Triston McKenzie not expected to have surgery on injured elbow

Guardians’ Triston McKenzie chooses rehab over surgery on his right elbow | Cleveland
Triston McKenzie has opted to go the rehab route for his sprained UCL, an injury that is typically repaired with Tommy John surgery. The good news, at least in the short-term, is that the Guardians think McKenzie could pitch again sometime this year without surgery. The bad news is that he might just be putting off the inevitable.

Stephen Strasburg is the poster boy - but exactly how does closely monitoring innings/pitches reduce the chance of surgery?

Doesn't seem that way. I was always taught "use it or you lose it". Babying doesn't seem to work.

Sure looks like Oscar is no longer wanted in Cleveland !

I was at Tweetsie Railroad (amusement park for kids) in Blowing Rock NC with my grandkids and in front of us in line was a child with a Guardians jersey with Gonzaiez on the back and Sponge Bob patch on the front. I applauded the parents.

Come on front office bring back Oscar for the kids !!!!!!

Absolutely - at the very least he can platoon with Brennan and maybe toss in some DH vs lefties.

Then if he gets hot we can go from there.

Five pressing questions on the Guardians: Trade deadline, second-half predictions and more Jul 4, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) reacts after giving up a home run in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel and Jason Lloyd
3h ago


CLEVELAND — With the All-Star break approaching, our Cleveland experts Jason Lloyd and Zack Meisel take stock of the Guardians.
1. When it comes to the Guardians, not enough people are talking about …

Jason: Attendance. The Guardians got creative over the winter with some of their ticket pricing and packages, and it seems to be working. Cleveland still ranks only 22nd in the majors, but it’s pulling in over 21,000 per home date, which is up more than 4,000 from last year. It’s one of the largest increases across the league. Good to see.

Zack: Just how critical of a misfire the Josh Bell signing has been to this point. (Wait, what’s that? People are talking about that? Whoops.) What are the Guardians missing? Power. What were they hoping Bell would provide? Power. Or, at the very least, just a steady bat in the middle of the order. The longer Bell’s struggles persist, the greater the chance he’s here next year, too, since he has a player option for another $16.5 million.
Josh Bell is batting .221/.310/.364 with eight home runs. (William Purnell / USA Today)

Bell thought he’d benefit from shift restrictions, and he’s certainly been beating the ball into the ground a lot, but not in a productive manner. He has said when he struggles, his contact point and launch angle suffer. That’s been readily apparent.

He’s had rough stretches before — the shortened 2020 season and the last two months of the 2022 season following a trade to the Padres — but he’s never had a full season like this. And maybe he won’t; he has three months to reverse course.

Bell’s wRC+ for every full season (100 is league average): 108, 111, 135, 119, 123
Bell’s wRC+ this season: 88

Bell’s slugging percentage every full season: .466, .411, .569, .476, .422
Bell’s slugging percentage this season: .364

In the Progressive Field era (and excluding 2020), the only qualified players who have had a season with a worse slugging percentage: Myles Straw (2022), Omar Vizquel (1995, 2001), Jason Kipnis (2014) and Michael Bourn (2013). Granted, Straw, Amed Rosario and Steven Kwan all carry lower slugging percentages this year.

The Guardians can’t really run away from Bell because they need to do everything they can to get him functioning at his best, and that’s difficult to do if he’s riding the bench. But since he’s usually the designated hitter, that also limits their flexibility in affording other hitters opportunities.
2. How different will Cleveland’s roster look in a month?

Jason: Significantly. I don’t believe Shane Bieber will be here beyond the deadline. It’s just a matter of what kind of return the Guardians can get, but I’d have to imagine they’ll get at least one bat to plug into the lineup immediately. If you remove the best pitcher from your rotation and add an everyday bat, I count that as significant. Beyond that, we’ve been waiting for two years now for them to bundle some of these prospects into a big swing and it has yet to materialize. I’m reaching the point of wondering if it ever will.

