Cleveland Sports Forum

Sea, I use to do the "up the arm" hot dog and condiments at my first job. Original crew member of Jib Jab hot dog shoppe.

SEA - I still call'em weinies .



chicago style hot dog



Happy Dog West Chicago is located in West Chicago, Illinois,


My first chicago Style hot dog was purchased at this place about 45-50 years ago.

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HISTORY OF THE CHICAGO HOT DOG

https://www.thrillist.com/eat/chicago/a ... le-hot-dog


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While dating my now wife of 58 years, I use to stop at some hot wiener joints after I dropped her off, on my way home.

Pete the Greek's place was my favorite. Second place was Dirty Nicks.

I think they're still in business.

Gonzalez already flexing power in Spring Training

Quantrill throwing well ahead of schedule, while Francona's feeling better than ever

By Mandy Bell

Feb 18, 2023 4:20 PM CST

The Guardians haven’t started team workouts just yet and the last few position players are still trickling in to Goodyear, Ariz., but that doesn’t mean we can’t make observations already.

Hitters have taken batting practice all week and pitchers have been throwing bullpens. A handful of hurlers (especially Minor Leaguers) have already gotten themselves ready enough to start throwing live batting-practice sessions against their teammates.

The first full-squad workout will be on Tuesday, which is when we’ll be able to start learning a lot more about this club. In the meantime, let’s talk about the three observations I’ve made in the early days of camp:

1. Gonzalez hasn’t lost his power

Someone get the theme song from “Spongebob Squarepants” playing.

Guardians hitters are far from being in midseason form. These early days of camp are used to get everyone back in the regular routine of hopping in the cage each day. The goal isn’t to see results, necessarily, but to make sure each player’s swing mechanics are fine-tuned. Still, even when he’s not swinging as hard as we’ve seen him in-season, Oscar Gonzalez has frequently ventured beyond the outfield wall on Field 1 at Cleveland’s Spring Training complex.

Gonzalez hit a ball wrong earlier this week -- it seemed as though it got in on his hands. Anyone within a 50- to 60-foot radius could hear him let out a sigh of frustration over not squaring it up perfectly. Yet the ball still traveled over the fence.

A pitch or two later, he let out an even louder grunt of dissatisfaction when he couldn't square up another pitch. This one hit off the top of the outfield wall.

Even when Gonzalez isn’t at his best, his power is unbelievably apparent. His swing is effortless and the ball explodes off his bat. When he was frustrated with his “poor” performance, his teammates were giving him a hard time, joking that he only hit it into a house across the street that time.

Gonzalez didn’t tap into the power he displayed in the Minors when he was up in the big leagues last year. But don’t worry, it seems like it's still there.

2. Quantrill is ready to go

Cal Quantrill knew he was going to participate in the World Baseball Classic this year, pitching for Canada, so he had to get himself ready a little bit earlier in the offseason than he typically would. Though he was expected to be ahead of the other starters in terms of throwing progression, Quantrill seems lightyears ahead of where he was projected to be.

Quantrill threw his first live batting practice on Friday afternoon against Amed Rosario, Josh Naylor and Josh Bell. He threw 15 pitches, and aside from a ground ball up the middle from Rosario, no one came close to getting a base hit.

The starter walked off the field and Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti asked him how he felt.

“Good," Quantrill responded. “I’m going to see if I can throw another 15.”

A few minutes later, he was back on the mound.

It’s easy for teams to be hesitant about allowing their players to participate in the World Baseball Classic, since it’s during Spring Training and just before a long 162-game season. But the shape Quantrill entered camp in should allow the Guardians to breathe a little bit easier, having more confidence that he should be able to get through the next few weeks without as big of a risk for injury because of how he prepared himself.

3. A healthy Tito

In 2020, Guardians manager Terry Francona was clearly going through some challenges, missing a handful of spring games and seeming more short and irritable during Spring Training -- the time of year that’s usually his favorite (next to the postseason). After the pandemic delayed the start of the season, Francona returned for just a few short days before having a rough medical stretch that landed him in the ICU. He attempted to return the next season and had to leave at the end of July again due to health problems.

It was difficult to know whether Francona -- or at least his health -- was cut out for this job for the foreseeable future. Now, he seems to have done a complete 180.

Francona is filling the stereotypical “best shape of his life” role in Spring Training this year. He isn’t coming off of any surgeries, he doesn’t have any crutches or walking boots and he dedicated the winter to his physique, looking noticeably slimmer.

There’s no reason to believe Francona doesn’t have a few more years of managing left in him.

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Mike Zunino Looking Healthy In Guardians Camp Following Injury-Filled 2022

Mike Zunino is on track to be the Cleveland Guardians' starting catcher on Opening Day
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TOMMY WILD

Feb 18, 23 8 HOURS AGO

The Cleveland Guardians signing Mike Zunino to a one-year contract had been one of the more under-the-radar free agency of moves in MLB's offseason.

The catcher was an All-Star during the 2021 season and was also one of the best hitters for his position smoking 33 home runs that season as well.

One of the reasons that fans haven't been talking about this move as much is that no one is really sure what to expect from the veteran. Zunino missed most of the 2022 season after being diagnosed with outlet syndrome in his non-throwing arm.

The good news is that Zunino has looked perfectly healthy early in Spring Training and is looking like he'll be good to go on Opening Day. In fact, there's a good chance fans see him start behind the place in the team's first Spring Training game on February 25.

The goal is that Zunino will play the majority of the time at catcher in 2023 while Bo Naylor still gets accustomed to the position at the Big League level.

This makes his health a huge factor because outside of him and Naylor Cleveland is quite thin at the catcher position.

Zunino may not come out and hit 33 home runs as he did back in 2021. Although that would be pretty awesome! But if he's 100 percent healthy, he'll provide Cleveland with much-needed offensive production from a catcher which was one of their biggest holes to fill over the offseason.

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Morris fighting for depth role on Guardians' pitching staff

The righty is one of many Cleveland pitchers looking to determine their duty this spring

By Mandy Bell

3:43 PM CST

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Just because all five of last year’s starters are back in Guardians uniforms heading into the 2023 season doesn’t mean that all the pitching decisions are figured out.

Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac are -- at this point -- expected to fill the rotation. What’s left to determine is how the depth chart plays out from there. It’s unreasonable to assume that all five starters would remain healthy for the entire season, especially since Civale and Plesac have had health hiccups the last few years.

The Guardians will need to have pitching depth, and a handful of those arms that will be the answers are in big league camp right now.

Righty Cody Morris would have been high on many people’s lists to be one of the first called on to take an open starting spot, but now, it’s a little harder to project his future. The lat muscle that’s been giving him trouble the last couple of seasons is acting up again, according to Guardians manager Terry Francona, and now the club will need to slowly ramp him up over the next six weeks.

