This time last month, we took an in-depth look at the Cleveland Guardians farm system and highlighted some of the team’s top prospects. With the MLB season approaching the halfway mark, it’s time to take another look at the minor league system.
Despite being drafted last year, CJ Kayfus He is quickly emerging as one of the Guardians’ best prospects in the minor league system.
A former third-round draft pick, Kayfus began this season with High-A Lake County but was promoted to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks in early June after batting .338 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs. Kayfus has been a consistent performer since his promotion, batting .324 with a 1.080 OPS in 28 games with the RubberDucks.
#Guardian 22 year old 1st baseman/outfielder prospect CJ Cafus reached base three times tonight for Akron (2-4 R RBI HBP) ​​and recorded his 71st RBI of the season in the 7th inning against Reading.
2024 68 games:
86 (Ha)
36 (XBH)
RBI) 71
BB) 41
Batting average: .332
On-base percentage: .439
Batting average (SLG): .602
1.041 (batting average)#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/9vdpVEwPUM— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 11, 2024
With Kayfus’ projected arrival in MLB in 2026 (per MLB Pipeline), he’ll have to compete against other highly-rated prospects such as: Kyle Manzard He has his sights set on a major league spot: He’s currently the 27th-best prospect in the Guardians’ farm system, according to MLB.com.
Humphries, the Guardians’ eighth-round pick in 2022, has yet to settle in during his time in the minor league system. Humphries finished the 2023 season with an 0-7 record and a 5.49 ERA in a combined rookie ball and Single-A.
This season has been a continuation of last year’s, with Humphries, the Guardians’ No. 13 overall prospect, still not finding his groove. In 15 starts with the Lynchburg Hillcats, Humphries is 0-5 with a 4.67 ERA and has yet to pitch more than four innings.
While he may not be a major league starter in the future, the 19-year-old powerhouse still needs time to hone his pitching skills if he is to make an impact in Cleveland. With a projected major league debut in 2026, Humphries has plenty of time to develop as a pitcher.
Other left-handed pitchers may struggle in the Guardians’ minor league system, Doug Nikazi.
Nikhazy, a former second-round draft pick in 2022, was close to being forgotten after going 4-8 with a 4.94 ERA at Double-A last year, but has been phenomenal in 2024. He started the year at Double-A but was recently promoted to Triple-A Columbus.
Doug went 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings!#Guardian Promising 24-year-old left-handed pitcher Doug Nikazie pitched six scoreless innings today for Columbus, allowing just two hits and no walks, and striking out eight Indianapolis batters.
Nikhajee has yet to allow a run in his first three games at Triple-A… pic.twitter.com/rsDkJPWKFv
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 10, 2024
Nikazie’s recent performance with the Columbus Clippers has caught the attention of many and he has once again emerged as a top pitching prospect for Cleveland.
It’s been a tough year for the Guardians’ No. 1 overall prospect. Chase DeLaughter He has been plagued by multiple foot injuries for much of the 2024 season. The 22-year-old left-hander has appeared in 17 games with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks this year, making his final start in late May.
But the good news is that DeLauter is scheduled to play in a game this week at the team’s Arizona complex, according to Joe Noga.
DeLauter clearly wasn’t at his best early in the season. The former 2022 first-round draft pick is batting .194 with 13 strikeouts and one home run in Double-A. When he returns, the words “downward trend” won’t be written next to DeLauter’s name.
