Guardians of the Future

By Next Year in Cleveland

What's Guardians of the Future about?

Justin Lada, of Next Year in Cleveland, the News-Herald/Morning Journal, and Prospects Live provides news, analysis and interviews of the Cleveland Guardians minor league system.

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Guardians of the Future episodes:

05.20.2024
Captains Bats Intrigue, RubberDucks Pitching Showing Development
There have been a number of bats on the Lake County Captains showing some good early season signs of development, from Nate Furman's power, Guy Lipscomb's Kwan-lite abilities, and CJ Kayfus' dominance.Doug Nikhazy, Tommy Mace and Aaron Davenport are all...
05.06.2024
What to expect from Kyle Manzardo and in-person impressions from Lake County
The Guardians are finally calling up Kyle Manzardo, but it comes at the expense of Steven Kwan. But, what does Kyle Manzardo bring to the Guardians? What does he do well and what should we expect from his skill set and...
04.22.2024
Hillcats bats and when is the time to promote?
After a slow start, some Lynchburg Hillcats bats are catching fire. Ralphy Velazquez, Jaison Chourio and Angel Genao are hitting everything in sight, which has promoted some talk about promotions. But when is the right time to promote prospects up a level...
04.08.2024
Showtime Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats will be must see-tv when it comes to the Cleveland Guardians farm system and prospects in 2024. Hillcats broadcaster and Cleveland native, Jason Prill, joins Guardians of the Future to talk about the exciting young Hillcats roster,...
04.03.2024
Start Your Engines!
The Guardians of the Future podcast is back for the 2024 season! The 2024 minor league season is sort of underway. The Columbus Clippers have a few games under their belt though mother nature is holding them back some, and Akron,...
03.05.2024
From the Backfields of Goodyear
Fresh off of a trip to Guardians spring training in Arizona and two days at the player development facility, here are my observations from the backfields of Guardians spring training and some prospects in big league camp as well. Players and...
02.14.2024
Talking MLB Draft and Cleveland Guardians -Type College Hitters and Pitchers with Willie Hood
The 2024 D1 college baseball season starts Friday, February 16. And in case you haven't heard, the Cleveland Guardians are picking #1 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft.So we get the D1 college season talking 2024 MLB Draft with Willie...
01.23.2024
Where Will Dion Has Been This Winter
It's been a busy offseason for Guardians pitching prospect Will Dion. He got married, spent some time working out with Driveline, and caught up on some of his favorite hobbies. He was nice enough to take a half hour of...
01.09.2024
Guardians Prospect Storylines for 2024
It's a new year, and it's a big year for the Cleveland Guardians farm system. Not only did they win the draft lottery to pick #1 in the 2024 MLB draft, but there are a number of prospects in the...
12.12.2023
Playing the Lottery
Perhaps the biggest news of the baseball offseason for the Cleveland Guardians is winning the draft lottery for the 2024 draft, picking # 1 overall. On this episode of Guardians of the Future, Justin Lada is joined by Joe Werner...
11.15.2023
Cleveland Guardians 40 Man Decision Day 2023
Justin Lada and Willie Hood react live to the Guardians 40 man roster decisions ahead of the Rule 5 protection deadline on Nov. 14, 2023, running through who will or won't be added, the Cal Quantrill news and Daniel Espino...
10.12.2023
Witness the Clip Show!
The voice of Huntington Park and the Columbus Clippers, Matt Leinginger, joins the podcast to share what powers he does and doesn't have over the Columbus Clippers roster, working in minor league baseball and social media, why he's optimistic about...
10.06.2023
Reviewing the RubberDucks 2023 Season
Akron RubberDucks broadcaster Marco LaNave joins the podcast to put the bow on the 'Ducks 2023 season. Even though Akron didn't make the playoffs, there was plenty to talk about from Chase DeLauter's brief stint at the end of the season,...
09.22.2023
Lights Out for the Hillcats in 2023
The Lynchburg Hillcats finished the 2023 season over .500 for the firs time since 2018, despite making the playoffs in 2022. They did it with interesting hitters between Jose Devers' surprising power at the end of the year, Guy Lipscomb's...
09.12.2023
Docking the Ship on the Captains 2023 Season
As minor league baseball winds down for the 2023 season, the Lake County Captains season has come to a close. It was an interesting year with the biggest story being Chase DeLauter's exciting second half once he was healthy, showing...
08.22.2023
Comebacks and Callups
On this episode of the Guardians of the Future, we discuss the recent rehab games from new prospect Kyle Manzardo and if he could and will come up before the end of the year. We also talk about if George...
