The Guardians continue to remake their organization by developing Steven Kwan-type players. In other words, athletic players who can hit and play great defense. Will it work? I think it will.
It might not be the most exciting thing for fantasy managers, but as a Steven Kwan owner, I’m glad I have him. However, if you have too many of those average players on your team, you’ll likely never finish in the money.
I debated Manzardo vs. Rocchio and had both as the #1 prospect at one point during the editing process. You can make an argument for both, but I decided on Manzardo as I believe he’s more likely to hit 20 home runs than Rocchio is to steal 25 bags. I think their BA and OBP will be similar. In either case, they are soft #1s. High-floor players without the fantasy-friendly tools. George Valera is the guy who SHOULD be #1, but there’s just too much uncertainty to make that call. He is our biggest disappointment in the system – not what I wanted to see. I think it’s well-earned!
We know that the pitching will be there, and if Daniel Espino can ever pitch again, he has a chance to pitch at the top of the rotation. I also like Joey Cantillo. The stuff is sneaky good, but he needs to find the plate to succeed at the next level.
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Kyle Manzardo
- Biggest Mover: Joey Cantillo
- Biggest Disappointment: George Valera
- Emerging Prospect: Welbyn Francisca
