Cleveland Guardians Opening Day roster projection 2.0 MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: Gabriel Arias #13 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at loanDepot park on June 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel
Mar 4, 2025


We’re under a month to Opening Day. Which 26 players will the Guardians bring to Kansas City? Here’s the latest forecast.

Catchers (2): Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges

Others in camp: Jake Anchia, Kody Huff, Cooper Ingle, Dom Nuñez

No surprises here. The Guardians are bullish on a Naylor breakout at the plate, and Hedges is his backup. After that, well, Nuñez would be the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option; he assisted the club during the playoffs last season as an extra body to catch bullpen sessions. The organization is high on its minor-league catching depth, especially relative to where it stood a few years ago. Ingle has a promising bat, Huff is well-regarded defensively and they’re excited to watch Jacob Cozart, their second-round pick last summer out of North Carolina State.

A lot is riding this year, though, on Naylor rediscovering the bat that tormented opposing pitchers for the last six weeks of the 2023 season.

Infielders (7): José Ramírez, Brayan Rocchio, Gabriel Arias, Tyler Freeman, Carlos Santana, Kyle Manzardo, Daniel Schneemann

Others in camp: Juan Brito, Dayan Frias, David Fry, Angel Martínez, Micah Pries, Milan Tolentino, Yordys Valdes, Kahlil Watson, Will Wilson

First base, shortstop, third base and designated hitter are set, more or less. But there’s a crowd vying for the second-base gig, and at least one, and probably two of those who don’t win the job will win roster spots anyway. We’ll go, for now, with Arias as the Opening Day second baseman, and that’ll mean Brito opens the year in Columbus until the Guardians can find him regular playing time at the big-league level. Freeman’s versatility earns him a spot, and here’s guessing the club opts for Schneemann so Martínez can play every day at Triple A, rather than waste away on the major-league bench.

Not only might this second base/utility player(s) arrangement change by the opener, but it could very well reshuffle several times during the season, perhaps paving the way for Brito or, late this summer, top prospect Travis Bazzana.

Outfielders (4): Steven Kwan, Lane Thomas, Will Brennan, Jhonkensy Noel

Others in camp: Chase DeLauter, Petey Halpin, Johnathan Rodriguez, George Valera

Since all of the second-base candidates can shift to the outfield, this is rather simple. Kwan and Thomas will occupy left and center, respectively. Brennan and Noel figure to split right-field duties, unless someone can crash the party. DeLauter’s delayed start to spring action makes it unlikely he breaks camp with the club. If he stays healthy, DeLauter is primed for a big-league audition, but the first word of this sentence is awfully important.

If the club needs a right-handed stick at some point, Rodriguez is ready for a look. If the club needs a left-handed stick at some point, Valera could be an option.

Starting pitchers (5): Tanner Bibee, Luis Ortiz, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, Triston McKenzie

Others in camp: Kolby Allard, Logan Allen, Shane Bieber, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, Will Dion, Daniel Espino, John Means, Doug Nikhazy, Vince Velasquez, Ryan Webb

Don’t just look at spring training statistics. Don’t just look at spring training statistics. Don’t just look at spr—

OK, the starting pitching performances have been, uh, a bit shaky thus far. But it’s always more about those spring clichés — how the ball is coming out of a pitcher’s hand, whether they’re attacking the zone and repeating their delivery, if they’re putting in the work each and every day — than stats from a handful of innings of work.

The Guardians have a lot of different scenarios to consider. For instance, Lively and McKenzie are out of minor-league options. They won’t be going to Triple-A Columbus; it’s either the rotation, the bullpen or another team for them. Velasquez and Allard, as veteran non-roster invitees, have opt-out clauses and some authority over where they wind up.

McKenzie’s last outing — in which he walked five and recorded only two outs — offered a vivid reminder of his struggles from last season. Would a trip to the bullpen to begin the season help him? That could open a spot for Allen or Cecconi or one of the veterans. There’s still time for the starters to round into form, but the ultimate Opening Day setup could remain a question mark for a few weeks, especially since there’s a bit of unrest in the bullpen.

