Guardians boost OF power, grab LaViolette with No. 27 overall pick

CHICAGO -- The Guardians organizationally have shown a preference for hitters who prioritize contact. With their top selection in the 2025 MLB Draft, they shifted their focus to raw power.

At No. 27 overall on Sunday, the Guardians selected Jace LaViolette, a power-hitting outfielder out of Texas A&M.

Cleveland then selected infielder Dean Curley out of the University of Tennessee in the second round (No. 64 pick), along with outfielder Aaron Walton out of the University of Arizona (No. 66) and preps right-hander Will Hynes out of Lorne Park in Ontario (No. 70) in Competitive Balance Round B. They capped Day 1 with Oklahoma State outfielder Nolan Schubart in the third round (No. 101).

LaViolette, who will turn 22 on Dec. 4, was ranked the No. 20 prospect in the Draft by MLB Pipeline. He stands 6-foot-6, 230 pounds and, according to Pipeline, has “as much raw power as anyone in the Draft.”

“We’re really excited about him and just the package,” said Paul Gillispie, the Guardians’ senior vice president of scouting. “We were really excited that he was there when we picked at 27.”

LaViolette is an intriguing fit for the Guardians as a potential long-term power threat in the outfield. He owns Texas A&M school records for career home runs (68) and walks (169).

In 2024, he slashed .305/.449/.726 with 29 homers, 78 RBIs, 64 walks and 81 strikeouts in 68 games, leading Texas A&M to the College World Series final. This past season, he slashed .258/.427/.576 with 18 homers, 61 RBIs, 57 walks and 66 strikeouts in 56 games.

Defensively, LaViolette played all three outfield positions in college, even seeing time in center field. He has a strong arm, and given his size, he may profile better as a corner outfielder at the professional level -- particularly right field.

LaViolette’s competitive streak stood out to the Guardians in the pre-Draft process. He suffered a broken left hand on May 22 in Texas A&M’s second-round win over Auburn in the SEC Tournament. He underwent surgery and was back in the lineup the next day in the Aggies’ quarterfinal matchup with LSU.

“That illustrates the type of person and the type of competitor we're dealing with in Jace,” Gillispie said.

LaViolette recently underwent a cleanup procedure to reinforce his initial surgery. The Guardians have not yet pinpointed a date for when he will make his pro debut, but Gillispie said everything with LaViolette’s hand is looking good, and they expect him to move forward with no concerns.

“We want to make sure we spend a little bit more time with him and put a plan in place, so we all feel really comfortable and really confident when he is able to get back on the field,” Gillispie said.

There has been some concern about LaViolette’s whiff rate, which was 25 percent in 2025, a big reason why he only hit .258. In particular, his tendency to swing and miss within the strike zone gave some scouts pause.

But given the upside with his tremendous power and the remarkable speed he possesses for a man his size, LaViolette could become a fearsome all-around offensive threat if he can lower the K rate.

“He's a player that does a lot of things really well,” Gillispie said. “And I think if you take those things that he does and bring him into an environment like ours and get him around our people, get him around our resources, I think the potential upside for him is really high. In some ways, it's unknowable exactly how good he could be.

“... No player is a finished product, and Jace certainly isn’t. There’s no such thing in a baseball Draft, but he does a lot of things well.”

LaViolette was only the beginning of the Guardians’ power surge in the Draft. Curley, Walton and Schubart each also have major power.

Here’s a look at the rest of Cleveland’s Day 1 picks.

Dean Curley, SS, second round (Pick No. 64 overall)

• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: University of Tennessee
• Calling Card: Curley hit 26 homers and slugged .517 in 132 games over two seasons with Tennessee. He has a plus arm and played shortstop on Tennessee’s championship team in ‘24, but he moved around the infield in ‘25.
• Quote: “Super excited to be able to get him. He just does a lot of things [well], has a lot of attributes on both sides of the ball and [has] a lot of depth to his game.” -- Gillispie

Aaron Walton, OF, Competitive Balance Round B (Pick No. 66 overall)

• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: University of Arizona
• Calling Card: Walton runs well and plays a solid center field, according to Pipeline, and the Guardians think he can stick there. He transferred from Samford to Arizona ahead of the 2025 season and slashed .320/.437/.589 with 14 homers, 49 RBIs, 31 walks and 43 strikeouts over 65 games with the Wildcats.
• Quote: “He's a strong, physical, athletic center fielder. He has a football background, so you can see the strength, the power, the speed, athleticism, twitch. The profile that he has is really exciting.” -- Gillispie

Will Hynes, RHP, Competitive Balance Round B (Pick No. 70 overall)

• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: Lorne Park Secondary School (Ontario)
• Calling Card: Hynes is committed to Wake Forest, but the Guardians are optimistic about their chances to sign him. They selected him with the Draft pick they acquired in the Dec. 21 Josh Naylor trade. Hynes’ fastball is up to 94-95 mph, and he mixes that with a high-spin slider, per Pipeline. He has a penchant for throwing strikes and projects as a starter. He also pitched for the Canadian Premier Team and faced the Guardians in an exhibition game in Arizona.
• Quote: “He definitely left a strong impression on us.” -- Gillispie

Nolan Schubart, OF, third round (Pick No. 101 overall)

• Bats/throws: L/R
• School: Oklahoma State
• Calling Card: Schubart has 60-grade power on the 20-80 scale, per Pipeline, as his collegiate production demonstrated. In 165 games over three seasons, he slashed .334/.465/.705 with 59 doubles and 199 RBIs, with 140 walks and 198 strikeouts.
• Quote: “Another guy that we're really excited about, and [we] look forward to getting him into the organization. We've seen him hit some balls quite far this year and throughout his career.” -- Gillispie