08.09.2023
Deadline Decisions and Draft Debuts
The Cleveland Guardians had an interesting and somewhat controversial trading deadline. On this episode of Guardians of the Future, we discuss why the Guardians decided to move Aaron Civale now, why Kyle Manzardo could solve a long term need for...
07.18.2023
Aftermath of the Draft
Justin Lada and Willie Hood run through the Cleveland Guardians 2023 draft class, their thoughts on first round pick Ralphy Velazquez, high upside high school arm Alex Clemmey, interesting day two and day three players and answer your draft questions. https://nextyearincleveland.substack.com/ Watch...
07.10.2023
Live Streaming the 1st Round of the 2023 MLB Draft
Justin Lada, Jared Sziber and Joe Werner banter about the first round of the 2023 MLB draft leading up to the Guardians pick at 23 and then react to the pick. A long one, but plenty of fun draft and...
07.07.2023
Will Guardians Thread the Needle in the 2023 MLB Draft?
Just before the 2023 MLB draft, Justin Lada and Willie Hood look at the latest mock drafts from over at Next Year in Cleveland, the big outlets and look at possibilities for the Guardians at pick 23, 534 and 62,...
06.27.2023
Half First Half, Half Draft, Full Cast
For the first time this year, Willie Hood is back to join Justin Lada to recap the highlights and lowlights from the first half of the minor league baseball season from the Cleveland Guardians minor league system and then a...
05.22.2023
Fair and Unfair Comparisons
Former Guardians Baseball Insider intern and current Baseball Prospectus/Red Black Green Baseball writer Pat Ellington joins Justin Lada on this week's episode of Guardians of the Future to discuss Cleveland Guardians prospects in High-A Lake County. Topics/players discussed: Juan Brito and...
05.16.2023
Duck Tales From the Road
Akron RubberDucks broadcaster Marco LaNave joins host Justin Lada for this week's episode of the podcast. Marco gives some insight into Joey Cantillo's efforts to attack the zone and be more consistent following his 13 strikeout performance a few weeks ago,...
05.02.2023
Duck Depth
This week on the Guardians of the Future podcast, we check in on the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. What does the pitching depth look like in Akron with Gavin Williams up to Double-A?How will Akron replace Williams' innings? What's with Angel Martinez's slow...
04.24.2023
Checking in On the Clip Show
It was a weird week in Columbus with rainouts and promotions and callups. Logan Allen was called up to make his debut with the Cleveland Guardians Sunday, so on this week's episode, we get into his debut and where's been...
04.18.2023
Lowdown from Lynchburg - Hillcats Broadcaster Jason Prill Joins the Guardians of the Future Podcast
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Lynchburg Hillcats broadcast Jason Prill joins Justin Lada to talk about the Hillcats mature offense and pitching staff, as well as: Jason's background growing up in Cleveland and becoming...
03.28.2023
Guardians Acquire Steven Hajjar to Complete Will Benson Trade; 2023 Guardians Prospect Predictions
The Guardians of the Future podcast is back with another epsiode before the start of the minor league season this week! Topics discussed this week: Guardians acquire LHP Steven Hajjar to complete the Will Benson trade with the Reds Tim...
03.13.2023
Disusing Short Term Roles for Guardians Prospects Bo Naylor, Tim Herrin, Joey Cantillo and more.
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, we give the reminder about how Bo Naylor's role was always going to play out in 2023, how Cleveland might handle the injuries to Sam Hentges and Cody Morris...
03.06.2023
Chatting with New Lake County Captains Owner Alan Miller
On this episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, I'm joined by new Lake County Captains owner Alan Miller to talk about the exciting changes coming to the Captains franchise and Classic Park this season. We talk about what...
02.10.2023
More on the Will Benson/Justin Boyd trade, Guardians minor league coaches & prospects in the WBC
This week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast is a solo venture. - Breaking down the Will Benson/Justin Boyd trade with the Cincinnati Reds - Notable Cleveland Guardians minor league coaching assignments - Cleveland's non-roster prospect invitees to...
02.03.2023
Getting to Know 2022 Cleveland Guardians Draft Pick Nate Furman
On this episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, 2022 Cleveland Guardians draft pick Nate Furman was gracious enough to join us to talk about a lot of different things. We talked about his Philadelphia Eagles playing in the...
01.09.2023
Fresh Start
The Guardians of the Future podcast is back. You can now find my Cleveland Guardians minor league coverage over at the newsletter, Next Year in Cleveland (https://nextyearincleveland.substack.com). On the first episode of Guardians of the Future in 2023, I went...
