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Guardians

Guardians prospect George Valera in holding pattern regarding injured wrist

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Mar. 01, 2023, 5:22 p.m

CLEVELAND, Ohio --

Team trainers are trying to determine what the next step will be in treating outfield prospect George Valera’s sore right wrist.

Valera left Tuesday game against the Royals in the second inning after taking an awkward swing and injuring the wrist. Valera had surgery to remove the hamate bone in his right hand. He said he suffered the injury playing winter ball, but it’s believed the hand bothered him off an on during last season as well.

“This was the wrist where he had the surgery,” manager Terry Francona told reporters Wednesday morning at the team’s training site in Goodyear, Arizona. “The trainers really don’t know if that’s part of it. It’s hard to imagine that it’s not effecting it.

“They’re going to give him a couple days to see how it reacts to them treating it. If the results aren’t good, they may image (MRI) it. But they don’t want to rush into it.”

This is the second surgery Valera has had on his right hamate bone. In the first one, the hamate bone wasn’t totally removed. In the second surgery, it was removed.

Hamate bone injuries are common among batters because of the pressure the knob of the bat puts on the heel of the hand and wrist.

“There’s a couple of ways of doing it,” said Francona. “When they did it the first time, the didn’t take out the whole hook (there is a hook on the hamate bone).

“I’m not an expert on it, but Dr. (Thomas) Graham always takes out the entire (hook). He did the second surgery.”

Valera is the Guardians’ top-ranked position player prospect as ranked by MLB.com. Last season Valera, 22, hit .250 (121 for 484) with 25 doubles, 24 homers and 82 RBI at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus.

It would have been difficult for Valera to make the Guardians out of spring training. Their starting outfield seems set with Steven Kwan in left field, Myles Straw in center and Oscar Gonzalez in right.

Will Brennan, a rookie like Gonzalez, may have a better chance to be the extra outfielder in the big leagues, while Valera opens the season at Columbus playing every day.

But right now Valera is missing out on playing time. Outfielder Richie Palacios was scheduled to leave for Taiwan on Wednesday so he can play with Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Center fielder Myles Straw has yet to play a Cactus League game because of a sore right knee.

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Guardians

Guardians hit consecutive homers in the seventh to beat White Sox, 9-6

By Paul Hoynes

Published: Mar. 01, 2023, 6:07 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio --

For a team that didn’t show a lot of home-run power last year, the Guardians discovered some in the seventh inning Wednesday at The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.

Prospect Jonathan Rodriguez and Zack Collins hit consecutive home runs to distance themselves from the White Sox in a 9-6 Cactus League win. The Guardians are 2-4 for the spring.

Rodriguez is no stranger to the long ball. Cleveland’s third round pick in 2017 out of Puerto Rico, hit 26 homers last season at Class A Lake County and Class AA Akron. He added four more playing winter ball in Puerto Rico for Carolina.

Juan Brito, with one out, walked against Edgar Navarro to start the seventh inning rally. Raynel Delgado singled before Rodriguez homered over the left field fence to turn a 4-1 lead into a 7-1 advantage.

Collins, one of seven catchers in camp, followed with a homer to left center to make it 8-1. Collins, a first round pick by the White Sox in 2016, is in camp on a non-roster contract trying to win a backup job behind Mike Zunino.

The Guardians hit the second fewest homers in the big leagues last year. As for catchers, the 2022 tandem that helped them reach the AL Central championship, is gone. Austin Hedges signed with the Pirates as a free agent and Luke Maile signed with the Reds after being non-tendered.

The White Sox did not go easily.

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Guardians

Guardians shut down lefty Sam Hentges with swelling in shoulder

By Paul Hoynes

Updated: Mar. 01, 2023, 3:23 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Left-hander Sam Hentges, an important part of the Guardians’ bullpen, has been stopped from throwing because of swelling and inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

Manager Terry Francona told reporters about Hentges’ injury Wednesday morning at the team’s training site in Goodyear, Arizona.