Zack: The safe bet is to say somewhat different. I don’t think there will be an extreme makeover, but there are several avenues for this team to be aggressive on the trade front. I don’t know if the Guardians will pull the trigger on a deal involving Bieber or some other starting pitcher, but if there’s a way to convert some of their middle-infield surplus into help in the outfield and/or rotation, they should pounce. I’m not sure I see the argument for standing pat. My hunch is we’ll see some turnover.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Guardians are one of MLB's most interesting teams in month leading up to trade deadline
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Why the Guardians could trade Shane Bieber, and why the situation is complicated
3. Name a player you believe will have a strong second half, even though others might think you’re crazy for suggesting that player.

Jason: Tyler Freeman. I’d like to say Oscar Gonzalez or Gabriel Arias, but a big part of me wonders if Gonzalez will ever make it back to Cleveland. I’ll choose Freeman because he’s a better hitter than Arias and seems to make impact plays whenever he’s in the lineup. Now it’s a matter of getting him more at-bats.

Zack: I’d say Freeman if I trusted that he could land more playing time. So, while acknowledging the fact that he’s 6-for-44 with 17 strikeouts, I’ll go with Bo Naylor, who hasn’t put it together at the plate yet, but has at least worked counts, which is more than can be said for any other Cleveland catcher this season. I don’t expect Naylor to hit .300 — or even .260 — or sock a bunch of home runs, but he can at least ensure there’s some threat lurking at the bottom of manager Terry Francona’s lineup. He’s exhibited an encouraging blend of plate discipline and contact ability in the minors the last two years, and that should surface in the majors, too, as the season unfolds.
4. If the Guardians win the AL Central, it will be because …

Jason: The pitching holds up. They’re counting on Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee to provide quite a bit already and those expectations will only increase if Bieber is dealt. Cal Quantrill and Aaron Civale are still here, but it feels like this rotation belongs to Williams and Bibee going forward.
Gavin Williams has posted a 3.79 ERA in his first three starts. (Ken Blaze / USA Today)

Zack: They do what they always do: pitch. They’ll figure out a way for Bibee, Williams and Logan Allen to overcome a lack of experience and innings limits. They’ll lean on whichever veterans remain in Cleveland (and remain healthy). And the bullpen will stop melting down at the worst moments and prove that its No. 2 ranking in ERA reflects its true ability, not its No. 2 ranking in blown saves.

Or, you know, it will be because the Guardians are just slightly not-as-below-average as the Twins.
5. If the Guardians don’t win the AL Central, it will be because …

Jason: They couldn’t overcome the lineup deficiencies. The Guardians had a team OPS of .685 entering Wednesday. Since 1980, only one team has won its division with a lower mark — the 1988 Dodgers (.657). Of course, given how that season ended for Los Angeles, anything is possible. But what the Guardians are trying to do with this limited lineup is incredibly rare. Ultimately, it might be too much to overcome.

Zack: They stay the course. And that’s not just as it relates to the trade deadline, but their strategy and output in general. If Bell and Andrés Giménez (offensively) repeat their lackluster first halves, if Rosario has another two-month cold spell, if Straw keeps playing seven days a week, if the catcher spot continues to produce nothing at the plate, if Trevor Stephan and Emmanuel Clase keep picking the least convenient moments to be shaky, if Quantrill continues to give up hits by the gross — this team will be headed nowhere. A lot has gone wrong for the Guardians. They believe better days are ahead, but they should be proactive about ensuring that.

Assessing the Guardians’ 40-man roster ahead of the trade deadline — with Taylor Swift song titles
Which players are keepers and which are potential trade chips ... Swiftie Style!

By Quincy Wheeler Jul 6, 2023, 11:00am EDT 1 Comment / 1 New

We have entered July and the Guardians will be evaluating their organization to determine if they can make any trades to improve their roster in 2023 and beyond or if the needed pieces to make a run at ending their 75-year title drought are on hand. What better way to evaluate the current roster than to use Taylor Swift song titles to categorize the players on the Team’s 40-man roster in relation to the trade deadline?

“Superman”
José Ramírez
He wanted to stay, he is staying, and we should all thank our lucky stars.

“The Man”
Josh Naylor
Wrist soreness aside, Josh Naylor has been the one other consistent offensive threat outside Ramírez and has played a solid first base.

Gavin Williams
Everyone can see the potential and it’s exciting to imagine him getting a chance to experience the majors for the rest of the season.

Tanner Bibee
See above. Tanner Bibee and Williams are the most exciting pitching prospects to hit Cleveland since Bartolo Colón as far as prospect hype goes. Let’s keep them both around for a while!

