Paul Hoynes reports:
League sources say the Guardians’ deadline plans changed dramatically when MLB announced Monday that closer Emmanuel Clase was removed from the roster and put on paid leave because of his possible connection to gambling on baseball. Clase could have been one of Cleveland’s trade chips. With him out of the picture, would they consider moving Kwan?
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported that the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Phillies and Padres are interested in Kwan. If the Guardians do trade him by Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline, he will not go cheaply.
He’s hitting .286 (114 for 392) with nine homers and 38 RBI. He’s scored 52 runs with a .761 OPS (onbase percentage + slugging percentage).
The Guardians have been unable to sign him to an extension, but they still have time to pursue that. Or they could wait to trade him in the offseason.
The organization has been criticized for not being able to develop everyday outfielders. Kwan, a fifth round pick out of Oregon State in 2018, is the exception to that rule.
If they did trade him, that would certainly mean the Guardians were abandoning the season and pointing toward 2026 [make that 2029. If they trade Kwan they'll be left with a nice young rotation, a nice young bullpen, Jose Ramirez, Kyle Manzardo, and a few maybe possibly ok starters. And the hope that Bazzana and Keyfus and Ingle will develop very very quickly into at least as good they promise now.
Re: Articles
11132CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians traded Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald on Thursday morning, and then sat back and waited for some team to meet their demands for Steven Kwan. No one did. Here are a few thoughts.
Kwan stays put
There were plenty of conversations about moving Kwan this week. The Guardians spoke with the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds about a potential deal. As it typically does, however, the team set a gaudy price and didn’t budge.
Of those six contenders, a couple didn’t have strong enough farm systems to be a match. The Padres instead opted to send prized shortstop prospect Leo De Vries to the Athletics for Mason Miller and J.P. Sears. The Dodgers, of all the suitors, definitely have the farm system to pull off such a deal, but they instead made upgrades on the margins in reliever Brock Stewart and outfielder Alex Call.
Kwan said Wednesday that he found the rumors flattering. That’s how Guardians president Chris Antonetti sold it to him as well when the two chatted on Thursday afternoon. “Not only do we have a profound appreciation for what he’s able to contribute on the baseball field and in the clubhouse,” Antonetti said, “but so does the rest of Major League Baseball.”
Kwan is under team control through the 2027 season. He’s as self-aware a big-leaguer as there is, and heard the rumblings in recent days, though he tried to ignore them. Past negotiations about a contract extension have not been fruitful, but Kwan welcomed the opportunity to try again in the future.
It’s been a tumultuous week for the club, thanks to closer Emmanuel Clase, but the Guardians sit 2 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. They welcome the skeleton crew of the Minnesota Twins to town on Friday.
Bieber trade far from a surprise
The Guardians received a bunch of calls on Bieber over the last week or two, and once he cleared his latest rehab hurdle with no issues, it became inevitable. The only question was what the Guardians would net in return.
Cleveland could have clutched onto Bieber until this winter, when he’s likely to decline his $16 million player option and instead collect a $4 million buyout and reset his market in free agency. Then, the Guardians could have submitted a qualifying offer to him, and had he rejected that, they would have earned a compensatory draft pick. They wanted a prospect they valued more than the pick, and it appears they achieved that.
Consider these two scouting reports.
1. “Another guy that has an advanced feel to pitch … really commands the fastball extremely well … throws a ton of strikes … has a clean, repeatable delivery … doesn’t have overwhelming stuff … his off-speed pitches need work.”
2. “Walked just 5 percent of batters he faced … works with average stuff … (arm slot) helps his fastball play up above its velocity … more polish than projection … back-end starter potential.”
The first report is a mix of former Cleveland scouting director Brad Grant and Baseball America about Bieber from when they drafted him in 2016. The second report is from The Athletic’s Keith Law, on pitcher Khal Stephen, whom the Guardians acquired for Bieber.
Sound similar? Several rival evaluators noted that Stephen perfectly fits the parameters the Guardians tend to seek when adding pitchers. Stephen is dealing with a shoulder impingement, but he was expected to return to the mound in the next week or two. He owns a 2.06 ERA this season, with 18 walks and 99 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. He had reached Double A before landing on the injured list.