11.16.2022
Rule 5 40-Man Roster Deadline Day
Justin Lada and Willie Hood speculate live about who the Cleveland Guardians will protect from the Rule 5 draft on the roster deadline day, November 15 at 6PM ET. The guys live react to news of the Carlos Vargas for...
11.08.2022
Preparing for the Cleveland Guardians 2022 Offseason
The Guardians of the Future podcast is back. Justin Lada and Willie Hood breakdown the Cleveland Guardians 2022/2023 offseason ahead. What moves the Guardians will make to open spots on the 40 man roster A deep, deep dive on the...
10.04.2022
Is the future now?
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood discuss: Bo Naylor's callup and why now What does Naylor's arrival say about Bryan Lavastida's future? Will Brennan's hot start and his future ...
09.27.2022
The kids are division champs
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood discuss: The Guardians prospects help lead them to an improbably division title Will Brennan's call-up and future What it means for Nolan Jones...
09.20.2022
Race to the finish
On this episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood disucss The Guardians delivery of a knockout blow to the Minnesota Twins Cody Morris' future role The future catching tandem How to fit Will Brennan...
09.12.2022
Making the case
On this week’s episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Willie Hood joins Justin Lada to talk about: The Guardians pitching plans to cover Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac’s innings Which pitching prospect should come up to start this...
09.06.2022
Eyes have Hill(cats)
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, IBI/GBI's first Carolina League reporter, Josiah Elmore, joins Justin Lada to discuss: Basically every player who played in Lynchburg this year Will Dion Jack Leftiwch Rodney Boone Jake Fox ...
08.30.2022
Wake me up before September ends
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood discuss: An Amed Rosario extension vs. the Guardians shortstop prospect group Promotions of Doug Nikhazy, Will Dion, Angel Genao and Joe Lampe Who...
08.23.2022
Who's the Captain now?
On this 8/22/22 episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Will Cunningham (https://twitter.com/willocunningham) joined Justin Lada to talk about: - The Lake County Captains 2022 season thus far - Promotions of Johnathan Rodriguez, Angel Martinez and Mason Hickman - Mason Hickman taking...
08.15.2022
More 'Duck Debuts and News
This week on the Guardians of the Future podcast, Guardians Baseball Insider's Akron RubberDucks beat reporter John Elrod joins Justin Lada to discuss: - Debuts of Xzavion Curry and Hunter Gaddis - George Valera and Johnathan Rodriguez's promotion - Tanner Bibee's impressive run...
08.09.2022
More Debuts, More Decisions
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the future podcast Justin Lada and Willie Hood - Discuss the promotions of Will Benson, Tyler Freeman and Hunter Gaddis - How these moves affect the 40 man roster - How Cody Morris might impact...
08.03.2022
Standing Still or Still Standing?
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood: - Record live as the buzzer ticked down on the MLB trading deadline - Reacted to Cleveland's inactive deadline - Figuring out how the 40 man roster...
07.25.2022
Stay Classy
On this week's Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood look back at the Cleveland Guardians 2022 draft class, give their favorite picks, their biggest upside and risks, where they rank among the Guardians current prospects and...
07.12.2022
Call-Ups and Draft Prep
On this week's Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood discuss: Alex Call's callup Nolan Jones' debut Columbus' catching situation Some injured arms are returning to affiliates Talking MLB Draft targets for the Cleveland Guardians
07.06.2022
Roster Roulette
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood discuss: Some odd roster moves by the Guardians including Gabriel Arias' recent big league stint Reclaiming Oscar Mercado vs. calling up Alex Call ...
06.27.2022
Playing with the models
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada and Willie Hood of Guardians Baseball Insider discuss The Guardians letdown against the Red Sox over the weekend How things are shaping up for the trading deadline ...
06.21.2022
Checking in on the Clip Show
On this week's episode of the Guardians of the Future podcast, Justin Lada is joined by GBI's Columbus Clippers beat writer Megan Husslein (https://twitter.com/meganhusslein) to check in on some of the storylines in Columbus lately. - Franmil Reyes' rehab - The Clippers...
06.14.2022
No more vacations
Justin Lada returns from vacation and is joined by Willie Hood to talk about Will Brennan's recent tear in Columbus, Oscar Gonzalez's hot start in Cleveland, if they're worried about Brayan Rocchio or Tyler Freeman, Jack Leftwich's future, Nolan Jones'...