“You Belong With Me”
Andrés Giménez
He’s extended and despite a rough first couple of months offensively, that still seems like a great decision. Hopefully, he can be closer to a 120 wRC+ hitter for the rest of the season.

Emmanuel Clase
He’s getting used a lot again and had some struggles, but he’s still a top-5 reliever in baseball extended to be that here in Cleveland.

Trevor Stephan
Obviously, if someone is offering the right value, you’d trade Trevor Stephan. But, some recent hiccups don’t move me as far as his overall value. He’s learning to be Tito’s new Bryan Shaw in terms of pitching almost every day and getting the job done more often than not. I expect his stuff to tick up in the second half.

Steven Kwan
Again, there is a deal to be had where you’d trade Steven Kwan. There was a deal to be had where the Twins traded Luis Arráez. However, Kwan’s elite defense and reliable offensive floor bring a lot of value. I suspect we will see improvement from him in the second half and an extension will be revisited in the spring.

“Stay, Stay, Stay”
Enyel De Los Santos
Call me an Enyel De Los Santos believer as his stuff has looked even better this year and his control problems were ironed out in the Guardians’ pitching lab. Give him a Stephan extension. You’d trade any reliever in the right deal but you’d have to get a huge overpay to trade a player like this.

Sam Hentges
Raffy left to Enyel’s Raffy right, Andrew Miller-lite, Daddy Long Legs is a guy I’d like to be in Cleveland for a long time.

“Stay Beautiful”
Will Brennan
Will Brennan has been very encouraging and even flashed a little power. I believe in him, but primarily as a centerfielder. Start him in center and we have our centerfield solution and Kwan in left, assuming we can get some pop from right-field. That’s why I do think it would be possible that the team trades Brennan or Kwan ... but you’d have to get a legitimate, young slugger in return and that seems extremely far-fetched.

Eli Morgan
Eli Morgan is beautiful and has looked beautiful in the bullpen. He’s a reliable back-end of the pen option and I’d be fine with a Stephan extension here.

Tyler Freeman
Tyler Freeman is a pure hitter, as advertised. He hasn’t shown power, per se, but he has shown the ability to hit the ball hard. I could see a scenario where a team that believes he’s for sure a shortstop offers huge value for him, but I think Cleveland would want to hang on to what they’ve seen so far.

David Fry
Don’t get me wrong, David Fry is supremely tradeable if anyone wants him a lot. But, you can see the exciting potential for him to be a reliable bench bat who can play catcher, third base, first base, and the corner outfield spots. This seems like the kind of player a small market team covets, so I imagine Cleveland will hold on, especially as he consistently hits left-handed pitching.

Logan Allen
Logan Allen certainly isn’t untouchable, but it would have to be a special young player being offered in return to move on from a pitcher who flashed such special abilities in his time in the majors. He will be back in Cleveland by August.

Joey Cantillo
Joey Cantillo is still ironing out control issues in Columbus, but that’s definitely something to bet on Cleveland helping him solve. I could certainly see Cantillo traded but Cleveland is going to value him very highly, especially considering his velocity gains.

Xzavion Curry
Xzavion Curry seems like the kind of player Terry Francona and all MLB managers adore. No matter the situation, he goes out and keeps the team in a game and goes 1-4 innings. Hard to imagine a team valuing him way more than Cleveland already does. He’s easy to root for, also, so I’m glad he is staying.

“Soon You’ll Get Better”
Cody Morris
Sure seems like, from the length of his outings in Columbus, the Guardians view Morris as a reliever. But, he can be pretty special in that role. He’s certainly not untradeable, but I’d imagine the Guardians want to see him healthy and in the majors before capitalizing on whatever value he has.

Bo Naylor
I’m a fan of Bo and a believer in him as the catcher of the future. But, he’s 23 and it’s gonna be a bumpy ride while he adjusts to major league pitching. Is he untouchable? No...? But it’s hard to imagine the Guardians acquiring a catcher of the future in a Bo Naylor trade, which they would need.

Juan Brito
Juan Brito is showing a great combination of on-base and slugging skills while young for his level, looking like someone who could be a major league second baseman or first baseman. He could be traded, sure, but not unless you’re getting a proven major-league option with significant years of control in return.