As for Bieber, he was a likely trade candidate in 2023 until he suffered an injury. He was a likely trade candidate in 2024 until he tore his elbow (and the team turned out to be a legitimate contender). The Guardians re-signed him for 2025, helped him along his rehab from Tommy John surgery, paid him about two-thirds of his $10 million base salary and then unloaded him for a prospect.
It’s sort of an inconspicuous departure for a guy who morphed from an overlooked, unheralded prospect into a Cy Young Award winner.
You’re never truly safe from the trade machine
Teams have traded Sewald at the deadline in two of the last three seasons. On both occasions, he was confident he wouldn’t be dealt. It’s a ruthless time of year.
One afternoon in late July 2023, Sewald, then a member of the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen, walked out of the kitchen and into the visiting clubhouse at Chase Field in Arizona. On a TV screen too big to miss, he caught an MLB Network display that read, “Five players most likely to be traded.” His name made the list.
“That’s really tough,” Sewald said. “Like, ‘Man, I really hope that’s not true.’”
At the start of that month, with the Mariners four games under .500 and 10 games back in the AL West, there was no doubt in Sewald’s mind: He was headed out of town. Seattle, though, blitzed through its July schedule with a 17-9 record. At the end of the month, the Mariners took two of three in Arizona and climbed to within one game of a Wild Card spot. Manager Scott Servais held a team meeting to express how thrilled he was with the team’s play and how it should position the club to buy, not sell.
“I was like, ‘Oh man, I guess I’m not getting traded,’” Sewald recalled last week. That was the preference, too. He didn’t want to leave Seattle. He didn’t want to drag his family to another city without warning. He says he would have stayed with the Mariners as long as they would have had him.
Well, he was traded anyway.
“I was shocked,” he said. “In the moment, I was heartbroken.”
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen called Sewald to tell him they were acquiring him and asked if he could meet the team in San Francisco that day. Sewald mentioned that if they had completed the trade a day earlier, he could have just switched clubhouses.
The midseason upheaval ended up being for the best. Sewald joined the Diamondbacks, who made an implausible run to the World Series.
“You gather your thoughts, you pack your house, and you leave,” Sewald said. “I remember saying, ‘They traded three prospects for me. They really wanted me.’ It felt really nice to be wanted. They were desperate for a closer.”
It helps that Arizona was his top-ranked destination when Stephen Vogt, Seattle’s bullpen coach in 2023 and now Sewald’s manager in Cleveland, asked Sewald where he’d want to wind up if he were to be traded. Sewald mentioned Arizona, given its proximity to his Las Vegas home and the fact that he and his family were familiar with the area, having spent several spring trainings there.
Kwan stays put
There were plenty of conversations about moving Kwan this week. The Guardians spoke with the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds about a potential deal. As it typically does, however, the team set a gaudy price and didn’t budge.
Of those six contenders, a couple didn’t have strong enough farm systems to be a match. The Padres instead opted to send prized shortstop prospect Leo De Vries to the Athletics for Mason Miller and J.P. Sears. The Dodgers, of all the suitors, definitely have the farm system to pull off such a deal, but they instead made upgrades on the margins in reliever Brock Stewart and outfielder Alex Call.
Kwan said Wednesday that he found the rumors flattering. That’s how Guardians president Chris Antonetti sold it to him as well when the two chatted on Thursday afternoon. “Not only do we have a profound appreciation for what he’s able to contribute on the baseball field and in the clubhouse,” Antonetti said, “but so does the rest of Major League Baseball.”
Kwan is under team control through the 2027 season. He’s as self-aware a big-leaguer as there is, and heard the rumblings in recent days, though he tried to ignore them. Past negotiations about a contract extension have not been fruitful, but Kwan welcomed the opportunity to try again in the future.
It’s been a tumultuous week for the club, thanks to closer Emmanuel Clase, but the Guardians sit 2 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. They welcome the skeleton crew of the Minnesota Twins to town on Friday.
