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Here are the top switch-hitters in the Minors

Check out these 11 handy prospects (with one more to grow on)
@benweinrib
May 14, 2024

In an era that places a premium on platoon advantages, switch-hitters can be the most versatile members of a lineup -- even if they've become increasingly hard to find. Over the past four seasons, the number of switch-hitting batters in the Majors has slowly ticked down from 10.7 percent in

MiLB Player Spotlight: 'Tugboat' Wilkinson

Guardians' left-handed prospect joined elite ranks during April
@RobTnova24
May 8, 2024

Equipped with one of the Minors' best fastballs and an 80-grade nickname to follow suit, Matt Wilkinson -- known as 'Tugboat' -- has taken the league by storm since his debut with the Hillcats on April 6. Wilkinson was recently named April's Minor League Player of the Month in the

Guardians call up Manzardo for MLB debut

Club's No. 2 prospect hit .303/.375/.642 in 29 games this year
May 6, 2024

CLEVELAND -- The Kyle Manzardo Era is about to begin in Cleveland. The Guardians added Manzardo to the Major League roster on Monday afternoon in place of outfielder Steven Kwan, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Manzardo, 23, will bat seventh and serve

Guardians' Frias has baseball in his DNA

Third baseman learns from vets, shares passion with teammates
April 26, 2024

RICHMOND, Va. – Dayan Frias was immersed in the world of baseball from a young age. His dad’s heavy involvement within the sport gave Frias a front row seat of what a career in baseball would look like. Wherever his dad, David, was playing, training players, or managing a team

'Tugboat' joins lofty company on 15-K night

Wilkinson twirls six hitless innings for Single-A Lynchburg
@Jesus_Cano88
April 26, 2024

Matt Wilkinson joined some lofty Hall of Fame company with a 15-strikeout performance for Single-A Lynchburg on Thursday night. And the Guardians' left-handed prospect has a moniker attracting almost as much attention as that dominant start. Known as "Tugboat," Wilkinson posted six hitless frames en route to the Hillcats' 3-0

Indy's Skenes allows first run at Triple-A level

MLB's No. 3 prospect still whiffs seven over 4 1/3 frames
@brendan_samson
April 24, 2024

Five starts and 14 1/3 scoreless innings into his 2024 campaign, Paul Skenes allowed his first run of the year for Triple-A Indianapolis in the team's 7-4 victory over Omaha at Werner Park. The run marked the first blemish to his previously perfect ERA, but the rest of the outing,

Manzardo hitting like a Guardian of the Galaxy

Cleveland's No. 2 prospect collects third homer in two games
@brendan_samson
April 21, 2024

Kyle Manzardo had himself a weekend. The Guardians No. 2 prospect launched three homers and amassed five extra-base hits in three games for Triple-A Columbus, capping off a nine-game stretch in which the lefty slugger has been firing on all cylinders at the dish.

From Single-A to The Show, Chourio bros teeing off

Jackson, Jaison slug homers on same day for first time in pro ball
@Jesus_Cano88
April 20, 2024

Plenty of memories have been created by the Chourio brothers, Jackson and Jaison, throughout their lives. On Saturday, the dynamic duo added another one when they both homered on the same day for the first time in their professional careers. Jackson hit a go-ahead home run in the fourth inning

Ben's Biz: Minor League promos for mid-April

Hockey Day, Awful Night, Chili Buns and so much more
@BensBiz
April 19, 2024

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. The pomp and circumstance of Opening Day is in the rearview mirror and the world

Velazquez muscles way to first career 2-HR night

Guardians No. 4 prospect accomplishes feat in 10th pro game
@Jesus_Cano88
April 11, 2024

For 26 minutes, Single-A Lynchburg first baseman Ralphy Velazquez watched Fredericksburg put up 10 runs in the first inning of Wednesday night’s game. It may have lasted less than a half-hour, but it felt much longer for the Guardians' No. 4 prospect. Eight consecutive batters reached base to start the

MiLB prepares for the total solar eclipse

From a total eclipse of the park to solar palooza and more
@BensBiz
April 5, 2024

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse makes its way across the country, moving

Ben's Biz: 2024 Double-A promotional night highlights

Great mustaches, Sojourner Truth, hot dog candles and more
@BensBiz
March 22, 2024

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Last week, I provided a rollicking round-up of notable 2024 Triple-A promotions. Today, we’ll gingerly

Ben's Biz eats: From Tennessee to Ohio

Nashville, Bowling Green, Louisville, Indianapolis and Columbus
@BensBiz
December 8, 2023

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.

