2023 record: 76-86 (3rd in AL Central)

2024 record: 92-69 (1st in AL Central)

2025 record: 88-74 (1st in the AL Central)

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.

2028 Lineups – Prospects Live

Offense

29th – .226/.296/.373, 643 R, 168 HR, 129 SB, 494 BB, 1344 K

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Drew Wheeler

Drew Wheeler

Watch Path to the Show on Bally Sports Live & Stadium! | Amateur and Dynasty Team Writer/Podcaster | I love the Tennessee Volunteers, milk, pitchers, catchers, & you <3 P4:13