CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians have selected outfielder Jace Laviolette of Texas A&M with the 27th overall pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball first year player draft.
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Prior to the draft, Guardians Senior Vice President of Amateur Scouting Paul Gillispie said the franchise was focused on one consistent philosophy: finding the best player available, regardless of position.
“It’s less about the position and more about our assessment of the player and his fit for the Guardians,” Gillispie said.
This year, Cleveland has a significant opportunity to add talent with five selections in the top 101 picks. Gillispie said he believes this year’s draft class offers exceptional depth compared to recent years.
“It’s a deep draft,” Gillispie said. “Our ability to add some quality talent to the organization is exciting.”
When evaluating prospects, the Guardians’ scouting department looks for specific athletic qualities that translate across positions. This is particularly evident when assessing middle infielders who might have positional versatility.
“When you’re shortstop, a lot of times those players do have athleticism, coordination, balance all those types of things, life to their body, twitch,” Gillispie said. “But the versatility certainly helps.”
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