Jhonkensy Noel
Of course, the Guardians would be willing to trade Jhonkensy Noel in the right deal. At the same time, in a system mostly devoid of exit velocity, he has flashed it at every level and is showing signs of being more consistent to make contact still being three years young for his level. He needs to progress in the second half of 2023, but I’d be surprised if they move him.

“Tis The Da*n Season”
Amed Rosario
Here’s the thing: I suspect Amed Rosario will be here through 2023 and I think it’s because of how much the Guardians value his bat and want to be respectful to him and to Ramírez, who loves him. He is a poor defensive shortstop who is blocking a lot of interesting prospects and he will finish the season around 100 wRC+ even though he’ll be on fire for the month of July. I doubt another team really makes a big push for Amed, but if they do, the Guardians should (and I think would) trade him.

Shane Bieber
It really is trade season for Shane Bieber but I doubt the Guardians will trade him. First, because they are in line to compete for a winnable division and Triston McKenzie’s injury has really sapped their pitching depth. Second, I doubt another MLB team will bet on his ability to rediscover some of his Cy Young form like Cleveland can afford to do, at least for the rest of 2023. I expect him to be dealt in the offseason.

Aaron Civale
IF (notice the big if) the Guardians want to try to trade a starter for a young slugger, to me, Aaron Civale is the one who makes sense. His underlying metrics are better than Bieber’s, he has an extra year of control, and there is some injury risk. I think he could net a return similar to what Tyler Mahle did last season, depending on the status of the trade market. Again, I don’t think the Guardians will deal him, however, because of the state of their pitching depth, innings limits for young starters, and the potential they win their division.

“Mr. Perfectly Fine”
Nick Sandlin
Nick Sandlin is a good, major league-reliever. He’s got some flaws against left-handed hitting. I could see the Guardians doing a Phil Maton deal with him and getting a guy with some swing-and-miss but good power potential who is blocked in Triple-A for a team desperate for bullpen depth. If not, he is a very useful bullpen piece in Cleveland and I’m glad he’s here.

“You’re Losing Me”
Cal Quantrill
The Guardians aren’t going to trade Cal Quantrill at the nadir of his value, but here is hoping he starts to figure out how to eat innings for them again.

Gabriel Arias
We have seen flashes with Gabriel Arias when he’s got consistent playing time. We’ve also seen him look overmatched. This all fits pretty well with his boom-or-bust profile. With him buried on the bench for the month of June, it sure seems like the team would be willing to trade him if a team believes in his potential. All we have to do is hope that that wouldn’t be a mistake.

Brayan Rocchio
Brayan Rocchio’s power has mostly evaporated in Triple-A this season. Is that because he’s a young player adjusting to a new level? Is it because he’s being exposed as a slap-hitter? Every time a roster spot opens up, the Guardians promote Rocchio and give him playing time, so, I do believe they like him. But, I could also see them trading him to a team higher on his value if that team exists.

George Valera
George Valera’s hand/wrist issues have derailed his season and he’s been unable to find it at Columbus so far. It’s early and he’s still young, but I need to see some progress in the second half. Hard to see the Guardians trading him while his value is low, but if a team really liked him, it’s a possibility.

“This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”
Oscar Gonzalez
Our beautiful SpongeBob lost his magic. Can he regain it? There have been some positive signs in Columbus recently, so hopefully he’ll get a chance to see what he can do in Cleveland again before too long.

Angel Martinez
Angel Martinez was dominating every level but ran into a brick wall to start the year in Akron. As disappointing as that is, he has been showing signs of life recently and is still young for the level, so I think he’s a potential trade piece in the right deal or a player we should expect big things from in the second half.

Josh Bell
What could be better than a big, lovable slugger who starts book clubs and switch-hits bombs coming to Cleveland with the option of staying for a second year? Well, maybe some things could be better. Bell just needs to figure out a way to keep from smacking every ball into the dirt because the exit velocities have been fine. He just can’t seem to lift the ball consistently. No one is going to trade for him unless the Guardians eat his entire salary and want a Single-A prospect back, so all we can do is root for him to figure it out in the second half. At least it’s easy to root for a guy who seems to be such an amazing human being.