Relievers (8): Emmanuel Clase, Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin, Cade Smith, Paul Sewald, Andrew Walters, Jakob Junis, Kolby Allard

Others in camp: Franco Aleman, Tanner Burns, Nic Enright, Luis Frías, Bradley Hanner, Sam Hentges, Mason Hickman, Zak Kent, Jack Leftwich, Andrew Misiaszek, Parker Mushinski, Erik Sabrowski, Trevor Stephan

Several things can be true at once about this group. One, Cleveland’s bullpen has a shot to repeat as the most proficient bullpen in the league. Two, there’s undoubtedly some regression on the horizon; can all of Clase, Smith, Gaddis and Herrin post sub-2.00 ERAs again? Seems impossible. Three, there’s plenty of depth to compensate for some of that regression, even after the team traded Nick Sandlin and Eli Morgan and cut ties with Pedro Avila. Four, that depth is looking a bit shaky at the moment, thanks to a rash of injuries.

They’re taking extra care with Sabrowski, who completed his first full season in 2024 following a pair of Tommy John surgeries. Hentges is out for the year following shoulder surgery. Aleman will miss the start of the season because of surgery to repair a hernia. Enright is dealing with a lat strain. Stephan is working his way back from elbow surgery.

So, we’ll go with Allard, presuming the Guardians want a second left-hander on the staff in addition to Herrin. But they also could spin the reliever roulette wheel and go with Mushinski.

Guardians Prospective
@CleGuardPro
Cleveland #Guardians give an update on top OF prospect Chase DeLauter and while it's not his foot or hamstring its still not good. DeLauter injured 2/28/25 will undergo surgery for a sports hernia and miss 6-12 weeks.

Tough part is he was finally healthy entering spring training up until the injury. Hopefully it will be closer to six weeks than 12.

Chase DeLauter Undergoes Core Muscle Surgery
By Darragh McDonald | March 4, 2025 at 1:25pm CDT

The Guardians announced that outfield prospect Chase DeLauter underwent surgery to address a core muscle/sports hernia injury this morning. As part of the announcement, the club relayed that similar cases have required players about eight to twelve weeks to return to play.

DeLauter, 23, is one of the club’s top prospects. The 16th overall pick from the 2022 draft, he has 406 minor league plate appearances under his belt thus far, having hit .317/.387/.517 in those for a 147 wRC+.

He isn’t yet on the club’s 40-man roster but he came into camp as a non-roster invitee. That technically put him in the competition for an Opening Day job, though that was always going to be a bit of a long shot. While he’s had strong results in terms of quality, injuries have stood in the way of quantity.

He was once projected as a potential top ten pick in the draft but a foot injury created some concern and caused him to fall to 16th. Recurring foot injuries have held him back since then, with DeLauter getting into just 57 minor league games in 2023 and 39 games in 2024.

Though his numbers have been good and he does have six Triple-A games on his track record already, the Guardians were likely planning to have him get more reps in a minor league environment to start 2025. That plan will now have to be delayed, as DeLauter should be on the shelf into May or June.

Given that injuries have already prevented him from building a notable workload, it’s less than ideal that this season is starting with yet another setback. Though if DeLauter is able to return in eight to twelve weeks, he would still have time to set a new career high in terms of games played in a professional season.

Once he gets healthy and into form, there could be a path to big league playing time in the Cleveland outfield. Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas should have left and center field spoken for, respectively, though Thomas is an impending free agent after 2025. Right field, DeLauter’s likely future position, will be handled by some combination of Will Brennan, Jhonkensy Noel and Johnathan Rodríguez. Both Noel and Rodríguez just debuted in the majors last year. Brennan has a bit more experience but with subpar offense and questionable defense.

In the long run, the Guards are surely still hoping for DeLauter to take up a job in that outfield mix, though he will ideally show some extended health at some point. For now, it’s yet another roadblock but hopefully one he can overcome in a few weeks/months. Even if he doesn’t push for a major league debut during the 2025 season, he’ll need to be added to the 40-man in December to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.

Offseason In Review: Cleveland Guardians

By Steve Adams | March 5, 2025 at 4:35pm CDT

The Guardians kept their longtime ace but traded their everyday first baseman ahead of his final season of club control. Their offseason featured a blend of creative trades to trim payroll and acquire controllable talent, plus some short-term spending on veterans to replace some of the big leaguers they traded away. It was a vintage Cleveland offseason that should keep them in the mix in what'll be a tightly contested AL Central.

