Checking in on the Guardian's first 5 picks from their 2025 draft class

Last year’s draft was a fruitful one for the Cleveland Guardians. While it always takes a bit to be able to fully judge an MLB draft class thanks to how long it takes players to rise through the ranks, the early returns have clearly been promising. 

How promising? Let's take a look 

The Guardians’ have a deep farm system thanks to the 2025 draft 

OF Jace LaViolette (Round One, Pick No. 27)

The Guardians were overjoyed to take LaViolette at the end of the first round, as he’s largely lived up to the hype so far in the minors. 

After gaining some steam early in the draft cycle as a potential No. 1 pick, his stock fell a bit thanks to some injuries and struggles with strikeouts. 

He made his organizational debut for Cleveland this year at High-A Lake County and has posted a .237/.340/.489 slashline with eight home runs and 24 RBI.

He started the season 0-for-13 before recording his first hit and has hit .275 in May with five home runs and 18 RBI. 

LaViolette is currently ranked as the Guardians’ No. 7 prospect at MLB Pipeline, and should be ranked even higher later in the year once Travis Bazzana officially graduates. 

This pick is looking like a clear win. 

INF Dean Curley (Round Two, Pick No. 64) 

Another pick who fell into the Guardians’ lap thanks to a subpar pre-draft showing, Curley made his big league debut last season by playing in six games at High-A. 

He’s back at that level this season and has recorded an eye-popping .497 on-base percentage with five home runs and 24 RBI. 

Curley recorded that high on-base percentage thanks to a team-leading 51 walks, which is undoubtedly music to the Guardians’ ears. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he ends up finishing the year at Double-A Akron. 

OF Aaron Walton (Competitive Balance Round B, Pick No. 66)  

Another 2025 draft pick playing with High-A Lake County, Walton is arguably the biggest riser from last year’s draft class. 

Walton shot up draft boards thanks to a great season at Arizona, which set up the Guardians picking him with the first pick in the Competitive Balance Round B round. 

He played in 16 games at Hill City last year but has come into his own this year with nine home runs and 38 RBI in 40 games along with a .587 slugging percentage. 

While a lot can change between now and when Walton is at a point where he can make a big league impact, his power potential should have every Guardians fan dreaming of him patrolling center field at Progressive Field. 

LHP Will Hynes (Competitive Balance Round B, Pick No. 70)

The Guardians’ selection of Hynes closed the door on the Josh Naylor trade. And what a way to close it.

Hynes was initially committed to pitch at Wake Forest, but the Guardians were able to shake him loose from that commitment by signing him for $950,000. 

He didn’t pitch at all last season after being selected by Cleveland (the norm for their high school pitchers) and recently made his team debut in the Arizona Complex League, where he’s allowed one earned run across seven innings. 

The Guardians tend to slow-play their pitching prospects (especially high school ones), but Hynes could end up being a fast-riser if he’s able to harness his above-average arsenal. 

1B Nolan Schubert (Round Three, Pick No. 101)

The Guardians went against their usual M.O. by drafting Schubert, who boasts light tower power but came with strong swing-and-miss concerns. 

Both of those things have come true since he made his organizational debut for Cleveland, as he’s posted a .209 batting average in 54 games with 11 home runs and 87 strikeouts. 

They also tried him in the outfield last year in his brief cameo at Single-A, but it seems like that experiment is over, as all but two of his appearances this season have come at either first base or designated hitter. 

Schubert has the kind of power the Guardians have always desperately needed, but he’s going to need to cut down on his strikeouts if he wants to be an everyday player in Cleveland. 

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