“We’re being ultra conservative with him,” Francona said.

There’s a reason the Guardians were so excited to call Morris up immediately after he finished his rehab assignment last year. He didn’t have enough time to get stretched out as a starter, so he ended up working out of Cleveland’s bullpen and gave up just six earned runs in 23 2/3 innings (2.28 ERA). He falls in the same category as a handful of other hurlers: Will they be starters or relievers in the big leagues? These answers won’t come over the next month, but this window will help give the Guardians an idea of what areas need to be filled.

There’s at least one bullpen spot open, depending on the rest of the expected relief corps’ health. And as we already said, the Guardians will need to have protection for their rotation ready in Triple-A.

Let’s quickly take a look at who Cleveland needs to get eyes on in big league camp to sort through these decisions:

Starters
Jason Bilous (on 40-man)
Xzavion Curry (on 40-man)
Hunter Gaddis (on 40-man)
Konnor Pilkington (on 40-man)
Logan Allen
Peyton Battenfield

Starters or relievers
Morris (on 40-man)
Joey Cantillo (on 40-man)
Touki Toussaint

Relievers
Tim Herrin (on 40-man)
Caleb Baragar
Phillip Diehl
Michael Kelly
Dusten Knight
Nick Mikolajchak
Luis Oviedo
Caleb Simpson
Cade Smith

Maybe by the end of the season, more of those in the “starters” category will find a new home. But for now, this is the best guess at who falls where during the early days of Spring Training. And if Morris isn’t healthy, it’ll be harder to determine what his role should be.

“At worst -- ‘worst’ isn’t the right word -- he’s going to be a multi-inning reliever,” Francona said. “We’re trying to figure out with him what puts him in the best position to succeed long term. And we’re just frankly not sure. So, we’re trying to gather information and talk to him because the kid can pitch a little bit. Just trying to figure out what role helps us, helps him and keeps him healthy.”

Cantillo, who added significant velocity in 2022, could be a fun addition to the bullpen even though he’s seen nearly all of his Minor League time as a starter. He hasn’t thrown more than 61 innings in a season since ’19, he’s battled injuries the last few years and, with his improved velocity, all of these factors could lean Cleveland toward throwing him in the ‘pen.

Teams always have an idea of how their respective rosters should shake out heading into Spring Training. Huge decisions are rarely impacted by Spring Training performances, but it’ll be critical for the Guardians to get eyes on everyone in camp to help get an idea of who belongs where.

“You never want to minimize what guys are doing in Spring Training,” Francona said, “but I do think the fact of somebody winning a job in Spring Training, I think that can be a little -- I don’t want to say disingenuous, but when you really think about it, somebody’s going to throw five or six innings. If they pick the wrong day to pitch when the wind’s blowing out over in Maryvale that could eliminate somebody statistically.

“You look at their background, what they’ve done, where does it fit and then if they’re doing well that certainly helps.”

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The lat muscle that’s been giving him trouble the last couple of seasons is acting up again

Shoot, I wanted him to push Plesac out of the rotation. I guess Zach remains there until the first among:
1. He busts a bone in another fit of anger
2. Espino or Williams or Bibee soars quickly through Akron and Columbus

Bilous is on that list as a potential starter.
Not likely, based on his track record he would be about our 15th guy in line in the minors.

I assume all these guys on the 40 have options left.

With two years left on his contract, Guardians can't afford to trade Shane Bieber now and hope to contend for a playoff spot.

Guardians

What’s next for Shane Bieber & Amed Rosario? Why did Guardians trade Will Benson? – Hey, Terry!

By Terry Pluto

Updated: Feb. 19, 2023, 5:24 a.m

CLEVELAND, Ohio –

Spring training is here. The players are in Goodyear. Guardian fans have questions:

Hey, Terry: Shane Bieber or Amed Rosario ... who is more likely to be traded? Who will more likely remain on the team into the near future? – Marty Young

Hey, Marty: The Guardians will make another attempt to sign Bieber to an extension this spring. I’m not upbeat about it. He is represented by the Drew Rosenhaus firm. They made their name in football, and have added a baseball wing to attract more clients. Signing Bieber to a hometown contract is probably not their plan. Bieber has two years left before he can be a free agent after the 2024 season.

Rosario is in the final year of his contract. He will be a free agent after the 2023 season. Not sure if they can sign him to a long term deal because they have so many young shortstops coming. Most fans know Gabriel Arias, because he was with the team in 2022. But a SS who may be the best in the farm system is Bryan “The Professor” Rocchio.

If the Guardians were coming off a so-so season, one (or even both) of these guys could be traded at the end of spring training. But after winning the Central Division title and advancing to the second round of the playoffs, they are expected to open the season with both of them. They want to win again.

The Disclaimer: If Cleveland has a miserable first half of the season, then they could be traded. But for now, they are likely to stay through 2023.


The Cleveland outfield was too crowded for Will Benson. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Hey Terry: I hope the Guardians didn’t give up on Will Benson (traded to Cincinnati) too soon. I think he would have been the best option in center if Myles Straw falters this year. He just needed to play. – Terry Ramey

Hey, Terry: Let’s break it down:

1. I’ve never been a big fan of Benson. Too many strikeouts – about 31% of his plate appearances in the minors. It feels as if he’s been around forever because he was Cleveland’s top pick in the 2016 draft. He is only 24. Last season was his best as a pro. He batted .279 (.948 OPS) with 17 HR, 45 RBI and was 16 of 20 in stolen bases. He cut the strikeouts to 20%. That’s why the Reds were glad to trade for the outfielder.

2. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs wrote this after the trade: “Deployed almost entirely against right-handed pitchers (in Cleveland in 2022)— he took 55 of his 61 plate appearances against righties — he only managed to hit .182 in a small big league sample. Benson has had contact-related question marks since he was drafted. ‘Will he hit enough?’ was the big question ... Plus-plus raw power and arm strength give him an everyday right fielder’s ceiling if he can.”

3. A year ago, Cleveland would not have traded Benson in a small deal such as this. They were still searching for outfielders. But the rise of Steven Kwan, Oscar Gonzalez and Will Brennan pushed Benson into the background.


Will Brennan drove in 107 runs in 129 minor league games last season. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

4. I’ve been on the Will Brennan train for a year. Kwan and Brennan can play center if needed. Brennan batted .314 (.850 OPS) with 13 HR between Class AA and AAA. I love this stat: He had 107 RBI in 129 games. At the end of the season, he was 15 for 42 (.357) in Cleveland. Like Gonzalez, he was not a hot prospect but forced Cleveland to move up him by hitting remarkably well in the minors.