Major League Signings

Shane Bieber, RHP: Two years, $26MM (opt-out after 2025 season)
Carlos Santana, 1B: One year, $12MM
Paul Sewald, RHP: One year, $7MM (includes buyout on 2026 mutual option)
Jakob Junis, RHP: One year, $4.5MM
Austin Hedges, C: One year, $4MM
John Means, LHP: One year, $1MM (club has $6MM option for 2026, no buyout)
2025 spending: $37.5MM
Total spending: $54.5MM

Option Decisions

None

Trades and Waiver Claims

Acquired RHP Slade Cecconi and Competitive Balance Draft Pick (Round B) from D-backs in exchange for 1B Josh Naylor
Acquired 1B Spencer Horwitz and OF Nick Mitchell from Blue Jays in exchange for 2B Andres Gimenez and RHP Nick Sandlin
Acquired RHP Luis Ortiz, LHP Josh Hartle and LHP Michael Kennedy from Pirates in exchange for 1B Spencer Horwitz
Traded RHP Eli Morgan to Cubs in exchange for OF Alfonsin Rosario
Traded RHP Peter Strzelecki to Pirates in exchange for cash
Traded OF Myles Straw to Blue Jays in exchange for PTBNL

Notable Minor League Signings

Vince Velasquez, Kolby Allard, Parker Mushinski, George Valera (re-signed), Luis Frias, Riley Pint, Dom Nunez

Extensions

None

Notable Losses

Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez, Matthew Boyd, Alex Cobb, Nick Sandlin, Eli Morgan, Myles Straw, Peter Strzelecki, James Karinchak (non-tendered), Pedro Avila (outrighted, elected free agency)

The Guardians entered the 2024-25 offseason looking to bolster a roster that made an unexpected run to the American League Championship Series. Cleveland faced decisions on some players with dwindling club control and, as is always the case, some notable payroll limitations. In a departure from most offseasons, however, the Guards found themselves in an unfamiliar position: needing to acquire starting pitching.

Cleveland has emerged as one of the industry leaders in maximizing its rotation output. At times, it feels as though they have an almost magical ability to produce quality starting pitchers out of thin air. In fact, when the Guardians signed righty Ben Lively to a one-year, $800K deal in the 2023-24 offseason, it was the first time they'd signed any free agent starter to a major league contract since inking Gavin Floyd back in 2014. Midway through the 2024 season, they did so again, signing Matthew Boyd to a major league contract.

Both moves worked out splendidly. Boyd started eight games down the stretch and produced a sub-3.00 ERA. Lively finished second on the club with 151 innings and notched a 3.81 ERA and stuck with the club as an arbitration-eligible player. He'll be back in the 2025 rotation. Boyd, however, hit free agency and did so alongside former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber and trade deadline acquisition Alex Cobb.

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I would not expect to see McKenzie in the rotation although I wish i could forecast that. His second start was miserable, no command at all.
Logan Allen has pitched well and he did have a good 2023 we can hope will be his level of performance this year.

In the bullpen, Junis would be expected, but he has not yet pitched. I have to assume there is an unannounced "setback".
Andrew Walters pitched one terrible inning and has not appeared again.
Nikhazy has received positive comments from pitching coach and could be a useful 2nd Lefty in the pen until Sabrowksi returns [please note that the latter has never pitched anywhere near a full healthy season]
Cecconi has been as bad as expected but since he's out of minor league options they could put him on the roster and hope something positive develops. Tried the same ploy with Florial last year and cut him after a month or two of continued failure.

civ - I don't think Cecconi is out of options?

Out of options:
Gabriel Arias, IF/OF
Sam Hentges, RP
Ben Lively, SP
Triston McKenzie, SP

Guardians musings at spring training’s midpoint: Gavin Williams, Steven Kwan and more CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on in the first inning against the New York Yankees during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel



A batch of thoughts on the Guardians as we reach the midpoint of spring training …

The hot take I’m ready to back is …

… Gavin Williams will be the ace of the staff in 2025, and not because Tanner Bibee regresses. (Writer’s note: This entry was written before Williams overpowered the Angels in his second spring start on Tuesday, so the take is even more daring, or something like that.) He had a weird 2024 season. He was injured. His stuff wasn’t sharp when he returned. He threw a new cutter thingy that sometimes resembled his slider, but harder. He had a winter to study what worked and what didn’t, and now it’s time for him to unleash the talent of a Kilimanjaro-sized pitcher who was a first-round pick, a top prospect and a ravishing rookie.

The position battle I can’t stop thinking about is …

… second base. It’s not just about who ultimately wins the starting gig, but who else deserves playing time? Let’s say Gabriel Arias wins the job. Does he start at second base seven days a week? Does Tyler Freeman shuffle into the lineup on occasion? How long of a leash does Arias have? How well does Juan Brito need to play in Triple A (if he starts there) to earn a big-league look? Where does Angel Martínez fit? Can Travis Bazzana eventually force his way into the conversation this summer? There’s room for two utility players on the Opening Day roster, so what is a crowded competition might not be simplified for a while. But the Guardians sure wish someone would win the job, rather than someone be anointed the starter by default.