“After Sam pitched the other day, he came in and his shoulder wasn’t bouncing back like he wanted to,” said Francona. “We went and got him imagined (MRI). He has some swelling and inflammation around the ligaments in his shoulder.

“He’ll be week to week, by that I mean, we’ll check in once a week to see what and when we can do to get him moving back in the right direction.”

Hentges pitched one inning against Texas on Sunday, striking out two and allowing one run. He was scheduled to pitch today against the White Sox, following starter Aaron Civale and James Karinchak.

Last season Hentges became a big part of the bullpen. He was 3-2 with a 2.32 ERA in a career-high 57 appearances. He struck out 72, walked 19 and allowed 41 hits in 62 innings.

Hentges did not allow a run for 14 2/3 consecutives innings from July 13 through Aug. 31. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound lefty did not allow a hit in 10 straight appearances. Batters went 0 for 38 over 13 innings from Aug. 25 through Sept. 19 in that stretch.

After the All-Star break, Hentges went 1-0 with one save in 25 games. He allowed one run in 29 2/3 innings with 36 strikeouts and five walks.

Hentges’ success continued in the postseason. He was at his best in Game 2 of the wild card sweep of Tampa Bay. He threw the last three innings in Cleveland’s 1-0, 15-inning win at Progressive Field. He struck out six and earned the win when Oscar Gonzalez homered in the 15th.

The Guardians’ bullpen, which pitched so well last year, has had a rough start to spring training.

Hentges joins Enyel De Los Santos and Cody Morris in the trainer’s room. De Los Santos has yet to pitch in a game because of a hamstring injury, while Morris strained his right lat early in camp and is playing catch, but has yet to throw a bullpen session.

Last year Hentges and De Los Santos combined to make 117 relief appearances. Along with the 60 appearances departed Bryan Shaw made, it makes for a lot of available relief innings if Hentges and/or De Los Santos open the regular season on the injured list.

Morris made seven appearances, including five starts, but is probably viewed more as a starter. Nick Sandlin, whose 2022 season ended with a strained right shoulder in the postseason, is healthy, but has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game this spring. Sandlin made 46 relief appearances last year.

The healthy holdovers from the 2022 pen include All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, Karinchak, Trevor Stephan, Eli Morgan and Sandlin, if and when he appears in a game.

Possible replacements include lefty Tim Herrin, Nick Mikolajchak, Caleb Simpson, Caleb Barager and Andrew Misiaszek. Herrin, Mikolachak and Misiaszek are in camp from Cleveland’s farm system. Simpson and Barager were brought in from outside the organization.

Francona could use a starter in the pen such as a healthy Morris along with Xzavion Curry, Hunter Gaddis, Konnor Pilkington, Joey Cantillo, Peyton Battenfield, Jason Bilous and Touki Toussaint. Bilous was just added to the 40-man roster before camp opened and Toussaint is in camp as a non-roster player.

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Don't know why they didn't finish the 9th inning. Rain was expected to move thru the valley so maybe they got a few drops.

MARCH 1 BOX SCORES GUARDIANS - WHITE SOX

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametrack ... 1_CLE@CHW/

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Guardians Fans Have A Must-See Josh Bell Highlight To Enjoy

February 28, 2023

By Andres Chavez

The Cleveland Guardians were absolutely fantastic in 2022.

They exceeded preseason expectations and won 92 games.

They even won a playoff series.

If we had to name one weakness, though, we would have to say they lacked some punch, or some power in the middle of their lineup.

It’s not that they lacked power hitters, it’s that it looked at one point like they were one or two home run hitters short of putting on a serious challenge for the American League pennant.

They went to work during the offseason and brought in first baseman Josh Bell and catcher Mike Zunino in an attempt to supply that missing power.

It’s just spring training, but the early returns on the Bell investment are extremely exciting.

Look at this blast:

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https://twitter.com/i/status/1630666299985502232

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Bell welcomed starter Jordan Lyles to Kansas City with a mammoth two-run shot to give the Guardians the lead in the first inning.

It was a hanging breaking ball that Bell had no problems whatsoever driving to his pull side.

