As the Cleveland Guardians finalize their 40-man roster ahead of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, one young outfielder is drawing significant attention: Wuilfredo Antunez. The 22-year-old Venezuelan prospect, who impressed with both power and speed during the 2025 season, is widely regarded as the organization’s most likely unprotected player to be selected. If another team claims him, Cleveland could lose a high-upside talent before he ever plays in the major leagues.
Signed in 2019 for a modest $10,000, Antunez has steadily climbed the Guardians’ minor-league system. Splitting time between High-A and Double-A in 2025, he posted a 139 wRC+ and joined José Ramírez as the only Guardians-affiliated players to record more than 50 extra-base hits while stealing at least 15 bases. This rare combination of contact, power, and speed has made him one of the most intriguing unprotected prospects in baseball. Scouts consistently noted his offensive upside and potential to impact a major-league roster in the near future.
The Rule 5 Draft provides a low-risk opportunity for teams to acquire talent like Antunez. Any club selecting him must carry him on their 26-man roster for the entire season or offer him back to Cleveland. That requirement makes him an attractive option for teams willing to gamble on a player with significant upside but limited experience above Double-A. Analysts predict he could be snatched early, given the scarcity of players who combine power, speed, and young age.
For Cleveland, leaving Antunez off the 40-man roster reflects both roster constraints and a tough strategic choice. This winter, the Guardians added several promising prospects — including Khalil Watson, Austin Peterson, and Yorman Gomez — but could not protect every high-potential player. Antunez’s exclusion highlights the delicate balance the organization must strike between safeguarding talent and maintaining roster flexibility.
If another team selects Antunez, he will face a steep learning curve. Adjusting to major-league pitching, defensive responsibilities, and the heightened intensity of the big leagues could test his readiness. Yet, the reward for a team willing to make that gamble is substantial: a cost-controlled, high-upside outfielder with a rare blend of athleticism and power.
Even if Cleveland retrieves him after a potential Rule 5 selection, losing a year of development or seeing him thrive elsewhere would represent a setback. For fans and analysts, it underscores the risks inherent in roster management, especially when protecting young, high-ceiling talent in a crowded system.
Antunez isn’t the only unprotected prospect of interest. Players like Angel Genao and other minor-league pitchers remain exposed, but few have the combination of offensive tools and positional versatility that makes Antunez stand out. How Cleveland navigates these decisions will shape the organization’s depth and long-term plans, particularly in the outfield.
In the coming weeks, attention will focus on whether Antunez is selected, how quickly he might be called up, and what impact that could have on the Guardians’ roster strategy. His situation highlights how even modestly signed international prospects can become key assets in major-league planning and the high-stakes nature of the Rule 5 Draft for small-market teams.
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