Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we’re identifying Guardians prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s preseason Top 10 prospects. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.

You can find Top 30 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.

Breakout Prospects

Juneiker Caceres, OF

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average
Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: Caceres signed for $300,000 out of Venezuela in 2024 and immediately looked like one of the best prospects in the Dominican Summer League. He moved stateside in 2025 and continued to stand out against his peers, slashing .270/.379/.410 over 70 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Lynchburg.

Scouting Report: Caceres is a bat-first outfielder and lefthanded hitter with a solid frame—which is bigger than his listed 5-foot-10, 168 pounds—and enough strength to give him plus raw power. He has a mature offensive approach for his age with the contact ability, power and plate skills to envision a 50-50 offensive profile in the hit and power departments. He doesn’t expand the zone frequently and does a nice job hitting the ball out in front, with power that should begin to translate more into games as he elevates the ball more consistently. In 2025, much of his hardest contact came on the ground, which led to 18 doubles and just four home runs. Caceres spent time in all three outfield positions, though his average speed makes it more likely he settles into a corner. He accelerates well enough to provide decent range, but he needs to improve both his first step and routes to become more than an average defender. His arm is fine, but not a real plus tool that is typical of most right fielders.

The Future: Caceres profiles as a solid regular whose skills continue to impress for his age. He’ll only be in his age-18 season in 2026 when he should get more time in Low-A Lynchburg.

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

Joey Oakie, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 60/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: Oakie was a top 50 prospect in the 2024 draft class and signed with the Guardians for $2 million in the third round. In his pro debut in 2025, Oakie made 15 starts between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Lynchburg. He posted a 5.31 ERA in 59.1 innings with a 28.8% strikeout rate and 14.0% walk rate.

Scouting Report: Oakie is a stuff-over-polish righthander with a great foundation of physicality and athleticism with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. He has some depth in his arm stroke, and throws from a lower slot. Oakie gets great extension and has a well below-average release height, though he struggles to repeat that release—which impacts his control and command. He throws a heavy, boring four-seam fastball that averaged 95.2 mph and has already been up to 100. The pitch has great life and is a weapon in and out of the zone, and he actually improved its velocity in the second half of the season. Oakie’s slider is a plus offering in the 86-90 mph range that has great power, spin and movement. His changeup is his third-best pitch now, and one he hasn’t thrown with much frequency, but it’s a high-spin offering with plenty of arm-side fade. Oakie has the stuff to overwhelm hitters, but he’ll need to improve his pitch making and repeat his mechanics more consistently. He has the athleticism to make those adjustments.

The Future: Oakie has midrotation upside, but he’ll need plenty of development time before he gets there. He should continue pitching in the low minors in 2026 where he’ll focus on his delivery and pitch execution.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45

Yorman Gómez, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: Gómez signed as an international league free agent out of Venezuela in 2019, then spent the next four years inching his way up in the minors before a breakout 2025 season. He split time as a starter and reliever with High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron, posting a 2.96 ERA in 121.2 innings to go with a 27.6% strikeout rate.

Scouting Report: Gómez is a stocky, broad-shouldered righty with a 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame. He throws a deep mix of pitches that includes a four-seam fastball, sweeper, cutter, curveball and changeup. Gómez made a jump with his velocity and now sits around 95 mph and has run the fastball up to 97. In addition to adding more velocity, he improved both his low-80s sweeper and upper-80s cutter, with the sweeper driving a 43.4% miss rate. His best three pitches are the fastball, sweeper and cutter, which makes attacking righties easier for him than lefties. To profile as a starter, he’ll need to improve both his upper-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup and get better working deep into games. To that end, adding more strength over the offseason will be key for Gómez, who the Guardians view as one of the better workers in the system.

The Future: Gómez has No. 4 starter upside, but also carries some reliever risk that could lead to a full-time bullpen role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 55 | Split: 55 | Control: 45