5. George Valera has moved ahead of Benson. In 2022, he batted .250 (.816 OPS) with 24 HR and 82 RBI splitting the season between Class AA and AAA. He didn’t turn 22 until Nov. 13. The Guardians also have Richie Palacios. For now, the starting OF is Kwan (LF), Straw (CF), Gonzalez (RF) with Brennan as the first backup. They have talked about Josh Naylor playing some RF, but we’ll see if that works out.

6. Cleveland received outfielder Justin Boyd, a second-round pick by the Reds in 2022. He played at powerhouse Oregon State (batting .373), the school that produced Kwan. The Guardians like him. He is more of a contact hitter, which is their philosophy. After drafted by the Reds, Boyd had 82 plate appearances at Class A. He batted .203 (.547 OPS). Small sample. Cleveland has him rated higher than the usual scouting services.

7. FanGraphs on Boyd: “Boyd does have some exciting, hitterish elements. He tracks pitches well, can make in-flight adjustments to breaking balls, and generates doubles pop with just the flick of his wrists. It’s tough to profile as a righty-hitting corner outfielder, though, and he looks vulnerable enough in on his hands to have been left off the draft rankings and Reds prospect list.”


Mike Zunino is set to take the place of Austin Hedges. Getty Images

Hey Terry: Do you think the new catchers will have an impact on the pitchers? Austin Hedges had control of their success. – Len Gold

Hey, Terry: Where do the Guardians stand in the catching department this year? – Jim Rogers

Hey Len & Jim: They want Mike Zunino to stay healthy. They consider him a Hedges-caliber catcher in terms of working with the pitchers. Those are jobs No. 1 and 2 when you catch for manager Terry Francona.

Zunino played only 36 games last season. He had major surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He is supposed to be healthy. We’ll see ...

The catcher of the future is Bo Naylor. There are reasons to be excited about him. As team president Chris Antonetti mentioned to me this winter, “When was the last time you saw a catcher hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in a season?”

I had no answer. Splitting 2022 between Class AA and AAA, Naylor belted 21 homers and was 20 of 24 on stolen bases. He also had 26 doubles. He batted .263 (.889 OPS). He threw out 32% of stealing base runners. He has been taking Spanish and working on it with teammates.

Bo Naylor will be 23 on Feb. 21. He was Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2018. They don’t want to rush him. As of now, the plan is for him to start at Class AAA. Of course, if Zunino can’t stay healthy, that will change.

Cleveland has veteran backups Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria. Both are non-roster players. One is likely to open the season in Cleveland behind Zunino.

Hedges signed a $6 million deal with Pittsburgh for 2023. Last year’s backup Luke Maile signed with the Reds. I wish they had kept Maile as a backup. A year ago, Bryan Lavastida opened as the backup catcher in Cleveland. He went to the minors after a few weeks and had a rocky 2022 season with injuries, etc. He also is in camp.

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Bo Naylor Likely To Start Season At Triple-A

FanNation

By Tommy Wild | Last updated 2/19/23

Just like the rest of the fans, I can't wait to see what Bo Naylor is able to do as the Cleveland Guardians everyday catcher. Or at least in a true backup role. However, it seems like we'll all have to wait a few months into the season to see him up with the Big League club.

This is what Manager Terry Francona had to say when talking about catching the situation:

“(Naylor is) 22 years old, we make a promise to our guys that we’ll be honest and we’ll be conscientious in where we feel they are and what the plan is for him, but don’t waste being young worrying about where you’re going to be. Just enjoy seeing how good you can get.

“We told him it’s not always on your timetable. We own up to that. But if you knock the door down, that sort of makes the timetable. But I think he’s got a really good head situated really well. He’s got a pretty good outlook.”

Tito gives a lot of praise to Naylor but doesn't promise him a spot on the Big League roster right away. All Francona wants to do is see Naylor get better.

As much as I'd love to see Naylor on the Opening Day roster, having him start in the Minors does make the most sense, especially if Mike Zunino is fully healthy. Naylor can get some more reps being the full-time catcher during the beginning of the season and then come May he can be brought up with the club ready to go.

It's also important to remember that Bo split his time last season at the Doulbe-A and Triple-A levels. He played in 52 games for the Rubber Ducks and 66 for the Columbus Clippers. This is another reason why having him start the season in a low-stakes environment is a good idea.

However, Naylor starts off the first few weeks of the season in the Minors as how as he finished last season it'll be a difficult to keep him down.

Tito has admitted to this too.

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Guardians spring training 2023: The top 5 storylines to watch this spring camp

RYAN LEWIS, ABJ

Sun, Feb 19, 2023, 6:18 AM CST

CLEVELAND —

Baseball is back.

While the temperatures take a nose dive into the 30s (and hopefully only the 30s) in Northeast Ohio, the Guardians are set to begin their 2023 spring camp in Goodyear, Arizona.

It'll be more difficult for the Guardians to sneak up on anybody this year after a 92-win season and an American League Central Division crown in 2022 while deploying the youngest roster in baseball.

The Guardians had a straightforward postseason, addressing their two biggest needs on the roster — first base and catcher — with Josh Bell and Mike Zunino. And after 17 MLB debuts in 2022, which tied a franchise record that has stood for roughly a century, the 40-man roster is brimming with players who could make an impact in 2023 and get their first taste of the big leagues.

As things get underway in Arizona and Florida, here's a look at the top storylines to follow in Guardians camp this spring.



Where does Bo Naylor begin the season, and how healthy is Mike Zunino?

Questions still remain about the Guardians' catcher situation. Zunino was brought in to maintain a certain level of defensive value — Austin Hedges was elite, but Zunino can hold his own — while also adding some potential pop to the lineup. Zunino has a 30-homer season in the majors under his belt, but he also had his 2022 cut short due to shoulder surgery.

Guardians manager Terry Francona noted this winter the team is comfortable with his defensive abilities, even if that 30-homer power isn't there. If it is, it's a major bonus for a lineup that relied heavily on contact in 2022, albeit in a successful way.

The starting catcher job is Naylor's to have at some point down the road — the question is when? Naylor is the club's top catching prospect who last year put together a 20-homer, 20-steals season in the minor leagues, a rare feat for his position. But with Zunino in the fold, it's entirely possible Naylor spends the first several weeks in Triple-A before being called up and potentially taking over a large role in Cleveland.

Naylor brings a different skillset to the table and could have a presence once called up. He'll also be representing Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, so he'll be away from camp for a few weeks.

If Naylor does open the season in Columbus, the Guardians have several options in camp who could serve as Zunino's backup, provided he's healthy. Bryan Lavastida, who made his debut a year ago, is the lone option already on the 40-man roster, so he likely has the inside track.



