What picks do the Guardians have in the MLB Draft? Who are their targets

The Guardians flipped their normal operating procedure in last year’s MLB Draft. Will they do it again?

Last year, the Guardians primarily drafted raw power in the MLB Draft, taking a series of swing-and-miss hitters with high home run upside, highlighted by first-round pick Jace LaViolette. It was a stark contrast to their recent history of drafting hitters, which often sided with high contact position players.

That mix of draftees followed the Guardians’ 2024 class, led by No. 1 overall selection Travis Bazzana, now the everyday second baseman and leadoff hitter in Cleveland.

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As the 2026 draft approaches, the Guardians hold the No. 19 overall pick in the first round. They’ll also pick at No. 59 (second round) and No. 95 (third round) on the draft’s first day.

They originally had a Competitive Balance Round A pick (No. 29 overall), but they dealt it to the San Francisco Giants in a trade for Patrick Bailey.

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The Guardians going so off script last year has made predicting how they might proceed in this year’s draft even more difficult than usual.

But at No. 19 some of the top possible fits include Texas A&M second baseman Chris Hacopian and Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese.

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• Last year, the Guardians’ top five picks were as follows:

• No. 27 overall Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (High-A)

• No. 64 overall Dean Curley, SS, Tennessee (High-A)

• No. 66 overall Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona (High-A)

• No. 70 overall Will Hynes, RHP, Canada (Rookie)

• No. 101 overall Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State (High-A)

Last year, the Guardians’ top five picks were as follows:

No. 27 overall Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (High-A)

No. 64 overall Dean Curley, SS, Tennessee (High-A)

No. 66 overall Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona (High-A)

No. 70 overall Will Hynes, RHP, Canada (Rookie)

No. 101 overall Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State (High-A)

Here are the last 10 Guardians top picks:

• 2025, No. 27 overall, Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (Guardians, High-A)

• 2024, No. 1 overall, Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oklahoma State (Guardians, MLB)

• 2023, No. 23 overall, Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Huntington Beach HS (Guardians, Triple-A)

• 2022, No. 16 overall, Chase DeLauter, OF, Jamse Madison (Guardians, MLB)

• 2021, No. 23 overall, Gavin Williams, SP, East Carolina, (Guardians, MLB)

• 2020, No. 23 overall, Carson Tucker, SS, Mountain Pointe HS (Padres, Double-A)

• 2019, No. 24 overall, Daniel Espino, SP, Georgia Premier Academy HS (Guardians, Triple-A)

• 2018, No. 29 overall, Bo Naylor, C, St. Joan of Art Catholic HS in Canada (Guardians, Triple-A)

• 2017, No. 64 overall (no first-round pick due to Edwin Encarnacions signing), Quentin Holmes, OF, Monsignor McClancy HS (Retired)

• 2016, No. 14 overall, Will Benson, OF, Westminster HS (Reds, MLB)

2025, No. 27 overall, Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (Guardians, High-A)

2024, No. 1 overall, Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oklahoma State (Guardians, MLB)

2023, No. 23 overall, Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Huntington Beach HS (Guardians, Triple-A)

2022, No. 16 overall, Chase DeLauter, OF, Jamse Madison (Guardians, MLB)

2021, No. 23 overall, Gavin Williams, SP, East Carolina, (Guardians, MLB)

2020, No. 23 overall, Carson Tucker, SS, Mountain Pointe HS (Padres, Double-A)

2019, No. 24 overall, Daniel Espino, SP, Georgia Premier Academy HS (Guardians, Triple-A)

2018, No. 29 overall, Bo Naylor, C, St. Joan of Art Catholic HS in Canada (Guardians, Triple-A)

2017, No. 64 overall (no first-round pick due to Edwin Encarnacions signing), Quentin Holmes, OF, Monsignor McClancy HS (Retired)

2016, No. 14 overall, Will Benson, OF, Westminster HS (Reds, MLB)

This season, LaViolette is hitting .235 with a .340 OBP, 12 home runs, 11 doubles, 51 RBIs and seven stolen bases for High-A Lake County.

Bazzana, the club’s top choice and overall in 2024, was recently selected to this first All-Star Game.

The MLB Draft kicks off July 11 with the first three rounds of picks. Coverage begins at 1 p.m.

Rounds 1-3 will take place on July 11. Rounds 4-20 will occur on July 12.

The draft can be viewed on NBC and Peacock, with the first round being televised on NBC and the remainder of the draft available through Peacock.

Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.