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Ralphy Velazquez Could Be a First Base Option for the Guardians in 2027
Cleveland Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said that first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez could be in the organization's big-league plans in 2027, per Joe Noga of cleveland.com. Velazquez put together a monster year in the minors in 2026, hitting .290/.379/.548 with 29 home runs, 93 RBI, 78 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 538 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A. The 21-year-old showed off significant power upside for a young player, posting a 13.7% barrel rate at Triple-A. Cleveland does not have a clear answer at first base heading into 2027, as trade deadline acquisition Nathaniel Lowe is set to hit free agency. If Velazquez puts together a strong Spring Training, he could be a riser in fantasy drafts ahead of 2027.
Source: cleveland.com - Joe Noga
Source: cleveland.com - Joe Noga
Stephen Vogt Says He's Staying With Guardians
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that he will return to the team next season after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series this year, according to The Associated Press. "I'm here," Vogt said at a news conference Thursday. "I'm coming back." There were rumblings that Vogt could leave Cleveland for the Seattle Mariners' managerial opening so that he could be closer to his family's home in Washington. The former big-league catcher has led the Guardians to a division crown in each of his three seasons at the helm and has been named American League Manager of the Year twice. The 41-year-old said he has not been contacted by the Mariners, who fired Dan Wilson last month following the disappointing year after Seattle made it to the AL Championship Series in 2025. Although the M's have not reached out to Vogt, it is possible that they contact Cleveland with a trade proposal.
Source: The Associated Press
Source: The Associated Press
Ralphy Velazquez Worth A Look For Fantasy Managers
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez has been hitting all season in the minors and is coming off an outrageously productive month in August at Triple-A Columbus, making him well worth a late-season stash opportunity in most fantasy leagues. In 90 August at-bats, Velazquez crushed 15 homers with 34 RBI while hitting .356 with 23 runs scored. That brought Velazquez' Triple-A totals this season to 28 homers and 89 RBI with a .290 batting average. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter is the No. 2 prospect in the Guardians' system and has a 50-grade hit tool with 60-grade power. He wasn't called up to Cleveland at the beginning of September, but he still could make a late-season cameo in the big leagues. He is worth taking that stash risk on because of his power potential and overall hitting ability.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ralphy Velazquez Nearing MLB Debut?
Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez capped off a scorching August by getting on base three times on Sunday, going 1-for-3 with a single and two walks. The Guardians' second-ranked prospect hit .356 in August with an otherworldly 1.299 OPS and 15 home runs in 23 games. The effort pushed his slash line at Triple-A to .281/.364/.551 with 21 home runs in 75 games for the Clippers while striking out at a better-than-average rate of 20.8 percent. The former first-round draft pick looks ready to put his power on display in the majors, and could give Cleveland a much-needed offensive boost (4.07 runs/per game, third-worst). The left-handed hitter could get his chance now that the calendar has turned to September and rosters expand. With the kind of power in his bat, the 21-year-old is one of the top stashes for home runs and could provide a decent average along with ample RBI as well down the stretch.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ralphy Velazquez Well Worth a Late-Season Stash
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez hit another home run on Friday night to continue his scorching-hot month of August at Triple-A Columbus. Velazquez has 15 homers and 32 RBI in this month while hitting .357. The first base prospect is forcing the Guardians to consider adding him to the major league roster, making a September call-up the most likely scenario. Between Double-A Akron and Columbus this season, Velazquez has hit .292 with 28 homers and 86 RBI along with 69 runs scored. The left-handed hitter is the Guardians' No. 2 prospect with 60-grade power along with a 50-grade hit tool. At 21 years old, Velazquez is a league-winning type addition to fantasy rosters and looks like a real difference-maker down the stretch in redraft leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Red-Hot Ralphy Velazquez Has League-Winning Upside
