Cleveland Guardians Breakout MLB Prospects Entering 2024
Entering 2024, we’re examining multiple Guardians prospects on the verge of a breakout season. To qualify as a breakout prospect for this exercise, a player must rank outside the Top 10 Prospects in his organization entering the year.
You can find all of our preseason prospect rankings here and a link to breakouts for all 30 teams here.
Guardians Top Prospects In 2024
We rank the top players in Cleveland’s system entering the season complete with new scouting reports, tools, grades & more.
Breakout Prospects
Preseason rank: 17
BA Grade: 50. Risk: Extreme.
TRACK RECORD: Ramirez is the son of former all-star shortstop Rafael Ramirez and was born in New Jersey and grew up in the Dominican Republic. The Guardians signed him in 2022 and he made his professional debut later that year in the Dominican Summer League. After a solid first year, he made his U.S. debut in 2023 in the Arizona Complex League as a 17-year-old.
SCOUTING REPORT: Ramirez stands out for his advanced feel for hitting. He has a smooth lefthanded swing, controls the barrel well and has above-average bat-to-ball skills. As a result, he makes a lot of contact. He’s starting to grow into his frame, and with more physical maturity and his bat speed he looks like he could grow into at least average raw power. Ramirez was signed as a shortstop and that’s primarily where he’s played. His hands and arm strength play well there, but as he grows it’s possible he’ll end up at third base.
THE FUTURE: Ramirez was on the younger end of his signing class, and he’s been young for his level each of the last two years. He’s handled those assignments well and has become another strong signing by the team’s international department. He’ll look to continue his development in 2024 as he advances to full season ball and Low-A Lynchburg.
Scouting Grades
Hitting: 50. Power: 45. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
Dayan Frias, 3B
Preseason rank: 19
BA Grade: 45. Risk: High.
TRACK RECORD: Frias was not a high-profile signing in 2018 when the Guardians inked him to an $80,000 bonus out of Colombia. The pandemic slowed his emergence and he didn’t make his U.S. debut until 2021 in the Arizona Complex League. Since then, however, Frias has significantly raised his profile. He had a big 2023, first playing for Colombia at the World Baseball Classic and then turning in an impressive season with High-A Lake County.
SCOUTING REPORT: A switch-hitter, Frias has a smooth swing from both sides of the plate and has long shown an impressive feel for the barrel. After getting overly aggressive at the plate in 2022, he worked to reign that in and in 2023 cut his strikeout rate from 24.9% to 20.9% while maintaining his walk rate. He’s gained strength since signing and now shows average power potential, especially as a righthanded hitter. Frias has standout defensive tools and was voted best defender in the Midwest League by opposing managers. His infield actions, above-average arm strength and hands give him plus defensive ability at the hot corner.
THE FUTURE: Frias was not added to the 40-man roster in November and went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft. Both of those developments are mostly attributable to the fact he has yet to reach the upper levels. That will change in 2024, when he should progress to Double-A Akron.
Scouting Grades
Hitting: 45. Power: 50. Run: 45. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
