Guardians finally have clear path to give Ralphy Velazquez everyday playing time 

First base was quite an adventure for the Cleveland Guardians in 2026. Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins combined for 145 appearances there, but they both spent the final months of the season on the sideline thanks to a minor league demotion and back injury, respectively. 

Nathaniel Lowe entered the picture at the trade deadline and ended up recording 42 appearances there, but he was a pure rental who won’t fit into the Guardians’ 2027 plans. David Fry and his 14 appearances at first should fit into their plans for next season, but he could be on the chopping block after another rough season. And then who can forget Garbiel Arias’ single appearance at first at the end of July. 

That uninspiring group finished the year with the worst batting average in MLB among first baseman (.203) to go along with a 91 wRC+ (tied for the third-worst in baseball). 

It’s clear that upgrades are needed. Luckily for the Guardians, they have the next heir apparent for the position waiting in the minors in top prospect Ralphy Velazquez, a 21-year-old hitting savant who just spent the 2026 season tearing up minor league pitching. 

He may not be a perfect fit at first next to Manzardo since they’re both left-handed, but last year showed the perils of trying to jam a platoon into a spot where it doesn’t need to be. There’s enough room on the Guardians’ roster for both Manzardo and Velazquez, but 2027 is the time to let the kid shine. 

Ralphy Valezquez is the Guardians' first baseman of the future

Velazquez’s 2026 campaign was one of the most impressive in all of baseball. Not only did he finish the year with a .927 OPS with 29 home runs and 93 RBI in 121 games across Double-A and Triple-A, but he did it while almost always being the youngest player on the diamond. 

The Guardians initial plan for Velazquez when they drafted him in the first round in 2023 was to try to turn him into their catcher of the future, but that lasted all of one Rookie Complex League game. Now he’s a bonafide first baseman who can moonlight in the outfield when needed. 

That experience on the grass may be a fun tool in his bag, but it doesn’t need to be his path to the big leagues anymore. That would have made sense last season (like how all of Cooper Ingle’s big league experience came in the outfield), but it won’t be necessary in 2027 since there’ll be less of a logjam at first base. 

One thing to watch with Velazquez this offseason is how the Guardians plan on handling his roster status ahead of an uncertain season. As of now he doesn’t need to worry about the lockout since he’s not on the Guardians’ 40-man roster (and would be eligible to play in the 2027 minor league season), but that could change soon if Cleveland adds him to their roster during the offseason. 

But regardless of where Velazquez starts 2027, he’s still going to be a big part of the Guardians’ 2027 plans. 

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