“You’re On Your Own, Kid”
Cam Gallagher
Cam Gallagher is Bieber’s personal catcher and a mentor to Bo. That has value but not in a trade. The end.

Myles Straw
Myles Straw is a fantastic defensive replacement and baserunner who is going to be here for a while. That has value but not in a trade. He should not start every day. The end.

“We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together”
James Karinchak
I speak a bit tongue-in-cheek here because I do think Karinchak will be back after the All-Star break. However, his role in the bullpen has been for sure usurped by arms like Stephan, De Los Santos, Hentges, and Morgan. It remains to be seen if he’ll be able to control his walks and spin his fastball enough to keep hitters from crushing it when he returns. He certainly would be excellent trade bait, but watch out if the Astros or Rays come calling because I think those organizations would probably fix his mechanical issues in a heartbeat. Not that the Guardians aren’t also a whiz at fixing pitchers ... it just takes new scenery for some guys.

Hunter Gaddis
Hunter Gaddis keeps getting lit up in Triple-A. I think, unless we see bullpen injuries, the Gaddis relief experience probably starts next spring training and he’s a 6th starter until then.

“I Forgot That You Existed”
José Tena
Keith Law is no longer defending José Tena. It’s probably over for this middle infield prospect. Maybe some team sees potential and wants him for a lower-level prospect.

Michael Kelly
An imminently interchangeable bullpen arm.

Peyton Battenfield
Get well soon, Peyton, but you’re a sixth starter. There’s value there, but you can trade and DFA as needed, also.

Quincy Wheeler
@QuincyWheeler1
·
7m
You're going to hear Hammy make more of these pointed remarks. It happens EVERY time the team is ready to move on. It's why Hammy has talked more about Amed's defensive issues more this year than any other.

Like it or hate it, 216Baseball is just reporting what Hammy is saying


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Hammy just said, “… the way Freeman and Fry prepare, the way they do extra work- they’re going to be rewarded”.

I feel like the answer is right in front of us. Arias might have an attitude problem.

I've seen stats that show Amed's defense is much worse this year. I suppose Hamilton has noticed that watching every inning of every game

Why the Guardians need to trade Shane Bieber – Terry Pluto

Cleveland, Ohio – I’m not writing about trading Shane Bieber because he had a rough July 4th game vs. Atlanta. Or even due to some recent up-and-down outings for the Guardians starting pitcher. Once the Guardians were unable to agree to a contract extension with Bieber’s agents in spring training, it was clear his future in Cleveland was coming to an end.

I’ve been talking about and writing about the inevitability of Cleveland trading Bieber for months. He has a 5-5 record and 3.65 ERA, and there are some reasons for concern.

CY YOUNG WINNER

Shane Bieber won the 2020 Cy Young Award with an 8-1 record and 1.63 ERA in the 60-game COVID season. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

THINGS TO CONSIDER

1. Bieber’s fastball velocity has dropped, which has been discussed for a few years. According to fangraphs, Bieber’s average fastball was 94.1 mph in his 2020 Cy Young season. In the next three years, it was 92.8, 91.3 and 91.4.

2. Notice it has leveled off. Bieber’s average fastball was 91.3 in 2022, the same season he had a 13-8 record and 2.88 ERA. Last year, he threw 200 innings, third most in the American League.

3. His average fastball this season is 91.4 mph, basically the same as 2022. I don’t see the velocity as a major issue because of how he pitched in 2022.

4. With all the stats available, you can discover Bieber is striking out only 7.2 batters per nine innings. That’s a career low. His 2.7 walks per nine innings is the second highest of his career. Neither stat is alarming.

5. Bieber is having problems the third time through the lineup, at least recently. It seems when he “loses it,” he “loses it” fast. He breezes for 4-5 innings, then ... BOOM.
IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE LATELY

Shane Bieber has a 4.76 ERA in his last seven starts.

THE BIG PICTURE

All that said, Bieber is a very good pitcher. He would likely be a top three member of any rotation in baseball. He’s 28 years old, a great guy and a tremendous worker.
If the Guardians found a way to sign Bieber to a reasonable contract extension, I’d celebrate it. To suddenly believe Bieber’s career is falling apart is false.

So what’s going on?

