Guardian Apprentices

[Guardians]

16. Andrew Abbott, LHP, Reds
Team: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 3.60, 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: At last, Abbott has punched his way out of Double-A. All it took was three consecutive starts with double-digit strikeouts and a total of 36 Ks in 15.2 innings. Abbott is tied with the Cardinals’ Matthew Liberatore for the minor league lead in strikeouts. He’s been the most dominant pitching prospect in the minors and now will get tested at the last level before the big leagues. (JN)

[Guardians]

Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Cardinals: Liberatore is doing everything he can to show he’s ready for St. Louis. His fastball remains quite firm—he sat 95 mph and touched 96 while getting seven whiffs with his curveball. He held Triple-A Durham to no runs in six innings, striking out nine, as he lowered his ERA to 2.14. His 45 strikeouts lead the minors.

[Guardians]

4. Andrew Abbott, LHP, Reds
Team: Triple-A Louisville (International)
Age: 23

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 2.70, 2 GS, 10 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 17 SO.

The Scoop: A pitcher having to face the same lineup twice in one week is never an easy task, and it’s especially difficult when you shut them out for five innings in the first outing. Abbott was up to the task last week, handling Omaha twice in the span of five days. In his first outing, Abbott relied a little more on his changeup and fastball, while in the second start, it was his power 80-81 mph curveball that left the Storm Chasers relatively helpless. With three pitches he can throw for strikes, the countdown to Abbott’s arrival in Cincinnati gets louder with every start. (JC)

[Guardians]

Andrew Abbott , LHP, Reds: It's been a magical first half of the season for Abbott as the lefthander is continuing his run of dominance at Triple-A. On Wednesday Abbott went 6.1 innings, striking out nine and allowing two hits and three walks. Abbott's advanced sequencing and feel for his three-pitch arsenal has allowed him to find success. While there were worries the pre-tacked ball in the Southern League was driving his early success, Abbott has been strong through his first six Triple-A starts, posting a 3.16 ERA with a 3.57 xFIP, a 1.12 WHIP and striking out 35.7% of batters he has faced at the level. However, Abbott's walk rate has double with the promotion to Triple-A and he's been lucky on balls in play (.242 BABIP) while stranding 90.6% of runners on base. Despite these hickeys, Abbott should see an opportunity in Cincinnati shortly.

[Guardians]

Abbott, meanwhile, turned in his longest start since being promoted to Triple-A on April 25. The 23-year-old lefthander pitched seven innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits, walking none and striking out eight.

[Guardians]

https://www.milb.com/news/marauders-ter ... reat-catch

What's the best way to celebrate your birthday? If you're a professional baseball player, going bridge is a good way to start.

That's precisely what Termarr Johnson did on Sunday, slugging a three-run shot in Single-A Bradenton’s 9-8 extra-inning loss to the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Johnson, who is ranked baseball's No. 20 overall prospect, slugged his third long ball of the season and made a spectacular catch, proving he can get it done on both sides of the diamond.

The jack came in the seventh inning as he faced off against 6-foot-3 right-hander Grayson Thurman. With runners on first and second, the Pirates' No. 1 prospect hammered the first pitch he saw deep to right-center field, cutting Bradenton's deficit to 8-5.

The laser was his second homer in the month of June, during which he's touting a 12-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Johnson finished the game 1-for-4 with two walks, the advanced approach at the plate an encouraging sign for a hitter as young as Johnson, who just turned 19 years old.

In addition to showing off his plus power, Johnson made a sprawling grab in the fifth inning. The 2022 fourth overall pick showed an incredible display of focus, tracking down a popup in foul territory and making the grab while falling.

Johnson has had a relatively slow start to 2023. After a delayed debut due to injury, he has slashed .240/.406/.364. When talking to Jonathan Mayo last week, he acknowledged that he can’t try to do too much.

“I need to slow the game down,” Johnson told Mayo. “I can’t create anything the game doesn’t give me. I need to go back to what got me here. Doing that helped a lot. It’s only up from here.”

What got Johnson here was his incredible natural hitting ability that he displayed in high school. Scouts considered him one of the best pure prep hitters in years, with projectable power and elite hand-eye coordination. He also has continually shown polished decision-making when it comes to swings, which is evident by his willingness to take walks. Johnson may have gotten a slow start this season, but you can bet he will turn it around soon.

[Guardians]

Termarr Johnson , SS , Pirates: The 2022 No. 4 overall pick on Wednesday had his best day as a pro, collecting his first four-hit game and finishing a triple shy of the cycle in Low-A Bradenton's win over Fort Myers. Johnson hit his fourth homer of the season, a solo shot, doubled twice, walked twice and drove in four.

