Top 50 Tuesday: Why Cooper Ingle could be the future at catcher for the Guardians

Welcome back to Top 50 Tuesday, your weekly look into the future of the Cleveland Guardians. This week, we’re focusing on Cooper Ingle, a prospect who’s quietly become one of the most exciting bats in the entire system, and one who could be on the big-league roster as soon as next year.

Ingle, who is currently ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the Guardians' system per MLB Pipeline, has spent the season at Double-A, where he's continued his breakout after a strong 2024 season.

Why Cooper Ingle could be the future at catcher for the Guardians

He’s leading the RubberDucks in a number of key offensive categories, including batting average (.273), hits (91), runs (55), and walks (65). He’s also put up impressive marks in the Eastern League, leading the league in walks and ranking in the top ten for doubles (29), on-base percentage (.391), and slugging (441).

As a left-handed hitter, Ingle’s greatest strength is his incredible plate discipline. He has an advanced eye at the plate, which is why he is able to draw a ton of walks while also laying off pitches out of the zone — a skill set that has consistently helped him get on base at a high clip.

While he’s not built like a traditional power hitter, the Guardians’ coaches have worked with him to add a leg kick and a more aggressive approach in the batter's box. That hard work is paying off in a big way, as he's already mashed nine home runs and 29 doubles this season at Double-A before earning a well-deserved promotion to Triple-A Columbus last week.

Ingle isn't just a bat-first prospect, though. He’s proven to be a solid presence behind the plate, even though he didn't start out as a catcher.

He told reporters he’s been working on his game-calling along with his ability to build strong relationships with the pitching staff in order to communicate the best way to attack hitters. Despite having a below-average arm, he has a quick release that has helped him throw out 50 would-be base-stealers across his minor league career.

At 5'10" and 190 pounds, Ingle may not have the typical catcher's build, but his baseball IQ and advanced approach at the plate and behind it have made him a top-tier prospect.

The Guardians’ current backup catcher, Austin Hedges, is on a one-year deal that expires at the end of this season, and Ingle's impressive performance has positioned him as the clear heir apparent behind Bo Naylor.

It’s entirely possible that when spring training rolls around next season, Ingle will be competing for a spot on the big-league roster and be ready to take over as the backup to Naylor. His journey is a testament to the Guardians’ ability to find and develop undervalued talent, and his name is one you'll want to remember.