With seven teams in its minor league system, Cleveland has 165 players under contract heading into the 2026 season, so it’s a bit unfair to stop counting prospects at just the top 20.
Every year I pick some other non-top 20 prospects to keep an eye on and the track record has been pretty solid thus far. Back in 2021, I successfully picked 10 different pitchers who eventually went on to make MLB. Last year, four pitchers on my Best of the Rest article (Josh Hartle, Braylon Doughty, Joey Oakie and Daniel Espino) graduated to top 20 prospect status and one (Nic Enright) made it to MLB.
Here are some prospects who just missed the cut from Covering the Corner’s top 20 and deserve some recognition as well. Prospects are listed by their proximity to MLB.
Starting pitchers
Doug Nikhazy, 26, LHP
A second round pick in 2021, Nikhazy finally made his MLB debut last year, but it didn’t well as he was shellacked by the Red Sox. He was better in a second appearance out of the bullpen late in the season. Nikhazy had 21 appearances (19 starts) at Triple-A last year and struggled to the tune of a 5.02 ERA while being extremely home run prone, but he’s only one year removed from a 2.98 ERA for the whole 2024 season, so I’m not ready to throw in the towel for him just yet, considering he’s still on the 40-man roster.
Austin Peterson, 26, RHP
A ninth round pick in 2022, Peterson rocketed up the rankings in 2024 after dominating High-A and Double-A using elite control and posting the best WHIP (0.89) of all qualified pitchers in minor league baseball. He seemed to be on the same track to begin 2025 while repeating at Double-A, crushing it with a 1.47 ERA over 11 starts, which earned him a promotion to Triple-A. Once at Columbus, however, Peterson struggled, nearly doubling his walk rate and tripling his ERA. He still was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster, however and he’ll have a chance to make his MLB debut this year if he can better adjust to MLB-level hitters at the upper level of the minors.
Will Dion, 25, LHP
A ninth round pick in 2021, I’m not quite ready to give up on Dion after he showed considerable improvement repeating last year at Triple-A. “Baby Kershaw” dropped his ERA from 5.48 to 4.09 in 31 games (13 starts) and his FIP actually was better than that at 3.86 due to the fact he cut his HR/9 in half to 0.82. He doesn’t throw particularly hard, but he has good off speed pitches and could be a depth option for Cleveland this year if he continues to improve.
Dylan DeLucia, 25, RHP
A sixth round pick in 2022, DeLucia posted career-best strikeout numbers repeating at High-A last season (10.49/9), but for whatever reason, when 0pposing hitters made contact, the ball flew out of the ballpark at an alarming rate (21.2% HR/FB ratio). DeLucia was promoted to Double-A at the midway point of the season and his ERA dropped to 3.19, mainly because he suddenly became one of the toughest pitchers in MiLB to hit home runs against (3.5% HR/FB). I still like what I see out of DeLucia and think he could be a future starting depth option.
Trenton Denholm, 22, RHP
A 14th round pick by Cleveland in 2021, Denholm has one of the more unorthodox pitch mixes in Cleveland’s system, having added a knuckleball to his repertoire this past season. He made 26 appearances (18 starts) at Double-A last year with a 3.77 ERA while posting an elite 1.85 BB/9 walk rate. He finished the season in Triple-A and likely will begin there this year.
Rodney Boone, 25, LHP
An eighth round pick in 2021, Boone ascent in Cleveland’s system has been slow as molasses. He spent the entire 2025 season at Double-A, but his numbers were rock solid. In 18 starts spanning 78 innings, he posted a strong 2.31 ERA with a 3.24 FIP and 1.05 WHIP. The left-hander kept opposing hitters near the Mendoza line (.207 BAA) and at least deserves an opportunity at Triple-A to begin the 2026 campaign.
Matt Wilkinson, 23, LHP
A 10th round pick in 2023, “Tugboat” Wilkinson sports the best nickname in MiLB and burst onto the scene with elite strikeout numbers in his debut season, which sent his prospect status soaring. He fell back down to earth in 2025 while repeating at High-A as his strikeout numbers dipped, his walk rate increased and he became more hittable as well. He stayed healthy the entire season, however, posting a 4.24 ERA over 25 starts and his strikeout rate still was good (10.13 K/9), so he’s not worth giving up on yet.
