Cleveland Guardians’ CJ Kayfus talks with reporters as he prepares for his major league debut before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
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The Cleveland Guardians promoted first baseman/outfielder, Collin Joseph (C.J.) Kayfus from their Triple-A Columbus affiliate.
Kayfus, 23, is another left-handed hitter, playing among the Guardians long list of organizational left-handed hitters.
Kayfus made his Major League Baseball debut August 2, 2025, against the Minnesota Twins. Kayfus played right-field, and hit in the nine hole in the batting order.
Kayfus got his first MLB hit August 3, in the 9th inning against the Twins. He smoked a double to the right/center gap.
In the game, Kayfus went 0/4, with a ground out RBI in the first inning.
Miami’s CJ Kayfus during an NCAA baseball game on Friday, June 2, 2023 in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
About C.J. Kayfus:
Kayfus is 6-0, 192 pounds, which is not a large frame for a first baseman.
MLB.com ranked Kayfus the No. 4 prospect in the Guardians organization, behind Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter and Angel Genao.
Even though Kayfus hit very well at Palm Beach Central High in Wellington, Florida, he wasn’t drafted by any MLB team after his senior year.
At the time, scouts thought Kayfus lacked sufficient power to be an impactful MLB first baseman.
It was Kayfus’ performances in two years in the highly regarded Cape Cod Summer League that convinced the Guardians to draft him. He was a league All Star in 2022.
Kayfus was a third round, 2023 draft pick the Guardians, signing out of the University of Miami. He received a $700,000 signing bonus.
While at Miami, Kayfus played three seasons, he played mostly at first base, with a smattering of playing time in left field, and right field.
While at Miami, Kayfus hit a combined .293/.395/.525/.920, with 35 homers, and 165 RBIs in 927 plate appearances.
Kayfus walked 118 times in college, while striking out in 222 at-bats.
Kayfus was placed on the Guardians 40-man roster on August 2, 2025. Now he is wearing No. 63.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 12: C.J. Kayfus #2 of the Cleveland Guardians warms up during a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Goodyear Ballpark on March 12, 2025 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
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Scouting C.J. Kayfus:
C.J. Kayfus has a nice, smooth, left-handed swing.
Kayfus is a natural hitter, with a good approach facing left-handed, same-side pitchers.
To this writer, Kayfus has a very credible hit tool, which should lead to a good batting average and impressive on-base statistics.
While he didn’t show a power stroke in high school, Kayfus has clearly become a power hitting option in the Guardians development program.
Kayfus had 927 plate appearances in his minor league development program, hitting 35 homers and driving in 165 runs.
In 2024, at Class A Advanced, and Double-A, Kayfus had 17 homers in 481 plate appearances.
This past season, playing at both Double-A and Triple-A, Kayfus added another 14 homers, and 54 RBIs.
The power is clearly on the rise.
Kayfus does not fit the usual Guardians profile of a consistent, high content hitter.
There is some strikeout in his game, and scouts have always raised concerns about Kayfus’ high strikeout rate. In fact, this year he has whiffed 93 times, while accepting 44 walks.
If he can be selective at the plate, Kayfus could provide the Guardians with a budding, emerging, sorely needed home run hitting bat in their lineup.
Beginning in his impactful 2024 season, Kayfus began to launch more balls in the air, finding the barrel of the bat with some impressive consistency.
If he doesn’t hit the ball out of the park, Kayfus can find the right/center gap with pretty consistent pull power from the left batter’s box.
Defensively, the Guardians outfield coaches will have the opportunity to help Kayfus learn the proper angles, routes, and reads off the bat to balls hit to right, and right center. He is far from a finished product in the outfield.
Athletic and quick to the ball at first base, Kayfus can probably offer above average defense at first. He won’t make anyone forget the Gold Glove defense of Carlos Santana. But Kayfus is not a liability at the position.
It is likely Kayfus and Kyle Manzardo, another left-handed hitter, will be the Guardians duo at first base next year. Unless, of course, Kayfus shines in right field, which is a glaring need of the Guardians.
But Kayfus might have a great career with the bat, just like Santana.
AKRON, OHIO – JUNE 18, 2024: C.J. Kayfus #12 of the Akron RubberDucks celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Canal Park on June 18, 2024 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
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Scouting Grade: 55
Kayfus’ best tools are his hitting ability and his power upside. Both of those are above average, and much needed by this , and future editions of the Cleveland Guardians.
Kayfus is average to below average as a runner, a Grade 50 in that category.
Overall, Kayfus is an above average, Grade 55 player, who now has a golden opportunity.