Bieber trade far from a surprise
The Guardians received a bunch of calls on Bieber over the last week or two, and once he cleared his latest rehab hurdle with no issues, it became inevitable. The only question was what the Guardians would net in return.
Cleveland could have clutched onto Bieber until this winter, when he’s likely to decline his $16 million player option and instead collect a $4 million buyout and reset his market in free agency. Then, the Guardians could have submitted a qualifying offer to him, and had he rejected that, they would have earned a compensatory draft pick. They wanted a prospect they valued more than the pick, and it appears they achieved that.
Consider these two scouting reports.
1. “Another guy that has an advanced feel to pitch … really commands the fastball extremely well … throws a ton of strikes … has a clean, repeatable delivery … doesn’t have overwhelming stuff … his off-speed pitches need work.”
2. “Walked just 5 percent of batters he faced … works with average stuff … (arm slot) helps his fastball play up above its velocity … more polish than projection … back-end starter potential.”
The first report is a mix of former Cleveland scouting director Brad Grant and Baseball America about Bieber from when they drafted him in 2016. The second report is from The Athletic’s Keith Law, on pitcher Khal Stephen, whom the Guardians acquired for Bieber.
Sound similar? Several rival evaluators noted that Stephen perfectly fits the parameters the Guardians tend to seek when adding pitchers. Stephen is dealing with a shoulder impingement, but he was expected to return to the mound in the next week or two. He owns a 2.06 ERA this season, with 18 walks and 99 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. He had reached Double A before landing on the injured list.
As for Bieber, he was a likely trade candidate in 2023 until he suffered an injury. He was a likely trade candidate in 2024 until he tore his elbow (and the team turned out to be a legitimate contender). The Guardians re-signed him for 2025, helped him along his rehab from Tommy John surgery, paid him about two-thirds of his $10 million base salary and then unloaded him for a prospect.
It’s sort of an inconspicuous departure for a guy who morphed from an overlooked, unheralded prospect into a Cy Young Award winner.
You’re never truly safe from the trade machine
Teams have traded Sewald at the deadline in two of the last three seasons. On both occasions, he was confident he wouldn’t be dealt. It’s a ruthless time of year.
One afternoon in late July 2023, Sewald, then a member of the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen, walked out of the kitchen and into the visiting clubhouse at Chase Field in Arizona. On a TV screen too big to miss, he caught an MLB Network display that read, “Five players most likely to be traded.” His name made the list.
“That’s really tough,” Sewald said. “Like, ‘Man, I really hope that’s not true.’”
At the start of that month, with the Mariners four games under .500 and 10 games back in the AL West, there was no doubt in Sewald’s mind: He was headed out of town. Seattle, though, blitzed through its July schedule with a 17-9 record. At the end of the month, the Mariners took two of three in Arizona and climbed to within one game of a Wild Card spot. Manager Scott Servais held a team meeting to express how thrilled he was with the team’s play and how it should position the club to buy, not sell.
“I was like, ‘Oh man, I guess I’m not getting traded,’” Sewald recalled last week. That was the preference, too. He didn’t want to leave Seattle. He didn’t want to drag his family to another city without warning. He says he would have stayed with the Mariners as long as they would have had him.
Well, he was traded anyway.
“I was shocked,” he said. “In the moment, I was heartbroken.”
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen called Sewald to tell him they were acquiring him and asked if he could meet the team in San Francisco that day. Sewald mentioned that if they had completed the trade a day earlier, he could have just switched clubhouses.
The midseason upheaval ended up being for the best. Sewald joined the Diamondbacks, who made an implausible run to the World Series.
“You gather your thoughts, you pack your house, and you leave,” Sewald said. “I remember saying, ‘They traded three prospects for me. They really wanted me.’ It felt really nice to be wanted. They were desperate for a closer.”
It helps that Arizona was his top-ranked destination when Stephen Vogt, Seattle’s bullpen coach in 2023 and now Sewald’s manager in Cleveland, asked Sewald where he’d want to wind up if he were to be traded. Sewald mentioned Arizona, given its proximity to his Las Vegas home and the fact that he and his family were familiar with the area, having spent several spring trainings there.
