Guardians Get Big Update On Hunter Gaddis

March 9, 2026

By Mike Battaglino

The Cleveland Guardians entered spring training with some questions, but one area of the team seemed to be in very good shape. While jobs were up for grabs in the outfield and in the starting rotation, the bullpen looked to be pretty much set.

Relief pitching turned out to be one of the few places where the Guardians added pieces during the offseason. The newcomers were expected to complement returning closer Cade Smith and top setup man Hunter Gaddis.

Unfortunately, that is where the Guardians have had their most trouble with injuries this spring, as both Smith and Gaddis experienced setbacks that kept them off the mound.

While Smith recently returned to action, Gaddis remains sidelined, but the Guardians recently received a big update on the latter, and he has not been ruled out for Opening Day.

“Guardians manager Stephen Vogt says Hunter Gaddis is back in the building in Goodyear to resume his normal throwing program, and anticipates him getting [on] the mound here in the coming days. As for his Opening Day status, Vogt says the team needs to see how he progresses,” Mason Horodyski wrote on X.

Following his spring debut on Feb. 27, Gaddis felt tightness in his forearm. An MRI did not reveal any structural damage, which was very good news, so the right-hander has been recovering via rest.

Losing him for any length of time during the regular season would be significant, as Smith takes over as the full-time closer for the first time. Gaddis has 68 holds over the past two seasons, which is the most in MLB.

Last season, which was his fourth in the majors, Gaddis had 35 holds in 73 appearances. That was particularly important as Cleveland’s bullpen roles changed following the loss of All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase to an MLB gambling investigation.

Smith proved he was more than capable as Clase’s replacement, posting a 6-1 record with 13 saves over the final two months of the season. He suffered from a stiff neck early in this spring training and did not appear in a game until March 5. Fortunately, he looked just fine, retiring the side on just nine pitches in one inning of work against the Chicago White Sox.

Even though the Guardians still look to be fine with regard to their relief pitching, the sooner they know Gaddis will be back, the better.

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Guardians Announce 2 Roster Moves

March 9, 2026

By Mike Battaglino

The Cleveland Guardians have a wealth of prospects who will make their mark in the major leagues. Some will do so as soon as this Opening Day, while others will have to wait their turn with more development in the minor leagues.

With outfielders Chase DeLauter and George Valera about to play their first full MLB seasons, and infielder Travis Bazzana likely not too far behind, the Guardians have significant young players on the horizon. Others who play similar positions will be arriving someday, just maybe not in 2026.

At spring training, the Guardians announced two roster moves, with infielder Angel Genao and outfielder Khalil Watson being optioned back to the minors.

“Guardians manager Stephen Vogt tells media today that the team has optioned Angel Genao and Khalil Watson,” Mason Horodyski wrote on X.

Cleveland has been noted for its patience with their prospects, and in this case, the organization might benefit again. According to MLB.com, Genao is its No. 3 overall prospect, behind Bazzana and DeLauter, and No. 66 in all of baseball.

Watson is the Guardians’ No. 15 prospect, but that ranking does not take into account his excellent spring training this year. He was batting .429 and earned raves from manager Stephen Vogt during his eight-game stint.

The 22-year-old converted infielder was once considered a possible No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, so his potential has always been evident. He played 43 games at Triple-A Columbus last season and should begin this season there.

Genao had a .250 spring batting average in his nine games played. The 21-year-old reached Double-A last season and could join Watson in Columbus, where he may form a double play combination at shortstop with Bazzana at second base.

The moves will allow Vogt to give more playing time to other players truly competing for the Opening Day roster. The final outfield spots are of particular interest, with Nolan Jones’ ongoing struggles at the plate potentially creating an opening for Johnathan Rodriguez to stick with the team.


Meanwhile, the middle infield looks to be set with Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio likely to man those positions, with valuable utility player Daniel Schneeman and prospect Juan Brito also available.

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Guardians' Rhys Hoskins signing is perfect counter to 1-2 punch in Tigers' rotation

By Scott Fenwick

11 hours ago

Earlier this offseason the Tigers signed starting pitcher Framber Valdez to a three-year deal right around the same time they let the baseball world know they weren't going to be trading Tarik Skubal.

Assuming they stay true to their word and keep Skubal, not only will they have one of the best 1-2 punches at the top of their rotation, but it'll also mean they're going to have a 1-2 punch made up of two left-handed pitchers.

The Guardians line had been incredibly left-handed heavy in recent years and it was clear they needed to make some kind of response to counter Detroit's move. That response may have happened earlier this spring when they brought in Rhys Hoskins on a minor league deal. Is the response enough?

Rhys Hoskins can provide the Guardians with a ton of benefits in 2026

What the contract means

Do not be fooled by the fact Hoskins signed a minor league deal; it would be shocking if he's not on the Guardians' Opening Day roster.

The contract is set up to pay him $1.5 million if he makes the Guardians' big league roster. For a reference point: Carlos Santana's deal with Cleveland paid him $12 million last season. It'll be a lot easier to move on from Hoskins than it was for the Guardians to move on from Santana.

