Seven prospects in Guardians organization's top 30 open 2023 season with the RubberDucks

As the RubberDucks open their 2023 campaign Thursday at home against the Erie SeaWolves, there are always questions regarding what the roster looks like. As you’d expect from a Double-A franchise, there are some very highly touted prospects in Akron for the 6:35 p.m. start.

Here’s a breakdown of everyone on the team with players to watch, prospects who are ranked by MLP Pipeline and a general look at the team.

Here’s what you need to know:

Daniel Espino, Jose Tena, Gavin Williams among the top prospects on the 2023 RubberDucks roster?

Even RubberDucks manager Rouglas Odor is impressed as seven players begin the season in Akron ranked among the top 30 in the organization.

“It’s huge when you have a group of players where most of them get a chance to play in the big leagues,” he said. “It’s very special to have group of young players with that type of ability.”

Here’s a breakdown with last season’s statistics:

• No. 1 RHP Daniel Espino (1-0, 2.45 ERA, 35 strikeouts)*

• No. 2 RHP Gavin Williams (5-4, 1.96, 149)

• No. 10 2B Angel Martinez (.278, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs)

• No. 17 OF Petey Halpin (.262, 6, 36)

• No. 19 LHP Joey Cantillo (4-3, 1.93, 87)

• No. 22 RHP Tanner Burns (3-7, 3.55, 92)

• No. 24 SS Jose Tena (.267, 14, 68)

• No. 30 LHP Doug Nikhazy (4-6, 3.96, 128)

* Opens season on injured list

- Bolded names are on Guardians' 40-man roster

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What players are returning to the RubberDucks from last season?

When you add in Espino, 16 players will be back in Akron from 2022 along with Williams, Martinez, Cantillo, Burns, Tena and Nikhazy.

Here are the rest:

• RHP Brett Daniels (6-3, 4.09, 65)

• RHP Mason Hickman (3-6, 4.11, 103)

• RHP Jordan Jones (5-2, 5.40, 52)

• LHP Randy Labaut (11-2, 3.33, 89)

• RHP Cade Smith (4-2, 2.93, 99)

• C Bryan Lavastida (.209, 9, 30)

• 3B Raynel Delgado (.241, 5, 43)

• OF Julian Escobedo (.215, 7, 40)

• OF Johnathan Rodriguez (.269, 26, 74)

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Who makes up the rest of the roster for the RubberDucks?

With so many spots taken, there aren’t as many “rookies” in Akron.

Here are the first-year players:

• RHP Trey Benton (3-3, 2.08, 52)

• RHP Ross Carver (4-10, 5.06, 128)

• RHP Bradley Hanner (7-4, 4.60, 65)

• RHP Jack Leftwich (8-2, 2.72, 140)

• RHP Davis Sharpe (8-3, 2.02, 87)

• RHP Hunter Stanley (2-1, 1.84, 14)

• RHP Shane McCarthy (0-2, 5.02, 28)

• C Michael Amditis (.184, 2, 26)

• C Michael Berglund (.234, 4, 16)

• 2B Aaron Bracho (.184, 8, 34)

• 1B Joe Naranjo (.235, 18, 59)

• SS Gabriel Rodriguez (.272, 9, 38)

• OF Connor Kokx (.234, 7, 28)

If you think Rouglas Odor has been in Akron a long time, you’d be right

Once the first pitch is thrown Thursday, Odor will become Akron's longest tenured manager. Odor is the first four-year manager for Akron and begins 2023 with a 213-184 record. He needs 32 wins to break the all-time franchise record held by Aeros manager Brad Komminsk, who went 244-179. Both managers won titles for the club. Komminsk’s came in 2003. Odor’s happened in 2021.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron RubberDucks have stars throughout 2023 opening day roster