[Guardians]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/1 ... izational/

11. Won-Bin Cho | OF
Won-Bin Cho
Born: Aug 20, 2003
Bats: L Throws: L
Ht.: 6'3" Wt.: 200
Minors: .290/.397/.392 | 2 HR | 17 SB | 176 AB

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

June Update: Signed out of Korea during the January 2022 international signing period, Cho has come into his own in 2023. He's impressed with a well-rounded offensive profile highlighted by a discerning eye and a 90th percentile exit velocity in the neighborhood of 105 mph. Cho is able to get to power without chasing or swinging and missing at an elevated rate. He fits a corner outfield profile defensively but the bat might be enough to carry the profile, as he's showing strong traits as a 19-year-old at a full-season level.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 Power: 50 Run: 45 Field: 45 Arm: 50

[Guardians]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-62023/

11. Blaze Jordan, 3B, Red Sox
Team: High-A Greenville (South Atlantic)
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .546/.607/1.136 (12-for-28), 7 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 5 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Jordan hit well in April and May but has taken things to another level in June. The 2020 third-round pick continued his scorching month with a dominant showing against Greensboro last week. He recorded multiple hits in five of six games, homered on back-to-back days and was so locked in that the Grasshoppers elected to intentionally walk him twice in the series finale rather than pitch to him. Jordan has a nine-game hit streak overall and is batting .362 with a 1.130 OPS this month. (KG)

[Guardians]

Cory Lewis had a high-80s fastball and poor control at UC Santa Barbara, but the Twins drafted him in the ninth round last summer and have already turned the 6-foot-5 right-hander into a legit prospect. He’s throwing 92-94 mph, with a rapidly-improving changeup and a mid-80s knuckleball that’s part of his regular mix. Lewis has a 2.29 ERA and 81 strikeouts in his first 63 innings.

https://twitter.com/TwinsPlayerDev/stat ... 05028?s=20

[Guardians]

https://twitter.com/GoPBCardinals/statu ... meo8Q&s=19

[Guardians]

Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics: One of the newest members of the Top 100, Clarke has a tantalizing combination of power and speed. Clarke is a standout athlete with physical size and strength. A Canadian native and cousin of the Naylor brothers, Clarke is impressing this season, hitting .266/.388/.507 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases over 62 games. On Wednesday Clarke went 2-for-5 with a home run and a triple.

[Guardians]

CABBAGE!

https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/ ... 79648?s=20

[Guardians]

Termarr Johnson, 2B, Pirates: In July, Johnson has been on fire. The Pirates’ first-round pick from a season ago drew two walks and swatted his 13th home run of the season in the first game of Low-A Bradenton’s series with St. Lucie. For the month, Johnson is hitting .311/.482/.672 with six home runs and more walks (21) than strikeouts (13).

[Guardians]

Minor Moves: Pirates Promote 2022 First Rounder Termarr Johnson to Greensboro

Termarr Johnson, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been promoted to High-A Greensboro.

In his time with Bradenton, Johnson batted .244/.419/.448 in 330 plate appearances, with 13 homers and seven stolen bases. He had a 21.8% walk rate and a 26.7% strikeout rate. Drafted for his pure hitting skills, Johnson had a slow start to his 2023 season, batting .214 with a .567 average in April. He gradually progressed each month, eventually batting .260/.468/.545 with six homers in 77 at-bats during the month of July. His power picked up over the final two months, with 12 of his 13 homers coming since June 2nd.

Johnson was drafted out of high school last summer. Greensboro is the equivalent of NCAA ball from a talent standpoint, while offering the challenge of players living away from team facilities for the first time. The final two months of the season will be a learning experience for the 19-year-old middle infielder, both on the field and off. The offense should be helped by the home park in Greensboro, but Johnson has the hitting skills to have success on the road.

[Guardians]

10. Oswaldo Osorio, SS, Dodgers
Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 171. Acquired: Venezuela, 2022.

Osorio was one of the better players in Los Angeles’ ACL group and combines athleticism and skills into an intriguing package. He’s an above-average defender at shortstop with a plus arm and smooth hands and footwork. At the plate, he controls the zone well and has a picturesque lefthanded swing that should produce at least average power and a hittability to could get to that level or maybe just a tick below.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... dium=email

[Guardians]

19. Ronald Hernandez, C, Mets
Age: 19. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 155. Acquired: Traded from Marlins to Mets with 2B Marco Vargas for RHP David Robertson, July 28, 2023.

Hernandez went from the Marlins to the Mets in the trade that sent David Robertson to Miami. The 19-year-old repeated the FCL and performed much better in his second go-round, showing a solid approach and bat-to-ball skills. He might not have big-time power, but that could change if he alters his swing. Hernandez will have to work to stick behind the plate, though he does show excellent leadership traits. He’ll flash solid receiving abilities, but he’s inconsistent in that area and will have to show a stronger arm and quicker transfer to be a weapon in the running game.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... prospects/

[Guardians]

Liam Hicks, C, Rangers: Hicks’ Fall League performance stands out even among a sea of impressive contributors. His line with Surprise is now .449/.553/.522 over 18 games after going 1-for-3 with a walk on Wednesday. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and a strong approach, sacrificing any power potential to consistently put the ball in play. After a strong showing in the Fall League, Hicks has raised his profile as a prospect.