It's time to reframe expectations

If you were to ask the general baseball fan about Hoskins, they'll most likely remember him for his postseason heroics during his time with the Phillies.

But he's done a lot more than that, as he finished every 162-game season from 2018 to 2022 with 25 home runs and 70 RBI.

At his peak, he usually hit around .240 with an on-base percentage around .360. That type of power combined with above average discipline makes him seem like a top-level addition, even if he's been slowed by injuries as of late.

He missed the entire 2023 season after tearing his ACL, and he still had his power when he returned in 2024 but his contact worsened. He struggled with injuries again last season with the Brewers and lost playing time to Andrew Vaughn.

If you're expecting him to be a .250 hitter with 30 homers and 75 RBI, you'll likely be disappointed. But that doesn't mean that he can't be a .230 hitter with 20+ homers with good plate discipline.

That would be a steal for $1.5 million.

Veteran leadership

Alongside the on-field production he will also be a valuable resource for the young guys on the roster. Players like Kyle Manzardo and CJ Kayfus will be able to look to Hoskins for advice on what made his career so successful.

He will be able to bring in a lot of big game experience, as he routinely stepped up in the biggest moments. Although this is not a directly quantifiable attribute, it is a way that he can be a positive help for the team even if he struggles to find his footing on the field.

Roster flexibility

When camp started it felt like one of Johnathan Rodríguez or Stuart Fairchild would be pushed onto the Opening Day roster regardless of what happens in the spring since the roster was so left-handed heavy.

Adding Hoskins makes it easier to start the season with the best players on their roster as opposed having roster balance be a main factor. With that being said, Rodríguez and Fairchild will still have opportunities to break camp with the club.

Hoskins may not have the same impact as he would have had five years ago, but his potential upside exceeds any risk. If he clearly is not ready the Guardians can move on with limited repercussions, but he should provide value for however long he is with the team.

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Guardians latest camp cuts include 3 Top 30 prospects

Gaddis (forearm) throwing; next steps for Bazzana and Fairchild

2:05 PM CDT

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Guardians announced the latest cuts from their big league Spring Training camp on Monday, which included a trio of players on their Top 30 Prospects list.

The Guardians optioned infielder Angel Genao and outfielder Kahlil Watson to Triple-A Columbus, and they reassigned first baseman Ralphy Velazquez, outfielder Wuilfredo Antunez and right-hander Jack Leftwich to Minor League camp. The roster stands at 50 players.

Genao (the Guardians’ No. 3 prospect and No. 66 overall), Velazquez (No. 4, No. 89) and Watson (Cleveland's No. 15 prospect) each were in camp as a non-roster invitees. Each is a member of the Guardians’ 40-man roster, and each made a big impression on the Guardians this spring.

Genao has hit .250 (5-for-20) over nine Cactus League appearances while playing shortstop and third base. The 21-year-old was one of the youngest players in camp but stood out for how he carried himself.

“I was very impressed with Angel,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “I thought his maturity [stood out]. He did a great job with his body. This kid's physical, he's strong. But just the confidence that he exudes when he's playing the infield and at the batter's box, we saw a very mature player out there. It's really exciting for the future of Angel Genao."

Genao was optioned to Columbus, but will likely open the season with Double-A Akron. Last season marked his first stint with the RubberDucks, but he was limited to 77 games after dealing with a right shoulder strain early in the season. The Guardians added him to their 40-man roster in November.

Velazquez was Cleveland's youngest player in big league camp, but the 20-year-old made a big impression for his advanced offensive approach, his work defensively at first base and his ability on the basepaths. He has hit .385 (5-for-13 ) with two doubles over nine games.

The Guardians have a crowded outfield mix this spring, hence Watson's option. But it would not be a surprise if we see the 22-year-old (whom the Guardians also added to their 40-man roster in November) sooner rather than later this season.

Vogt has been effusive in his praise of Watson, who converted from infield to outfield full-time last year and can play all three spots. Watson is 6-for-14 (.429) with two doubles and one triple over eight games this spring.

“Kahlil Watson impressed us just as much as -- if not the most -- out of everybody in camp,” Vogt said. “The growth in the outfield, the advanced approach at the plate. He looks like a big leaguer in the box.

“Just his demeanor, his ability to relate to his teammates, I think we're all really excited about Kahlil Watson's future.”

Gaddis update

Vogt noted that Hunter Gaddis (who has been day to day with right forearm tightness) will be going through his normal throwing program out to 90 and 120 feet. The Guardians anticipate he will get back to throwing off a mound in the coming days.

Gaddis traveled home over the weekend to attend his fiancé’s graduation from veterinary school. He was able to work out and throw, and is now back in Arizona. The Guardians are taking things day by day with the right-hander's status right now.

"It's too early to put any other kind of label on it, other than he's back in the building going on his throwing progression today," Vogt said.

Gaddis has made one Cactus League appearance, on Feb. 27 against the Cubs, before he was sidelined by the forearm issue. He underwent imaging that came back clean, and began his progression on Thursday with weighted ball work.