Michael Kennedy, 21, LHP
Acquired from Pittsburgh in the Spencer Horwitz trade, Kennedy was drafted in the fourth round out of Troy High School in 2022. He spent the 2025 season at High-A Lake County, where he held his own in 16 appearances (nine starts), posting a 3.32 ERA with a 3.79 FIP. His walk rate spiked to 3.61 and it’s something to keep an eye on moving forward, but he’s still an intriguing pitching prospect.
Caden Favors, 24, LHP
A sixth round pick in 2024, Favors spent his entire 2025 season at High-A Lake County, where he pitched admirably with a 4.08 ERA and a better 3.75 FIP over 25 starts spanning 108 innings. He’s starting to get some recognition on the scouting websites after adding some velocity, which now tops out at about 97 mph. He pitched better as the 2025 season went on, adjusting well to some changes Cleveland made in his delivery. He definitely is a player worth paying attention to this year as I expect he could be a super sleeper.
Franklin Gomez, 20, LHP
An absolute steal by Cleveland, Gomez was acquired for international bonus cash from the New York Mets this offseason. He was signed internationally out of Venezuela and had been in the Mets’ system since 2022. Gomez repeated the 2025 season at Single-A and absolutely dominated opposing hitters with a 1.85 ERA. He’s been extremely difficult to barrel, allowing just 0.18 HR/9. He was promoted to High-A for his final six starts of 2025 and his strikeout numbers actually increased while keeping his FIP the same. I like what I see out of this young man.
Rafe Schlesinger, 23, LHP
A fourth round pick in 2024, Schlesinger pitched well for Single-A Lynchburg last year, sporting a 3.33 ERA and 3.18 FIP over 20 games (16 starts) in 83.2 innings. This earned him a promotion to High-A Lake County, where his strikeout numbers actually increased to 10.8 K/9 and his FIP dropped to 3.01. Schlesinger can touch 97 with his fastball and he could be another college arm that takes the next step in Cleveland’s pitching factory this year.
Jogly Garcia, 22, RHP
Signed internationally out of Venezuela in 2022, Garcia was flat out disgusting to begin the season at Single-A Lynchburg. In eight games (six starts), he had a 2.05 ERA with an absolutely freaking filthy 15.85 K/9 and 1.42 FIP before missing a couple months with an unspecified injury. He finished the year at High-A Lake County. With his strikeout stuff, Garcia is a strong candidate for the bullpen should he not pan out as a starter.
Jacob Zibin, 21, RHP
Signed out of high school with the biggest 10th round bonus in MLB Draft history in 2022, Jacob Zibin didn’t pitch his first two years in Cleveland’s system due to Tommy John surgery and other injuries. He finally debuted this past season and went straight to full-season ball, making 19 starts at Single-A Lynchburg. Zibin didn’t miss many bats, but he posted a solid 3.62 ERA and most importantly, stayed healthy the whole season. I’d love to see him continue his development in Cleveland’s system.
Will McCausland, 22, RHP
Cleveland’s seventh round pick in 2025, McCausland impressed in a brief debut at Single-A, pitching four games (one start) with 10 total innings. He allowed three runs and struck out 14 batters and will almost certainly get a much bigger opportunity now that he’s had a full offseason working with Cleveland’s pitching development.
Chase Mobley, 19, RHP
Mobley actually replaced Zibin with the new top 10th round bonus ever at $1.8 million in 2024 when he was drafted out of high school. He can hit 99 mph, but control is a major issue, walking over 10 batters per nine innings in 10 games (nine starts) last year, but he also struck out an elite 13 batters per nine. He has a ways to go in his development.
Alexander Garcia, 19, RHP
Signed out of Venezuela in 2024, Garcia was flat out filthy last year repeating at the Dominican Summer League, where he had a disgusting 1.32 ERA in 11 starts spanning 47.2 innings. Despite his low level, he was stretched out to 6.0 and 7.0 innings to close out the season, finishing the year with 7.0 shutout frames on August 16th. He’ll be making his U.S. debut this year for sure.