The guy who’s already changing my opinion of him is …

… Brayan Rocchio. The Guardians are banking on his emergence in a continuation of the confident, patient shortstop who smacked singles and doubles to the gaps in October. He looks like the same player this spring, the one who had some prospect evaluators salivating a couple years ago. In 2023, The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked Rocchio the No. 22 prospect in baseball and wrote: “I still see All-Star upside here, a shortstop who saves a few runs a year with his glove and adds a ton more with .280-.300 averages, adequate walk rates and 15-20 homers a year.” Rocchio approaching that description doesn’t seem impossible.

The injury that’s just such a bummer is …

… Chase DeLauter’s sports hernia surgery, which could keep him out eight to 12 weeks. When the best news is, “Well, at least it wasn’t his [insert oft-pained body part],” that’s a troubling sign. DeLauter has appeared in only 96 games since the Guardians selected him in the first round in the 2022 draft. He could have been vying for an early-season opportunity in right field. Instead, he’ll again play catch-up. They need him to prove he can stay on the field before they print his name in ink on the outfield depth chart.

The guy I want to see more of, but I’m not sure how he fits is …

… Johnathan Rodriguez. If only he were a lefty who could mash righties, instead of the other way around. As it stands, to earn an extended look, he probably needs Jhonkensy Noel to falter or Carlos Santana or Kyle Manzardo to suffer an injury. And that’s before David Fry returns from elbow surgery and steals some DH at-bats.

The guy with vomit-inducing spring numbers that don’t bother me one bit is …

… Luis Ortiz. Sure, you’d love to see pitchers, well, not surrender seven runs on nine hits in their first four innings of spring action, but Ortiz looked much better in his second start and, really, there’s nothing here worth worrying about unless he’s still getting walloped in two months. Ortiz throws a slew of hard stuff that darts in different directions — a four-seamer, a sinker, a cutter and a slider — and he’s aiming to build off a breakout season. Now he’s working with a coaching group that tends to squeeze the most out of its pitchers. In time, it’s a union that should prosper.

The roster battle I’m most confused by is …

… the No. 5 starter spot. Logan Allen has looked sharp thus far. Triston McKenzie looked sharp in his first outing, and then walked five and recorded only two outs in his next. Kolby Allard and Vince Velasquez are in camp on non-roster deals. Would they accept assignments to Triple A? Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi are in that awkward phase of still needing some development but also needing to face big-league hitters. It’s possible one of these pitchers winds up in the Opening Day bullpen. There’s a lot to sort out, and we’re a long way from achieving clarity, though history tells us the Guardians will need most or all of these starters at some point in 2025.

The crazy thought I’m pondering is …

… whether Steven Kwan could be a top-five MVP finisher. We agree he could hit .300, right? He’s never not won a Gold Glove Award. He can swipe some bases. And last year, he leveraged his greatest asset — “shorter limbs,” he said — to yank more inside fastballs into the seats. He might have hit 20 homers if he didn’t miss 40 games because of injuries.

So, that’s a well-rounded player who could sit near the top of the WAR leaderboard, a place many MVP voters look when mulling their ballots. There’s plenty of competition — this league also hosts Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson and José Ramírez, after all — but there are ingredients here for Kwan to establish himself as one of the league’s better players. And, no, his spring stats don’t mean a thing, but they are a nice reminder that Kwan is a safe bet to rack up hits in the Cactus League, the American League, interleague or 20,000 leagues under the sea.

Two hitters who look great through rose-colored, spring training glasses are …

… Lane Thomas and Kyle Manzardo. (Wow, what a reach, two guys who figure to bat in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup). The Guardians need both to boom in 2025. Thomas is in a contract year, and a guy with his skills — power, speed, better swing decisions in recent years — could be worth a Brinks truckload if he can put it all together. Manzardo controls his own destiny from a playing time standpoint. His bat could make him indispensable. After breaking through as a rookie last year, he said being in camp as a sophomore is “a lot more chill,” which is precisely what you’d expect to hear from a mustached masher. Manzardo and Thomas were two key contributors in October and they’re off to an encouraging start this spring.