Next steps for Bazzana and Fairchild

Travis Bazzana and Stuart Fairchild’s World Baseball Classic stints came to a close on Monday, when Australia and Chinese Taipei were eliminated from the tournament in pool play. Korea advanced over the two by virtue of a three-way tiebreaker.

The Guardians have an off-day on Wednesday, and the expectation is Bazzana (Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect and No. 20 overall, per Pipeline) and Fairchild (who’s a non-roster invitee this spring) will return to camp in the back-half of this week.

“But obviously we're gonna see how they feel with jet lag, making sure that they're 100 percent ready to get back in,” Vogt said. “But we anticipate to see both of them back in games here [at the] end of the week, weekend, and get them back into camp.”

Tim Stebbins covers the Guardians for MLB.com.

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Carl Willis gave the Guardians’ rotation one command — and they’re already pitching in September form

Updated: Mar. 10, 2026, 12:05 p.m.|Published: Mar. 10, 2026, 11:47 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The calendar says spring training. The scoreboard says something else entirely.

Starting pitchers are supposed to be working on new pitches, managing pitch counts, and easing into the rhythm of a new season. Nobody is supposed to be locked in yet. Nobody is supposed to look this sharp.

Apparently, nobody told the Guardians’ rotation.

On the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, beat reporters Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes broke down what has quickly become the most electric storyline of Guardians camp: a starting rotation loaded with young arms that has already flipped the switch into full competition mode — and the numbers they rattled off on air were genuinely staggering.

The catalyst behind the surge, according to what manager Stephen Vogt shared Monday during a Zoom call from Goodyear, was a direct challenge from Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis. The message was simple. It landed hard.

“Carl Willis had told the pitchers it’s time to compete,” Hoynes said on the podcast. “The time for working on stuff is kind of fading into the background now. Let’s go out and compete. And the rotation was listening.”

The rotation was listening. That phrase alone tells you everything about where this group’s mentality is right now. These aren’t veterans going through the motions of a long February. These are hungry, young arms — Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi, Joey Cantillo, Parker Messick — all of them 25 to 27 years old, and all of them seemingly hitting their stride at exactly the right moment.

Here is what this rotation did in a single turn through the Cactus League, and Hoynes read them off like a man who couldn’t quite believe what he was saying:

“Messick 4 2/3 scoreless innings yesterday,” Hoynes said. “Before him was Cantillo, 4 2/3 innings with 2 earned runs. Then Cecconi 4 innings, 1 earned run. Williams 3 2/3 innings, 1 earned run. And Bibee 4 innings, 0 earned runs.”

That is the entire rotation cycling through Goodyear and collectively posting quality start after quality start. In spring training. Before the games even count.

Noga couldn’t hide his amazement when he stepped back and took in the full picture.

“That’s almost midseason form right now, this early in spring training,” Noga said. “You don’t want them to be hitting their peak too early. But wow, to have gone through the rotation one time like that and to put up those numbers among the starters.”

It is a legitimate question: should the Guardians be worried about peaking too soon? Based on the context Hoynes and Noga provided, the answer is no — because this group proved last year that their ceiling is enormous. The reference point Hoynes kept returning to was September of last season, when Cleveland’s starters went on a dominant stretch that carried the club into October. Those arms did it then. They’re showing they can do it again.

The storyline inside the storyline is the battle for the fifth rotation spot. Messick — who delivered a scoreless 4 2/3 innings against the Royals and improved to 2-0 on the spring — is making a loud statement. Logan Allen, fresh off representing Panama in the World Baseball Classic, will be back in camp soon and eager to make his own argument.

What makes this competition even more fascinating is that Messick is actively expanding his toolkit. He worked in a cutter against the Royals that Hoynes described as hitting its proper velocity and movement profile for the first time — giving Messick six legitimate pitches to deploy. Six. For a pitcher already operating at this level, that is a terrifying development for opposing lineups.

Hoynes and Noga both noted on the podcast that these arms are not just holding steady — they are improving. And that should concern every other team in the American League.

If you want to hear Noga and Hoynes dig into every arm in this rotation, break down the Messick-Allen competition, and unpack what Carl Willis’s message really means for this team’s ceiling, fire up the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast right now. This is the kind of baseball conversation that makes the wait for opening day almost unbearable.

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Guardians' latest spring roster cuts send short-term message to rising prospects

By Henry Palattella

1 hour ago

Like every team in MLB, the Cleveland Guardians opened spring training with a colossal spring training roster consisting of bonafide big leaguers, prospects and depth players.

And while Guardians made their first cuts to that roster over the weekend, none of the players they removed from their big league roster were MLB-ready.

But they tightened that picture a bit more over the weekend by optioning Daniel Espino, Kahlil Watson and Angel Genao to the minors, among other moves.

Although Espino and Watson were longshots to make the Guardians’ roster out of spring training, they both impressed in spring and seem to have worked their way into the Guardians’ 2026 plans.

Kahlil Watson and Daniel Espino may be back with the Guardians soon

Espino’s “demotion” to Triple-A doesn’t do anything to take away from a strong spring that’s helped turn his career around.

After missing all of nearly three years due to a variety of shoulder injuries, Espino made his return to the mound late last season before dominating in the Arizona Fall League.