Re: Articles
1113317. Cleveland Guardians (17.5)
Record: 57-55
Last Power Ranking: 19
Deadline in a word: Ruined
Look at the returns the Twins (Jhoan Duran) and A’s (Mason Miller) got for their closers. Now imagine what the return might have looked like had Emmanuel Clase been available.
Instead, Clase is on non-disciplinary paid leave while the MLB completes a sports betting investigation. He could be back in September, or he could never play baseball again. Who knows!
So the Guardians’ deadline was an exercise in straddling the fence. Did they need to trade Shane Bieber? Probably not, but the odds of him exercising his player option this winter would be slim, assuming he looks good over the last two months.
Did they need to trade Steven Kwan? No, so they didn’t.
Clase could have given them a chance to really improve for 2026 and beyond. Instead, they’ll play out the string. — Weaver
Record: 57-55
Last Power Ranking: 19
Deadline in a word: Ruined
Look at the returns the Twins (Jhoan Duran) and A’s (Mason Miller) got for their closers. Now imagine what the return might have looked like had Emmanuel Clase been available.
Instead, Clase is on non-disciplinary paid leave while the MLB completes a sports betting investigation. He could be back in September, or he could never play baseball again. Who knows!
So the Guardians’ deadline was an exercise in straddling the fence. Did they need to trade Shane Bieber? Probably not, but the odds of him exercising his player option this winter would be slim, assuming he looks good over the last two months.
Did they need to trade Steven Kwan? No, so they didn’t.
Clase could have given them a chance to really improve for 2026 and beyond. Instead, they’ll play out the string. — Weaver
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
11134Well, they're doing a lot more than playing out the string but Clase unavailability for trade did cost them a major influx.
Re: Articles
11135May be wrong but I do not think the front office was going to trade Clase this summer. Would have put a dent in the team morale.
Re: Articles
11136By the numbers: How the Guardians have surged back into the AL playoff chase
Aug 10, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) celebrates his solo home run with teammates in the dugout during the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
By Zack Meisel
Aug. 11, 2025 6:00 am EDT
CLEVELAND — Every American League team has at least 50 losses. The Guardians have 56 of them. Yeah, they’re that close to the best record in the AL. It’s been a wild summer. The race is wide open and, somehow, they’re firmly involved.
How’d it happen? Well, if you were among those who shifted your attention to the Shedeur Sanders experience once the Guardians plummeted to 40-48 five weeks ago, here’s a summary of what you’ve missed:
3rd: The Guardians’ rank, among the league’s 30 teams, in runs scored over the last five weeks
Yes, the same offense that was blanked five times during a 10-game skid is now scoring runs in bunches. The two teams the Guardians trail in that span — the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers — have been on a summer-long tear.
Consider the slash lines of each of the three teams over the last five weeks:
Toronto: .304/.369/.502
Milwaukee: .286/.354/.449
Cleveland: .244/.322/.423
One of those might look like it doesn’t belong, sure, but it illustrates that the Guardians have delivered timely hitting, something they were allergic to for the first few months. They rank fifth in walk rate and eighth in strikeout rate over that stretch, two healthy traits for any offense. They’re tied for 10th in home runs and tied for sixth in stolen bases. This has been a well-rounded attack of late.
Kyle Manzardo has pushed his OPS to .808 (and it stands at .994 over his last 30 games). He’s up to 20 home runs, and assuming he belts at least five more before the end of the year, he’ll join Asdrúbal Cabrera, Francisco Lindor, José Ramírez, Franmil Reyes, Carlos Santana and Grady Sizemore as the only Cleveland hitters aged 25 or younger with a 25-homer season since the turn of the century.
Manzardo’s surge has supplied cover for Cleveland’s All-Stars. Ramírez went 2-for-25 on the club’s road trip, yet the Guardians went 5-1. Steven Kwan has also suffered through a prolonged funk.
Finally, however, the Guardians’ lineup has some depth. Brayan Rocchio has re-emerged from Triple-A Columbus as a more confident hitter. Daniel Schneemann has settled into the No. 2 spot in the lineup against righties. David Fry and Angel Martínez have feasted on lefties. It’s far from a perfect group, but it’s performing light years better than it was in the first three months.
