Predicted breakout could carry Cleveland Guardians in 2025

If the Cleveland Guardians are going to remain a competitive ballclub in 2025 and match or even exceed what they accomplished in 2024, they are going to need a few players to take their performance to the next level. One possible player to do so was recently named as part of a list of pitchers who could break out in 2025.

Guardians' starting pitcher Gavin Williams is one of six pitchers on a list put together by The Athletic's Eno Sarris (subscription required). Sarris believes that Williams' pitch mix, combined with his release point, could be the driving factors in a dominant year on the mound, "...but the biggest reason he’ll break out is batters don’t have enough time to decide what to do — because of that big, booming fastball, released closer to the plate than anyone’s.". If Williams can command his wide variety of pitches and strike out batters at a high rate, there is no limit to what he can accomplish.

Cleveland is in need of someone to be the secondary part of a 1-2 punch in the top of their rotation alongside Tanner Bibee, and Williams seems to be the best candidate for the job. Williams has the stuff and the most potential of those expected to be on Cleveland's roster on Opening Day, so there is no reason not to expect him to pitch at a high level in 2025.

It has been an up-and-down first two seasons in the majors for Williams, as he posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.256 WHIP while striking out 8.9 batters per nine innings pitched in 16 games as a rookie. Unfortunately, an injury sustained in spring training last year derailed his 2024 campaign before it could even get started. Williams would eventually return to the Guardians, and his performance on the mound failed to match that of his first season, finishing with a 4.86 ERA and 1.368 WHIP in 16 games. There was one bright spot, however, as Williams's K/9 ratio increased to 9.4, half of a strikeout more per nine innings than in 2023. An uninterrupted spring and seamless transition to the regular season should bode well for Williams and could very well result in posting the best numbers of his career up to this point.