​As we continue our coverage of the 2026 MLB draft, which begins at 1 p.m. today, I’ll review the last four Cleveland Guardians drafts that have added substantial depth to their minor league system. For clarity, the ages listed below reflect the players’ ages when they were drafted about a year ago; add one year to determine their current age.
1 (27). Jace LaViolette. OF/LHH. Age 21. $4M bonus. LaViolette entered the 2025 college season as a candidate to go No. 1 overall, but he had a down year at Texas A&M. Cleveland Senior Vice President of scouting Paul Gillispie spoke about the pick after it was made: “He’s a massive guy. Speed, power, patience. He’s a player who does a lot of things really well, and I think if you bring him into our environment, around our people and resources, the potential upside for him is really high.” After a rough start where he struck out in a large portion of his early at-bats, LaViolette has settled in at High-A Lake County, launching 14 home runs and stealing eight bases while slashing .238/.340/.454 and scoring 56 runs in 66 games. The biggest concern remains his 36.9% strikeout rate, which will need to drop for him to have MLB staying power.
2 (64). Dean Curley. SS/RHH. Age 21. $1.73M bonus. A solid shortstop from Tennessee, Curley has established himself well at High-A this season, posting a line of .250/.460/.446 for an elite 144 wRC+ through 67 games. He has nine home runs, nine steals, 53 runs scored, and 49 RBIs over that span. While his 27.5% strikeout rate is concerning, his 25.6% walk rate is elite. Expect him to be promoted to Double-A Akron soon.
3 (66). Aaron Walton. OF/RHH. Age 21. $1.1M bonus. Another slugging outfielder, this one from the right side, Walton impressed in a small sample at Single-A last year and has continued to look the part at High-A Lake County this season. He has been a run-producing force, slashing .268/.394/.505 with 15 home runs, 20 steals, 67 runs scored, and 55 RBIs through 76 games. The 26.8% strikeout rate is a concern, but he appears ready for a shot at Double-A.
4 (70). Will Hynes. RHP. Age 18. $950K bonus. A prep arm from Canada, Hynes recently debuted in the Arizona Complex League. He’s off to a strong start, posting a 3.98 ERA over nine starts spanning 31.2 innings. He’s averaging about one strikeout per inning and walking fewer than one. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a single-A Hill City appearance before the season ends.
5 (101). Nolan Schubart. OF/LHH. Age 21. $730K bonus. A true three-outcome player, Schubart brings a blend of power, speed, and on-base ability that excites evaluators. He shows a dynamic toolset and, if he continues to develop, could become a versatile contributor in the Guardians’ system.
If you’d like, I can expand on each player’s strengths and areas for improvement, and provide a scouting-grade outlook for their projected minor-league trajectories.