Are We Looking At History in Columbus?

 I know it is just two weeks into the season but I am wondering if this will be a historic season for the Guardians AAA team in Columbus.

As part of the 17 players making their major league debuts last year, the Guardians had a lot of guys  who played part or most of the season in Columbus.  Some of them were highly rated prospects and some weren't.  Bottom line, though, is that every day there were guys in the Columbus lineup in 2022 who also played for the Guardians.

In addtion, past Clipper teams, all the way back to their affiliation with the Yankees, have had stars pass through Columbus.  

Still, I cannot remember a time when a Columbus starting lineup has this many guys who I think could step in this year and make an impact on the ML team.  Let's look at that lineup, substituting in the currently injured George Valera for the duo of Roller/Quinn.

Richie Palacios - LF (BTW, what a great idea to have him lead off!  IMHO his trade value just shot way up)

George Valera - CF

Jhonkensy Noel - RF

Bo Naylor - C

Micah Pries - 1B

Tyler Freeman - 2B

Brayan Rocchio - SS

David Fry - 3B

We have one AAAA guy in our lineup, DH Zack Collins.  We have AAAA/organizational guys on the bench: Eric Rodriguez, Daniel Schneeman and the aforementioned Quinn and Roller.  

But mainly we have prospects, guys who could have significant MLB careers.  It doesn't generally (maybe ever) work out this way on a AAA roster.

I could see each of those prospects making a serious impact on the Guardians starting lineup this year or next year.  Or be involved in a blockbuster trade or two this year or the upcoming postseason.

And that doesn't even count pitchers like Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, Xzavion Curry and Peyton Battenfield who could or are making an impact.  It also doesn't count guys who might, under the right conditions, have minor roles like Konnor Pilkington, Daniel Norris or Touki Toussaint, the kind of guys we usually see filter up from AAA for short term need.  

We don't even have to dip down to AA for Gavin Williams or Angel Martinez.   We have enough guys at AAA right now to almost make a major league team that could be competitive and have serious future potential.

So, do you think that the above lineup and a rotation of Bibee, Allen, Curry, Battenfield and Gaddis could play .500 ball in the majors right now?   I think it is possible which, to me, is historic.