Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Guardians MLB Draft grades: Everything to know about the first overall pick

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2024

Cleveland Guardians MLB Draft grades: Everything to know about the first overall pick

The 2024 MLB Draft is officially here and the Cleveland Guardians are on the clock. Due to the newly added draft lottery, the Guardians jumped up to the first overall pick, winning the lottery. They have had plenty of time to look into who they want to take with this first overall pick, but only the Guardians know what that decision is at this point.

With the first overall pick, the Guardians will have their selection of talent between any draft eligible player on the planet. They have been mocked to select nearly all of the players in the projected top ten picks, but they can only select one of them.

FanSided’s Roger Castillo projected the Guardians to select the Oregon State infielder, Travis Bazzana, with their first overall pick. Bazzana is a true five-tool prospect that could crack the big leagues by the beginning of next year. He has smashed every level of pitching that he’s been up against through his entire career.

Cleveland has also been consistently mocked to take a few other names. Among those names, JJ Weatherholt, Charlie Condon and Jac Caglianone are the most popular options for the Guardians to land with the first overall pick.

It’s hard to go wrong when you have your pick of the litter. With so much top-end talent in this draft, the Guardians are almost surely going to grab a perennial big leaguer with this first-overall pick.

The Guardians hold the No. 1, 36, and 48 picks on day one of the MLB Draft.

Round 1, Pick 1: Guardians select 2B/SS Travis Bazzana, Oregon State University

With the first pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Cleveland Guardians selected the middle infielder, Travis Bazzana out of Oregon State University. Bazzana is likely to be the most MLB ready player in this draft.

Last season, Bazzana slashed .407/.568/.911 while being a plus runner and a plus defender. He’s a true five-tool player with the ability to do anything and everything on the baseball field. MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the top draft prospect with multiple 60-grade tools.

Beyond just his physical traits, Bazzana adds a player that has the energy and desire to win. He’s a leader that leads from the front of the pack.

With the first pick, the Guardians landed on the best player in the draft. There’s potential that a player like Jac Caglianone or Chase Burns end up with a higher ceiling, but Bazzana is the right pick here. He’s the perfect combination of high-floor, high-ceiling that the Guardians need.

Grade: A

Comp Balance A, Pick 36: Guardians select RHP Braylon Doughty, Chaparral High School (CA)

With the 36th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Cleveland Guardians selected 18-year-old right-handed pitcher, Braylon Doughty out of Chaparral High School in California.

After selecting a safe, top end talent in Travis Bazzana in the first round, the Guardians were right to go with a prep pitcher here. The teenager is typically a three pitch pitcher, led by a plus fastball and two plus breaking balls. He flashes a changeup, but it’s still quite a work in progress at the moment. He’ll need to develop that pitch as he matures and moves through the minor leagues.

His fastball consistently sits in the mid-nineties and his breaking pitches have flashed true swing and miss potential. If he can hold his athleticiscm while gaining another 10 pounds, he could be a truly dominant arm.

Grade: A-

Round 2, Pick 48: Guardians select C Jacob Cozart, NC State

With the 48th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Cleveland Guardians selected catcher Jacob Cozart from North Carolina State.

Cozart is one of the top catchers in this year’s class and he produces with both the bat and the glove. He’s an above-average defensive catcher that has shown off a good arm in recent years. His receiving may need some adjusting to pro ball, but his defense as a whole has been average to above average for his entire college career.

His bat has looked tremendous, especially from a catcher, as he slashed .305/.437/.601 at NC State last season. His low doubles number, 7, is a bit concerning, but he made up for it by hitting almost 20 homers.

Having a well-rounded catcher is never a bad thing. He may never be one of the best catchers in the league, but the Guardians certainly got themselves a solid backstop here.

Grade: B

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Cleveland, OH

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Liberation Center and nearly 100 other organizations rallied in Cleveland Sunday to protest the U.S. strikes on Iran, demonstrating significant grassroots opposition to the military action.

The recent U.S. military strikes on Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have ignited passionate discussions across the nation, and Northeast Ohio is no exception.

