Cleveland Guardians: Are They Just Too Damn Good At Pitching?
Nobody in the major leagues can develop pitching like the Cleveland (Indians) Guardians. No team at the major league level has the track record of drafting and surveying the landscape for future aces like the Cleveland front office. It has become a normal occurrence for the Cleveland organization to find these gems. This streak of pitching success has become synonymous with the Guardians, just as spending big in free agency is associated with the New York Yankees.
You only need to look at the starters for the Cleveland Guardians in 2021 to see how efficient this front office is. This current group of pitchers ia special. They’ve all have had stellar seasons (whether this current year or years prior). That’s a credit to the coaching staff, but also scouts as well. Look at some of the 2021 starting pitchers the Guardians have drafted over years.
Shane Bieber (2016, 4th RND)
Triston McKenzie (2015, 42nd pick)
Aaron Civale (2016, 3rd RND)
Zach Plesac (2016, 12th RND)
These four names are the odds on favorites to go into next season as the teams 1 through 4 starters and are the main SPs from 2021. Take notice of where Bieber, Civale, Plesac were drafted. All three went in the 2016 Draft. Talk about homerun picks by your front office. Even McKenzie (drafted a year earlier) was drafted out of high school a year prior. The depth the Guardians scouts will go to in order to find these talents is unmatched.
It would be one thing if these pitchers were just average spot start guys to fill holes. That’s not the case at all. Any of these four could be 1 or 2 starters on a major league roster. This also doesn’t include Cal Quantrill, who has been one of baseball’s best pitchers over the 2nd half of the season.
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Quantrill represents another gem of the Cleveland scouting department. Finding unheralded pitching prospects from other teams. You need to draft well to be a successful franchise. Cleveland does that, and then some. They’ve made their name on trading for pitching as well.
Corey Kluber (Traded from San Diego for Jake Westbrook)
Mike Clevinger (Traded from Los Angeles Angles for Vinnie Pestano)
Trevor Bauer (Traded from Arizona in a 6-team deal)
Justin Masterson (Traded from Boston for Victor Martinez)
Of these four names, three of them went on to win the Cy Young. Bauer obviously did so with Cincinnati, however, his Cleveland time played a massive role in that. Clevinger was one of baseball’s best pitchers in 2019. Once again, another feather in the cap of Guardians scouts.
The embarrassment of riches doesn’t just stop at the major league level (It honestly never does for Cleveland). They carry a very healthy farm system of talented starters as well. The mix of guys they have were either drafted or traded for. This shows the versatility in the team’s approach to pitching. Just this season, Cleveland has traded for Konnor Pilkington, Peyton Battenfield, and Drew Casetta-Stubbs. While these players are virtually unknowns, so was Corey Kluber.
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Don’t forget to Add in the players the team has drafted in recent years such as Daniel Espino (Top-100 MLB prospect), Logan Allen, Tanner Burns, Xzavion Curry. Even in 2021, Cleveland adds pitching depth with Gavin Williams in the 1st rnd and Doug Nikhazy in the 2nd.
With all the aforementioned prospects and recent additions, it’s assumed that at least 2 or 3 of them have ACE-level seasons for the Guardians. With the way the team trades MLB pitching, there will almost always be an opening. This is why ownership and the front office aren’t afraid to deal with guys like Bauer and Clevinger. The next Cy Young winner is always right around the corner.
There is no team that scouts and develops pitching better than the Cleveland Guardians. With all the success they’ve had, it wouldn’t be out of the question to say they’ve had some of the best luck (or skill) in getting top pitching talent in baseball history. Cleveland always finds a way.
Image Source: Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