He’s thrown two scoreless innings this spring and appeared out of the bullpen in his final appearance in big league camp before being demoted, which could be his role for 2026.

Stephen Vogt told reporters that he wants Espino to help the Guardians at some point in 2026, so his call-up seems like a matter of “when”, not “if.” Now he’ll head to Triple-A to build up ahead of that debut.

On the other side, Watson and Genao were arguably the two biggest bright spots on the position player side. Of the two, Watson has the best chance to impact the Guardians in 2026. He went 6-for-14 at the plate with three extra base hits in his time with the Guardians while playing in all three outfield positions.

The Guardians moved Watson to the outfield in the hopes that he could become a part of the team’s long-term future, and he’s done exactly that.

While the 21-year-old Genao is still a bit further away from making his big league debut (he’ll likely start the season in Triple-A), he impressed in his first camp since being added to the Guardians’ 40-man roster during the offseason.

Speaking of young players, the Guardians reassigned first baseman Ralphy Velazquez to minor league camp. The 20-year-old also impressed during his time in Guardians camp, and is starting to look like a key part of the team’s future.

Although the Guardians still have some frustrating holes on their roster, giving Espino and Watson some more time in the minors is the right decision.

And, if their strong performances this spring are any indication, it may not be long until we see them play at the big league level.

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"Young Guardians Hitter Could Be Due For Breakout Season

Maybe

Welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter. My name is Tim Stebbins, and I'm heading into my second season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- One of the overarching lessons Stephen Vogt has gained in his post-playing career (in which he spent one season on the Mariners’ coaching staff before taking over as the Guardians’ manager in November 2023) is how much personnel it takes to get through a season.

“What I've really learned over three years," Vogt said recently, “... is just because you're not on the 26-man [roster] on Opening Day doesn't mean you're not going to make a huge impact on our team at some point this year.”

The Guardians have plenty of roster decisions to make leading up to their March 26 season opener in Seattle. Until then, here is our latest attempt to forecast which group of players will break camp in two weeks.

Catcher (3): Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges, David Fry

The Guardians missed Fry’s presence in 2025 as a third catcher and the flexibility he provides to move pieces around in a given game. He’ll also factor into the designated hitter rotation, and is another option at first-base -- which he’ll begin to play toward the end of camp.






First base (2): Kyle Manzardo, Rhys Hoskins

Manzardo prepared his body physically for an increased workload at first base. The addition of Hoskins adds a new wrinkle to this mix. The 32-year-old stands to serve as Manzardo’s primary right-handed complement at first, which otherwise would have been Fry, and will factor into the DH rotation. Hoskins signed a Minor League deal, but it would be a shock if he isn't on the team.

Second baseman (1): Brayan Rocchio

Look for the Guardians’ middle-infield mix to open similar to how it ended in 2025 -- with Rocchio at second and Gabriel Arias at short. Those spots are subject to evolution. Travis Bazzana (ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 overall prospect) and Juan Brito (Cleveland’s No. 17 prospect) are on the cusp of reaching the Majors, and both play second.

Shortstop (1): Gabriel Arias

Rocchio is also playing shortstop this spring. Given how Arias has played each infield position in the Majors, he could provide added flexibility once the roster features Bazzana and/or Brito.






Third baseman (1): José Ramírez

The main question here is who will back up Ramírez when he gets an off-day or a start at DH. Arias? Daniel Schneemann?

Outfielders (4): Steven Kwan, Angel Martínez, Chase DeLauter, George Valera

The Guardians have not officially anointed Kwan their center fielder. But he has been consistently starting there this spring, so it could be trending that way. That could leave DeLauter (Pipeline’s No. 46 prospect) and Valera to handle the corners, and the switch-hitting Martínez (who's had a strong start this spring) could add a right-handed dimension to the mix. The Guardians may have a decision to make on Nolan Jones, whom they reached a one-year, $2 million deal with in November to avoid arbitration. He's out of Minor League options and had a slow start to spring coming off a tough 2025.

Bench/Utility (1): Daniel Schneemann

Schneemann’s ability to play third base (and second, shortstop and outfield) gives him a leg up here. CJ Kayfus is also in contention for a spot, though his best avenue seems to be in right field with Hoskins in the mix. Cleveland's flurry of left-handed-hitting corner outfielders could lead to Kayfus beginning the season with Triple-A Columbus. Jones, non-roster invite Stuart Fairchild, Johnathan Rodríguez, Petey Halpin and Brito are among other candidates still in camp.






Starting Pitchers (5): Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen

Someone will be the odd man out from last season's six-man rotation. Williams and Bibee are at the top, and Cantillo is out of options. Cecconi appears on steady ground after laying a strong foundation last year, though he does have one option remaining. It could be a matter of Allen and Parker Messick. Allen has two options remaining, and Messick has three. Allen's experience could work in his favor, though Messick has impressed this spring and made a strong impression down the stretch in 2025. If he opens at Columbus, he'll factor in at some point.

