The 2024 season is shaping up to be an exciting one for the Guardians (however, that's always easy to say before the season). With any luck, though, it's finally the season we see the club make a long-term decision on a number of middle-infield prospects. And it should also be the season in which the Guardians add an everyday bat or two to the outfield.
Perhaps most importantly, this will also be a season in which we get to finally see some much-hyped prospects finally break through to the majors.
Infielders who could debut with the Cleveland Guardians in 2024
Deyvison De Los Santos is a near certainty to make the Opening Day roster despite being only 20 years old and not playing in Triple-A at all. That's what happens when you're a Rule 5 draft selection. That said, once he reaches the 90-day service time threshold, he could find himself on the IL, especially if he's struggling and the club would still like to retain him. Expect De Los Santos to see time in the corners and at DH early on. His raw power is real, but the lack of experience against advanced pitching may prove challenging at times.
The first base/DH roster configuration is going to be an interesting balancing act. The aforementioned De Los Santos, Josh Naylor, and even David Fry will all see time between the two spots early on, or at least until Kyle Manzardo is promoted. Manzardo projects as a bat-to-ball guy that the Guardians love but should provide some thump, too. Could he be a Josh Naylor clone of sorts? I think we would all take that, but expect Manzardo to debut sometime in late May or early June.
Juan Brito and Angel Martinez fall into the same category. Both have a good chance to debut this season, but both are at the tail end of the middle infield logjam. Their futures both hinge on what the club does with Tyler Freeman, Gabriel Arias, and Brayan Rocchio. If all three falter, then we could see either one debut. Each has spent some time in the outfield this spring in an effort to gain some position versatility.