Players yet to debut in Cleveland’s system with top draft pedigrees: Justin Campbell, Will Hynes, Cameron Sullivan, Aidan Major.
Campbell missed his first three seasons in Cleveland’s system due to a combination of Tommy John and nerve surgery, but he was a second round pick when Cleveland drafted him and he looks like he’s finally ready to make his pro debut this year. Hynes was Cleveland’s top pitching prospect drafted in 2025, selected out of high school in the second round competitive balance pick. Sullivan was the lone prep arm from Cleveland’s 2024 class to never debut, missing his 2025 season with a partial UCL tear. I haven’t heard any updates about whether it healed or required surgery. Major was a highly promising college arm in Cleveland’s 2024 draft, selected in the fifth round, but also missed the 2025 season while recovering from 2024 Tommy John surgery.
Relievers
Franco Aleman, 25, RHP
Aleman was expected to be a contributor in Cleveland’s bullpen in 2025 after exploding onto the scene with an incredible 2024 season, but injuries, wildness and ineffectiveness prevented his MLB debut. That being said, Aleman still throws 99 mph with an elite fastball and slider combination. He’s already on the 40-man roster and he’ll almost certainly get an opportunity this season.
Peyton Pallette, 24, RHP
Cleveland selected Pallette in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, so he either needs to stay on the MLB roster all year or he’ll have to be offered back to the Chicago White Sox. Pallette was a starter, but he’ll be used as a reliever this year. His fastball touches the upper 90s and he has a good pitch mix of slider, curve and changeup to go with it. He also puts a tremendous amount of spin on the ball. If Cleveland saw something that everyone else missed, he could be an asset this year and in the future.
Jack Leftwich, 24, RHP
Cleveland selected Hanner out of Minnesota’s farm system in the minor league portion of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft. He spent the entire 2023 campaign at Double-A Akron, where he had a solid 2.78 ERA over 41 appearances. Hanner repeated 2024 at Akro
Steven Perez, 24, RHP
A 15th-round pick in 2021, Alaska Abney took the slow and steady approach through Cleveland’s system. He pitched spectacularly until hitting High-A in 2023, where he struggled. He repeated there last year and took off, posting a 1.08 ERA in 14 appearances before earning a promotion to Double-A Akron. Once in Akron, Abney continued to excel with a 2.33 ERA while dropping his WHIP to 0.96. Abney could begin 2025 in Triple-A, where he would be one of the next men up after Franco Aleman and Enright.
Xavier Martinez, 23, RHP
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of USC in 2024, Martinez impressed in his pro debut last season, beginning the year at Single-A Lynchburg, where he had a 2.63 ERA and struck out 49 batters in 37.2 innings spanning 23 appearances. He earned a promotion to High-A Lake County and continued to perform well, whiffing 16 batters in 14 innings, even earning a couple saves along the way..
Cam Schuelke, 24, RHP
A 19th-round pick in 2024, Schuelke has an extremely unorthodox submarine style out of the bullpen. He can be highly entertaining, already impressing Tom Hamilton in Cleveland’s first Spring Training game this year when he whiffed top Reds prospect Cam Collier on a 69 mph sidearm pitch. Schuelke whiffed 33 batters in 27.2 innings in 2025 and continues to be a player worth paying attention to.
Kendeglys Virguez, 21, RHP
A Venezuelan pitching prospect, Virguez never did more than make rehab appearances in the complex league last year, but he throws 101 mph and as long as he’s still doing that, I’m going to keep an eye on him.
Luis Flores, 22, LHP
A Dominican pitching prospect, Flores continues to sport elite strikeout numbers at every level he pitches — but that’s countered by brutal walk numbers. He’s a player worth dreaming on, but he’ll have to get his walks under control if he’s ever going to make it.
Raudy Rivera, 20, RHP
How can I not love a reliever named Raudy? Rivera repeated last year at the Arizona Complex League and made drastic improvements, dropping his ERA over 5 runs to 3.21 with 48 strikeouts in just 28 innings pitched. This earned him a promotion to Single-A Lynchburg, where he pitched even better, posting a 1.80 ERA in seven appearances spanning 15 innings with 17 strikeouts. Keep an eye on this one.
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