Bieber is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, the legendary football agent. He now is building a baseball wing of his company. Leading that part of the business is Dennis Wyrick. He previously worked as an agent for Scott Boras, another legendary agent. In baseball Boras is know for pushing his players into free agency. He dismisses anything resembling a “hometown discount,” much like Jose Ramirez gave Cleveland.

Bieber is the biggest baseball client on the Rosenhaus roster. For his business, he needs to deliver a mega contract. Of course, Bieber picked this agency. He has a choice when it comes to his future. I wonder if Bieber is being impacted by the trade rumors. He’s never been through anything like this before. He’s 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in his last seven starts. Something is up.

A GOOD GUY

Shane Bieber went from a walk-on at UC-Santa Barbara to one of the best pitchers in the Majors. He did it the hard way. John Kuntz, cleveland.com

WHY I LIKE BIEBER

This is the same Shane Bieber who had a 1.40 ERA at Laguna Hills High and was one of the best high school players in talent rich Orange County along with being an honors student.
But his fastball was only in the middle 80s. He had no Division I baseball offers. UC-Santa Barbara gave him a chance to join the team as a “preferred walk-on.” That meant he could try out, but no promises of financial aid.

With the Gauchos, he earned a scholarship. He had a 23-12 record and 2.73 ERA. He pitched the school to its first-ever College World Series appearance. That was in 2016, when Cleveland made him a fourth-round draft pick.

He blew through the minors, pitching only 52 games before reaching Cleveland in 2018. He was one of the few to come up to the Majors and stay there. About 85% of players return to the minors at least once.
All of this is why I believe Bieber will continue to be an effective starter for a long time.

That said, Bieber is not going to sign an extension. The Guardians desperately need an outfielder with power. Bieber can bring that back in a trade. Solid starting pitching is expensive and hard to find.

His trade value should be higher now than if Cleveland waits until the end of the season. He is a free agent after the 2024 season. Now is the time to make a move.

Civ, thanks for posting that article.

I think the only question about Bieber is whether teams are willing to offer at least one young oufielder that could play RF or LF and bats right handed.

I hope not but I think Oscar is being traded for bullpen help and the same for Arias or Rosario. Rosario might be traded for a AAAA starter.

If we had McKenzie to join the 3 rookies and Civale I'd be happy with a post-Bieber roation, but without Tristan I think that getting rid of Bieber for OF help will hurt as much as it helps. But may be ineveitable

Bieber is gone whether it's at the deadline or over the winter. G's won't pay him what other teams will.

G's will be fine as long as the pitching pipeline continues.

Agreed; but not sure if the pipeline is flowing as it has. Espino would be great if he can actually pitch. Cantillo could be good, but not sure he's a top 100 prospect.
There's no big breakthrough this year as have been Bieber and Bibee in the past.
One candidate for such a role this year, Jack Leftwich, has a 7 ERA for Akron.

The Guardians’ draft day stories: Soft-serve ice cream, HGTV and playing pepper FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2015, file photo Stanford pitcher Cal Quantrill throws during a workout in Stanford, Calif. Stanford ace and projected first-round draft pick Cal Quantrill just hit the one-year mark from his Tommy John elbow surgery and hopes to be facing live hitting within a couple of weeks and perhaps get into games sometime later next month. The most encouraging sign that his comeback is on track: The junior right-hander is pain free after each bullpen he throws. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
By Zack Meisel
6h ago

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CLEVELAND — When the Guardians called Tanner Bibee on draft day in 2021, Bibee’s agent told him, “even if it’s a discount, take it.” He did.

Josh Bell penned a letter to teams in 2011 asking them not to draft him because he was set on attending the University of Texas. And then he signed with the Pirates, who had selected him anyway, with the first pick in the second round, four spots ahead of Guardians teammate Cam Gallagher.

The Naylor family gathered in Cleveland on Sunday evening to watch the draft. In 2015, the Marlins chose Josh Naylor with the 12th pick in the first round. In 2018, the Indians chose Bo Naylor with the 29th pick in the first round. On Sunday night, the A’s drafted Myles Naylor with the No. 39 pick.

Bo said it’s easy to get lost “in that thought of the trilogy,” but added they’ve mastered the art of tempering expectations. It’s incredible enough that Bo and Josh wound up in the same organization.

