Potential No. 1 pick to enter MLB draft Sunday: Guardians breakfast

The Guardians hold the first overall pick. Wetherholt has been mentioned along with a handful of other players as possibilities for that first pick.

The fact that Wetherholt, a left-handed hitter, missed much of the 2024 season with a hamstring injury has led some to believe the Guardians could sign him to a sub-slot contract and use the savings to sign other players for higher signing bonuses.

The Guardians have a record $18.3 million in bonus money to spend on the 11 players they draft in the first 10 rounds of the draft. The No. 1 pick is worth $10.57 million.

Wetherholt, who is 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, was a projected No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. A hamstring injury limited him to 36 games. He hit .331 (41 for 124) with eight doubles, eight homers and 30 RBIs. He walked 39, struck out 17 times and scored 30 runs.

In 2023, Wetherholt made a name for himself by hitting .449 (101-for-225) with 24 doubles, 16 home runs and 60 RBIs in 55 games. He scored 67 runs and stole 36 bases in 44 attempts.

Thursday’s match

The Guardians ended a disappointing four-game series against the Tigers with a 10-1 loss Thursday afternoon.

Spencer Howard, in his first start for Cleveland, gave up four runs on six hits in three innings. Bo Naylor provided the Guardians’ lone run with a home run in the third.

The top-ranked Guards are 10-13 against the bottom three teams in the American League Central: 2-4 against the Royals, 3-4 against the Tigers and 5-5 against the White Sox.

Tonight’s game

Carlos Carrasco (3-6, 5.22) opens a three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday at 6:50 p.m. The Rays will start right-hander Taj Bradley (3-4, 3.23).

Carrasco lives near Odessa, Florida, and has played some of his most memorable games at the Trop. On July 1, 2015, he was one strike away from throwing Cleveland’s first no-hitter since Lenny Barker’s perfect game on May 15, 1981.

On September 1, 2019, after being diagnosed with myeloid leukemia in early June, he returned to the mound as a replacement at Tropicana Field. Both teams came out of their dugouts and gave him a standing ovation as he warmed up.

Carrasco, who always has a large cheering section at the Trop, is 4-1 with a 1.79 ERA in seven starts at the Rays’ indoor stadium.

Friday’s game will be televised by Apple TV and carried by WTAM, WMMS and the rest of the Guardians’ radio network. Bally Sports Great Lakes will carry the remainder of the series.

It’s quiz time: Since it’s breakfast with the Guardians, let’s get a little MLB Draft buzz going this morning. Let’s crush about 15-20 doughnuts, follow it up with a half-gallon of chocolate milk and start buzzing until the Guardians exercise their first pick of the draft Sunday afternoon. Before we take off, here’s a question for you. Which two former Indians players were on base when Tampa Bay’s Joey Butler ended Carrasco’s attempt at a no-hitter on July 1, 2015 at The Trop? Answer below.

And after

Here’s what’s happening with the Guardians after Friday night’s game against the Rays.

SATURDAY: Right-handed pitcher Gavin Williams (0-1, 4.82) vs. right-handed pitcher Zack Littell (3-6, 4.44) at 4:10 p.m.

SATURDAY: Guardians prospects Ralphy Velazquez and Jaison Chourio will compete in the MLB Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Texas as part of the All-Star Game festivities. The game will kick off at 4:10 p.m. on MLB Network.

Sunday: Ben Lively (8-4, 3.14) vs. right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot (4-5, 4.40) at 1:40 p.m.

Sunday: The Guardians have the first overall pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. The draft will be held at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of the All-Star Game festivities. It will begin at 5 p.m. and will be televised by MLB Network and ESPN+.

The draft will run until July 16, with the first two rounds taking place on Sunday.

Monday: José Ramírez will participate in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Ramírez will hit a home run for the second time in his career.

Tuesday: Goalies Steven Kwan, Josh Naylor, Emmanuel Clase, David Fry and Ramirez will participate in the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

July 19: The Guardians resume the second half as the Padres visit for a three-game series.

Answer to the question : When Butler sent a 1-2 ball just over the outstretched glove of second baseman Jason Kipnis with two outs in the ninth inning, Asdrubal Cabrera was on third base and Grady Sizemore was on first. Not only did Butler’s single cost Carrasco his no-no, it ruined his shutout, as Cabrera scored. Carrasco finished the 8-1 victory with 13 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings with a walk and two hits. He threw 124 pitches.