Director of Amateur Scouting, proud to lead and share the team's work. | Check out Path to the Show on Bally Sports Live and College Baseball Now everywhere! | Grateful for family, the Vols, and everyone who reads Prospects Live. | For His Glory.
Chances are, you are aware that the longest active World Series Championship drought in the Major Leagues belongs to the Cleveland Guardians, who have been without the Commissioner's Trophy since 1948.
Since renaming themselves the Guardians - a reference to the eight Art Deco Guardians of Traffic statues along the city's Hope Memorial Bridge near Progressive Field - in 2022, the team won its 11th AL Central, falling in the ALDS to the Yankees. In manager Stephen Vogt's first season in 2024, the team won its 12th AL Central Crown, falling in the ALCS to the Yankees. Last year, the team came back from 15-and-a-half games back in July to win its 13th AL Central title, Vogt's second straight.
Still, something is amiss with Cleveland. They have many of the credible pieces of a championship-level organization (an all-world hitting cornerstone, strong pitching up and down the staff, and sound player development through the minor leagues), and yet, the Guardians have not won the American League and qualified for a World Series since the historic 2016 curse-breaking series opposite the Chicago Cubs. Why? Perhaps it has been a lack of consistent offensive threats...perhaps it has been a lack of spending in free agency, or what's worse, a tendency for those players to underperform upon signing with Cleveland. Since 2017, only one free agent deal has returned 2 WAR per season (Edwin Encarnacion, 2017-19).
Again, the Guardians can develop from within, but when the players do not develop, their lack of hits in free agency has certainly stung them; fortunately, there is a whole new crop of young talent ready to excel in Cleveland! Let's meet them.
Director of Amateur Scouting, proud to lead and share the team's work. | Check out Path to the Show on Bally Sports Live and College Baseball Now everywhere! | Grateful for family, the Vols, and everyone who reads Prospects Live. | For His Glory.
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
A Giants fan living in San Diego, been playing fantasy baseball since 2005 and dynasty since 2021. Started the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast in June 2023 and joined Prospects Live in March of 2024.
Dynasty player of 10+ years. Helping you find the building blocks of your championship rosters as a co-host on the Dynasty Baseball Pickups podcast since mid-season 2023, joined Prospects Live at the start of 2024.
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