How will pitchers adjust to the new MLB rule changes for 2023 (and will James Karinchak defeat the pitch clock)?

Three major rule changes will be implemented this season, which means for many players this spring will be an adjustment period. There will now be a pitch clock to speed up the game, defensive infield shifts are banned and bases are now larger.

The pitch clock will have the most impact on pitchers with lengthier between-pitch routines, and that especially means James Karinchak, who tosses the ball, rubs his hair and adjusts his cap repeatedly. If anybody has to make a significant adjustment, it's Karinchak.

The larger bases could benefit the Guardians, who last year stole the third-most bases in the majors, led by Myles Straw, Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez, all of whom stole at least 20. Baserunners and catchers know that every fraction of a second counts, and the larger bases could tilt many of the bang-bang plays to the runner.

Hitters like Bell believe the outlaw of defensive shifts could benefit them, as many hard-hit balls to the right side might fall for hits instead of being a routine out. Teams could potentially get around the rule change with a severe alteration of their outfield alignment, but it remains to be see how daring teams get this season.



After 17 debuts in 2022, who has a hot spring to make some of the end-of-camp decisions more difficult?

There are always players who stand out in spring training and effectively force their way into the team's opening day plans. Although spring stats aren't the end-all, be-all, there are players who perform well enough to at least make it a difficult decision.

Sometimes, like with Logan Allen a few years ago, it doesn't translate to the regular season. Sometimes, like with Steven Kwan last year, it leads to one of the best debut weeks in baseball history.

Brayan Rocchio has had a positive showing before as one of the many middle infield prospects in the Guardians system (Angel Martinez, Juan Brito and Jose Tena are also names to watch). George Valera, one of the top 35-ranked prospects in baseball, could make a major impact in 2023, and has a chance to move up that timeline a bit with a strong spring. Daniel Espino, Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee might be a ways from the majors, but the team will surely be intrigued to see what they do this spring.

Who emerges as starting pitching depth after the top five in the rotation?

The Guardians, again, have a clear top five group for the starting rotation, unless something goes awry in the desert. After Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac, likely in that order, the Guardians have a number of youthful arms to sort through, including Xzavion Curry, Cody Morris, Konnor Pilkington, Logan Allen (the other one), Joey Cantillo, Peyton Battenfield, Hunter Gaddis and the newly claimed Jason Bilous.

That's before considering Espino, Williams and Bibee behind them as top-100 prospects making their way up the ladder to the majors.

In addition to starting pitching depth in Triple-A and Double-A (and the logjam that has been created), there's also the question of whether one of those players opens the season in the Guardians bullpen. As it stands, Emmanuel Clase, Karinchak, Trevor Stephan, Eli Morgan, Enyel De Los Santos, Nick Sandlin and Sam Hentges should have the first seven spots locked down, potentially leaving room for one more.



Do the Guardians announce any extensions between now and opening day, and is Shane Bieber one of them?

A year ago, the Guardians announced three extensions, all potentially through the 2028 season, including Jose Ramirez with the largest contract ever handed out in franchise history. Straw and Clase were also signed long term.

The Guardians have a number of players who could be extension targets, as much of the roster either nears arbitration eligibility or is making their way through it. But none will draw more attention than Bieber, who is one of the few players on the active roster only under club control through next season.

Last season Bieber experienced another downturn to his velocity, but he also showed he can remain an elite starting pitcher without it, posting a 2.88 ERA with 198 strikeouts in 200 innings. He also spent the first half of the season adjusting to his own mechanics after a shoulder injury derailed him in 2021.

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today's MLB choice of one player per team is on the topic:

Each Spring Training, there are position battles and young prospects seeking to impress against big league competition. But there are also those players who come to camp with a lot to prove, whether they're top prospects or veterans who have struggled recently. We asked each MLB.com beat writer to name one player from their club who has the most to prove in 2023:

logical choice for the Gs

Guardians: CF Myles Straw
There’s nothing more that Straw needs to do defensively, considering he locked up a Gold Glove Award last year, but after the Guardians issued him a five-year, $25 million contract extension heading into last season, Straw needs to prove there’s more he can bring to the table offensively. After he was sent to Cleveland at the 2021 Trade Deadline, Straw made a strong first impression, hitting .285 with a .739 OPS in 60 games with his new team. In '22, he struggled to gain steam and posted a .221 average and a .564 OPS. He took it upon himself to work with the Guardians’ hitting coaches over the offseason and will have the early weeks of spring to prove he’s at least on the right track.

Guardians spring training guide: 58 notes for 58 players, from Allen to Zunino

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber, right, slaps hands with catcher Meibrys Viloria during the first day of MLB spring training baseball workouts for Guardians pitchers and catchers in Goodyear, Ariz., Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
By Zack Meisel
3h ago



GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Here’s a handy guide on the 58 players in the Guardians’ big-league camp, with insights on where each player stands heading into the 2023 season. Use it as a resource throughout spring training.

Logan Allen, SP: This is the fourth consecutive year a starting pitcher with this name and with at least one Top 100 prospect list nod is in big-league camp. Can Allen prove he belongs in the Daniel Espino/Gavin Williams/Tanner Bibee conversation? He’d never had a hiccup in the minors until he reached Triple A last summer, when he posted a 6.49 ERA in 14 starts for Columbus. He has only 244 innings as a professional — Shane Bieber, for example, was a quick riser and still logged 283 innings; despite missing time with injuries, Triston McKenzie had 350 — so there’s still time for Allen to establish himself. When Allen visited Cleveland late last season for the team’s fall development program, the team’s message to him was for it not to have to hold the same meeting in 2023 because he’d instead be sitting in the Guardians’ dugout.

Gabriel Arias, IF: Arias has been a spring training darling the past two years, so it’s not shocking he was involved in the club’s playoff series against the Yankees. … Well, sort of. No one would have forecasted he’d be starting at first base in October, especially after a rather uninspiring season at Triple A. Another sharp spring could land Arias an Opening Day roster spot, and then it’ll be up to him to capitalize on whatever opportunities he receives, given the Guardians’ infielders don’t rest very often. He’ll spend time in the outfield this spring to boost his versatility.

Manager Terry Francona: “We view Gabby as an everyday player at some point in his career. You look around right now, you have José (Ramírez), Amed (Rosario) and (Andrés) Giménez. ‘OK, what’s your best way to be able to impact the major-league club?’”

Caleb Baragar, RP: The 28-year-old spent parts of the 2020 and ’21 seasons in the Giants’ big-league bullpen, as he recorded a 2.78 ERA in 45 innings. The righty pitched for the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate in 2022, when he logged a 5.51 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning. Baragar was a ninth-round draft choice out of Indiana University.

