Guardians 2025 Draft Class: Grades, Performances in Pro Debut

The latest edition of Cleveland.com’s Hey, Hoynsie column takes a good, hard look at the Cleveland Guardians’ current roster challenges. It also digs into promising young prospects and off-field moves that could shape the franchise’s future.

From standout performances in the 2025 minor league postseason to big changes in streaming rights, there’s a lot to unpack. The discussion touches on injuries, surprises, and even a few “what if” trades that never materialized.

The Guardians are trying to rebound from an early playoff exit. With emerging talent and some big organizational decisions, the storylines keep fans guessing.

Guardians’ Farm System Shows Championship-Caliber Potential

The 2025 draft class is already turning heads. Class A Lynchburg wrapped up a fantastic season by winning the Carolina League title.

They did this without top pick Jace LaViolette, who missed a chunk of time after hand surgery. In his place, a few other prospects made their mark.

Postseason Standouts in Lynchburg’s Title Run

Two hitters, in particular, rose to the occasion under playoff pressure:

• Riley Nelson – Hit .381 in the postseason, plus a homer and four RBI.
• Nolan Schubart – Batted .333 and made a similar impact at the plate.

On the mound, Will McCausland barely allowed anyone to reach base. He went 2-0 in 6⅔ scoreless innings, showing a kind of calm that could push him up the ladder fast.

Roster Moves and Injury Recoveries

While the farm system keeps rolling, the big-league roster has been anything but steady. Former closer Trevor Stephan is still working back from Tommy John surgery and just got outrighted to Triple-A Columbus.

People around the team seem hopeful he’ll stick around on a minor league deal. Meanwhile, veteran pitcher Shane Bieber surprised a lot of folks by picking up his 2026 player option with Toronto, keeping him out of Cleveland for now.

Offensive Struggles Define Playoff Exit

It’d be easy to blame pitching for the postseason letdown, but the bats just didn’t show up. Without run support or clutch hitting, even the best arms couldn’t save their October hopes.

Missed Trade Opportunities and Market Value

One of the bigger “what ifs” centers on closer Emmanuel Clase. Before his paid leave, there was talk that Cleveland could’ve traded him for a massive return—maybe even matching some recent high-profile closer deals.

That kind of move might’ve brought back key pieces for the club’s future, but it just didn’t happen.

MLB Rules and Player Bans

MLB rules make things tricky. If a player gets a lifetime ban—like Clase or Luis Ortiz could, in theory—the team gets nothing in return.

This goes all the way back to the 1919 Black Sox scandal. It’s a tough break for front offices, but the policy hasn’t changed.

Broadcast Expansion with ESPN

There’s a big shift coming in how fans watch games. ESPN picked up the Guardians’ in-market streaming rights for 2026 through 2028.

Fans can catch games on the ESPN app, while MLB still runs the main broadcast production. The move should make things more accessible and fits with the league’s push into digital territory.

Impact on Fan Engagement

For a franchise trying to win over younger fans, this streaming deal feels like a big step. With easier access, maybe more casual viewers will stick around and become die-hards—or even season ticket holders someday.

Hall of Fame Hopes Dashed for Omar Vizquel

Despite his stellar stats and glove work, longtime shortstop Omar Vizquel probably won’t make it to Cooperstown. Off-field controversies have clouded his case, unfortunately.

It’s just another reminder that Hall of Fame debates go way beyond what happens on the diamond.

An Uphill Battle for Nic Enright

Pitcher Nic Enright faced a brutal stretch—designated for assignment while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and getting immunotherapy for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

His grit will matter if he wants another shot at the majors. You have to root for a guy facing odds like that.

Final Thoughts

The Guardians’ story right now is all about contrasts. You’ve got unrealized veteran potential sitting next to some seriously exciting young talent.

Lynchburg just snagged a title, and there’s that ESPN streaming deal too. The seeds for future success are there, but honestly, execution at the major league level keeps tripping things up.

What happens next? Maybe the front office sticks with the youth movement, or maybe they shake things up with trades or an offensive retool. The next few months could take Cleveland baseball somewhere totally new—or, well, at least somewhere interesting.

 
Here is the source article for this story: How did Guardians’ 2025 draft class fare in pro debut? Hey, Hoynsie