Guardians' Manzardo, DeLauter building bond

Two of Cleveland's top prospects made dynamic tandem this fall
@JoeTrezz
November 9, 2023

The Arizona Fall League is a stage on which the game’s top prospects can not only hone their skills in preparation for the next level, but can also make up for lost time. That’s been the case for Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter, two top Guardians prospects who didn’t share

Clippers gameday mainstay got his start in '67Ā 

Marvin Dill began his journey with the Columbus Jets 56 years ago
@BensBiz
November 2, 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- If you’ve attended a Minor League Baseball game in Columbus, Ohio, at any point over the last 56 years, then one thing is almost certain: Marvin Dill was there in the ballpark with you. In 1967, Dill began working for the Columbus Jets, assisting in the visitors'

DeLauter, Rodriguez headline Guardians' Organization All-Stars

The outfield duo lead the pack with sights set on Cleveland
@Gerard_Gilberto
October 25, 2023

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the Cleveland Guardians. 2023 organization summary: Triple-A Columbus: 68-79 Double-A

Ben's Biz: Last stop, a breezy day with the Clippers

The road (trip) ends on a Sunday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio
@BensBiz
October 20, 2023

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.

The Road to The Showā„¢: Guardiansā€™ Manzardo

No. 58 overall prospect finds power, consistency following trade
@Gerard_Gilberto
October 3, 2023

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at Guardians’ second-ranked prospect Kyle Manzardo. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. It took a little while for Kyle Manzardo to

Manzardo mashes first Clippers clout

No. 2 Guardians prospect takes a southpaw deep at Triple-A
September 9, 2023

For the first time since joining the Guardians' organization, Kyle Manzardo got a chance to show off the impactful power that's been part of his calling card in the Minors. MLB Pipeline's No. 58 overall prospect (Guardians' No. 2) hit his first home run with Triple-A Columbus in the sixth

RubberDucks inspired by pediatric cancer night

Annual tribute inclues patient-designed jersey, 'Home Run for Life'
@brendan_samson
September 4, 2023

Designing a baseball jersey is one of the things Minor League teams often treasure. But Double-A Akron takes that concept to the next level during its tribute to pediatric cancer patients and their families. The Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Celebration, an annual tradition as long

Jim Clark calls 3,500th game for RubberDucks

Akron broadcaster has started every game for past 30 seasons
@brendan_samson
August 30, 2023

“Hello baseball fans everywhere." Double-A Akron RubberDucks broadcaster Jim Clark has started every game for the past 30 seasons with those four words. They serve as a tribute to longtime Cleveland broadcaster Jimmy Dudley, as well as evidence that Clark’s childhood dream has come true. “As a kid, probably age

Blind broadcaster Wylie joins Captains booth

Pursuing dream, local teen enjoying time with Guardians affiliate
@BensBiz
August 14, 2023

This article is based on an interview with broadcaster Allan Wylie and Lake County Captains broadcast director Cole Liggett, for MiLB.com's "Show Before the Show" podcast. Listen to the full interview HERE. Wylie will be in the Lake County broadcast booth for three more games, Aug. 15-17, vs. the Peoria

DSL Guardians kick off season with 28-run barrage

Rookie-level squad rolls on Opening Day with 13-run frame, 24 hits
@JoeTrezz
June 5, 2023

There is nothing like Opening Day, and the Rookie-level Guardians Blue had one for the ages in the Dominican Summer League on Monday. Cleveland’s DSL affiliate came out of the gate swinging in its inter-organizational opener against the DSL Guardians Red … and swinging, and swinging and swinging. When they

The best of the Guardians' Minor League ballparks

Prospects explore Virginia, get to know Ohio en route to Cleveland
@Kelsie_Heneghan
June 5, 2023

The Minor League Ballpark Guides series presented by Wyndham brings all the most fun features of Minors ballparks across America (and one in Canada!) onto your desktop, tablet or mobile device, whether you're interested in taking a virtual tour from where you sit or planning a trip to catch some

Certified fresh: The RubberDucks of Akron

"All Out 90s" night celebrated in front of packed house
@brendan_samson
June 4, 2023

Now this is a story all about how the Akron RubberDucks were flipped-turned upside down, so please take a minute and sit right there and I’ll tell you how Akron honored “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." On Saturday night, Double-A Akron hosted “All Out 90s” night with a special appearance