Guardians’ Nate Furman Plays To His Strengths

The Guardians have done a great job in drafting and developing pitchers in recent years, but their track record when it comes to hitters is a work in progress.

Second baseman Nate Furman could help change that.

The 21-year-old got off to a fast start for Low-A Lynchburg and is a candidate for a rapid rise through the system. He is a Charlotte product drafted in the fourth round last year.

The 5-foot-8 lefthanded hitter compiled a .482 on-base percentage in college and hit .306 with wood in the Cape Cod League in 2022. Furman’s hitting and OBP skills have translated to the lowest rung of the full-season minor leagues.

Through 39 games this season Furman hit .320/.479/.368 with 26 stolen bases. He had drawn 34 walks against 19 strikeouts.

“Furman has made a successful transition from college to pro ball,” Guardians assistant general manager James Harris said. “His success is coming from making good swing decisions and elite contact.”

As a Charlotte sophomore last year, Furman tied for the Conference USA lead with 86 hits and ranked second with 49 walks. He placed third in the conference with a .371 average and .502 OBP.

Defensively, Furman has focused on second base with some time at third base.

“He could even find time in the outfield in the future, to further enhance his versatility,” Harris said.

Furman is a plus runner who has shown strong basestealing acumen. What he isn’t is a power hitter. He hit three homers in college and had none yet in pro ball.

In fact, 35 of his first 40 hits at Lynchburg were singles.

“We hope to continue to add strength to his profile in the future, and he is trending in the right direction,” Harris said. “He is an extremely hard worker, and a great teammate.”