Relief Pitchers (8): Cade Smith, Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski, Matt Festa, Tim Herrin, Colin Holderman, Connor Brogdon, Peyton Pallette

The Guardians need to see how Hunter Gaddis (right forearm tightness) progresses through his throwing program before making any determination about his Opening Day status. The club has options if the big right-hander needs some extra time -- including offseason additions Holderman and Brogdon (who’s out of options), and non-roster invitees such as Kolby Allard, Pedro Avila, Codi Heuer and Trevor Stephan. If Pallette (a Rule 5 Draft pick) doesn’t make the roster, the Guardians will have to offer him back to the White Sox.

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Peyton Pallette is making his case and Trevor Stephan is still searching — the Guardians’ bullpen battle is getting real

Updated: Mar. 11, 2026, 11:06 a.m.|Published: Mar. 11, 2026, 10:59 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians’ bullpen battle is getting real — and the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast has the full picture.

While the World Baseball Classic dominated the first half of the conversation, cleveland.com Guardians beat reporters Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes carved out time to break down what happened on the mound during Cleveland’s spring training loss to the Giants. It’s a bullpen story with genuine intrigue: a Rule 5 pick making a loud argument for the opening day roster, a newcomer quietly forcing his way into the conversation, and a veteran still searching for the stuff he had before a major elbow procedure derailed his career.

This is a competition that will shape the Guardians’ bullpen for the entire 2026 season, and the podcast is where you get the most informed take on how it’s playing out.

Let’s start with the good news, because there’s plenty of it when it comes to Peyton Pallette.

The Rule 5 pick from the White Sox has been one of the more exciting stories to come out of the Guardians’ spring, and Noga made it clear on the podcast exactly why Cleveland targeted this arm.

“You can see why they targeted this kid and took him as a Rule 5 guy,” Noga said. “He really sort of responds when he gets into adversity.”

That’s the kind of trait that separates bullpen arms who belong in the big leagues from those who don’t. Pallette walked a batter in his latest outing before composing himself and working a scoreless inning, with the velocity consistently drawing attention throughout camp. He doesn’t fit the Guardians’ standard physical profile — Hoynes noted on the podcast that Cleveland has cornered the market on 6-foot-6, 240-pound power arms — but Pallette’s arm doesn’t know that. The stuff is real, and the results have been real.

The question is what form his path to the opening day roster takes. The Guardians could keep him on the 26-man. They could try to work a deal with Chicago to retain his rights and send him to the minors. Or he could open the year on the injured list. Plenty of scenarios exist — but as Noga pointed out, Pallette hasn’t given anyone a reason to reach for alternatives.

Pallette wasn’t the only bullpen arm generating buzz on the podcast. Noga also made a point to flag Colin Holderman as a player to watch as camp winds down.

“We saw Colin Holderman pitch a scoreless inning with a walk. You know, another guy, another newcomer who’s sort of in position to take one of those spots on the opening day roster,” Noga said.

Holderman’s name doesn’t generate the same headlines as some of his competitors, but the results speak for themselves. Another scoreless inning. Another newcomer quietly building a case through steady, consistent performance in the spring. That’s how the final spots on a big league roster get won — not with flash, but with competence when the lights are on.

And then there’s the difficult part of the bullpen story: Trevor Stephan.

Stephan is a pitcher the Guardians know has big league value. Before the elbow surgery, he showed the kind of stuff that makes a team want to keep him around. But as Noga and Hoynes discussed in depth on the podcast, the road back hasn’t gone according to plan.

Stephan entered in the ninth inning on Tuesday, got two quick outs, and then completely lost the zone — walking batters, giving up a hit, forcing home a run. Bad enough on the surface. But the underlying concern goes deeper.

“He was throwing about throwing 91 miles an hour,” Hoynes said on the podcast. “He’s still in search of that velocity.”

Ninety-one miles an hour isn’t where Stephan needs to be. He was throwing harder before the Tommy John surgery, and that missing velocity is the thread the rest of his game hangs on. Without it, the whole picture looks different. It’s the obstacle, as Hoynes put it plainly, that he has to overcome before any larger conversation about his role can take place.

The Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast goes deeper on every one of these arms — who’s locking up spots, what the Guardians need from their bullpen in 2025, and what Stephan needs to find before camp breaks. If you want to know who makes this Opening Day roster, this episode is where the real analysis lives.

Pull up the latest episode and hear Noga and Hoynes break down every arm in the conversation.

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Kyle Manzardo added muscle and weight; will the Guardians reap the rewards?

Updated: Mar. 11, 2026, 8:27 p.m.|Published: Mar. 11, 2026, 7:09 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — After the 2025 season, the Guardians sent Kyle Manzardo back home to Idaho with orders to get bigger and stronger. In other words, eat more.

Who wouldn’t like to hear those words?

Proper nutrition for a professional athlete is a little more involved than that, but Manzardo didn’t gain 14 pounds — seven to eight pounds of which was lean muscle mass — by eating carrot sticks and watercress sandwiches.

“I just spent more time in the weight room than I have in years past,” said Manzardo. “It’s always easier to gain weight, but I was more conscious about what I was eating, especially over the holidays.

“I wanted to eat as clean as possible and make sure I was getting enough protein. As simple as that sounds, that’s where most of the new weight came from.”