Peyton Battenfield, SP: Cleveland had 17 rookies debut last season, and that doesn’t include Battenfield, who joined the team for a weekend trip to Toronto in August in place of James Karinchak. Battenfield never entered a game, though, and after the series, he returned to Triple A. The 25-year-old, acquired in 2021 for Jordan Luplow, saw his strikeout rate plummet, his walk rate nearly double and his hit rate increase last season, his first with Columbus. He has a lot of competition at the top of the minor-league starting pitching pecking order.

Josh Bell, 1B: Cleveland’s marquee signing this winter, Bell will don a Guardians uniform for only one season if all goes well, because he has an opt-out clause that could make him a free agent in the offseason. Assistant hitting coach Victor Rodríguez shared he’s particularly excited about the protection Bell can provide José Ramírez in the lineup. Bell’s home run totals have fluctuated during his career, but he’s a safe bet to draw a ton of walks and make a bunch of contact. He’s also intrigued by the possibility of being able to pull more pitches with defensive shift restrictions in place. He owns a career .810 OPS.

More on Bell’s fit with the Guardians

Shane Bieber, SP: We can discuss how Bieber navigated his way through lineups last season despite diminished velocity or how he has only two seasons of team control remaining, but let’s instead focus on the big picture: He’s the club’s ace, and since becoming a full-time member of the rotation in 2019, he owns a 2.91 ERA across nearly 600 innings, with nearly 11 strikeouts per nine. He rebounded from shoulder issues in 2021 to reach the 200-inning mark last season and then dazzled in a pair of postseason starts. Bieber said he’s thrilled to have had a normal, healthy offseason. He started his throwing program a couple of weeks after the season ended, and maintained it during his Caribbean honeymoon by playing catch with locals.

More on Bieber’s under-the-radar stellar 2022

Jason Bilous, RP: The Guardians claimed Bilous off waivers from the White Sox earlier this month. The 25-year-old has consistently posted sound strikeout rates through the minors, but he’s constantly pitching with traffic. He has allowed nearly a hit per inning as well as more than five walks per nine. He has spent most of his professional career as a starter, but the Guardians view him as a reliever.

Will Brennan, OF: There’s not much left for Brennan to prove in the minors. He torched Double A and Triple A pitching last season before a September call-up to the majors. He’s a doubles machine, with 68 in 231 games the past two years. He slashed .314/.371/.479 and added 20 stolen bases in 2022. But where does he fit on the Guardians? Steven Kwan, Myles Straw and Oscar Gonzalez are expected to form the starting outfield, which could limit Brennan’s chances to prove he can make life miserable for major-league pitchers.

Juan Brito, IF: Brito might be the player in big-league camp with the most limited track record, which only adds to the intrigue. He turned 21 at the end of last season and then the Rockies dealt him to Cleveland for Nolan Jones. He fits the Guardians mold: high-contact, sound plate discipline, middle infielder. Last season in A-ball, he posted a .286/.407/.470 slash line, with 17 stolen bases and more walks than strikeouts. There are questions about whether he makes enough hard contact, and whether his 46 extra-base hits in 107 games suggest there’s more power in his future. But there’s time to figure it all out since he’s likely ticketed for Double-A Akron.

Joey Cantillo, SP: Cantillo’s fastball sat in the 88 to 90 mph range when Cleveland acquired him from San Diego in the Mike Clevinger trade in 2020. Last offseason, the club placed him on a velocity program and — voila! — he was sitting 93 to 95 mph before an injury interfered with his 2022 season. He has a quality changeup, and throws a curveball and slider as well. The team was conservative with his injury recovery because they were pleased with the progress he had made. Now, he could start the season in Triple-A Columbus’ rotation and be one call away from a major-league debut.

More on Cantillo’s development

Aaron Civale, SP: Civale logged a 3.24 ERA and limited opponents to a .262 on-base percentage over his final 14 starts last season. The problem? Those 14 starts took place over a stretch from mid-May to early October because he kept landing on the injured list. He made three starts in May, two in June, three in July (and left the third after one inning) and then missed the first three weeks of September. It’s clear what his key is for 2023: learning how to implement a new gyroball. OK, no, it’s health, which can pave the way for more consistency, which can allow him to resemble the guy who anchored Cleveland’s staff in the first half of the 2021 season.

Emmanuel Clase, RP: If he’s not the No. 1 reliever in baseball, he’s 1A. His 100 mph cutter is one of baseball’s most distinctive pitches, and his slider actually proved even more effective in 2022, as opponents slugged .174 against it with a 42.7 percent whiff rate. He registered a 1.29 ERA in 2021, and somehow got better in 2022. Sure, his strikeout rate increased and his walk rate decreased, but his efficiency is the best way to convey how dominant he was: He made 70 appearances totaling one inning, and needed 20 or more pitches in only four of them; on 27 occasions, he needed 10 pitches or fewer. If you sneezed, you probably missed his 1-2-3 ninth inning.

More on Clase’s dominance

Zack Collins, C: The No. 10 draft pick in 2016 — two picks after Cal Quantrill, four picks ahead of Will Benson, 45 picks ahead of Nolan Jones, two rounds ahead of Civale, three rounds ahead of Bieber and 11 rounds ahead of Zach Plesac — Collins bounced from Toronto to Pittsburgh last season after spending his first three big-league seasons with the White Sox. Offensively, he has a three-true-outcomes profile, with a lot of walks and strikeouts and some power.

Xzavion Curry, SP: Along the back wall on the left side of the Guardians’ spring clubhouse, Peyton Battenfield, Curry, Hunter Gaddis and Joey Cantillo have lockers in succession. All four are in similar spots, attempting to be on the mind of Cleveland’s decision-makers when the Guardians need a starting pitcher this season. Curry made a couple of spot starts last summer. He cruised through the club’s farm system in two years after beginning his professional career in A-ball in 2021.

Enyel De Los Santos, RP: A nondescript signing before the lockout a year and a half ago, De Los Santos turned out to be a valuable addition, with a 3.04 ERA in 50 appearances. His season also included an immaculate inning (the fourth in team history), though he didn’t realize it until he asked teammates why they were celebrating upon his return to the dugout. He didn’t break camp with the team last season, but pitching coach Carl Willis assured him he’d contribute to the bullpen at some point. Sure enough, he did. He probably doesn’t have to have those concerns this year, as long as he shakes off a tweaked hamstring.

Phillip Diehl, RP: The Cincinnati native has pitched briefly for the Rockies and Reds, and the lefty owns a 3.50 ERA in the minors, with 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Last season, the Reds traded Diehl and former Cleveland outfielder Tyler Naquin to the Mets for a pair of prospects.

