2025 Draft class propels Guardians' Single-A affiliate to Carolina League title

Just over two months into their professional careers, 13 members of the Guardians’ 2025 Draft class can already call themselves champions.

On Wednesday, Single-A Lynchburg claimed its first Carolina League title since 2017, and Cleveland’s most recent draftees had their fingerprints all over the triumph.

The club’s 8-2 win over Columbia in decisive Game 3 at Segra Park featured contributions from eight 2025 draftees, who combined for 12 hits and all eight RBIs. Fifth-rounder Riley Nelson led the charge from that group. The Vanderbilt product collected three knocks, including a two-run homer in the first inning that put the Hillcats up early. Nelson finished the playoffs with eight hits over five games, accumulating a .941 OPS.

“We knew playoffs were the goal, and to win it all was the ultimate goal,” Lynchburg manager Jordan Smith said. “But we just took it one day at a time with a new team, and slowly, those relationships and bonds started to grow, and we started to get the ball rolling.”

Second-rounder Dean Curley (CLE No. 10) and third-rounder Nolan Schubart (CLE No. 27) also delivered at the plate. Curley, who tallied three knocks and two RBIs in the contest, raced for an RBI triple in the third frame, while Schubart logged two doubles and an RBI while upping his postseason OPS to 1.011.

Members of the 2025 Draft class had an impact on the mound as well. After Melkis Hernandez – the Carolina League strikeout leader in the regular season (116) -- twirled 3 1/3 innings of one-run baseball to open the game, seventh-rounder Will McCausland entered in relief and dominated. With the bases loaded and one out, the Mississippi product fanned the first two batters he faced to extinguish the threat. McCausland went three more frames, finishing with a career-high seven strikeouts over 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Right-hander Cam Schuelke handled the final two frames, securing Lynchburg’s ninth championship in franchise history.

“I would credit Cleveland, and just how they draft and the background they do on these guys,” said Smith of the team’s ability to bond. “They really love guys that care about culture and really want to play for the team first and then themselves second.”

A fitting example of the organization’s strong character was Lynchburg’s ability to find success after a drastic roster overhaul from the first half to the second half, not an uncommon occurrence across the Minor Leagues.

The Hillcats finished the first half with the best record on the circuit (41-25), clinching the East Division first-half title and solidifying themselves as a playoff team.

The squad's identity was chaos on the basepaths. Led by speedy outfielder Tommy Hawke, who finished the season with 65 stolen bases, Lynchburg swiped a Carolina League-leading 197 bases over the first 66 games.

“We kind of were the team that would just continue to put pressure on the other team and force teams to play at our speed,” Smith said.

In the second half, the team’s style of play completely shifted. With top contributors such as Hawke moving to High-A and backups filling in, the team experienced growing pains. But once the convoy of 2025 draftees arrived, they started to find their groove and the team blossomed from there.

"Less basestealing, more impact with the bats, but as far as buy in and work ethic and just being one team for one goal and one purpose, they picked up right where we left off," said Smith who has managed the Hillcats for the past three seasons.

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The players’ bond was largely connected to faith. After winning the championship, they all took part in a group prayer.

“That really was the identity,” Smith said of the team’s spirituality. “Twenty-five guys at every baseball chapel on Sundays was just really cool. It was cool for away team chaplains to be like, ‘Wow, a room that [we] normally do it in is not going to work.’”

Despite finishing the second half five games under .500, the Hillcats’ new culture paved the way for playoff success. They swept Fredericksburg (Nationals) in the best-of-3 semifinals before taking down Columbia (Royals) to earn the crown.

“Once they got here, it was like, 'Hey, this is our team. Let's make a run at this,’” Smith said. “And that's when we really got the ball rolling.”