Manzardo ended last season, his first full year in the big leagues, right around 200 pounds. This spring he reported to Goodyear, Arizona, weighing 214 pounds.

The Guardians wanted him to get stronger because they felt last season beat him down. Manzardo finished second on the Guardians to Jose Ramirez with 27 homers and 70 RBI. But over his last 14 games — with the Guardians running down the Tigers to win the AL Central — he hit .143 (7 for 49) with one homer and three RBI.

In the wild card series against the Tigers, he went 1 for 11 as the Guardians were eliminated in three games.

“I can’t think of anybody who wasn’t worn down by the end of the year,” said Manzardo. “But I feel like I may have been feeling it a little bit more than some of my teammates. That let me know, ‘OK, I’ve got to get after it this offseason and come back stronger.’”

Manager Stephen Vogt was the man who sent Manzardo back to Idaho saying he wanted him bigger and stronger for 2026.

“We wanted Kyle to go through the winter and prepare to play first base four or five days a week,” said Vogt. “We won’t know how we shake out until we get into the flow of the season, but Kyle did a tremendous job putting on strength.

“He said he feels faster and quicker. A lot of times when you put on strength, you do get faster and quicker.”

The Guardians, who had their second of three off days on Wednesday, have played 19 Cactus League games. Aside from the grand slam he hit against the Dodgers on March 3, Manzardo’s added muscle hasn’t made much of an imprint in the Arizona desert."

He has played 10 games and is hitting .143 (4 for 28) with one homer and five RBI.

This is Manzardo’s third spring with the Guardians since they acquired him from the Rays for Aaron Civale on July 31, 2023. He hit .381 (8 for 21) in the spring of 2024 and .321 (17 for 53) with four homers and eight RBI in 2025.

Taken as a whole, spring-training stats are like dust in the wind. Manzardo is in a different place with the Guardians than he was in 2024 and 2025. The question mark has been removed from his name. He’s expected to be an everyday contributor to the offense.

Hitting coach Grant Fink doesn’t think the added strength and weight have had a negative effect on Manzardo’s swing.

“Oh, no, we’re pumped about it,” said Fink. “I mean, we challenged him going into this offseason about taking the weight room seriously and coming back and transforming his body and he responded to that. In his at-bats and early batting practice, the ball is coming off his bat hotter.

“It’s what you’d expect with adding more muscle and more mass. And it started to trend really positively in his work as well as what we see in the games.”

Manzardo said he hasn’t felt that big of a difference in his swing compared to last year when he ranked second in the AL by hitting 21 of his 27 homers as from the cleanup spot.

“Maybe a little bit here and there,” he said. “Especially on some balls to center field. It’s good to bank those successes and failures (from last year). But I just know there’s so much more I can do better on.”

Manzardo should get a chance to do exactly that this season.

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Angel Martínez has been making a statement for the Guardians this spring

By Henry Palattella

4 hours ago

Last season, Angel Martínez struggled in pretty much every capacity. While he played in a career-high 139 games, the 24-year-old hit just .224 while posting some of the worst metrics in the league in center field.

And while his roster spot was never really in any danger in the offseason, he became kind of the forgotten man in the Guardians’ position player picture thanks to the number of young prospects the team is clearing the way for.

But that’s changed this spring thanks to a strong performance that’s all but secured a spot for him on the Guardians’ Opening Day roster.

Angel Martínez is finally showing how good he can be for the Guardians

Martínez entered play on Wednesday 9-for-21 (429) with two home runs, two RBI, two walks and a steal this spring. Although every spring training stat should be taken with a grain of salt, it’s clear that Martínez is locked in.

He also could be in line for a bit of a position change, which would be a welcome change from how things went last season.

Last year Martínez recorded a team-high 114 appearances in center field despite the fact he started learning the outfield during the 2024 season. And that inexperience reared its head throughout the season in the form of misplayed balls and bad routes.

But that could all be a thing of the past thanks to Steven Kwan moving to center field. While it seems like the Guardians still think of Martínez as a full-time outfielder, moving him to a corner would limit the amount of running he’d need to do while also allowing the Guardians to take advantage of his strong throwing arm (96th percentile).

“I can’t wait,” Martinez said about moving to the outfield, per Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes. “I can’t wait to be better and to understand the position and all the situations better. I feel way better than last year.”

And having Martínez be a plus-player for the Guardians would be a huge benefit given how his profile could help the Guardians’ lineup. The switch-hitter is hitting .400 against left-handed pitchers this year after hitting .279 against southpaws last season.

The Guardians have as lefty-heavy of a lineup as you can have, so a productive Martínez would provide Cleveland some much-needed balance.

Martínez told Hoynes and other members of the Guardians beat that he spent most of the winter at the Guardians’ Dominican baseball academy where they worked on his defense and ability to hit left-handers.

We saw some of that pop against lefties last season when Martínez slugged a go-ahead grand slam against Josh Hader, and seeing more of that kind of power from him would go a long way toward turning him into an everyday player.

But regardless of whether or not he opens the season as an everyday player, Martínez has clearly done enough to open the season on Cleveland’s roster.