4th: The Guardians’ rank, among the league’s 30 teams, in ERA over the last five weeks
This seems like a good opportunity to tip the hat to some unheralded members of the pitching staff.
Logan Allen: a 3.76 ERA and at least five innings pitched in all 11 starts since a brief bullpen stint in late May
Jakob Junis: a 1.31 ERA over his last 19 appearances
Matt Festa: two earned runs on four hits over 11 1/3 innings in the last month
How about the fact that “where would this team be without Kolby Allard?” is an actual, logical question? The journeyman soft-tosser has posted a 2.63 ERA across 48 innings in a role best described as mop-up/spot start/occasional high-leverage/“You need me? OK, no problem, let me just finish this granola bar and jog out there.”
It helps that Cleveland’s starters are pitching deeper into games. Before Sunday (and a potentially stat-skewing, three-inning effort from Slade Cecconi), the Guardians ranked second in the majors in innings per start over the last five weeks, behind only the Philadelphia Phillies. That makes life easier on the bullpen. Speaking of …
1.63: The combined ERA for Cleveland’s two new bullpen gems
Nic Enright has allowed an earned run in only two of 20 appearances. Erik Sabrowski has allowed two earned runs in 15 outings.
For a bullpen desperate for late-inning help to replace Tim Herrin (command trouble) and Emmanuel Clase (career trouble), Enright and Sabrowski have delivered an essential piece to this turnaround puzzle.
Sabrowski got a taste of high leverage last season when he joined the team late in the summer. He was perfectly capable then, though he admitted he wasn’t sure he even belonged, and he’s certainly pitching with confidence now. He owns a 0.64 ERA in 28 1/3 big-league innings. As for Enright, it’s not the flashiest stuff (93.3 mph average fastball), but his slider induces a ton of whiffs and he attacks the strike zone.
Their background stories reveal a pair of relievers determined not to waste the opportunity. Enright will undergo another cancer treatment after the season; he scheduled it for November to ensure there’s time for a deep postseason run. Sabrowski missed nearly four years of pitching because of a pair of elbow surgeries sandwiched around the pandemic. The Guardians scooped him up in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 Draft and now he’s Stephen Vogt’s go-to lefty.
What You Should Read Next
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: Guardians prospect, pitching through cancer treatment, on verge of majors
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: Guardians prospect, pitching through cancer treatment, on verge of majors
In 2022, pitcher Nic Enright was well on the road to his major-league dream. A cancer diagnosis changed — but did not stop — his plans.
.145: Opposing hitters’ batting average against Gavin Williams over his last six starts
Williams last week nearly tossed Cleveland’s first no-hitter in 44 years, a cruelly ironic drought for an organization that has boasted a vaunted pitching factory. In fact, Len Barker, the author of that perfect script on May 15, 1981, was watching Williams’ bid for history from Progressive Field, where Barker was working an event as an alumni ambassador.
The wait for another no-hit masterpiece continues. The wait for another Cleveland ace? That might not take as long. Williams, a first-round pick and consensus top 50 prospect who always oozed frontline starter potential, has looked the part lately.
In those six starts, Williams has limited the opposition to seven runs on 19 hits in 38 2/3 innings. Let’s rewind even further, though. Over the last three months, Williams has logged a 2.52 ERA in 16 starts, and the opposition has mustered a .180 average against him. After months of tweaks to his pitch arsenal and his delivery, he has finally settled on a setup that seems to work. With an upper-90s fastball, a looping curveball and darting sweeper, and now a cutter and sinker to confuse hitters, Williams can pile up strikeouts without issue. But he’s not going out of his way to chase strikeouts, and it’s led to more efficient pitch counts and higher innings totals.
Williams’ five starts in May: 24 2/3 innings, 500 pitches
Williams’ five starts before the near-no-hitter: 30 innings, 470 pitches
9.5: The number of games the Guardians have trimmed off the Tigers’ division lead
On the morning of July 9, even after winning a couple of games in Houston, the Guardians sat 15.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. About a month later, that Pacific Ocean-sized gap has shrunk to the size of a narrow creek.
