With the No. 27 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Cleveland Guardians selected Jace LaViolette. Here are a few things to know about the newest member of the Guardians organization:
Texas Roots, SEC Star
Standing 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, LaViolette looks the part of a big-league corner outfielder the second he steps onto the field. Hailing from Katy, Texas, he came to Texas A&M with plenty of raw hype but turned that promise into production fast. As a freshman, he smashed his way into Aggie lore by setting the school’s freshman home run record, launching 21 long balls and immediately stamping himself as one of college baseball’s must-watch power bats. From there, he only got louder at the plate. In his sophomore season, he raked at a .305 clip, slugged .726, drove in 78 runs, and blasted 29 homers — the kind of raw power that forced scouts to keep his name near the top of every early first-round mock draft. LaViolette finished his college career as Texas A&M’s all-time home run king.
Left-Handed Power That Plays Anywhere
What makes LaViolette stand out isn’t just that he hits bombs — it’s how easily the power comes. His swing generates high exit velos without needing to overswing, and he punishes mistakes with towering shots that leave no doubt. While the home run totals jump off the stat sheet, what scouts love just as much is his advanced approach: he doesn’t sell out for the fence every pitch. He posted healthy walk rates, worked deep counts, and showed he’s capable of adjusting when pitchers try to beat him soft away or up in the zone. In his final season, his average dipped to .258 — the side effect of pitchers refusing to challenge him over the plate. But he still slugged .576, launched 19 home runs, and drove in 61 runs in 56 games, proving he can do damage even when pitchers are doing everything they can to pitch around him.
More Than Just a Bat
For a guy his size, LaViolette is surprisingly agile. He spent time in both center and right field at A&M, showing solid reads and a strong, accurate arm. Long-term, most see him settling in as a power-hitting right fielder where his plus arm can play up and he can focus on providing middle-of-the-order production. His athleticism also shows up on the bases — he’s not a base stealer by trade, but he’s not a clogger either. If there’s a first-to-third chance, he’ll take it.
Toughness Tested
LaViolette’s biggest believers point to more than just tape-measure shots — they talk about the grit. In one legendary moment, he played through a broken bone in his hand, undergoing surgery one day and driving in two runs the next in an SEC Tournament game. It’s the kind of story that sticks in a scout’s report when they’re weighing who they trust to grind through the ups and downs of pro ball.
From Katy to the Show
Ask around College Station and they’ll tell you Jace has always been wired for the big stage. He bet on himself in the SEC when he could’ve gone straight to pro ball. He turned that decision into record books ink, All-American honors, and a clear path to becoming one of the biggest left-handed bats in this year’s draft. Now that he’s headed to pro ball, all that’s left is for him to do what he’s always done — make ballparks look smaller and pitchers sweat when he steps in the box.
Bottom Line
Jace LaViolette is exactly what every organization hopes to land: a lefty masher with legit 30-homer upside, a track record of SEC production, and the toughness to back it up. He may not be a finished product yet, but few players bring his mix of raw power, mature plate approach, and big-game makeup. If you’re looking for a reason to dream on towering home runs for years to come, the kid from Katy just made your short list.
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