[Guardians]

Hit 'em like Hicks

Few hitters have been as proficient in a single Fall League campaign as the Rangers’ Liam Hicks. Equipped with an all-fields approach, the left-handed-hitting catcher compiled the third-highest batting average in league history (.449). Of his 31 hits, only five went for extra bases and none left the yard, giving the 24-year-old’s production something of a retro tinge.

The only two hitters in league history on the batting average list ahead of him both went on to enjoy stints in the big leagues after their time in the desert: Ken Harvey, .479 (2002) and Vance Wilson, .474 (1997).

https://www.mlb.com/news/2023-arizona-f ... TMzOTkyMjU.

[Guardians]

5. Termarr Johnson
2B

Ht: 5'8" | Wt: 175 | B-T: L-R

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: In 2022, Johnson was one of a handful of candidates to be drafted first overall. The Orioles chose Jackson Holliday at 1-1 rather than Druw Jones or Johnson, who fell to Pittsburgh at fourth overall. The Pirates signed him for $7,219,000, the third-highest bonus in franchise history behind only Gerrit Cole and Paul Skenes. Lauded as one of the purest prep hitters in years, Johnson reached Low-A Bradenton in his draft year, then split 2023 between Low-A and High-A Greensboro. He played a bit of catchup in the early going after a hamstring injury sidelined him for much in the spring and delayed his season debut until April 21.

Scouting Report: After roughly a season’s worth of games, Johnson appears to have two distinct paths as a hitter. If he continues his trend from 2023, he will be a player who hits for a low average, draws a ton of walks and uses electric bat speed to hit long home runs to his pull side. If he varies his approach a bit and makes better swing decisions, he can trade some of those walks for hits and live up to his amateur billing as a player who can use a supremely gifted set of hands and a whip-quick bat to hit for both average and power. Though he was drafted as a shortstop, Johnson has played second base nearly exclusively as a pro and did not get a game on the left side after moving to High-A. He has an average arm and has a chance to be average at second base, though scouts noted his thicker lower half, which will have to be maintained as he matures in order to keep the necessary range. He’s an average runner, though evaluators have seen him kick it up a notch when he smells extra bases.

The Future: Johnson is likely to return to High-A to begin 2024. His future hinges on the offensive approach he decides to employ as he moves through the minor leagues.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Speed: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50.

[Guardians]

9. Tsung-Che Cheng
SS

Ht: 5'7" | Wt: 154 | B-T: L-R

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Cheng was signed out of Taiwan in 2019 but didn’t make his official pro debut until 2021, when the minor leagues resumed following the canceled 2020 season. He moved a level a year in 2021 and 2022—first in the Florida Complex League and then at Low-A—before kicking it into overdrive in 2023, when he split the season between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. At both stops, Cheng showed his signature mix of contact, speed and a smattering of power. His overall numbers were boosted by the hitter-friendly atmosphere at Greensboro, but two strong months at Double-A lent credence to his level of skill.

Scouting Report: Cheng’s game is built around contact, which shows up in person and in batted-ball data. Scouts report a player with excellent bat control, and he finished the year with respective overall and zone miss rates of 21.6% and 15.8%. He doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard, but he has just enough thump to shoot balls from gap to gap and let his plus speed play on the basepaths. Internal evaluators would like him to narrow his approach to center more around pitches he can damage rather than simply putting the bat on the ball. Cheng must also improve against lefthanders, who carved him during his time at Double-A. He’s a slick, twitchy defender at shortstop with more than enough arm for the position, but he also moved over to second base for 40 games to help increase his versatility. That could come in handy considering the glut of potential middle infielders in the Pirates organization.

The Future: Cheng will likely return to Double-A to begin 2024 and should finish the year on the precipice of the big leagues. He’s one of the system’s sneakier hitting prospects and could be a player who finds everyday time and provides value on both sides of the ball.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Speed: 60 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55.

[Guardians]

4. Luisangel Acuna
SS

Ht: 5'8" | Wt: 181 | B-T: R-R

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium.

Track Record: Acuña signed with the Rangers in 2018, the same summer that older brother Ronald Jr. was building his National League Rookie of the Year credentials with the Braves. The Acuña brothers are a study in contrasts. Ronald is a powerful outfielder, while Luisangel is a small-in-stature middle infielder. Both are now NL East rivals. Luisangel was in the midst of a Double-A breakout in 2023 when Texas dealt him to the Mets for Max Scherzer plus $35 million at the trade deadline. Acuña helped Double-A Binghamton advance to the Eastern League finals.

