CLEVELAND – The early part of the Guardians’ offseason was spent figuring out how to navigate adding 11 of their best Minor Leaguers to their 40-man roster. But just because there were some players who were left unprotected prior to the 40-man roster deadline at the end of November doesn’t mean that they won’t have the chance to soon make their big league debuts.

Let’s take a look at three Minor Leaguers to keep a close eye on in 2022 and what could hold each of them back from a promotion:

RHP Daniel Espino
MLB Pipeline ranking: 5
What’s missing? Command

Espino ended his 2021 season in High-A Lake County. Drafted out of high school in 2019, the team knew he’d need some time to establish himself as a professional hurler in its Minor League system. His mid-to-high 90s velocity was intriguing and his effective slider and curveball made it easy to dream about what kind of starter the righty could turn into. Last season, he posted eye-catching strikeout numbers, fanning 152 batters in 91 2/3 frames, while holding opponents to a .192 average in 20 starts between High-A Lake County and Class-A Lynchburg (10 starts with each team). If we're just looking at those stats, it’s clear that Cleveland’s starting pitching depth is building itself back up throughout all levels of the farm system.

But the problem is Espino still struggles mightily with his command. In those 91 2/3 innings, he issued 39 walks after permitting 10 free passes in 23 2/3 frames in his first Minor League season in 2019. So far, Cleveland has only used Espino as a starter and the hope is that he can stay in that role. However, if command remains a problem, his high velocity and bat-missing breaking balls could make him a likely candidate to move to the bullpen in hopes that less of a workload could help him be more effective.

But if he can return in 2022 with improved command, there’s no reason he couldn't fly through the Guardians’ system.

C Bo Naylor
MLB Pipeline ranking: 6
What’s missing? Offensive consistency

Cleveland raved about Naylor all throughout Spring Training last season when he was invited to big league camp. His grit and solid defense behind the plate has the organization excited about the potential of having a quality backstop for the big league club in the near future.

The majority of the hesitation when it comes to the 21-year-old is due to his bat. Coming out of the 2018 MLB Draft, Naylor’s quick left-handed swing and good feel for the barrel was expected to allow him to hit for both average and power, according to MLB Pipeline. But during his time in Double-A Akron in 2021, the numbers did not back up those projections.

Naylor hit a mere .188 in 87 games with the RubberDucks with a .612 OPS. And over the last three Minor League seasons, he’s watched his strikeout numbers continue to climb. MLB Pipeline projected Naylor to reach the big leagues in 2022, but his bat could be the reason for a delay in his arrival despite the lack of catching depth throughout the system.

LHP Logan T. Allen
MLB Pipeline ranking: 10
What’s missing? Time

Allen – the lefty who was drafted by Cleveland just one year ago – is setting himself up to be one of the most exciting prospects in the Guardians’ system next year. He was expected to have exceptional control of his arsenal and he’s more than lived up to that hype. Allen began the year with Lake County and was promoted to Akron for 12 starts. In 111 1/3 combined innings in 2021, he fanned 143 batters, walked 26 and held opponents to a .193 average.

The lefty owned a 2.26 ERA in his first professional season in 21 games (19 starts) and has given the organization every reason to believe he can be a starting option in the near future in his limited time with Cleveland. The only thing he needs at this point is time. He's spent one season in the Minor Leagues and already made the jump to Double-A. Having experience at Florida International certainly helped his quick climb through the system, but that pace won't slow down if he returns in 2022 in similar (if not, better) form.