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It’s time for the Guardians to officially make Steven Kwan a full-time center fielder

Make it happen.

By Henry Palattella

6 hours ago

Although the Cleveland Guardians didn’t really do anything to upgrade their outfield picture this offseason, it’s clear the team’s front office knew they needed to upgrade the position.

They confirmed that fact early in the season by saying that they were eexperimenting with putting Steven Kwan in center field after he spent the four seasons of his career almost exclusively in left field.

And even though manager Stephen Vogt and the Guardians have yet to officially declare Kwan as a center fielder, his past eight appearances this spring have come in center field.

It’s looking more and more like Kwan’s going to be manning center field at T-Mobile Park when the Guardians open their season on March 26 against the Seattle Mariners. And if that does happen, it should become a full-time thing; not just a fun little party trick the Guardians bust out for a platoon advantage.

Moving Steven Kwan to center field solves a lot of the Guardians’ outfield problems

While Kwan hasn’t had a signature moment yet this spring, he’s handled center field with aplomb while providing his signature steady hand at the plate (.304 batting average, two home runs).

“I think it’s been good. I think every time (Kwan’s) gotten a test, the next time he gets it, he’s making the play. Playing the outfield in Arizona is probably the toughest place to play the outfield. But this is one of the best outfielders on the planet and he’s going to make the adjustments every time he gets a ball hit over his head,” Vogt told reporters over the weekend.

Even though Kwan’s been the American League’s best left fielder over the past four seasons, center field is a different animal since there’s more room to cover and outfielders need to take different routes to get to fly balls.

But having an adjusting Kwan out there is a better option than using Nolan Jones or Daniel Schneemann in center field. Kwan’s one of the few every day players the Guardians have on their roster and he should have an every day position that matches that.

Plus putting him in center would allow for the Guardians to play George Valera and Chase DeLauter at the same time in the corner outfield spots.

So instead of having to shift between their best options at left field and use an uninspiring option in center, Kwan’s position change would give them outfield freedom they haven’t had in years.

Vogt has also described the team’s outfield situation as one with “a lot of moving parts,” which is true given the number of options Vogt has to juggle. But one way to eliminate one of those moving parts is by keeping Kwan in center field full time.

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How Guardians Outfielder Nolan Jones is Trying to Fix His Struggles at the Plate

The former second round pick in the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft may find himself on a new team by the time Opening Day rolls around.

Cade Cracas
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5 hours ago

Nolan Jones' time as a member of the Cleveland Guardians may be drawing to a close.

But this wasn’t how anyone expected it to unfold.

During the 2026 offseason, the front office and coaching staff invested in Jones with hopes that he could bounce back in the upcoming campaign and rediscover the form that once made him one of the most intriguing young hitters when he was in Colorado.

Guardians hitting coach Grant Fink recently spoke about what work Jones did to try to become a better player at the plate.

Guardians hitting coach weighs in on Jones

"Nolan spent his offseason at Driveline," Fink said. "The entire goal was to try and get him to figure out the timing on the fastball more. He came out and hit a homer on his first at-bat [of spring training]."

That game Fink is referencing came in the Cactus League opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, where Jones belted a 421-foot home run in the fifth inning. That blast put three runs on the board, helping secure a victory for Cleveland.

Following that game, however, Jones hasn't been able to replicate such efforts.

"He's had some struggles over the last week and a half," Fink said. "But ultimately, he's trying to just get his best swing off more often in games, and we're seeing that sporadically..."

Fink's statement on getting him to swing more often may be why he leads the Guardians in strikeouts this spring training. Through 26 at-bats, he has struck out 13 times to just one walk, all while having just one hit since the Cactus League opener.

“I mean, everybody wants to get hits," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "I don't care if you're facing your kid in whiffle ball in the backyard. You want to get a hit. I think for Nolan specifically and a number of our players, getting every other day reps and doing all these things, you start to put more and more pressure on yourself as the calendar days start to flip over. We can't do that."

"Go out and get your work in, be ready to go. Go out there and be convicted in what you're doing.”

For a major leaguer, hitting the fastball is important, especially when it's the most common pitch batters will see. If Jones can start to gain back confidence and knock it, he'll likely become a better hitter across the board.

Among players with more than 20 at-bats, Jones is tied for the second fewest hits alongside CJ Kayfus, who has three hits in 20 at-bats. The only player performing worse in this limited sample is utility man David Fry, who has just two hits in 21 at-bats.

However, this isn't that surprising for Fry, who's still trying to become more comfortable at the plate following a horrific injury at the end of the 2025 campaign.

The once top-hitter in the league is in the same conversation with a young, inexperienced prospect and a player who hasn't been able to stay healthy over the past year.

In 2025, Jones struggled mightily, hitting just .211 from the plate, all while striking out 113 times to just 39 walks. He also only knocked 21 extra-base hits in 355 at-bats. That's a start difference from what he had posted just two years prior; he had nearly 50 extra-base hits and an incredible .297/.389/.542 slashing line with an OPS of .931.

Despite the setbacks of 2025 and the early struggles of 2026, the adjustments Jones has made could still pay off. His clear recognition of what needs improvement also highlights just how self-aware he is about the current state of his career.