While state political leaders express support for President Donald Trump’s actions, local activists are raising urgent questions about the impact on American communities.

Dallas Eckman, a public school teacher and volunteer coordinator with the Cleveland Liberation Center, is taking a clear stance against the recent attacks.

“We need to step up as Americans and say violence is not going to be the way we solve out world’s problems,” Eckman said.

The frustration runs deeper for Eckman, who sees a disconnect between military spending and domestic priorities.

“It’s absurd that for me as a public-school teacher I am struggling to get funding for chrome books and books. I can wake up one morning and see we have spent millions and millions of dollars to bomb another country,” he explained.

Eckman questions whether these military actions actually benefit working people in Cleveland.

“Which does nothing for the working people here in Cleveland. It does nothing to make my schools safer. It does nothing to improve the road right outside the liberation center,” Eckman said.

Eckman’s concerns are shared by many in the region.

Despite local opposition, several Ohio’s political leaders are backing the Trump administration’s decision.

Senator Bernie Moreno released a statement expressing his support, stating, “President Trump sought for months to avoid conflict and negotiate with Iran to prevent them from rebuilding their nuclear program. I fully support his decision.”

Secretary of State John Husted also voiced his approval.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime had ample opportunity to be a productive member of the global community — instead, it chose to export death, terrorism, extremism, and instability against America and our allies,” Husted said.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Published

17 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Sunday’s NBA matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets.

Eastern Conference rivals close their regular-season series on Sunday, as the Brooklyn Nets host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center.

The Cavaliers (37–24, 4th East) have dropped back-to-back games without Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, albeit against far superior competition. They’ll aim for the three-game sweep of Brooklyn without Mitchell, while Harden remains questionable.

The Nets (15–44, 14th East) are mired in a brutal seven-game losing streak, including a 112–84 thumping in Cleveland on February 19.

Here’s a look at the Injury Report:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Out: Donovan Mitchell (Groin), Max Strus (Foot), Dean Wade (Ankle)
Questionable: James Harden (Thumb), Keon Ellis (Finger)

Brooklyn Nets

Out: Egor Demin (Heel), Drake Powell (G-League Assignment)
Questionable: Nic Claxton (Thumb)

Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Cleveland enters as a hefty 11.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Brooklyn sits as a +410 underdog. The game’s total is set at 222.5 points.

Cavaliers vs. Nets Preview

Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

The Cavaliers went all in at the NBA trade deadline, sending Darius Garland to Los Angeles for superstar guard James Harden. The gamble seemingly paid off, as the former MVP has fit seamlessly into the lineup alongside Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland went 6–1 after Harden’s debut, its lone loss coming against the defending champs in Oklahoma City.

But the momentum quickly stalled when both Harden and Mitchell hit the sidelines to nurse injuries. Cleveland has dropped back-to-back games in the star duo’s absence against Milwaukee and Detroit. And while Harden is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest with a thumb fracture in his non-shooting hand, Mitchell remains out with a groin strain.

The Cavs are just 2–4 without Mitchell this season. If Harden stays out, they’ll likely keep relying on their accomplished frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Cleveland also features a solid veteran backup point guard in Dennis Schroder, along with a reliable sharpshooter in Sam Merrill.

Brooklyn Nets Preview

Brooklyn has won five games in 2026. Five.

Were any of these wins particularly impressive? Hardly. They beat a Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets, the spiraling Chicago Bulls twice, the lowly Washington Wizards, and the tanking Utah Jazz.

The Nets rank dead last on both ends of the floor since January 1, disappointing even by their standards. They’ve lost seven games in a row, punctuated by a 37-point walloping in Boston on Friday night.

Michael Porter Jr. will continue trying to carry an increasingly strained offense without rookie standout Egor Demin. Brooklyn will also lean on its burgeoning frontcourt, comprising Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton (questionable).

Cavaliers vs. Nets Pick, Best Bet

Keep an eye on the injury report for this one. If Harden remains sidelined, Cleveland may lack the offensive firepower to pull away. But if the former MVP suits up, expect him and the Cavs to carve up Brooklyn’s porous defense and comfortably cover the 11.5-point spread.