\u201cWe are confident our signings this winter make us better,\u201d said Assistant General Manager James Harris. \u201cIt is one of our best groups.\u201d<\/p>\n
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JUPITER, FL: Pitching prospect Ettore Giulianelli of the St. Louis Cardinals warms up prior to a minor league spring training game against the New York Mets at the George Kissell Quad on March 19, 2023. The Cleveland Guardians signed him to a minor-league deal this month.(Photo by Nick Cammett\/Diamond Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Diamond Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
He was not referring to the relatively low-budget additions of veteran relievers Shawn Armstrong, Colin Holderman, Connor Brogdon and infielder Carter Kieboom. He meant signing teenagers on the international market \u2013 12 from Venezuela, eight from the Dominican Republic and two from Cuba.<\/p>\n
And one under-the-radar signing of 22-year-old Italian right-hander Ettore Giulianelli.<\/p>\n
One look at the \u201cviral screwball\u201d<\/a> thrown by the native of Rimini, Italy, shows why the Guardians were interested. So curious that they made sure they had several looks.<\/p>\n The pitch helped him strike out 104 over 68 2\/3 innings in parts of four seasons after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals for $200,000 at age 16 in 2019. Being unable to throw it for strikes and issuing 76 walks was why the Cardinals released him.<\/p>\n \u201cRichard Conway (director of international scouting) and Paul Gillespie (senior vice president, scouting) did a lot of work on this one,” Harris said. “Then again, they\u2019ve done so much important work for us for years. They spearheaded this, going to see his workouts at Tread Athletics<\/a> in North Carolina. We brought in more of our scouts to get other opinions and came to an agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n The consensus was that Giulianelli was much improved and worth more than just watching. They signed him to a minor-league deal on January 6.<\/p>\n “He has completely changed his motion, actually added a few miles an hour to his fastball to the mid to upper 90s and threw strikes,\u201d Harris said. \u201cHe went from throwing directly over the top to overhand but at a lower slot.\u201d<\/p>\n The Guardians are known for cultivating pitchers. Giulianelli is their latest project as a potential reliever.<\/p>\n Why Switch From Switch Hitters?<\/p>\n Cleveland had $8,034,900 in international pool money to use this year, tied with six other teams for the highest allotment in MLB. Three switch-hitting shortstops got the biggest deals from Cleveland: reportedly $820,000 to Svert Reinoso, $625,000 apiece to Karel Naranjo and Rafeliz Lara. <\/p>\n MINNEAPOLIS: Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians celebrate scoring against the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 24, 2015 at Target Field. (Photo by Hannah Foslien\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n The Guardians absolutely covet Latino switch-hitting middle infielders. They proudly collect them any way possible \u2013 and why not? Ten such prominent players up the middle were part of Cleveland playoff runs: Omar Vizquel, Carlos Baerga, Tony Fernandez, Roberto Alomar, Asdrubal Cabrera, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez (now an all-star at third base), Cesar Hernandez, Brayan Rocchio and Angel Martinez.<\/p>\n The current farm system has these switch-hitting middle infielders highly ranked by MLB.com: Angel Genao (3), Juan Brito (14), Welbyn Francisca (15) and Dauri Fernandez (23). <\/p>\n HARRISBURG: Guardians prospect Angel Genao of the Akron RubberDucks bats during an Eastern League game against the Harrisburg Senators at FNB Field on July 27, 2025. (Photo by Thom Wood\/Diamond Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Diamond Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Reinoso\u2019s strong arm and stronger intensity gain immediate notice. The 17-year-old Dominican<\/a> is well developed at six-foot, 195 pounds and shows power potential at bat. Scouts say he can play short, but if he gets bigger, may be moved to third base. <\/p>\n Naranjo<\/a>, 16, is a 5-9, 155 pound Dominican, very agile, can throw and has good bat speed while maintaining patience at the plate. He\u2019s reportedly a better hitter from the left side. His arm is suited for shortstop, his agility may move him to second. The bat likely will determine his future.<\/p>\n Lara will turn 17 on January 26. Born in Cuba, he grew up in the Dominican Republic. He\u2019s 5-9, 182 pounds, with long arms reminiscent of fielding whiz Yordys Valdes<\/a>, yet another switch-hitting infielder working his way up the minor-league system since being a second-round draft pick in 2019 by Cleveland.<\/p>\n One That Got Away?<\/p>\n