Tyler Freeman, IF: The king of contact made his debut last season and, unsurprisingly, demonstrated he’s just as averse to strikeouts against big-league pitching. The question is, can he hit the ball hard enough and find enough holes in the defense to produce consistently at the plate? And, is there a role available to give him the opportunity to do so? He’s vying for an Opening Day roster spot, but for now, the infield is set and Gabriel Arias is also bidding for the utility infielder gig.

David Fry, C: Fry bounced around the infield at Northwestern State and with the Brewers, and he played catcher and corner infield for the Guardians last season. He posted a .779 OPS for Columbus and then played in the Arizona Fall League as he worked on his skills behind the plate with Cleveland’s coaches at the team’s complex. The Guardians have seven catchers in camp, but that number will decrease to five when the World Baseball Classic begins, so the plan is for Fry to move around defensively early in camp so he gets enough at-bats, then help out more behind the plate as the spring unfolds.

Terry Francona: “It’s kind of a unique skill set.”

Hunter Gaddis, SP: Gaddis would love nothing more than a chance to tack some big-league appearances onto his record, if for no other reason than to wipe away the 18.41 ERA that jumps off his Baseball Reference page. That’s the result from his two spot starts last season. As Terry Francona likes to say, those fill-in assignments won’t define his career, but they did offer him a taste of the big leagues.

“You just want to be a piece of it the whole time,” Gaddis said. “It motivates you beyond belief. I can’t even put it into words, really.”

He seems like a safe bet to start the year with Triple-A Columbus. Gaddis lives in the Atlanta area but spent time in Arizona over the winter to train with the organization’s coaches. What did he learn from last season?

“Belief,” he said. “I’m in a much better spot than ever before. Mentally, physically, all of the above.”

Cam Gallagher, C: One of a handful of contenders for the backup catcher role, the 30-year-old spent parts of the past six seasons spelling Salvador Perez in Kansas City. Gallagher, who like third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh hails from Lancaster, Pa., owns a .240/.302/.355 slash line in the majors. He was a second-round pick by the Royals in 2011. His brother and father were third-round selections.

Andrés Giménez, 2B: From last spring’s guide: “This is a pivotal season for Giménez to prove he deserves regular playing time.” Uh, mission accomplished. He started at second base in the All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove Award and finished sixth in the American League MVP balloting. The goal for 2023? Do it again. In the meantime, he’ll play for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

More on Giménez’s journey to stardom

Oscar Gonzalez, RF: A year ago, Gonzalez was somewhat of an afterthought, a non-roster invitee to big-league camp who wound up debuting in the majors two months later and starring as an October hero after that. Now, can he exhibit enough plate discipline to stick as the club’s everyday right fielder? He flashed his power potential more as the season went on (he also tallied 27 doubles in only 91 games), but his tendency to chase pitches out of the zone — Gonzalez, Javier Báez, Salvador Perez and Luis Robert Jr. were the four worst offenders in chase rate in 2022 — could convince pitchers to avoid offering him anything in the zone.

More on Gonzalez’s rise to the majors

Sam Hentges, RP: Cleveland tossed Hentges into the fire in 2021 out of necessity, thanks to a rash of starting rotation injuries and a lack of major-league-ready depth, due in part to the lost 2020 minor-league season. Hentges shifted to a relief role in 2022 and, as the season unfolded, he answered whether he could earn late-inning trust by logging a 2.32 ERA, with healthy metrics to back it up. He found results from his always-dependable curveball (.130 opponent slugging percentage) and from mixing in more two-seam fastballs (.127 opponent average).

Tim Herrin, RP: Herrin was working an offseason job at a Lululemon store when Cleveland’s director of player development called one evening in November to tell him he was being added to the 40-man roster. The 6 p.m. deadline had passed and Herrin was fielding texts from family members who were curious about the team’s decision. The transaction means he has a chance to land an Opening Day bullpen spot, which didn’t sink in to Herrin until he arrived in Goodyear. Even if he doesn’t break camp with the team, he should join the group at some point this season. The Guardians have only one lefty — Sam Hentges — in position to make the pen. Herrin said he plans to lean on Hentges this spring, since they’re both tall, hard-throwing southpaws. Herrin, a 29th-round pick with gaudy minor-league strikeout totals, said he wants to learn “what (Hentges is) thinking on the mound and how he approaches hitters, what he’s looking for, stuff like that.”

James Karinchak, RP: Karinchak’s fastball? Extremely effective (.211 opponent slugging percentage). Karinchak’s curveball? Supremely effective (48.6 percent whiff rate). Last year, he rebounded from a spring injury to again cement himself as a reliable setup man. The only question this year is whether the pitch clock will haunt him and interfere with his between-pitch ritual of flipping the baseball in his glove, running his hand through his hair and rubbing the rosin bag. That’s quite the checklist for a 15-second timeframe (20 seconds with men on base).

Michael Kelly, RP: Kelly was a first-round pick in 2011, but by 2019, he was pitching for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League. Then, the pandemic arrived, and Kelly thought his major-league dreams had been dashed. But he was instructing kids at a baseball facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., and he kept training on the side.

“I was working out so I could help (the kids), and the workouts kept me hooked, kept me going,” he said. “I kept throwing and kept seeing improvements.”

He latched on with the Phillies and received the long-awaited call to the majors in June while in Omaha, Neb., with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He made four appearances for the team that wound up winning the National League pennant. Now, he’s competing for a bullpen spot with Cleveland. Earlier in his career, that assignment would come with plenty of pressure. But now?

“My journey has made me realize it’s a privilege to play the game of baseball,” he said.

Dusten Knight, RP: Knight made cameos for the Orioles and Rays the past two years after posting solid numbers in the minors for nearly a decade. He was originally a 28th-round pick by the Giants in 2013. Former Giants first baseman Will Clark once saw him do a backflip in the outfield and suggested he do one after recording a save.

Steven Kwan, LF: It’s a much more relaxed spring for Kwan, who last year was attempting — in a frenzied, shortened camp — to prove himself to the organization’s decision-makers. He has a third-place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year voting and a Gold Glove Award to his name, plus peace of mind in knowing he’s the Opening Day left fielder. More than anything, he said, he can feel more confident at the plate this season knowing he belongs in the big leagues.

More on Kwan’s rookie season

Bryan Lavastida, C: What started out as a dream opportunity quickly fizzled into a rough year for Lavastida, who broke camp with the major-league team (thanks to an injury to Luke Maile) last spring. Lavastida ended up enduring a slump-filled, injury-riddled season at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. But he’s on the 40-man roster, which can help his cause (you know, as long as he hangs onto that spot). He’s in the mix to compete for the backup catcher gig.

