3 Cleveland Guardians prospects named to AFL Fall-Stars roster

As an organization, the Cleveland Guardians have had an excellent Arizona Fall League season, which has culminated in three players being named to the AL Fall-Stars roster.

Two names - Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter - you have likely already heard before, especially in these parts. Manzardo was acquired at the trade deadline this season from Tampa Bay as part of the Aaron Civale deal, and hit five home runs and six doubles in 89 AFL plate appearances. DeLauter, Cleveland's 2022 first-round pick, is hitting .257/.358/.473 with four home runs, four doubles, 23 RBI, and five stolen bases in 20 AFL games.

Both Manzardo and DeLauter have done much to increase their stock heading into 2024, but so has the third Fall-Star, Ryan Webb.

Webb, 24, currently leads the AFL in strikeouts. He was a fourth-round pick by Cleveland in 2021 and is a promising left-handed pitching prospect, with a 3.47 ERA in 34 minor-league appearances (33 starts) to date. He also has 155 strikeouts in 137 1/3 innings across two minor-league seasons since being drafted out of the University of Georgia.

There's a good chance Webb starts the season with Double-A Akron, and it wouldn't be a shock at all to see him up in Cleveland as early as next year with the way the Guardians fast-track pitchers once they hit that level.

In 2023, eight players made their major-league debuts with Cleveland, down from the staggering 17 who debuted in 2022 as the Guardians made their way to the playoffs. It's possible Manzardo, DeLauter, and Webb all appear at some point in 2024, with plenty more prospects waiting in the wings.