Welbyn Francisca is our No. 6 Guardians prospect. Who should be No. 7?

The switch-hitter is yet another top international prospect who is producing at an extremely high level.

Middle infielder Welbyn Francisca is our No. 6 prospect, earning 25% of the vote on Monday in an extremely competitive race that saw him win by 11 votes. Francisca’s prospect status is on a major upswing as he was voted the Guardians No. 13 prospect in 2024.

Francisca was the Guardians’ top international signing of the 2023 class, ranked No. 24 overall by MLB.com. Originally hailing from the Dominican Republic, he signed with Cleveland for $1.375 million.

Francisca made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2023 and he got off to a torrid start. In his pro debut, he went 5 for 7 at the plate with a triple, a home run and five runs scored. While his pace eventually slowed down, he still finished his debut season with a ridiculous .316/.419/.500 slashline over 40 games with a 144 wRC+ and was named to the league’s All-Star team.

The switch-hitter moved to the United States this past season and made his debut in the Arizona Complex League at 18 years old, where he didn’t miss a beat. After coming out of the gates a little slow, Francisca finished strong and slashed .328/.418/.523 with six home runs in 45 games, good for a 139 wRC+, which earned him ACL All-Star status.

With the ACL finishing its season earlier now, Francisca was given a 29-game opportunity at Single-A Lynchburg to close out the season and he once again impressed. Despite being 2 ¹⁄₂ years younger than the average player at his level, he slashed .326/.402/.402 and even earned Carolina League Player of the Week in mid August.

Francisca has primarily played shortstop with some second base mixed in on defense with potential upside of sticking at shortstop. He’s not the biggest guy at 5-foot-8, 148 pounds, but that makes his power numbers that much more impressive, blasting a career-high seven bombs in 74 games last season while stealing 19 bases.

Don’t be surprised if Francisca at least starts the year at Lynchburg, but if Cleveland is feeling frisky, they could aggressively place him at High-A Lake County to start his age-19 season.

Joey Cantillo, LHP (Age 25)

2024 (AAA): 9 GS, 38.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 29.8 K%, 14.6 BB%
2024 (MLB): 8 GS, 38.2 IP, 4.89 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 27.0 K%, 9.2 BB%

The final piece of the Mike Clevinger trade made his pro debut in 2024 and showcased flashes of brilliance while still needed work in some areas. Possible 2025 rotation member.

Braylon Doughty, RHP (Age 19)

2024: ——

Cleveland’s competitive balance pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, selected at No. 36 overall out of high school with a $2.57 million signing bonus. Touches 97 mph already with his fastball.

Daniel Espino, RHP (Age 24)

2024: ——

Cleveland’s 2019 first round pick, once compared to Jacob DeGrom and Gerrit Cole, has struggled to stay healthy and has not pitched since 2022 due to shoulder surgeries.

Cooper Ingle, C (Age 22)

2024 (A+): 305 PA, .313/.433/.500, 9 HR, 3 SB, 16.7 BB%, 13.1 K%, 170 wRC+
2024 (AA): 103 PA, .281/.379/.416, 2 HR, 4 SB, 13.6 BB%, 15.5 K%, 132 wRC+

Absolutely dominated High-A before impressing at Double-A following a midseason promotion. Walked more than he struck out while developing defensively.

C.J. Kayfus, 1B/OF (Age 23)

2024 (A+): 183 PA, .338/.437/.578, 7 HR, 4 SB, 12.6 BB%, 18.3 K%, 188 wRC+
2024 (AA): 298 PA, .263/.366/.470, 10 HR, 1 SB, 12.1 BB%, 28.3 K%, 139 wRC+

Has consistently destroyed baseballs at every level he’s played thus far in Cleveland’s system, showcasing improved power and a decent eye at the plate as well. The rise in K's at Double-A gives some room for pause but he is still young and developing.

Parker Messick, LHP (Age 24)

2024 (A+): 13 GS, 68.0 IP, 3.57 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 32.3 K%, 8.0 BB%
2024 (AA): 13 GS, 65.2 IP, 2.06 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 30.2 K%, 8.0 BB%

Cleveland’s second round pick in 2022 impressed at Lake County in 2024 and then absolutely blew everyone away at Double-A Akron for the second half of the season.

Austin Peterson, RHP (Age 25)

2024 (A+): 14 GS, 85 IP, 2.44 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 27.1 K%, 1.9 BB%
2024 (AA): 13 GS, 75 IP, 2.88 ERA, 2.96 FIP, 25.1 K%, 5.2 BB%

Peterson broke out as one of the top performing pitchers in the Guardians MiLB organization in 2024 with consistent and elite dominance at both High-A and Double-A.

Ralphy Velazquez, 1B (Age 19)

2024 (A) 373 PA, .243/.362/.414, 10 HR, 8 SB, 15.0 BB%, 20.1 K%, 131 wRC+
2024 (A+): 80 PA, .176/.275/.250, 1 HR, 0 SB, 12.5 BB%, 25.0 K%, 54 wRC+

Guardians 2023 1st round pick. Impressed as one of the youngest players at Single-A and represented Cleveland in the 2024 Futures Game, showcasing prodigious power.

Matt Wilkinson, RHP (Age 22)

2024 (A): 8 GS, 40.1 IP, 1.12 ERA, 1.45 FIP, 48.0 K%, 6.1 BB%
2024 (A+): 16 GS, 78.1 IP, 2.30 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 32.7 K%, 8.9 BB%

“Tugboat” set the MiLB world on fire in 2024 with one of the best nicknames in sports and one of the best seasons of any pitching prospect, finishing second in MiLB in strikeouts.