Bell, a big guy who sometimes seems to underperform his raw power, certainly put all of the wood on this one.

He hit just 17 home runs in 156 games last year with the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres, but had 27 the year before and 37 in 2019.

It’s unlikely he returns to his 2019 total, because it came with the “juiced” ball, but it’s not unrealistic to expect 25-30 long balls from the talented slugger.

If anything, he will bring on-base ability to a lineup that needs it.

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I think Bell is the only guy, expected to be on the team that breaks camp. to hit a HR so far. The rest of the HRs are from guys that will be in the minors, traded or released. Quinn had 3 in 2 games but Ked twice today.

Sea,

You've been to that ball yard. How far did that ball travel?

MARCH 2 SAN FRAN VS CLE


https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametrack ... 02_SF@CLE/

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Guardians

Guardians grab 4-3 spring training win against Giants as José Ramírez, Josh Naylor deliver big hits

By Joe Noga

Updated: Mar. 02, 2023, 6:00 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio —

Cal Quantrill delivered two solid innings in his second start of spring training Thursday as the Guardians earned a 5-3 exhibition win against San Francisco at Goodyear Ballpark.

Cleveland prospect Joe Naranjo’s RBI double scored Juan Brito with the go-ahead run after Brito reached base on an error in the eighth inning. The win improved Cleveland’s Cactus League record to 3-4.

Quantrill allowed a run on two hits and registered three strikeouts against a lineup that featured a handful of Giants regulars, but was missing Joc Pederson and Mike Yastrzemski. José Ramírez and Josh Naylor collected a pair of hits each, and Andrés Giménez reached on a bunt single.

Quantrill, who will pitch in a minor league game next week before joining Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic, allowed a one-out double to Mitch Haniger and an RBI single to left by J.D. Davis in the first.

Steven Kwan’s throw to the plate nearly cut down Haniger, who scored the game’s first run with a good slide to avoid the tag of Cam Gallagher.

Eli Morgan followed Quantrill to the mound and worked a clean inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Cleveland scored three times in the third inning on a Ramírez RBI single and a two-run double by Naylor.

Cleveland right-hander Caleb Baragar loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth after Isan Diaz reached on an error, J.D. Davis singled and Brett Wisley walked.

Bryce Johnson’s sacrifice fly scored Diaz from third on a close play at the plate, but Baragar worked out of trouble after that when Austin Wynns popped out to Ramirez in foul territory.

Wisley’s solo home run in the sixth tied the score at 3-3. It was Wisley’s second home run of the spring and it came off Guardians lefty Phillip Diehl, who signed a minor league deal with Cleveland last month.

Mason Hickman walked three in the seventh, but helped himself out when he picked Johnson off at first base. He worked out of trouble by striking out Tyler Fitzgerald to end the inning.

Davis Sharpe pitched a scoreless eighth and Kyle Marman worked around a two-out double by Shane Matheny in the ninth to earn the save.

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Did you know that Meibrys Viloria has been the only Colombian baseball player in history
who was promoted to the Major Leagues directly from Class A


Meibrys Viloria is off on the right foot this spring.
3G 5AB 1R 3H 2DBL 2BB .600AVG .714OBP 1.000SLG 1.714 OBS.

I followed him all winter.
Picking up where he left off in winter ball. Impressive offensive numbers from Columbia.
Impressive stats from behind the plate also.

I'm hoping Meibrys breaks camp as Zunino's backup.
If he keeps hitting like this, he may be heading back to Cleveland as #1

As far as the classic goes....

Colombia won't have a snowball's chance in hell of moving up in the classic, but...
It's going to be fun watching Viloria and Frias.
Frias will be one of youngest players in the classic.

Also looking forward to see how well Naylor, Palacios, and Gimenez do.

Frias, Viloria, Naylor, Palacios, and Gimenez will be seeing a lot of stud pitchers along the way.
The reliefers ain't so bad either. In fact, they may be better than the starters.
So, so there will be no breaks along the way.
I don't really think you can prepare for this test.
Just hang in there and hope for the best.

