Arizona Fall League Preview: Cleveland Guardians
By Michael Morgan ·
The Cleveland Guardians are sending eight players to the Surprise Saguaros this fall. Infielders Luke Hill and Welbyn Francisca headline the group, both after seasons interrupted by time on the injured list. Right-hander Aaron Davenport, who missed all of 2026 after Tommy John surgery in February, joins five other Guardians in Surprise.
Luke Hill's Power Surge
Luke Hill, a 22-year-old third baseman, is 80Grade's No. 18 Guardians prospect and No. 484 overall. His 2026 season split sharply between two levels. At High-A Lake County, he hit .274/.436/.597 with 10 home runs in 38 games, a big power jump for a hitter known for patience and contact. After his promotion to Double-A Akron, he hit .235/.320/.379 with three home runs and 10 doubles over 38 games, a stretch that included an injured-list stint from June 30 to August 14.
Hill's AFL assignment gives him more at-bats to carry the High-A power gains to the upper levels. The fall will show whether his strike-zone discipline, a 15.6% walk rate this season, and his contact hold up against advanced pitching. He split his defensive time between third base and second base.
Welbyn Francisca's Continued Growth
Shortstop Welbyn Francisca, 20, is 80Grade's No. 19 Guardians prospect and No. 522 overall. He spent April 2 to June 3 on the injured list, then hit .272/.366/.513 with 19 home runs across a rehab stint in the Arizona Complex League, High-A Lake County and a final week at Double-A Akron. He hit 17 of those homers at Lake County after hitting three all of 2025. His switch-hitting and new power give him a more complete offensive profile than a typical light-hitting shortstop.
Francisca's AFL stint gives him at-bats against better spin and velocity, which 80Grade's report flags as the test for his hit tool, along with more reps at shortstop. 80Grade projects him as a second-division regular at short.
Aaron Davenport's Return to the Mound
Right-hander Aaron Davenport, 26, had Tommy John surgery in early February and missed the entire 2026 season. He returns to game action in the AFL. 80Grade's report credits him with plus command and a 60-grade curveball, though he walked 13.2% of hitters at Triple-A Columbus in 2025 after a 4.4% walk rate at Double-A Akron. With a fastball that sits around 88-92 mph, his success depends on his curveball, cutter, slider and changeup.
This assignment is the first step in Davenport's return, giving him a chance to rebuild his workload before the 2027 season.
Quick Hits: Other Guardians in the AFL
Aidan Major (RHP, age 23): Major posted a 4.55 ERA over 17 games, 16 of them starts, with a 3.86 ERA at Single-A Hill City and an 8.36 ERA in four High-A starts. His AFL stint could help show whether his future is in the rotation or the bullpen.
Cam Schuelke (RHP, age 24): Schuelke pitched almost entirely at High-A Lake County, posting a 4.10 ERA over 39 games. He walked 15.0% of hitters, so his focus is on improving his command.
Kyle Scott (RHP, age 24): Scott has no recorded appearances in 2026. In 2025, he posted a 3.00 ERA in 42 relief innings at High-A Lake County before landing on the 60-day injured list in August. The AFL gets him back into games.
Magnus Ellerts (RHP, age 25): Ellerts pitched to a 3.27 ERA at Double-A Akron with a 31% strikeout rate, though he walked 17% and spent June 2 to September 1 on the injured list. He will use the AFL to make up innings and throw more strikes.
Tyresse Turner (2B, age 26): Turner, a switch-hitter, missed April through June with an injury, then stole 19 bases in 39 games and made his Triple-A debut with Columbus on September 3. He has played second base, third base, first base and left field, and the AFL gives him more at-bats and more work around the infield.
Francisca and Davenport lead the Guardians group in Surprise. Francisca is a 20-year-old switch-hitting shortstop who reached Double-A in September, and Davenport is a starter who reached Triple-A in 2025 and is pitching in games again after missing the entire season.