Guardians sign 19 of 21 Draft picks, including 1st-rounder Velazquez
Below is a list of every player drafted by the Guardians.
Each club had until 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 25, to come to terms with its Draft selections. If a player has exhausted his collegiate eligibility, he can sign at any time up until one week prior to the next year’s Draft.
- Draft Central | Day 1 analysis | Day 2 | Day 3 | Best hauls
Draft-and-follow picks -- high school and junior college players selected after the 10th round who attend a two-year college after the Draft -- can sign with their selecting teams for up to $250,000 up until a week prior to the following year’s Draft.
Players drafted from Round 11 on do not count against the bonus pools unless their signing bonus exceeds $150,000; any amount over that total will count against the pool.
Total bonus pool: $8,736,700
MLB rank: 20
1 (23): Ralphy Velazquez, C, Huntington Beach HS
Pick value: $3,380,900
Signing bonus: $2,500,000
The Guardians aren't quite sure if Velazquez will stick behind the plate or will see more time at the corner infield spots. All the team knows is that he will figure out where he belongs defensively in the Guardians' organization. He was officially signed by the team on July 22 and will bring an exciting bat into Cleveland's farm system. The left-handed hitter has shown the ability to hit for both power and average, while his arm strength dazzles on the other side of the ball.
2 (58): Alex Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken School
Pick value: $1,402,600
Signing bonus: $2,300,000
The Guardians used most of their money to lock up these two impressive high schoolers. And what they saved from Velazquez went straight to Clemmey. Clemmey is only 17 years old, yet he's already seen 99 mph flash on radar guns when he's on the mound. The 6-foot-6 righty also boasts a "slurvy breaking ball," as described by MLB Pipeline, and a newly-added changeup. And if there's any organization ready to develop a young pitcher with a high floor, it's Cleveland's.
CBB (62): Andrew Walters, RHP, Miami (FL)
Pick value: $1,273,700
Signing bonus: $955,275
Collegiate relievers have a way of flying through the Minor Leagues, and with Walters' reputation, it wouldn't be surprising if he follows suit. Walters pitched to a 1.21 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings with the University of Miami this season. His heater sits around 95 mph but can reach 99 mph and his command in college was excellent, walking fewer than two batters per nine innings in 2022 and '23.
3 (93): C.J. Kayfus, OF, Miami (FL)
Pick value: $725,300
Signing bonus: $700,000
The pair of teammates from the University of Miami have both officially signed with the Guardians. Kayfus is an impressive contact-first hitter, owning a .366 average in '22 and .348 in '23. However, the biggest takeaway about his most recent season is that he was determined to add power to his résumé. For the first time in his career, he logged double-digit homers, smacking 13 with 41 RBIs in 62 games.
4 (125): Cooper Ingle, C, Clemson
Pick value: $526,200
Signing bonus: $400,000
The Guardians liked Ingle for his ability to make contact and his defensive versatility. He was drafted as a catcher, but he also played in the outfield for Clemson, adding to his defensive profile. When it comes to his bat, he puts everything in play. According to MLB Pipeline, just 11 percent of his swings resulted in misses this spring, including only 6 percent against fastballs.
5 (161): Christian Knapczyk, SS, Louisville
Pick value: $371,000
Signing bonus: $385,000
Knapczyk may have the most extreme offensive profile in this Draft. MLB Pipeline has him as a 60-grade hitter with 20-grade power. But in his last two years with Louisville, he had more walks than strikeouts and he has the ability to move all over the diamond.
6 (188): Tommy Hawke, OF, Wake Forest
Pick value: $295,000
Signing bonus: $295,000
7 (218): Alex Mooney, SS, Duke
Pick value: $231,300
Signing bonus: $1,000,000
8 (248): Jonah Advincula, OF, Washington State
Pick value: $191,100
Signing bonus: $150,000
9 (278): Jay Driver, RHP, Harvard
Pick value: $174,300
Signing bonus: $151,000
10 (308): Matt Wilkinson, LHP, Central Arizona College
Pick value: $165,300
Signing bonus: $110,000
11 (338): Johnny Tincher, C, Washington
Signing bonus: $150,000
12 (368): Keegan Zinn, RHP, Lake Minneola High School (FL)
Signing bonus: $150,000
13 (398): Jacob Bresnahan, LHP, Sumner High School (WA)
Signing bonus: $375,000
14 (428): Zane Morehouse, RHP, Texas
Signing bonus: $150,000
15 (458): Kyle Scott, RHP, Lackawanna College
Signing bonus: $150,000
16 (488): Mac Heuer, RHP, Georgia Home Education Association (GA)
Did not agree to terms
17 (518): Barrett Riebock, OF, Paris JC
Signing bonus: $150,000
18 (548): Matt Jachec, RHP, Indiana State
Signing bonus: $50,000
19 (578): Josh Harlow, RHP, Mercer U
Signing bonus: $100,000
20 (608): Ryan Marohn, LHP, Freedom High School (VA)
Did not agree to terms
Every team's signings:
How bonus pools and pick values work
Each choice in the first 10 rounds comes with an assigned value, with the total for a club's selections equaling what it can spend in those rounds without incurring a penalty. If a player taken in the top 10 rounds doesn't sign, his pick's value gets subtracted from his team's pool. Clubs near the top of the Draft often spend less than the assigned value for those choices and use the savings to offer more money to later selections.
Teams that exceed their bonus pool face a penalty. Clubs that outspend their allotment by 0-5 percent pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, clubs lose future picks: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent.
Bonus pools by club
Pirates: $16,185,700
Tigers: $15,747,200
Nationals: $14,502,400
Twins: $14,345,600
Athletics: $14,255,600
Reds: $13,785,200
Mariners: $13,170,900
Marlins: $12,829,600
Royals: $12,313,500
Rockies: $11,909,800
D-backs: $11,084,300
Brewers: $10,950,600
Rays: $10,872,100
Orioles: $10,534,800
Red Sox: $10,295,100
Rangers: $9,925,300
Giants: $9,916,900
White Sox: $9,072,800
Cubs: $8,962,000
Guardians: $8,736,700
Mets: $8,440,400
Braves: $8,341,700
Angels: $8,328,900
Dodgers: $7,274,600
Astros: $6,747,900
Blue Jays: $6,529,700
Cardinals: $6,375,100
Padres: $5,416,000
Yankees: $5,299,400
Phillies: $5,185,500