Tolentino: ‘Compete on every pitch’

So far in 2022, the Guardians’ offense has been feast or famine.

When the lineup has churned out runs, it has been through Steven Kwan, Owen Miller and Myle Straw working counts and getting on base around Jose Ramirez.

It’s not a coincidence that Kwan moved up into the second spot in the order between Straw and Ramirez, and then Miller behind Ramirez. All four have strikeout rates that are league average or better (lower than 22%) and a walk rate above league average (higher than 8%).

The payoff of that approach seems to be a direct result of a shift in philosophy in the Guardians’ development system with hitters. Kwan and Miller were both targets because they have varying degrees of plate discipline and make a high rate of contact. The team’s farm system includes a lot more of those types of hitters these days.

It’s too early to tell if infielder Milan Tolentino of Low Single-A Lynchburg is one of them. He might be one. He might be one of many.

The club’s fourth-round pick in 2020 has 16 walks compared to 11 in 72 plate appearances to date. That’s led to a .400/.528/.491 slash line to go along with five doubles and four steals.

His average and on-base percentage lead the Carolina League.

“It’s pitch to pitch,” Tolentino said of his approach. “I’m trying to do what I can to compete on every pitch. Don’t force anything. If they’re not going to come at you, you have to take what they give you. Wherever it’s thrown, that’s where I’m hitting it.”

Tolentino isn’t considered a bat-first prospect. He was drafted for his glove, speed, and instincts. That gives him a decent projected floor of a utility infielder type.

So far, his bat is leading the league and he’s doing it the same way that has driven the Guardians’ offense during their best times in this young season. Tolentino has opened his stance a little since being drafted, added strength to his frame, and is looking to drive the ball a little more than he did in high school.

At his best, Tolentino is a line-to-line hitter who can create enough loft to hit line drives. So far, he’s shown traits that appear to be part of a model Cleveland has targeted.

The Hillcats as a team are second in the league in on-base percentage at .364, though they’re eighth out of 12 in runs scored and only have three homers (dead last in the league). Lynchburg has also faced two pitching staffs in the Carolina League that are second and fourth in walks this year.

In addition to his plate discipline skills combined with the ability to play and stay up the middle as a quality defender, athletic bloodlines have also accompanied the Guardians draft model.

Tolentino checks that box, too. His dad, Jose, played professionally for 15 seasons and is the Spanish broadcaster for the Los Angeles Angels. Patric, Milan’s brother, was briefly in the Cleveland system as a catcher.

“It helps to know what you’re getting into before you get into it. You have a good sense of the do’s and don’ts and what you need to do to be successful,” Milan said of what he’s gained from his dad’s experiences. “(Patric) gave me a lot of good names of coaches and staff and coordinators that he had a good relationship with if I needed anything. This game can be repetitive, so it’s nice to just have someone to talk to that you had a relationship with outside of the game that you can make small talk with.”

It’s early and there’s a long way to go for Tolentino from his current level, but the organization is starting to see success with players who possess these skills that graduate to the majors.

For a player development system looking to make more progress graduating hitting prospects at the rate it has with pitchers, seeing success from players with skills they’ve targeted that have made it to the top, through players like Tolentino just starting out, it’s a good start.

Tolentino