Cleveland fans can only hope that this continued effort from the coaching staff will pay off, and the once top prospect can rediscover what made him such a threat at the plate as a member of the Rockies.

If not, the outfield on Opening Day may see a few new faces.

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3 Cleveland Guardians Having a Standout Spring Training

By Tommy Wild

7h

Multiple members of the Cleveland Guardians are turning heads in Spring Training for one reason or another.

The Cleveland Guardians have had a few players dominate the Spring Training storylines up to this point, and in many cases, rightfully so. However, there are some other players throughout the organization who deserve attention for how well they’ve been playing in Cactus League action.

Here are three Guardians who are currently having a standout spring

Brayan Rocchio

Brayan Rocchio re-found his swing midway through last season after a stint at Triple-A. After being recalled, Rocchio closed out the second half of the season with some respectable numbers at the plate. All of that appears to be carrying over into his Cactus League plate appearances.

Rocchio currently has nine hits in 26 at-bats for a batting average of .346. It’s not just that the infielder is making contact, though; he’s finding holes in the defense and getting extra bases because of it. Of Rocchio’s nine hits, five of them have been extra-base knocks, including four doubles and a home run.

Rocchio appears set to start the season as either Cleveland's shortstop or second baseman. With that, hopefully his hot bat follows him to Seattle to start the season.

Peyton Pallette

In a way, Peyton Pallette had to have a standout spring, or he would have been sent back to the Chicago White Sox, with Cleveland settling him in the Rule 5 Draft in the offseason. The pitcher is doing more than standing out and has been downright impressive on the mound.

Pallette got a late start to his game action due to some shoulder soreness, but he’s now pitched three innings over three games for the Guardians this spring.

In those appearances, Pallette has allowed just three hits, walked two batters, and logged seven punchouts. (That’s a strikeout rate of 52.3 percent for those wondering.)

The righty has always been known for his extensive pitch arsenal, but he’s also hit 98 mph with his fastball this spring, too, which has certainly opened some eyes.

If the season started today, it would be hard to see a version of Cleveland’s bullpen that didn’t have Pallette in it.

Angel Martinez

Angel Martinez has one of the hottest bats in Spring Training, and there’s no other way around it.

Over 21 at-bats, the switch-hitter owns a 1.452 OPS that includes five doubles and two home runs. One of the most encouraging signs is that Martinez has only struck out twice. Punchouts have been a problem for the 24-year-old during his career so far. At least for now, Martinez may have

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt noted that Martinez came into camp with a little more muscle, and that’s been evident in his extra-base numbers up to this point.

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Guardians overlooked bullpen ace could be huge factor in 2026 rotation

By Henry Palattella

14 hours ago

Last season Kolby Allard came out of nowhere to help save the Guardians’ bullpen. After signing with the Guardians as a minor league free agent, Allard was called up at the end of April and ended up pitching in every role imaginable.

From working in long relief to shifting to a one-inning weapon and even picking up the occasional spot start, Allard did everything the Guardians asked of him in 2025.

And, after being non-tendered following last season, the Guardians reunited with Allard in the offseason on a minor league deal that included an invite to big league spring training.

And although Allard started the spring working as a relief option, the Guardians recently started stretching him out as a starter thanks in large part to the team’s lack of starting pitching depth.

That decision is the first move in what could be another busy season for Allard.

Kolby Allard could pitch in a variety of roles for the Guardians in 2026

It’s hard to overstate just how much Allard saved the Guardians last season. While Allard’s counting stats were the best of his career (2.63 ERA in 65 innings), his ability to pitch in any role ended up being more important than anyone could have anticipated.

Allard opened his time with the Guardians with six innings of relief (which made sense given that he opened his career as a starter) before working as both a single-inning weapon and long man in his first full month with Cleveland.

The Guardians designated him for assignment in July thanks in large part to Luis Ortiz’s suspension, but he ended up reuniting with the Guardians less than a week later and spent the rest of the season on Cleveland’s roster.

He was at his best as the season went on, as he finished the year by tossing 10 1/3 scoreless innings across his final five appearances with nine strikeouts. The biggest of those strikeouts came on Sept. 18 when he struck out Tigers All-Star Riley Greene in his first pitching appearance in 11 days.

As mentioned above, Allard started his career as a starter, though he has a 5.73 ERA in 44 career starts. He’s much more valuable as a bullpen option, but the Guardians don’t have much of a choice in his role thanks to Austin Peterson’s injury.

Peterson, who stood out as an obvious starting option for Triple-A Columbus, is going to be out 6 to 8 weeks thanks to a triceps strain, which leaves a clear hole in Columbus’ rotation.

While there’s always the chance Allard could end up elsewhere either by a trade or asking for his release, it seems like he’s destined to start the season in Columbus.

Although that still could have happened even if he stayed in the bullpen, it would have been tough for him to make the Opening Day roster due to the abundance of options in Cleveland’s relief picture.

Last year Allard came out of nowhere to win over Cleveland’s heart. There’s a chance that could happen again this season — regardless of where he begins the season.

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