For fantasy managers looking to close out their season on a high note, there may not be a better September option than Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez. At Triple-A Columbus, Velazquez is coming off a three-homer game on Saturday and has been scorching hot at the plate in August, making a September call-up very likely when rosters expand. Cleveland's No. 2 overall prospect has 14 homers and 27 RBI in 70 August at-bats with a .371 batting average. Given a 60-grade for power, the left-handed swinging first base prospect could be a big boost to the Cleveland lineup as well as fantasy managers who take a shot and add him ahead of the promotion news. Velazquez has hit all season long between Double-A Akron and Columbus with 27 homers and 81 RBI while hitting a combined .293. He is looking like a potential league-winning waiver-wire addition.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ralphy Velazquez Could Make for a Nice Late-Season Addition
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez has hit three homers in his last four games at Triple-A Columbus in what has been a scorching-hot month of August for the left-handed hitter. Velazquez has 11 homers and 20 RBI this month with a .356 batting average and 17 runs scored. The 21-year-old has split time this season between Double-A Akron and Columbus and combined to hit .288 with 24 homers and 74 RBI. Velazquez is the No. 2 prospect for Cleveland and has 60-grade power with a 50-grade hit tool. If Velazquez keeps hitting at this pace this month, he should get a chance for a promotion to Cleveland. The Guardians could use the power upside that Velazquez brings, and he would be a welcome addition to many fantasy teams late this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ralphy Velazquez Hits Another Home Run, 2026 Debut Still in Play
Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez produced yet another home run on Tuesday, going deep for the 11th time in his last 16 games at Triple-A Columbus. The Guardians' top-ranked prospect is also hitting .344 during that stretch, bringing his slash line to .267/.353/.506 with 15 home runs through 64 games for the Clippers. It has certainly put him in the conversation for a September call-up, though he is not yet on the 40-man roster. If there is an injury or underperformance on the big league club, though, it could open up a pathway to the majors, either at first base or in the outfield, as the Guardians fight for a playoff spot. The club ranks third-worst in the majors in runs scored per game (3.98), so the left-handed slugger could provide a powerful spark. Consider the 21-year-old one of the top stashes for home runs in most standard-sized redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ralphy Velazquez Making Case For Call-Up With Red-Hot Month
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez is doing everything in his power to prove himself MLB-ready with a power surge at Triple-A Columbus in August. This month, Velazquez is hitting .341 with eight homers and 14 RBI in 44 at bats. Velazquez, the No. 2 prospect for the Guardians, is a nice pickup in fantasy leagues in anticipation of a call-up. Redraft managers will hope for a promotion soon as the Guardians could use some extra power in their lineup despite making a trade-deadline move and acquiring first baseman Nate Lowe. At age 21, Velazquez is having a stellar season at Columbus with 21 homers and 68 RBI while hitting .284 with 60 runs scored. Cleveland already called up top prospect Angel Genao, but the power profile of Velazquez is still appealing and he has the ability to potentially play in the outfield. He is looking like a priority addition to fantasy teams.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ralphy Velazquez a Top Stash After Two-Home Run Effort
Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez endured a 0-for-21 six-game stretch in late July, but since then, the Guardians' top-ranked prospect has been on an otherworldly power binge, blasting nine home runs in his last 12 games at Triple-A Columbus, including two home runs in Wednesday's contest, while batting .319 (15-for-47) over that time. The former first-rounder earned a promotion to Triple-A in mid-May and after scuffling a bit, he appears to be settling in just fine against the stiffer competition. The left-handed hitter is now slashing .258/.338/.485 with 13 home runs in 60 games with the Clippers, while striking out at a slightly-better-than-average rate of 21.5 percent and producing an 88th-percentile barrel rate of 12.4 percent that foretells more home runs to come. The 21-year-old could be the next Guardians prospect to debut this season, and should be considered a top stash option for power production in most 12-team leagues and deeper.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ralphy Velazquez's August Power Surge at Triple-A Could Lead to MLB Call-Up
Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez is hitting with power to begin August with four homers and seven RBI in six games this month. Velazquez, at age 21, has split time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus this season with 17 homers combined to go with 61 RBI and 53 runs scored while hitting .277 between both levels. Velazquez is the Guardians' top-ranked prospect and has been given a 60-grade ranking for power with a 50-grade hit tool. The left-handed hitter can play first base or outfield and is looking at a potential late-season promotion to Cleveland. Cleveland recently acquired Nathaniel Lowe at first base, but the team could use the power profile of Velazquez this season, and his recent power surge is proof that he is worth hanging onto in fantasy.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ralphy Velazquez's Triple-A Production Slowing in July
Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez is an ideal fantasy prospect due to his 60-grade power and 50-grade hit tool. Between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, Velazquez has had a nice age-21 season, but he has slowed down a bit statistically at Columbus in July. In 53 July at-bats, Velazquez is hitting .208 with two homers, eight RBI, and a .333 on-base percentage. All in all, between Double and Triple-A this season, Velazquez has 11 homers and 48 RBI while hitting .282 with 45 runs scored and a .378 on-base percentage. The left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder was a former first-round pick by the Guardians in 2023, but might be looking at finishing this season in the minors. A premium dynasty prospect, Velazquez might be looking at 2027 as his time for a big league debut.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ralphy Velazquez a Stash Consideration After Strong Run at Triple-A
Cleveland Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez continues to perform well at Triple-A Columbus, biding his time until a call-up to the major leagues. The Guardians' top-ranked prospect earned a promotion to Columbus in May and is slashing .273/.357/.422 in 42 games for the Clippers, but has kicked it into high gear since mid June. From June 18 through his latest game this past Sunday (July 19), a period of 22 games, the former first-round draft pick is hitting .329 with three of his four Triple-A homers coming during that time, and he's walked (12) nearly as much as he's struck out (14) over that span. With Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins on the roster, there isn't a current path to playing time at first base, but the left-handed slugger has also spent time in the outfield this year and in previous years, which could open another route to the big leagues. It could become clearer after the trade deadline passes or when rosters expand in September, but in the meantime, the 21-year-old is a speculative stash with upside in deeper 12+ team leagues where an NA spot is available.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Rhys Hoskins Hits Two Solo Home Runs Against Twins
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins and the Guardians feasted on the Minnesota Twins' pitching in Monday night's 13-4 rout over the division rivals at Progressive Field. Hoskins went 2-for-5 as the designated hitter with two solo home runs and a strikeout. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger has gone 5-for-22 with four solo home runs in his last six games, but he has still gone 5-for-30 (.167) with an .852 OPS, four RBI, five runs scored, a stolen base, five walks, and 13 strikeouts in 11 games and 35 plate appearances so far in July. Overall, Hoskins has continued to struggle at the plate in his first year in Cleveland, slashing .182/.314/.387 with a .701 OPS, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 30 runs scored, and a stolen base in 79 games and 274 plate appearances. He continues to take his walks, sporting a 15.3% walk rate, but it has been mitigated by a career-high 31.8% strikeout rate in his ninth year in the big leagues. Hoskins just hasn't been the same since tearing his ACL with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2023, and fantasy managers shouldn't latch on due to his recent power surge.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ralphy Velazquez is a High-Risk, High-Reward Stash Option
Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect Ralphy Velazquez could be ready to make a second-half impact for fantasy managers. Velazquez, the Guardians' top overall prospect, has had good overall numbers between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus this season, and if given an opportunity in Cleveland, he could make some noise in the fantasy landscape. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter has been productive between two levels this year, hitting .292 with 11 homers and 47 RBI to go with 44 runs scored. Velazquez is still young, but has a power tool that is graded out at 60 with a 50 hit tool. He will likely not provide much on the base paths, but he could be a solid power bat for years to come in fantasy. Fantasy managers will want to take a chance on him in the second half of this season for the upside, but there is no guarantee that he makes his big league debut this season. So it's a little bit of a risky add but offers a ton of upside.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