“At the end of the day,” Bo said, “you have to go in with a free mind, no expectations and just be grateful for any opportunity.”

Every player has a draft story. Here’s a collection from the Guardians clubhouse.
Will Brennan, OF

Selected by Cleveland in the eighth round of the 2019 draft out of Kansas State University
Will Brennan pitches for Kansas State in 2019. (Colin E. Braley / Associated Press)

Will Brennan describes it as “the most stressful, exciting day.” He was sitting on the couch, watching “Fixer Upper,” the HGTV house-flipping series, with his mom. He had his iPad beside him, tuned to draft coverage.

“You have your agent and scouts calling you, ‘Yeah, I think we’re gonna take you here,’” Brennan said. “But it’s all kind of BS. You don’t really know until you know.”

Brennan planned to sign “no matter what,” as he had only two classes remaining to graduate from Kansas State that summer.

“It was a no-brainer for me,” he said.

In the middle of the episode, he received the call. He turned off the TV and spread the word.

“I was either going to love that show afterwards or I was going to hate it,” Brennan said. “I’m glad I got picked, so now I can enjoy it.”
Tim Herrin, RP

Selected by Cleveland in the 29th round of the 2018 draft out of Indiana University

Two players drafted 883rd overall have reached the majors: Tim Herrin and fellow reliever Mike Koplove (who pitched for Cleveland, briefly, in 2007). Herrin was set on leaving Indiana after his junior year, as long as he went in the first 20 or so rounds.

Well, Cleveland snagged him in the 29th, a round that doesn’t even exist anymore. But when a player actually confronts that decision, it can be more difficult to resist the temptation to begin the professional journey.

“It’s a surreal thing,” Herrin said. “You see your name. I wasn’t guaranteed to be drafted. I wasn’t guaranteed to be drafted my senior year, either. I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Sam Hentges, RP

Selected by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2014 draft out of Mounds View High (Minn.)

Sam Hentges was removing a soft-serve ice cream machine from the back of his mom’s car at the family home in suburban Minneapolis when Cleveland chose him in the fourth round. His dad rushed out the front door to share the news.

Hentges had heard rumblings he could fall into the third- to fifth-round range, and Cleveland had exhibited the most interest. But once the third round passed and the Indians instead tabbed Bobby Bradley, Hentges went on with his day, and that meant preparing for his high school graduation party that was scheduled for the following afternoon.

The left-hander had committed to the University of Arkansas, and he said he’d recommend college to most kids drafted in the middle rounds, but he opted to sign for a $700,000 bonus.

“I wouldn’t change anything,” Hentges said, “but I didn’t know what I was getting myself into it. It forces you to grow up really quick. I didn’t really know a ton about the whole process. Even after I was drafted, it was still a decision I had to make with my family.”
Cal Quantrill, SP

Selected by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 2013 draft out of Trinity College School; selected by the Padres in the first round (No. 8 overall) of the 2016 draft out of Stanford University

Cal Quantrill acknowledges he wasn’t ready for professional ball when he was drafted out of Trinity boarding school in Port Hope, Ontario. By the time he completed his junior year at Stanford, that sentiment had changed, and he figured he was destined to be selected in the first half of the first round.

“That doesn’t change how excited I was when the call came,” he said. “It’s a lot of work and every kid who gets drafted should be extremely proud. Getting drafted alone, you’re in the 1 percent.”

Quantrill lived with a handful of other draft prospects, including Tommy Edman (Cardinals) and Chris Viall (Mets). The group held a draft party at a bar near campus, and Quantrill particularly appreciated Edman attending the function, even though he was projected to be drafted early on Day 2.

“You should really revel in those days and enjoy them,” Quantrill said, “and then let it all go and know you’re starting at the bottom again. It’s a weird rollercoaster.”

Quantrill’s dad, Paul, was a sixth-round pick of the Red Sox in 1989, so Quantrill had plenty of guidance throughout the process.