Can't wait! Should be a lot of fun.
Best field of players to take part in these games ever.
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Today's game...2 hrs 13 min.

Lots of swinging at the first pitch. Can't miss their tee times.

3/3/23 MIL VS CLE


https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametrack ... 3_MIL@CLE/


SCORING

1ST INNING
Mitchell scored 1 0

3RD INNING
Ramirez singled to shallow right, Freeman scored, Rosario to third 1 1

5TH INNING
Freeman scored, Halpin to third 1 2

7TH INNING
Wiemer reached on fielder's choice to shortstop, Alvarez scored,
Turang out at second on 2nd baseman Brito throwing error 2
Monasterio doubled to deep right, Wiemer scored 3 2

Halpin reached on fielder's choice to shortstop, Martinez scored, Brito out at second on 2nd baseman Alvarez throwing error 3 3
Rocchio doubled to center, Halpin scored 3 4

8TH INNING
Monasterio homered to left 4 4

Halpin doubled to deep right center, Brito, Martinez and Viloria scored, Halpin to third 4 7

[ Viloria making a case for himself. Another hit and a run scored in two at bats ]

Myles Straw was set to start Thursday’s exhibition game for the Guardians against the Giants, but Cleveland manager Terry Francona decided to play it cautious. Straw has not been in the lineup through the Guards’ first seven Cactus League games after reporting to camp with a sore right knee.

After Straw was cleared to play, he was penciled into the lineup against San Francisco, but heavy rains in Arizona on Wednesday made the outfield a bit soggy, and Francona decided not to risk playing Straw on a wet track. The center fielder found himself atop Francona’s lineup card batting leadoff for Friday’s game against the Brewers instead.

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Guardians

Petey Halpin’s late bases-clearing double gives Guardians a 7-4 spring training win over Brewers

By Joe Noga

Updated: Mar. 03, 2023, 7:38 p.m.|

CLEVELAND, Ohio —

Petey Halpin broke up a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning with a three-run double to give the Guardians a 7-4 exhibition win Friday against the Brewers at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona.

Milwaukee jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning when Luis Urias doubled off Cleveland starter Zach Plesac. In his second spring training start, Plesac did not complete the first inning, but returned to pitch scoreless frames in the second and third.

Jordan Jones replaced Plesac and got Abraham Toro to ground into a double play to end the first, but under exhibition rules Plesac was allowed to re-enter the game and finish his outing in the second and third innings.

José Ramírez collected an RBI single for the second straight game in the third, and Amed Rosario drove in a run with an RBI double to put the Guards in front in the fifth. But Milwaukee took advantage of a throwing error by Juan Brito at second base to tie the score at 2-2 in the seventh, and pulled in front on an RBI double by Jon Singleton later in the inning off Cleveland righty Luis Oviedo.

Ramírez, playing in back-to-back games after driving in a pair of runs against San Francisco on Thursday, plated Cleveland’s first run with a base hit off Brewers righty Adrian Houser.

It was Cleveland’s turn to take advantage of a Milwaukee miscue in the bottom of the seventh when Halpin grounded into a force out and Brewers second baseman Eddy Alvarez threw wildly to first, allowing Angel Martinez to score. Brayan Rocchio then gave the Guards a one-run lead with an RBI double off Joel Payamps.

Former Cleveland Farmhand Andruw Monasterio’s solo home run in the eighth off Jason Bilous put the Brew Crew evened the score, setting the stage for Halpin’s three-run difference maker in the bottom of the frame.

Nick Mikolajchak struck out a pair in a scoreless ninth for his first save. The win went to Bilous in relief and Jake Cousins took the loss for Milwaukee. The Guardians evened their Cactus League record at 4-4 while the Brewers are now also 4-4.

Meibrys Viloria and Tyler Freeman added hits for Cleveland. Lefty Tim Herrin worked a scoreless fourth with a walk and a strikeout in relief of Plesac.

Next: The Guardians travel to Mesa on Saturday to take on the Athletics at 3:05 p.m. EST. Shane Bieber will start for Cleveland while righty Adam Oller takes the mound for the A’s.

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