Guardians Look Forward To Seeing Joe Lampe In Pro Ball

Not all college center fielders project as pro center fielders, but Joe Lampe does.

The 22-year-old has the speed, the glove and the instincts to play the position, and in his two years at Arizona State showed impressive growth both offensively and defensively.

The Guardians noticed. Cleveland drafted the versatile, lefthanded-hitting Lampe in the third round in 2022 and signed him for an over-slot $800,000.

After hitting .424 and slugging .687 for Santa Rosa (Calif.) JC in 2020, Lampe transferred to Arizona State, where his speed, defense and ability to put the ball in play pushed him up Cleveland’s draft board.

The 6-foot-1,185-pound Lampe hit .321/.389/.537 in two Pacific-12 Conference seasons, including a junior season in 2022 that saw him hit 12 home runs and a .983 OPS. He finished fourth in the Pac-12 with 17 stolen bases.

“Joe can play all three outfield positions, but will focus mostly on center field,” Guardians assistant general manager James Harris said. “He plays the game with a passion and had a history of on-field success.”

“He has shown bat-to-ball ability, and we feel he has the potential to hit for power, with added physical development.”

It’s easy to see why the Guardians were drawn to Lampe. In his two years at ASU, he showed a lot of the traits the Guardians value. He has speed, enough athleticism to stay in center field and a low strikeout rate of 11%.

Lampe has the potential to steal more bases as a pro. The Guardians last year were second in the American League and third in the majors with 119 stolen bases.

“He runs the bases hard, with the intent to take the extra 90 (feet),” Harris said. “And he’s a good teammate. We’re looking forward to seeing him against pro competition.”