The Guardians hit rock bottom at 40-48 after the Tigers swept them at Progressive Field on July 4 weekend. The Tigers were 57-34. Since then, they’re 11-17. The Guardians are 21-8. Poof, a comfortable, stretch-your-legs-for-three-months division lead is no more.
That’s all happened in five weeks, and that includes the four motionless days of the All-Star break. Yes, the Guardians have capitalized on a more forgiving schedule, but their two toughest assignments during that stretch — road visits to the Houston Astros and New York Mets — resulted in Cleveland sweeps.
Following series against the Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks, the Guardians’ schedule increases in difficulty, essentially until they reach the finish line. They have six more meetings with the Tigers, all slated for the final 12 days of the season. If they snag a playoff spot, they’ll have earned it.
(Photo of Kyle Manzardo: Patrick Gorski / Imagn Images)
Connections: Sports Edition Logo
Aug 11, 2025
By Zack Meisel
Aug. 11, 2025 6:00 am EDT
CLEVELAND — Every American League team has at least 50 losses. The Guardians have 56 of them. Yeah, they’re that close to the best record in the AL. It’s been a wild summer. The race is wide open and, somehow, they’re firmly involved.
How’d it happen? Well, if you were among those who shifted your attention to the Shedeur Sanders experience once the Guardians plummeted to 40-48 five weeks ago, here’s a summary of what you’ve missed:
3rd: The Guardians’ rank, among the league’s 30 teams, in runs scored over the last five weeks
Yes, the same offense that was blanked five times during a 10-game skid is now scoring runs in bunches. The two teams the Guardians trail in that span — the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers — have been on a summer-long tear.
Consider the slash lines of each of the three teams over the last five weeks:
Toronto: .304/.369/.502
Milwaukee: .286/.354/.449
Cleveland: .244/.322/.423
One of those might look like it doesn’t belong, sure, but it illustrates that the Guardians have delivered timely hitting, something they were allergic to for the first few months. They rank fifth in walk rate and eighth in strikeout rate over that stretch, two healthy traits for any offense. They’re tied for 10th in home runs and tied for sixth in stolen bases. This has been a well-rounded attack of late.
Kyle Manzardo has pushed his OPS to .808 (and it stands at .994 over his last 30 games). He’s up to 20 home runs, and assuming he belts at least five more before the end of the year, he’ll join Asdrúbal Cabrera, Francisco Lindor, José Ramírez, Franmil Reyes, Carlos Santana and Grady Sizemore as the only Cleveland hitters aged 25 or younger with a 25-homer season since the turn of the century.
Manzardo’s surge has supplied cover for Cleveland’s All-Stars. Ramírez went 2-for-25 on the club’s road trip, yet the Guardians went 5-1. Steven Kwan has also suffered through a prolonged funk.
Finally, however, the Guardians’ lineup has some depth. Brayan Rocchio has re-emerged from Triple-A Columbus as a more confident hitter. Daniel Schneemann has settled into the No. 2 spot in the lineup against righties. David Fry and Angel Martínez have feasted on lefties. It’s far from a perfect group, but it’s performing light years better than it was in the first three months.
4th: The Guardians’ rank, among the league’s 30 teams, in ERA over the last five weeks
This seems like a good opportunity to tip the hat to some unheralded members of the pitching staff.
Logan Allen: a 3.76 ERA and at least five innings pitched in all 11 starts since a brief bullpen stint in late May
Jakob Junis: a 1.31 ERA over his last 19 appearances
Matt Festa: two earned runs on four hits over 11 1/3 innings in the last month
How about the fact that “where would this team be without Kolby Allard?” is an actual, logical question? The journeyman soft-tosser has posted a 2.63 ERA across 48 innings in a role best described as mop-up/spot start/occasional high-leverage/“You need me? OK, no problem, let me just finish this granola bar and jog out there.”
It helps that Cleveland’s starters are pitching deeper into games. Before Sunday (and a potentially stat-skewing, three-inning effort from Slade Cecconi), the Guardians ranked second in the majors in innings per start over the last five weeks, behind only the Philadelphia Phillies. That makes life easier on the bullpen. Speaking of …
1.63: The combined ERA for Cleveland’s two new bullpen gems
Nic Enright has allowed an earned run in only two of 20 appearances. Erik Sabrowski has allowed two earned runs in 15 outings.
