The Cleveland Guardians promoted outfielder Jace LaViolette from High‑A Lake County to Double‑A Akron on Sunday, the club announced, giving local fans a first look at the franchise's 2025 first‑round selection while reshaping the infield of the RubberDucks' player development pipeline.
From the draft to Akron
Selected No. 25 overall in the 2025 MLB Draft, the 22‑year‑old LaViolette began his professional career this season and made his pro debut April 2. The promotion comes a little more than a year after Cleveland used its first‑round pick on the Texas A&M product, who missed minor‑league time last year after a hand procedure that had followed his college season and draft timeline.
"moving on up and is one step closer to the big leagues."
LaViolette arrives in Akron carrying a profile built on power potential. In 83 games with the Lake County Captains this year, his slash line stood at .238/.342/.467, with 15 doubles, 19 home runs and 69 RBIs. He walked 47 times and struck out 147 times, an issue scouts highlighted as a concern during his draft evaluation; his season strikeout rate reached roughly 38 percent.
What the move means locally
The transfer to Double‑A places LaViolette at the RubberDucks' level of the Guardians' farm system, offering Akron fans opportunities to see one of the club's higher‑profile prospects at the home ballpark. For the front office and coaching staff in Akron, the promotion will require adjustments to playing time and roster construction as the organization balances giving prospects innings with competitive priorities at each minor‑league stop.
- LaViolette was the Guardians' first‑round pick (No. 25 overall) in 2025.
- He ranks as the club's No. 11 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
- He debuted professionally on April 2, 2026, after missing time last year due to a hand procedure.
Context in Cleveland's development plan
The promotion is part of a broader set of roster moves the Guardians announced Sunday. Several members of Cleveland’s 2025 draft class have already moved through the system: outfielders Aaron Walton (ranked No. 8 by MLB Pipeline) and Nolan Schubart (No. 27) and infielder Dean Curley (No. 7) were promoted from Lake County to Akron on July 13. LaViolette’s jump came later than some of his peers, likely influenced by his medical history and the organization's development timetable.
| Statistic | Lake County (2026) |
|---|---|
| Games | 83 |
| Batting line | .238/.342/.467 |
| Doubles | 15 |
| Home runs | 19 |
| RBIs | 69 |
| Walks | 47 |
| Strikeouts | 147 (≈38% rate) |
Sunday's development moves also included assignments of several 2026 draft picks to Single‑A Hill City, spanning rounds five through 20. The list of players assigned included outfielder Lucas Moore (fifth round), catcher Deiten LaChance (sixth), right‑handers Ryan Bilka (10th) and Carson Lane (14th), infielder Ben Cleary (12th), outfielder Erick Dessens (13th), third baseman Alejandro Garza (15th), and lefty Parker Coil (20th).
Questions ahead
For Akron, LaViolette’s arrival offers both excitement and an inventory question. Fans can anticipate seeing more power in the lineup, but coaching staff at Double‑A will likely concentrate on tempering his swing decisions and reducing strikeouts to prepare him for higher levels. The organization will monitor whether he can translate his raw power into consistent contact and on‑base production against more advanced pitching.
As the Guardians continue to shuffle prospects through Lake County, Akron and beyond, the RubberDucks remain a focal point for evaluating future big‑league contributors. LaViolette’s stay in Akron will be watched closely by those tracking Cleveland’s farm system and by local fans eager for young players who might eventually reach Progressive Field.
Coverage of LaViolette's debut in Akron and subsequent appearances will be available through team releases and local beat reports as the season progresses.