“A lot of kids have come to me and I try to tell them the same thing every time,” Quantrill said. “You just lay out what you want from baseball. If a team is going to invest a top-three pick in you and give you ample opportunity and it’s something you’re ready to do, or if school doesn’t interest you, then, yeah, sign. That being said, the school route, especially now, is a way to extend the runway. If you’re as good as you think you are at 17, imagine how good you can be at 20. But, it’s really a personal decision. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way.”
Triston McKenzie, SP

Selected by Cleveland in the first round (42nd overall) of the 2015 draft out of Royal Palm Beach Community High (Fla.)

Triston McKenzie was only 17 years when he was confronted with perhaps the most pivotal choice of his life, to that point. Cleveland selected him with the final pick of the first round and offered him a $2.3 million signing bonus. That was enticing for a kid who otherwise was bound for Vanderbilt, where his younger brother, T.J., spent the past four years.

McKenzie watched the draft from his living room, with his parents, brother, his coach and his coach’s wife. McKenzie took a call in the kitchen from Cleveland scout Juan Alvarez, who congratulated him. McKenzie had no idea what he was talking about … until he heard screams from the living room.

“Ohhh,” McKenzie said on the phone, before thanking Alvarez.

Three weeks later — and about a month before his 18th birthday — McKenzie signed.

“It’s a life-changing decision, regardless of if you decide to sign or you don’t,” McKenzie said. “It’s a crazy position to be in as a 17- or 18-year-old or even a 21- or 22-year-old.”

Rigo Beltrán, bullpen coach

Selected by St. Louis in the 26th round of the 1991 draft out of the University of Wyoming

Rigo Beltrán wanted to play in college, but he didn’t have any offers. So, he enrolled at San Diego State, with a long-shot hope of becoming a walk-on. Five days before the start of his first semester, a coach called him and insisted that, even as a walk-on, he wouldn’t earn playing time, and convinced him to attend junior college. Beltrán dropped out of San Diego State, spent two years at junior college and then transferred to Wyoming, where he developed into a second-team All-American first baseman in his senior year.

Ahead of the 1991 draft, the Giants and Reds had inquired about whether he preferred first base or pitching. He never heard from the Cardinals. When the draft arrived, Beltrán didn’t hear from any team.

“I was like, ‘Holy cow, I guess I didn’t get drafted,’” Beltrán said.

About five days after the draft wrapped, a scout from the Cardinals called and told him to stow his first baseman glove in storage. They had selected him in the 26th round as a pitcher.

“I just wanted an opportunity to play pro ball,” Beltrán said. “I said I’d give myself a couple years. If I still had a future in it, I’d stick with it. And if I didn’t, I’d go back to school and get my degree.”

Beltrán debuted with St. Louis six years later and ended up making 78 appearances in his major-league career.
Terry Francona, manager

Selected by the Cubs in the second round of the 1977 draft out of New Brighton (Pa.) High; selected by the Expos in the first round (No. 22 overall) of the 1980 draft out of the University of Arizona
Terry Francona in 1982, his second year in the big leagues. (Ronald C. Modra / Getty Images)

The Cubs tried first.

Terry Francona had dislocated his shoulder during his senior year of high school. Cubs general manager Bob Kennedy visited the Franconas before the draft, but stressed he needed to see Francona do some sort of baseball activity.

“So I went out in the backyard and played pepper,” Francona said.

The Cubs drafted Francona in the second round and offered him $18,000. Francona was seeking $40,000. He thought a check for that amount would last him the rest of his life. He also wasn’t a dedicated student, so he preferred to sign.

As the clock ticked toward the deadline, Francona told the Cubs he would honor his scholarship to Arizona, hoping it would compel them to up their offer.

They did — to $19,000. Francona went to class.

At the end of his junior year, when Francona won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best player and Arizona won the College World Series, the Expos selected him in the first round. Francona’s dad, Tito, had taken out money from his pension so he and his wife could travel to Omaha to watch Arizona vie for the national title and be with their son on draft day.

John McHale was Montreal’s general manager. It was time to cash in.

In late 1958, with Terry due the following April, Tito, then with the Tigers, asked Detroit’s GM for a $500 raise. That GM was McHale, who denied the request. The Tigers traded Tito to Cleveland for Larry Doby in March 1959. Terry was born a month later.

When the Expos drafted Francona in 1980, Tito reminded McHale of their $500 dispute and told him, “It’s going to cost you a lot more now.”

“I about hit the floor,” Francona said, laughing.
go-deeper

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