What's Guardians of the Future about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Guardians of the Future episodes:

Captains Bats Intrigue, RubberDucks Pitching Showing Development

What to expect from Kyle Manzardo and in-person impressions from Lake County

Hillcats bats and when is the time to promote?

Showtime Hillcats

Start Your Engines!

From the Backfields of Goodyear

Talking MLB Draft and Cleveland Guardians -Type College Hitters and Pitchers with Willie Hood

Where Will Dion Has Been This Winter

Guardians Prospect Storylines for 2024

Playing the Lottery

Cleveland Guardians 40 Man Decision Day 2023

Witness the Clip Show!

Reviewing the RubberDucks 2023 Season

Lights Out for the Hillcats in 2023

Docking the Ship on the Captains 2023 Season

Comebacks and Callups

Deadline Decisions and Draft Debuts

Aftermath of the Draft

Live Streaming the 1st Round of the 2023 MLB Draft

Will Guardians Thread the Needle in the 2023 MLB Draft?

Half First Half, Half Draft, Full Cast

Fair and Unfair Comparisons

Duck Tales From the Road

Duck Depth

Checking in On the Clip Show

Lowdown from Lynchburg - Hillcats Broadcaster Jason Prill Joins the Guardians of the Future Podcast

Guardians Acquire Steven Hajjar to Complete Will Benson Trade; 2023 Guardians Prospect Predictions

Disusing Short Term Roles for Guardians Prospects Bo Naylor, Tim Herrin, Joey Cantillo and more.

Chatting with New Lake County Captains Owner Alan Miller

More on the Will Benson/Justin Boyd trade, Guardians minor league coaches & prospects in the WBC

Getting to Know 2022 Cleveland Guardians Draft Pick Nate Furman

Fresh Start

Rule 5 40-Man Roster Deadline Day

Preparing for the Cleveland Guardians 2022 Offseason

Is the future now?

The kids are division champs

Race to the finish

Making the case

Eyes have Hill(cats)

Wake me up before September ends

Who's the Captain now?

More 'Duck Debuts and News

More Debuts, More Decisions

Standing Still or Still Standing?

Stay Classy

Call-Ups and Draft Prep

Roster Roulette

Playing with the models

Checking in on the Clip Show

No more vacations