struck out 62 and allowed just 24 walks. 

The biggest knock against him might be his lack of length; he’s recorded an out in the sixth inning in just one start this year. 

He was an Eastern League All-Star last year and had 165 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings, and could be a solid option in the rotation or the bullpen.