Nikhazy made some adjustments and finally broke out in 2024.
Surging southpaw Doug Nikhazy is our No. 14 prospect, earning 32% of the vote in an upset victory. Nikhazy makes his top 20 CTC debut after a breakout 2024 season.
Nikhazy was Cleveland’s second round draft pick in 2021, selected No. 58 overall out of Ole Miss.
The Guardians thought highly of him, debuting the lefty in High-A Lake County alongside fellow 2021 college arms Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams. While walks were an issue at 6.58 BB/9, Nikhazy also was missing bats at a steady rate and he stranded baserunners, maintaining a rock solid 3.19 ERA over 21 starts with the Captains. He had three games with 10+ strikeouts as well.
This earned Nikhazy a cup of coffee with Double-A Akron, where Nikhazy had two ugly starts and one fantastic one with another nine Ks.
Nikhazy spent his entire 2023 season at Double-A, where he struggled, posting a 4.94 ERA and 4.69 FIP over 22 starts and 102 innings pitched.
But something happened heading into the 2024 season. Nikhazy made a leap, and Cleveland noticed it. Nikhazy was given the start in the Guardians inaugural MiLB showcase game during Spring Training.
He then repeated at Double-A, but he was a new man. His 2024 debut start was five no-hit innings and he didn’t give up a run in his first five starts with Akron. Nikhazy was pitching more to contact, dropping his strikeout rate by two K/9, but he also cut his walk rate in half.
After a 3.17 ERA over 11 starts, Nikhazy was promoted to Triple-A Columbus. He finished the season there with a 2.87 ERA over 13 starts.
Former Rebel ace and current Guardians prospect Doug Nikhazy had arguably his best performance in AAA last night.
Nikhazy went 5.2 innings with 8 K’s while only allowing 3 hits.
A career year so far, Nikhazy has a 2024 ERA of 3.18 in AA & AAA combined.
pic.twitter.com/TWeF7z6RTS— T.J. (@TJOxley1) August 7, 2024
Nikhazy was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster in the offseason. Look for him to begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A, where he’ll be fighting to crack Cleveland’s rotation if the need arises due to injury or a double-header.
Franco Aleman, RHP (Age 24)
2024 (AAA): 24 G, 22.2 IP, 1.99 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 36.6 K%, 10.8 BB%
Flame-throwing reliever who missed a chance to help Cleveland in 2024 due to injury. Was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster in November and will make his MLB debut in 2025.
Dylan DeLucia, RHP (Age 24)
2024 (ACL): 2 GS, 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 17.6 K%, 0.0 BB%
2024 (A): 3 GS, 8.2 IP, 4.15 ERA, 2.66 FIP, 27.0 K%, 8.1 BB%
2024 (A+): 8 GS, 35.2 IP, 2.52 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 28.1 K%, 6.5 BB%
The 2022 6th round pick made his pro debut in 2024 after recovering from Tommy John surgery and immediately has looked like the real deal. Could be a fast riser in 2025.
Braylon Doughty, RHP (Age 19)
2024: ——
Cleveland’s competitive balance pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, selected at No. 36 overall out of high school with a $2.57 million signing bonus. Touches 97 mph already with his fastball.
Daniel Espino, RHP (Age 24)
2024: ——
Cleveland’s 2019 first round pick, once compared to Jacob DeGrom and Gerrit Cole, has struggled to stay healthy and has not pitched since 2022 due to shoulder surgeries.
Michael Kennedy, LHP (Age 20)
2024 (A w/ PIT): 15 GS, 73.0 IP, 4.07 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 26.6 K%, 5.3 BB%
2024 (A+ w/ PIT): 2 GS, 10.2 IP, 0.84 ERA, 1.87 FIP, 36.6 K%, 7.3 BB%
Kennedy joined the organization in the Spencer Horwitz trade(s). Thought he did not dominate at Single-A he finished strong with two great High-A starts.
Luis Merejo, 1B (Age 18)
2024 (ACL): 200 PA, .250/.417/.421, 4 HR, 8 SB, 17.5 BB%, 24.0 K%, 123 wRC+
2024 (A): 121 PA, .282/.372/.466, 16 HR, 20 SB, 12.3 BB%, 32.2 K%, 145 wRC+
A young Dominican with power potential, showed a great eye at the plate in his stateside debut, then put up impressive hitting numbers in a small sample size with Lynchburg.
Joey Oakie, RHP (Age 18)
2024: ——
Cleveland’s third round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Ankeny Centennial in Iowa, Oakie stands 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with a mid-90s fastball and took a $2 million signing bonus.
Johnathan Rodriguez, RF (Age 25)
2024 (AAA) 508 PA, .301/.390/.540, 29 HR, 8 SB, 12.6 BB%, 25.2 K%, 140 wRC+
2024 (MLB): 40 PA, .129/.325/.161, 0 HR, 0 SB, 22.5 BB%, 35.0 K%, 63 wRC+
Absolutely blistered Triple-A pitching in 2024, earning a couple brief opportunities with Cleveland. Will need to prove he’s not a Quad-A player this year.
Alfonsin Rosario, OF (Age 20)
2024 (A w/ CHC): 456 PA, .230/.344/.423, 16 HR, 20 SB, 12.3 BB%, 32.2 K%, 127 wRC+
Acquired from Chicago in the Eli Morgan trade, put up impressive speed and power numbers as a 19-year-old in Single-A last season, but strikeouts could be an issue.
Matt Wilkinson, RHP (Age 22)
2024 (A): 8 GS, 40.1 IP, 1.12 ERA, 1.45 FIP, 48.0 K%, 6.1 BB%
2024 (A+): 16 GS, 78.1 IP, 2.30 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 32.7 K%, 8.9 BB%
“Tugboat” set the MiLB world on fire in 2024 with one of the best nicknames in sports and one of the best seasons of any pitching prospect, finishing second in MiLB in strikeouts.