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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Grade: B



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Cleveland, OH

Death's Dynamic Shroud announce 2025 Ohio dates — MP3s & NPCs

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Death's Dynamic Shroud announce 2025 Ohio dates — MP3s & NPCs


Electronic act Death’s Dynamic Shroud will return to their home state of Ohio (and make a stop in Michigan) for a mini-trek in late February.

Announced today, the trek will find the trio performing in Cleveland, Columbus, Oberlin, Detroit, and Cincinnati. Tour dates can be seen below. Tickets are on sale to the general public right now here. The Oberlin and Cincinnati shows will be free to the public.

Earlier this year, Death’s Dynamic Shroud unveiled their collaboration album with Galen Tipton called You Like Music.

Death’s Dynamic Shroud tour dates

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Jan-4: Menlo Park, CA (The Guild Theatre)

Feb-26: Cleveland, OH (Grog Shop)

Feb-27: Columbus, OH (Ace of Cups)

Feb-28: Oberlin, OH (Dionysius Disco) (free)

Mar-1: Detroit, MI (Lager House)

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Mar-2: Cincinnati, OH (MOTR) (free)





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The 2016 NBA Christmas Day classic between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors revisited | CNN

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The 2016 NBA Christmas Day classic between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors revisited | CNN




CNN
 — 

Cheering on your favorite NBA team or watching the very biggest stars of the basketball world is a welcome present for many on Christmas Day and this year will be no different.

One of the marquee matchups on December 25 sees Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors square off against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at 8 p.m. ET

But while James, Curry and Draymond Green are reaching the twilights of their respective careers, fans will instantly be taken back to their golden years and the trio starring in what is widely seen as the best Christmas Day game of all time.

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We head back to Christmas Day 2016.

The world was doing the mannequin challenge with “Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100, Lamar Jackson had just won the Heisman Trophy and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were breaking hearts with “La La Land.”

But the biggest blockbuster of all came at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Christmas Day matchup between the Warriors and the Cavaliers.

The franchises were solidified as two of the best across the NBA and, just months prior, the teams had battled for the Larry O’Brien Trophy over seven games in the 2016 Finals.

The Cavs had come from 3-1 down to complete a historic 4-3 series win and viewers were expecting another hotly contested matchup in the primetime Christmas Day slot – and they weren’t disappointed.

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After the Finals loss, the Warriors responded by picking up 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant to go alongside an already loaded roster which featured Curry, Green and Klay Thompson.

This was Durant’s first game against James and Co. for the Warriors and fans were eager to see how the newly formed Golden State squad would match up against Cleveland in what would eventually be the Finals matchup come the end of the season.

How would LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving respond to the Warriors’ latest move?

Right from tip-off, the game lived up to its blockbuster billing.

Durant wasted no time in showing up in front of the Cavs and kickstarted the matchup with the first points of the game. The rangy forward deflected the ball from James before marching down the court and laying the ball in for an easy two.

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As both teams went back and forth, the now 14-time All-Star and current Phoenix Suns star went on to score another 10 points in the first quarter to give the Warriors a 27-25 lead after the opening 12 minutes.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern as the teams traded buckets, neither allowing the other to grab any significant advantage.

The “Splash Brothers” – Curry and Thompson – began to find their range from deep but a joint effort from the Cavs’ big three of James, Love and Irving kept the game close.

With the Warriors leading 55-52 at the interval, it was all to play for heading into the second half.

Coming out of the break, Golden State picked up from where it left off. Durant continued to spearhead the Warriors offense with Thompson providing deep-range support, nailing multiple threes.

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But as he did throughout the 2016 Finals, James put his team on his back and dragged the Cavs to within striking distance.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer racked up 16 points in the third quarter alone, making four three-pointers in his efforts to keep the game close.

Despite James’ best attempts, the Warriors had extended their lead and were seven points clear going into the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers needed something close to a Christmas Day miracle to overturn the deficit.

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 25: Tristan Thompson #13 sets a pick as Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on December 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 109-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Golden State fans and players were well aware of Cleveland’s ability to produce heroic comebacks and the Cavaliers began their charge in the fourth.

Scoring had suddenly become harder for the Warriors and memories of the NBA Finals would have started to run through the Golden State squad’s minds.

The Cavaliers had upped their intensity and, in front of a boisterous home crowd, had seemingly turned the game on its head.

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Led by Irving’s masterful fourth quarter, Cleveland managed to reduce the deficit and the score was knotted up at 103-103 with just two minutes to play.

With the game tied, Irving, James and Curry all scored crucial buckets but were still left facing a 108-107 Warriors lead with mere seconds left.

Trailing by one, Irving took matters into his own hands. The guard went at Thompson, spinning before deftly finishing with a fadeaway to give the Cavaliers the 109-108 lead and what would be the win.

“The kid is special,” James said of Irving after the game, per the Associated Press. “It was never in doubt.”

Irving scored 25 points to go alongside 10 assists, seven steals and six rebounds – with just two turnovers in 44 minutes on the floor – in an incredible display of clutch basketball. James led the Cavaliers with a 31-point, 13-rebound double-double while fellow star Kevin Love added 20 points, including three triples.

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The man from Akron, Ohio, was aware of the fans’ expectations coming into the game and didn’t disappoint.

“It lived up to what everyone wanted it to,” he added.

Durant led the game in scoring with 36 points along with 15 rebounds, but it ultimately wasn’t enough. But while the Warriors fell short in this one, they did go on to enact revenge on the Cavaliers to win the 2017 NBA Finals with Durant being named Finals MVP.

Fans will be hoping that any of the four games on this year’s Christmas Day schedule come close to the holiday season classic of 2016.

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Ohio Weather Alert: Air Quality Advisory Issued for Cleveland and Surrounding Counties Today

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Ohio Weather Alert: Air Quality Advisory Issued for Cleveland and Surrounding Counties Today


Air quality alert


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Cleveland, OH – Residents in Northeast Ohio face an Air Quality Advisory today as ground-level fine particle pollution reaches unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. Officials urge those with respiratory issues, children, and the elderly to limit outdoor activities.

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According to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), the advisory began at midnight and will remain in effect through midnight tonight. Local air quality monitors predict that weather patterns will cause pollutants to linger, impacting areas like Cleveland, Akron, and Mentor. Residents can monitor real-time air quality updates at airnow.gov and sign up for text alerts at enviroflash.info.

To help mitigate pollution, NOACA encourages simple actions such as carpooling, avoiding engine idling, and postponing outdoor chores like mowing until air quality improves. Commuters are advised to use public transportation or consolidate trips where possible to limit emissions.

Looking ahead, Northeast Ohio’s forecast features mild but wet conditions heading into the weekend. Friday brings a 50% chance of afternoon showers with highs near 48°F. Rain is likely Saturday and Sunday, with highs reaching the low 50s. Gusty winds up to 20 mph may impact visibility for drivers.

Stay updated on changing conditions and travel plans by checking local weather alerts and preparing for rain-heavy travel periods through Sunday.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram & like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS!

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