5 prospects in the Cleveland Guardians organization to watch this season

3. Joey Cantillo, LHP

In terms of players who could, and should, make an impact in the future at the major-league level for Cleveland, Joey Cantillo tops the list. Joining the Guardians' organization in 2020 as part of the Mike Clevinger trade (joined by the haul of Austin Hedges, Cal Quantrill, Josh Naylor, Gabriel Arias and Owen Miller), Cantillo could very well be the answer Cleveland needs to their early season starting woes.

At 24 years old, Cantillo is one of the oldest players on this list, but the possibilities he presents is what keeps him on it. With the injury to Shane Bieber and the Guardians getting short outings from their starting pitchers, the door is wide open for Cantillo to step in and contribute in Cleveland. The added bonus? He's a lefty.

Cleveland has had a long stretch of promising young starters hitting the scene: Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee to name a handful, and there are more. But despite the ongoing success of the pitching factory, few have been lefties. All those names mentioned, and none are lefties. Logan Allen's arrival is one of few and Cantillo's could be the next.

The barrier for Cantillo currently is he hasn't been on the field. He made just three appearances in spring training, with one start, before being sidelined with a hamstring strain for 8-10 weeks. The injury will likely keep him out until late May or early June. Even then, you don't want to throw him straight into the fire of the big leagues for his major-league debut coming off an injury. Despite 18 starts and 20 appearances in Columbus last season, don't expect Cantillo in the near future. However, he could be a key piece to arrive in the summer or down the stretch.