Rookies, youth, and prospects could be key themes to the Cleveland Guardians’ 2026 season.

Even though the Guardians are heavily relying on their young players to help the lineup take a jump next year, here are three elite prospects who won’t be making their MLB debut in 2026. 

Ralphy Velazquez finished the 2025 season on an absolute tear, posting a .994 OPS in his 28 games at Double-A. However, the first baseman still has much to prove before being an option at the big-league level. 

Velzaquez will likely start next season at Double-A, and with a strong stretch, could be promoted to Triple-A by the summer, but the team will be patient with him, considering he’s 20 years old. He had a slow start to his professional career after being drafted and assigned to an affiliate ball, and he still has room to grow and develop further.

Plus, with Cleveland already having plenty of first base options at the big-league level, including Kyle Manzardo, C.J. Kayfus, and David Fry, a debut for Ralphy feels unlikely at this time. 

Alfonsin Rosario is in a similar position as Velazquez: a prospect coming off a breakout season, but still has some to prove.

Cleveland’s No. 12 prospect recorded a .806 OPS and was promoted to Double-A before the minor league season was over.

Rosario’s production did stall somewhat once he joined the Akron RubberDucks, slashing .211/.303/.391 in 128 at-bats. The 21-year-old still has much to prove before he’s even promoted to Triple-A, nevermind The Show.

That said, given Cleveland’s thin and injury-prone outfield, Rosario’s chance of reaching the big leagues is slightly higher than Velazquez's. If Rosario makes the necessary adjustments, he does have a slim chance of an MLB promotion, but it’s still a long shot as of right now.

MLB Pipeline has Angel Genao’s ETA set at 2026 after being added to the 40-man roster earlier this offseason. That said, an MLB debut for Genao feels improbable at this point.

Genao played in 85 games last season due to a right shoulder injury, missing key development time for the 21-year-old. The shortstop did spend most of his time at Double-A, so a Triple-A promotion at some point in 2026 is a reasonable prediction.

Still, with Cleveland’s crowded middle infield at the big-league level, and the time Genao has missed, an MLB debut in 2027 feels like a safer projection.

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