The unheralded player I can’t wait to watch more of is …

… Doug Nikhazy. The Guardians might have enough starting pitching depth at Triple A to consider shifting someone to the big-league bullpen, and if the club needs a lefty to pair with Tim Herrin, perhaps Nikhazy might fit. It helps that he can shuttle between Cleveland and Columbus. The longstanding knock against him was his command, but he trimmed his walk percentage to 10.8% last year from 15.4% in 2023. He also posted a 2.98 ERA and limited hitters to a .192 average, and the Guardians rewarded Nikhazy for his efforts by inviting him to Progressive Field to throw to Guardians hitters as they awaited the ALDS. “That was important to me,” he said, and he added that he doesn’t feel like he’s out of place in the big-league clubhouse this spring. He doesn’t seem out of place on the mound, either, as he’s logged four hitless innings.

Chase DeLauter’s sports hernia surgery, which could keep him out eight to 12 weeks.

Since last year's big toe sprain kept him out from May 29 through July 26, I would awfully surprised if he's back anywhere near the short end of the 8-12 prediction.
4th of July perhaps? And then what happens?
DeLauter does have a chance to be the first mutliyear Arizona Fall League All Star

Ex-outfielder Naquin back with Guardians as pitcher

3:49 PM CST

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Tyler Naquin is back in the Guardians organization, and he is going to try his hand (and arm) at a new position. The 33-year-old has signed a Minor League deal with Cleveland, and he will report to Minor League camp as a pitcher.

Naquin played eight seasons in the Majors as an outfielder, including a five-year run with Cleveland (2016-20). He also had stints with the Reds (‘21-22), Mets (’22), and White Sox (’23).

While Naquin (whom Cleveland drafted 15th overall in the 2012 MLB Draft) has not pitched in the Majors or Minors, he has a big arm and has recorded 32 career outfield assists, including an American League-leading nine in 2019. He has consistently ranked among the league leaders in arm strength among outfielders.

Here is where he ranked in recent seasons, among outfielders who made at least 50 throws:

2020: 93.0 mph average (fourth); 96.7 mph max
2021: 92.6 mph average (tied for ninth); 98.3 mph max
2022: 92.8 mph average (tied for 22nd); 95.6 mph max

Naquin’s arm strength averaged 91.8 mph in 2023, although he only made nine throws during a five-game stint in the Majors with Chicago.

The Guardians have some experience with position players who made the transition to the mound. Anthony Gose made 31 appearances for Cleveland from 2021-24, including three last season. Gose debuted as a pitcher in 2017 with High-A Lakeland, a Tigers affiliate, after he played in 372 games from 2012-16 with Toronto and Detroit as a position player.

Naquin will attempt to make a similar transition, after appearing in 562 games as a position player.

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Who are three outliers that could add pop to Guardians’ offense? Hey, Hoynsie!

Updated: Mar. 08, 2025, 10:26 a.m.|Published: Mar. 08, 2025, 6:35 a.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Do you have a question about the Guardians that you’d like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? You can subscribe to Subtext here, text Hoynsie at 216-208-4346 for a two-week free trial or email him at phoynes@cleveland.com.

Hey, Hoynsie: We know what Steven Kwan, Lane Thomas, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana can do at the plate. Are there any other players that you expect to make an impact this season? — Chuck, Chagrin Falls.

Hey, Chuck: I’ll give you three names — Kyle Manzardo, Bo Naylor and Will Brennan. Manzardo and Naylor showed power last year, but they need consistency. Brennan makes a lot of contact, but it would be nice if he added some damage to that.

If the Guardians are going to have a good offense, those three are going to have to be productive.

Hey, Hoynsie: I haven’t read much about Triston McKenzie since his first two appearances in spring training. Is he going to get other chances now that Logan Allen and other pitchers are doing well in camp? — Jim Brazdil, Leland, North Carolina.

Hey, Jim: Yes, he is.

McKenzie pitched in a minor league game Wednesday when the Guardians had an off day. He’ll also start Monday against the Cubs on a split-squad day for Cleveland.

Hey, Hoynsie: When should we expect to see Jakob Junis pitch in a Cactus League game? — Greg, North Canton.

Hey, Greg: Junis, who signed with Cleveland in mid-February, missed time in camp because he was sick. He threw a simulated game on Wednesday during the team’s off-day. Bench coach Craig Albernaz, filling in for manager Stephen Vogt, who is out with the flu, said Junis is expected to start pitching in games during the upcoming week.