For a bullpen desperate for late-inning help to replace Tim Herrin (command trouble) and Emmanuel Clase (career trouble), Enright and Sabrowski have delivered an essential piece to this turnaround puzzle.
Sabrowski got a taste of high leverage last season when he joined the team late in the summer. He was perfectly capable then, though he admitted he wasn’t sure he even belonged, and he’s certainly pitching with confidence now. He owns a 0.64 ERA in 28 1/3 big-league innings. As for Enright, it’s not the flashiest stuff (93.3 mph average fastball), but his slider induces a ton of whiffs and he attacks the strike zone.
Their background stories reveal a pair of relievers determined not to waste the opportunity. Enright will undergo another cancer treatment after the season; he scheduled it for November to ensure there’s time for a deep postseason run. Sabrowski missed nearly four years of pitching because of a pair of elbow surgeries sandwiched around the pandemic. The Guardians scooped him up in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 Draft and now he’s Stephen Vogt’s go-to lefty.
What You Should Read Next
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: Guardians prospect, pitching through cancer treatment, on verge of majors
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: Guardians prospect, pitching through cancer treatment, on verge of majors
In 2022, pitcher Nic Enright was well on the road to his major-league dream. A cancer diagnosis changed — but did not stop — his plans.
.145: Opposing hitters’ batting average against Gavin Williams over his last six starts
Williams last week nearly tossed Cleveland’s first no-hitter in 44 years, a cruelly ironic drought for an organization that has boasted a vaunted pitching factory. In fact, Len Barker, the author of that perfect script on May 15, 1981, was watching Williams’ bid for history from Progressive Field, where Barker was working an event as an alumni ambassador.
The wait for another no-hit masterpiece continues. The wait for another Cleveland ace? That might not take as long. Williams, a first-round pick and consensus top 50 prospect who always oozed frontline starter potential, has looked the part lately.
In those six starts, Williams has limited the opposition to seven runs on 19 hits in 38 2/3 innings. Let’s rewind even further, though. Over the last three months, Williams has logged a 2.52 ERA in 16 starts, and the opposition has mustered a .180 average against him. After months of tweaks to his pitch arsenal and his delivery, he has finally settled on a setup that seems to work. With an upper-90s fastball, a looping curveball and darting sweeper, and now a cutter and sinker to confuse hitters, Williams can pile up strikeouts without issue. But he’s not going out of his way to chase strikeouts, and it’s led to more efficient pitch counts and higher innings totals.
Williams’ five starts in May: 24 2/3 innings, 500 pitches
Williams’ five starts before the near-no-hitter: 30 innings, 470 pitches
9.5: The number of games the Guardians have trimmed off the Tigers’ division lead
On the morning of July 9, even after winning a couple of games in Houston, the Guardians sat 15.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. About a month later, that Pacific Ocean-sized gap has shrunk to the size of a narrow creek.
The Guardians hit rock bottom at 40-48 after the Tigers swept them at Progressive Field on July 4 weekend. The Tigers were 57-34. Since then, they’re 11-17. The Guardians are 21-8. Poof, a comfortable, stretch-your-legs-for-three-months division lead is no more.
That’s all happened in five weeks, and that includes the four motionless days of the All-Star break. Yes, the Guardians have capitalized on a more forgiving schedule, but their two toughest assignments during that stretch — road visits to the Houston Astros and New York Mets — resulted in Cleveland sweeps.
Following series against the Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks, the Guardians’ schedule increases in difficulty, essentially until they reach the finish line. They have six more meetings with the Tigers, all slated for the final 12 days of the season. If they snag a playoff spot, they’ll have earned it.
(Photo of Kyle Manzardo: Patrick Gorski / Imagn Images)
Connections: Sports Edition Logo
Aug 11, 2025
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
11137Lots of players to credit for the surge and it is especially impressive that it's come without much from their All Stars: both Jose and Stephen in slumps and Clase gone.