Angel Martinez, SS: The Guardians added Martinez to the 40-man roster in November, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him burst onto the Top 100 prospect scene within the next year. He’s adept at second base, shortstop and third base, and played at all three positions in the Arizona Fall League. The Guardians treasure his contact ability and are encouraged by his power potential. Martinez reached Double A as a 20-year-old last year and posted an .849 OPS in 101 games overall.

Triston McKenzie, SP: Armed with confidence that he possessed big-league ability, McKenzie authored a breakout season in 2022, with a 2.96 ERA and, perhaps most important, 191 injury-free innings. Opponents mustered a .253 on-base percentage against him. What can he do for an encore? As he likes to say, “Consistency is key.”

More on McKenzie’s breakout season

Nick Mikolajchak, RP: Mikolajchak’s ERA improved from Double A in 2021 to Triple A in 2022, but that’s a bit misleading. He had some struggles as he attempted to unearth the optimal pitch mix that would keep him dominating more advanced hitters. His walk rate more than doubled and his strikeout rate sharply decreased. When he’s at his best, his fastball sits 94 to 96 mph, to go along with a curveball and slider.

Andrew Misiaszek, RP: Misiaszek, a former teammate of Aaron Civale at Northeastern, had a brilliant 2022 season, with a 2.04 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 61 innings between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. That placed the 32nd-round draft pick on the Guardians’ radar and earned him a non-roster invite, but he’s dealing with an elbow injury that required a PRP injection, so he’ll be merely an observer in big-league camp.

Eli Morgan, RP: Morgan has come a long way from the rookie who was nearly blown into Lake Erie during his debut amid hurricane-like conditions in 2021. He was an instrumental part of the Guardians’ bullpen in 2022 until the home-run ball plagued him for a summer stretch. His changeup and slider kept hitters off-balance and prevented them from sitting on his 92 mph fastball.

Cody Morris, SP: Morris’ 2021 performance had many in the organization anticipating his major-league arrival. A lat strain delayed his big-league debut until September 2022. He made seven appearances for the club and then tossed two perfect innings against the Yankees in Game 4 of the ALDS. Now, he’s again dealing with lat discomfort, so he’ll be brought along a bit slowly this spring. The team is still working through the ideal role for him, but a job as a multi-inning reliever is in consideration.

Bo Naylor, C: Naylor is, barring some changes, likely ticketed for Triple-A Columbus to start the season, but he also could play a prominent role in the team’s catching plans in 2023, given his ceiling and the fact that he debuted last year. He flushed a dismal 2021 season by producing a display of power, patience and speed in 2022. He’ll spend the spring building a rapport with the club’s pitchers, though he’ll miss time while he suits up for Team Canada in the WBC.

Terry Francona: “We tell them, ‘It’s not always on your timetable.’ We own up to that. But if you knock the door down, that makes the timetable. But I think he has a really good head. He’s situated really well. He has a pretty good outlook.”

Josh Naylor, 1B: Naylor said “it wasn’t easy” to push through lower leg pain to play on a daily basis last season, but he’s hopeful this year will be different, since he benefited from having a normal offseason training regimen. Bell’s presence should allow him to spend time at designated hitter if needed, but Terry Francona has voiced his preference to at least have Naylor available as an outfield option. The big question for Naylor this season is whether he can shake his struggles against southpaws, who limited him to a .236 slugging percentage in 2022.

Jhonkensy Noel, 1B: Noel, who’s built like an NFL edge rusher, smacked 32 home runs and 26 doubles last season, mostly between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. No surprise there. Along with all that power, though, came a tendency to swing-and-miss. He totaled 150 strikeouts in 548 plate appearances. Noel made a cameo at Triple A last season, so it’s not impossible that he debuts in 2023, though things would have to fall in place to create an opening for him, and he’d have to prove he can make more contact to seize such an opportunity. Next year is a more plausible timeline.

Luis Oviedo, RP: Cleveland signed Oviedo on the international market in July 2015. The Mets selected him in the Rule 5 draft in 2020 but then flipped him to the Pirates, who lost him on waivers last April to Cleveland. The circle of (baseball) life. He’s in camp as a non-roster invitee after spending the bulk of last season at Double-A Akron. Oviedo is a fastball/curveball/slider guy who throws in the mid-90s but has had some command issues.

Richie Palacios, OF: With Nolan Jones and Will Benson no longer part of the outfield equation, Palacios could earn more playing time this season. He’ll join his brother on Team Netherlands in the WBC, so he’ll miss some time in camp, but the Guardians did gain at least a semblance of an idea last season of what he has to offer when he appeared in 54 games.

Konnor Pilkington, SP: The Mississippi native, acquired in 2021 from the White Sox for César Hernández, broke camp with the big-league club last year, one of the surprises of the spring. His role was to protect the team’s starters after the hastened, post-lockout spring training. He ended up logging a 3.88 ERA in 58 innings for the Guardians and figures to occupy a similar “call me if you need anything” role in 2023.

Zach Plesac, SP: Plesac’s forgettable 2022 season culminated with a knuckle sandwich to the mound in Seattle in late August, which resulted in a broken hand. He’s still under team control for three more seasons, but he’s had a below-average ERA+ in each of the past two years.

2021: 142 innings, 4.67 ERA, 137 hits, 34 walks, 100 strikeouts
2022: 131 innings, 4.31 ERA, 136 hits, 38 walks, 100 strikeouts

Micah Pries, 1B/LF: Cleveland’s 13th-round pick in 2019, Pries will turn 25 at the end of February. He lost the post-draft portion of 2019 because of an elbow injury and lost his 2020 season because of the pandemic, so he spent 2021 in A-ball trying to make up for lost time. He reached Double-A Akron in 2022. Overall, he owns an .843 OPS as a professional. His offensive profile is intriguing, with 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases last season. Defensively, he has played first base and all three outfield spots. The organization is prioritizing first base, left field and right field for him in 2023. His grandfather, Don, a longtime Orioles executive, scouted for Cleveland in 1963.

Cal Quantrill, SP: Projection systems might be skeptical of him, but it’s hard to argue with Quantrill’s performance since joining the Guardians in 2020: a 3.11 ERA in 350 innings. So, how does he outperform his metrics and peripheral numbers? Good walk and home run rates help, and he’s done a decent job of limiting hard contact. So, while Steamer projects a 4.61 ERA, The Bat says 4.51 and ZiPS suggests 4.08, here’s guessing those predictions will end up selling Quantrill short.