Scouting Report: Acuña is a plus runner and standout defender who has strong bat-to-ball skills and hand-eye coordination. He likes to swing the bat and will expand his zone early, but he fights off pitches with two strikes and takes his share of walks. Acuña is strong and twitchy, with more raw power than his 5-foot-8 frame suggests. He hits the ball hard but on the ground and the other way frequently, capping his projected home run totals as below-average. He is at least a plus runner who was successful on 57 of 67 stolen base attempts in 2023 and has swiped at least 40 bags in each full season. Acuña has strong range, solid feet, clean actions and a plus arm at both middle infield positions, but his internal clock may be a tick slow for shortstop. Most scouts prefer him at second base, and he also played center field in the Rangers system.

The Future: Acuña could develop into a standout defensive second baseman whose on-base ability and speed could lengthen a lineup. On a first-division club, he might fit best as a second tablesetter at the bottom of the order. After a full Double-A season, he’s ready for Triple-A and his MLB debut at some point in 2024.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Speed: 60 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 60.

[Guardians]

5. Samuel Zavala
OF

Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 175 | B-T: L-L

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High.

Track Record: Regarded as one of the best pure hitters in the 2020-21 international class, Zavala signed for $1.2 million and has been pushed aggressively each year in the system. With injuries dogging Zavala early in his career, the Padres challenged him to stay on the field in 2023 and he did just that as a Low-A California League all-star. He finished one home run shy of joining a rare list of teenagers to log 20 doubles, 15 homers and 20 steals in a season. Zavala spiraled after a late promotion to High-A Fort Wayne, though he was playing through an oblique injury at the end of the season.

Scouting Report: Zavala has been young for the level at every stop, so it’s taken time for strength to catch up to natural gifts that include a smooth, whip-like swing. He has a knack for putting the barrel on the ball, though the Padres would like Zavala to continue to add muscle in the hope that he regularly unlocks average power. He does not chase much, but there’s a bit of swing-and-miss in the zone, the result of a leg kick that can get big. An above-average runner, Zavala makes up for a lack of closing speed in center field with good reads, a good first step and fluid movement. Above-average arm strength would likely push him to left field if he outgrows center. Bilingual and a heady player, Zavala has also taken well to coaching and the examples of older teammates when it came to finding a routine that allowed him to get his legs under him after a slow start in Lake Elsinore.

The Future: Still the best true outfield prospect in the system, Zavala should begin his age-19 season back at Fort Wayne, where he’ll be one of the younger players in the Midwest League. He could develop into a starting-caliber corner outfielder with across-the-board skills.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Speed: 55 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 55.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason

[Guardians]

5. Denzel Clarke
OF

Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High.

Track Record: Clarke was a decorated amateur for Canada’s junior national team, but he was more raw than the average college outfielder when the A’s drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. He accrued just 326 at-bats over three college seasons at Cal State Northridge, so it was a mild surprise when he opened 2023 with Double-A Midland in late April after missing time with a left shoulder strain. Clarke blitzed the competition, hitting four homers over his first three games. He cooled off a bit in May and June, but still hit .261 with 12 homers through 64 games until a left shoulder injury ended his season in late July.

Scouting Report: Clarke has long faced questions about whether his hitting instincts and contact ability can improve to the point where his dynamic power and speed flourish regularly. He made meaningful progress toward addressing those concerns in 2023, albeit in a shortened season. Clarke showed more consistent timing and cut both his whiff and chase rates, allowing his plus raw power and solid on-base skills play more consistently. He still has some rather unique moves—Clarke holds his hands high and heel off the ground prior to the pitch—but tinkered with his stance and setup less in 2023. Clarke still battled bouts of swing-and-miss and was susceptible at times to good four-seam fastballs, especially up in the zone. Laying off breaking stuff down and away has also been a point of emphasis. Clarke is a plus defender who covers ample ground and is capable of making highlight-type plays in center field, with a strong arm. He’s also a plus runner who has stolen 42 bases in 48 tries in pro ball.

The Future: Clarke will turn 24 in May and still has yet to reach Triple-A, but he has a relatively high ceiling if he can sustain his contact gains against more skilled pitching.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Field: 70 | Arm: 50.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... =preseason

[Guardians]

Pirates: 21.9 BB%
Termarr Johnson, 2B (No. 2/MLB No. 22)
In some ways, Johnson’s first full year of pro ball was a bit uneven. But we can’t question his plate discipline. Johnson led all Minor Leaguers in walk percentage and was one of eight to finish the year with 100 or more walks for a .422 OBP. That helped him get to his power, with 18 homers, and he finished with a solid 141 wRC+.

https://www.mlb.com/news/one-standout-p ... e-coverage