SURPRISE, Ariz. — Cleveland Guardians prospect Joe Lampe is embracing a veteran role in this year’s Arizona Fall League. The outfielder turns 25 on Dec. 5 and has four seasons under his belt in the Guardians’ farm system.
After two full seasons with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, Lampe is eager to be in the mix with elite young talent and refine his game.
“While I’m out here, I want to work on things within my swing, and am not afraid to try something new at the plate,” Lampe said.
In the first few weeks in the Fall League, he has eight hits in 31 at-bats.
Lampe, a Petaluma, California, native and a graduate of Arizona State University, finds himself in familiar territory in the Phoenix area. Lampe was a career .321 hitter in 112 games for the Sun Devils. His impressive numbers led to Cleveland selecting him in the third round of the 2022 draft.
“I love Arizona and happen to live here during the offseason,” said Lampe. I go home after day games and stay in Surprise with my teammates after later games. I love playing games in the valley.”
Playing more than 100 games during the minor league season, then traveling to Arizona for another six weeks of high-level baseball, can cause a player to be burned out, but Lampe is embracing the extended season. He believes that the extra baseball can reveal what kind of player he is.
“My body might be a little tired at this point in the year, but I treat my approach at my at-bats as playoff at-bats if I happen to make it to the big leagues,” Lampe said. “I think those kinds of at-bats are very valuable that can pay dividends down the line. No matter what point in the year it’s at, I always want to be on the attack.”
Lampe carries himself in a focused, stoic way as the older, veteran teammate in the clubhouse. While it can be intimidating to see a wide range of younger prospects playing alongside him, Lampe is attentive on what needs to be worked out, heading into next season’s spring training.
“Being an older guy and being a guy who’s been in the organization for a few years, it’s kind of that time where my timeline is meeting up,” said Lampe. “It’s my turn to make a move. I understand what’s coming and what possibly is at stake. I want to put in the best overall games as I can and be the best version of myself.”
Lampe posted a .234 batting average with 10 home runs, 59 RBIs and five triples in 109 games for Akron in 2025. He also had 92 hits and 45 walks. He got called up to Triple-A affiliate Columbus in September, and played in eight games for the Clippers.
The Arizona Fall League is another step in Lampe’s journey to becoming a big leaguer. Spending time out in the hot, dry air all comes with hard work.
“The Guardians know the type of player that I can provide for them. I want to continue to be that glue guy that is willing to do whatever it takes on the field at any moment, any time of the year,” Lampe said. “I’ll just keep showing them my passion for the game.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.