Roman Quinn, OF: Quinn has consistently ranked near the top of the sprint speed and arm strength leaderboards during his career. His profile isn’t too dissimilar from the club’s starting center fielder, Myles Straw: speed and defense, and a career .651 OPS in six seasons with the Phillies and Rays. Might his skill set prove more valuable with the league’s new rule changes?

“It’s for the base stealer’s advantage,” he said. “I’m excited about it.”

He said he fits in well with a team that was aggressive on the bases and prioritized speed and defense last season.

“That’s what my game is built around,” he said.

The 29-year-old also had one other observation about his new surroundings.

“Being drafted in 2011,” he said, “I feel like the old head in here.”

José Ramírez, 3B: Ramírez has a decent shot at making the Opening Day roster. … OK, really, he’s healthy after dealing with a torn thumb ligament last summer, which required surgery after the season (only because he refused to be sidelined during the season). Last year at this time, he and the Guardians were engaged in a roller-coaster negotiation process on a long-term extension. This year, no such distractions. And no defenses stacking their infielders on the right side of the infield or deploying four outfielders when he steps into the batter’s box.

More on what makes Ramírez the face of the franchise

Brayan Rocchio, SS: It seems as though we’ve been discussing the well-regarded shortstop prospect for a decade, but he just turned 22 in January. He reached Triple-A Columbus last season and that’s likely where he’ll start in 2023, which means he’d be one call away from the majors. But he’d need some dominoes to fall to play a significant role on the big-league club this year, with Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario firmly entrenched up the middle, plus Gabriel Arias and Tyler Freeman snooping around. The Athletic’s Keith Law considers Rocchio Cleveland’s top prospect and No. 22 overall in the sport.

Amed Rosario, SS: Rosario is entering his final season before he’s eligible for free agency, and he could be the prized shortstop of the class. If history is any indication, he’ll post a slash line in the vicinity of .280/.315/.405, with 11 home runs, 25 doubles, 20 stolen bases and a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Nick Sandlin, RP: Sandlin made some mechanical tweaks during a midseason visit to Triple A. When he returned to the Guardians, he was lights out, his command issues a distant memory. He allowed three earned runs in his final 26 appearances. The sidearmer owns a 2.55 ERA in 80 games with Cleveland. Now, can he complete a full season without a trip to the injured list or the minors?

Caleb Simpson, RP: He was a catcher at Seminole State College, but the Giants drafted him in 2013 as a pitcher. Simpson has spent time with the Giants, Cubs and Red Sox but has yet to pitch in the majors. He owns a 4.20 ERA in the minors, with high walk (6.3 per nine innings) and strikeout (11.5 per nine) rates.

Cade Smith, RP: The native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, was not selected in the five-round 2020 amateur draft. The Guardians recruited him over Zoom after the fact and a couple of years later, the reliever is on the team’s big-league radar. His stuff has ticked up the longer he’s been in the organization, with his fastball now sitting 93 to 94 mph and topping out at 96 mph. He tallied 99 strikeouts in 61 innings last season at High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron and recorded a 2.93 ERA. He had a pretty high walk rate, but limited opponents to a .229 slugging percentage. He didn’t allow many hits in general, but he surrendered only one home run.

Trevor Stephan, RP: Stephan is an apt study into Cleveland’s pitching development prowess. The club snagged him in the Rule 5 draft from the Yankees two years ago. He spent one season pitching mop-up duty and then in 2022, he soared toward the top of Terry Francona’s reliever trust rankings, thanks in large part to a devastating splitter that armed him with three quality pitches. He more than tripled his splitter usage in 2022; opponents slugged .224 against it.

More on Stephan’s arsenal

Myles Straw, CF: Straw earned a well-deserved Gold Glove Award for his patrolling of center field. He also ranked in the 94th percentile in sprint speed, which could pay dividends with the new rule changes. He’ll need to figure out how to convert his elite contact and chase rates into more hits. He did hit .330 over the final month of the season and he spent a week in Cleveland in December working with coaches on his swing.

Jose Tena, SS: A year ago, Keith Law ranked Tena as Cleveland’s fourth-best prospect and No. 68 in baseball, but a pedestrian showing at Double-A Akron tempered expectations. He struck out 138 times and walked only 25 en route to a .264/.299/.411 slash line. That dropped Tena from the Top 100 and shifted him to No. 10 in the system. Law did write Tena demonstrated “enough to hold out hope for further improvement,” labeling him a plus defender at shortstop who has “the upside of a strong regular or a bit more.”

Touki Toussaint, RP: The Guardians view Toussaint, a former first-round pick and top-50 prospect, as a potential multi-inning reliever. He’s still only 26, with big-league experience in each of the past five seasons with the Braves and Angels. His hurdle has been command (5.5 walks per nine innings). He wields a punishing curveball, and he’s found success with his splitter, too.

George Valera, RF: There seems to be some industry debate about Valera’s ceiling as a major-league hitter and whether he can make enough contact to be more than a platoon corner outfielder who often succumbs to the three true outcomes. (Law ranked him the No. 27 prospect in baseball, for what it’s worth.) We might get an idea as soon as this summer. Valera reached Triple A last summer, so if he can show some refinement in Columbus, he could be ready for a big-league opportunity.

Meibrys Viloria, C: If it wasn’t Cam Gallagher serving as Salvador Perez’s backup with the Royals in recent years, it was usually Viloria. He’ll play for Team Colombia in the WBC, which could cost him time to familiarize himself with Cleveland’s pitching staff. For now, though, he’s part of the competition to share time behind the plate with Mike Zunino.

Mike Zunino, C: The Guardians will be careful with Zunino this spring as he returns from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery on his non-throwing arm, but he is expected to be in the lineup for the Cactus League opener Saturday, which is an encouraging sign. The veteran catcher has a boom-or-bust profile at the plate and a strong reputation behind it. He signed a one-year, $6 million deal to replace Austin Hedges.

Ex-All-Star infielder announces retirement from MLB

by Darryn Albert

February 20, 2023

It is time for one veteran infielder to put his glove in Public Storage.

Ex-Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis announced in a post to Twitter on Monday that he is retiring from baseball. Kipnis said that his “body and mind just aren’t up for the commitment anymore” and expressed gratitude to his parents, coaches, teammates, fans, and many others.



Now 35, Kipnis played nine seasons with the then-Cleveland Indians from 2011 to 2019, making two All-Star teams with them. After Kipnis broke his hamate bone in his final at-bat for Cleveland, he was let go by the team and subsequently signed with the Chicago Cubs for the 2020 season. He spent 2021 on a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves but did not make any big-league appearances for them. Kipnis then went unsigned in 2022.

A versatile talent, Kipnis was a fun guy to watch on the diamond. But now he has officially closed the book on his MLB career some 12 years after it began.

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