Hey, Hoynsie: What do you think of the Guardians' conditioning team? I really think it’s odd for such young players to have so many frequent physical problems. Am I wrong? — Colleen, Cleveland.

Hey, Colleen: The one thing you can bank on in spring training is that a player or players are going to get hurt. I think the Guardians' trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and rehab coaches do a great job.

Why else would players such as Shane Bieber, Matthew Boyd and James Means elect to sign here as free agents to continue their rehab from Tommy John surgery?

Hey, Hoynsie: There are a lot of players not in big league camp that play in spring training games. I would think this would be a huge thrill for a guy. Why can’t teams at least make sure they get their name on the back of their jersey in case this is their only brush with the big leagues? — Scott Sullivan, Erieau, Ontario.

Hey, Scott: I’m not sure about other teams, but when the Guardians bring a minor leaguer to big league camp for a game, they have their name and number on the back of their jersey. The only difference is that the players' names are in white letters. Players on the 40-man roster have their names in multicolored letters.

Hey, Hoynsie: With Travis Bazzana starting at DH Friday against Oakland, does that mean he’s no longer assigned to depth camp? Does it mean the Guardians are considering him opening the season on the 26-man roster? — Tim Johnson, Rockville, Indiana.

Hey, Tim: I’d say no and no. The Guardians were on the road Friday, and Bazzana was on the travel roster, starting at DH. It was his first Cactus League start, but it doesn’t mean he’s been invited to big league camp. The Guardians did the same thing with Chase DeLauter last spring.

The second base job is still wide open, but I can’t see the Guardians giving it to Bazzana on opening day when he hasn’t played above Class A ball.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think left-hander Doug Nikhazy will leave Goodyear in the starting rotation come Opening Day on March 27? — Jim Harris, Newark.

Hey, Jim: Nikhazy is certainly pitching like it, and the rotation is far from settled. Pitching coach Carl Willis even talked about him possibly opening the season in the bullpen with lefty Erik Sabrowski nursing a sore left hamstring.

For me, unless he makes the rotation, I’d like to see him start at Triple-A Columbus so he can take his regular turn as a starter and be ready for when the Guardians need him during the season.

Hey, Hoynsie: In case of an injury or a late-inning managerial move, could Carlos Santana go behind the plate for an inning or two? — Jim Clymer, Bonita Springs, Florida.

Hey, Jim: It would have to be an extreme emergency. Even then, I don’t think manager Stephen Vogt would ask Santana to catch.

He hasn’t caught in the big leagues since 2014. Having a versatile third catcher like the Guardians had last year in David Fry is a luxury. The fact that Fry won’t be able to catch this season really limits the moves Vogt loved to make last year.

Hey, Hoynsie: In the first inning of last Saturday’s game, Joey Cantillo was removed. But at the start of the second inning, he was back on the mound. What gives? — Arnie Berger, Shaker Square.

Hey, Arnie: In spring training, teams can use the re-entry rule with their pitchers. If a pitcher is struggling in one inning but still needs to get his pitch count up, he can be relieved and then come back into the game the next inning.

The rule protects pitchers from throwing too many pitches in one inning when their arms might not be ready to do so.


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Guardians’ Senior VP Of Public Affairs Is Impressed With Star Pitcher’s Recovery

March 8, 2025

By Andres Chavez

Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery about 11 months ago.

Most pitchers return from the procedure in the 14-16 month range.

Bieber is not like most pitchers, though.

He is one of the most disciplined and driven athletes you will find in MLB.

Yes, he was bummed when he learned he had to go under the knife last year, but he mentally recovered, completed every step of his rehab, and is now looking at a first-half return.

In other words, he might be ahead of schedule, even if the organization won’t use that exact phrase to avoid generating unfair expectations.

Cleveland sportscaster Bruce Drennan was discussing Bieber and his road back to full health with Guardians Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio on his show.

DiBiasio couldn’t help but feel excited about the pitcher’s attitude and demeanor.

The ace is conducting himself like a man who knows he will be back soon where he belongs.

“He is a man that is no slumped shoulders, he’s not sulking. He’s upright, and confident.” Bob DiBiasio,” the Drennan posted on X about Bieber.

It’s hard not to feel excitement about Bieber’s pending return when he looked so good before going down with the injury in March and April of 2024.

He struck out 20 hitters and didn’t allow a single run in 12 innings of work.

Bieber is already throwing bullpens and could soon advance in his recovery.

He still has steps to clear but is looking likely to be back before June.


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