Guardians promote club's top 2025 Draft pick LaViolette to Double-A Akron

CHICAGO -- Jace LaViolette is moving on up and is one step closer to the big leagues.

Sunday, the Guardians announced they are promoting LaViolette from High-A Lake County to Double-A Akron. The news comes a little over one year after Cleveland selected the outfielder with its first-round pick (No. 25 overall) in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Laviolette, who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 11 prospect by MLB Pipeline, made his pro debut on April 2 this season. He did not play in the Minors last year because he underwent a procedure on his left hand, which he had surgically repaired in May while playing for Texas A&M, around Draft time.

It’s perhaps in part why LaViolette’s promotion to Akron came later than fellow members of Cleveland’s 2025 Draft class. Outfielders Aaron Walton (No. 8 prospect) and Nolan Schubart (No. 27) and infielder Dean Curley (No. 7) were among those promoted from Lake County to Akron on July 13.

In 83 games with the Captains, LaViolette logged a .238/.342/.467 slash line with 15 doubles, 19 home runs, 69 RBIs and 47 walks with 147 strikeouts. Swing and miss was one concern scouts had on LaViolette at Draft time last year, and the 22-year-old entered Sunday with a 38 percent strikeout rate this season.

LaViolette was also well-known for his immense power potential, which he’s flashed this season. His promotion was among a series of player development moves the Guardians announced Sunday.

Cleveland also assigned a slew of 2026 Draft picks to Single-A Hill City, in outfielder Lucas Moore (fifth round), catcher Deiten LaChance (sixth), right-hander Ryan Bilka (10th), infielder Ben Cleary (12th), outfielder Erick Dessens (13th), right-hander Carson Lane (14th), third baseman Alejandro Garza (15th), and lefty Parker Coil (20th).