Messick has been solid at all three full-season MiLB levels and his numbers actually improved after a promotion to AA.
Impressive lefty Parker Messick is our No. 13 prospect, earning 44% of the vote in a massive blowout. Messick finally makes his top 20 CTC debut after just missing the cut in 2024, receiving 21 votes for No. 20.
Messick was Cleveland’s second round draft pick in 2022, selected No. 54 overall out of Florida State.
He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, standing 6-foot-tall and 225 pounds, but what has impressed me most is that his peripheral numbers have improved every single time he’s advanced through Cleveland’s minor league system.
He made his pro debut at Single-A Lynchburg in 2023, posting a 3.03 ERA and striking out 26% of opposing hitters with an elite 2.73 FIP over 13 starts. This earned him a midseason promotion to High-A Lake County, where he was a bit more hittable, but his strikeout rate actually climbed to 26.3% in 13 additional appearances spanning 65 innings while topping 10 K/9 for the first time.
Cleveland repeated Messick at High-A to begin 2024 and he improved in every facet as his strikeout rate to 28.2% with an excellent 3.38 FIP over 13 more starts and 68 innings.
The biggest surprise was how the former Seminole performed when he was promoted to Double-A. Upon his arrival, everything started clicking. Messick’s K/9 jumped a full strikeout from 10.59 to 11.65 and opponents struggled to make consistent contact with a .190 batting average against. He also posted career-best 2.06 ERA with an elite 2.77 FIP.
Parker Messick needed 86 pitches to 14 outs today, but in his second Double-A start, he’s struck out 10 (and walked 3).
Back to back outings for Peterson/Messick with 10 Ks in their promotions to Double-A.
Like they belonged here all along. pic.twitter.com/tQ9tbfybDS
— Next Year in Cleveland (@NextYearInCle) June 29, 2024
Depending on the system depth, Messick could begin the 2025 season at Triple-A, where he’ll duke it out with Austin Peterson to become the first starting pitcher from Cleveland’s 2022 draft class to make his MLB debut.
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.
Doug Nikhazy, LHP (Age 25)
2024 (AA): 11 GS, 48.1 IP, 3.17 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 25.9 K%, 10.1 BB%
2024 (AAA): 13 GS, 75.1 IP, 2.87 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 25.0 K%, 11.3 BB%
Put up consistent numbers at both Double-A and Triple-A last season and was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster in November. Started Cleveland’s prospect showcase game.
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.