Arias has had some good days at bat and solid SS. Bo has lifted his offense. CJ with a great opening week. Just about everyone except jones has contributed.
Arias has had some good days at bat and solid SS. Bo has lifted his offense. CJ with a great opening week. Just about everyone except jones has contributed.
Re: Articles
11138Answering your Guardians questions: DeLauter updates, Kwan’s struggles and more
By Zack Meisel
Aug. 15, 2025Updated 5:26 pm EDT
15
Zack Meisel discussed Steven Kwan’s current health, when we can expect to see John Means, and how much optimism is reasonable during a wide-ranging live Q&A with The Athletic subscribers on Friday.
Here are some highlights from that live discussion. To see answers to more Guardians questions, read the full Q&A.
(Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.)
Steven Kwan has a long history of quad issues and fading a bit toward the middle of the season. Plus, he’s had the wrist thing this year. Is his recent struggle more to do with the wrist or just the usual wear and tear/fatigue? — Matt S.
Kwan and manager Stephen Vogt said this week that the wrist is not bothering him. Do I believe them? Hard to say. My rule of thumb has always been, if a player doesn’t use an injury as an excuse, then why should I? How are we supposed to know exactly how much pain someone is dealing with? After two years of stretches of extremes, I do wonder if Kwan will try to unearth some way to find more middle ground at the plate next year. He’s been super streaky.
John Means is starting his rehab assignment. What are the odds he’s ready to give some quality innings by the end of the season? — Scotty H.
He’ll give them some innings, for sure. Hate to hold him to any standard of quality given how little he’s pitched the last few years, though. But they’d love to see enough that convinces them to exercise his option.
Zack, do you have an update on prospects Chase DeLauter and Juan Brito? Is there any chance we see either down the stretch to help the offense? — Matthew T.
The last update on Brito sounded ominous; it had me thinking that’s a late-September call-up, if at all, like Will Brennan and Bo Naylor in 2022. I have no idea what they’ll do with DeLauter now, honestly. Does he have to go through their slow build-up process again? That’ll take until January. He’s a little more than three weeks into a recovery that was expected to take six to eight. So, maybe the same thought as Brito.
Any word on when David Fry will start throwing? He was a huge asset last year when he could play any position and was hitting. Only being able to hit has hamstrung the team at times. If pitchers are on a throwing program a year after Tommy John surgery, is there any chance he would be able to play defense in the playoffs? — Austin G.
He’s been throwing for a bit now — up to 90 feet as of a couple weeks ago. I’ll bring my ruler to the park to see if that’s still the case. There have been whispers about whether he could play first base this year, but whenever that gets mentioned, it gets dismissed, which makes sense, since they already have three first basemen on the roster as it is. But having flexibility with him makes him far more valuable.
Hey Zack, on the Godcast before this run, you bemoaned the lack of direction in the team’s assets. I believe you stated a general lack of enthusiasm for the roster going forward. Has your view there changed? You’re closer than your readers, but from afar, it would appear the team has a strong potential rotation going forward, a few good controllable bullpen arms, and positional depth. Am I just being Vogt-like in my optimism, or are there maybe some good days ahead?
They’re never as bad as they look in a 10-game losing streak and never as great as they look in a hot stretch. The truth lies somewhere in the middle, and that’s the case here, too. The Guardians often juggle contending and developing simultaneously, but for a few months, they weren’t doing well enough at either. I know it’s doubly frustrating for fans because a generational talent on a self-forced generational discount isn’t getting younger. Oh, and this was an ALCS team last year. Their top prospect list is filled with intriguing hitters. The key to the entire operation will be making sure they hit on enough of them. That means giving them opportunities and trading the right ones for proven talent. It means getting the timing right on a lot of things. I think there should be optimism! I’m interested to see how it all plays out.
By Zack Meisel
Aug. 15, 2025Updated 5:26 pm EDT
15
Zack Meisel discussed Steven Kwan’s current health, when we can expect to see John Means, and how much optimism is reasonable during a wide-ranging live Q&A with The Athletic subscribers on Friday.
Here are some highlights from that live discussion. To see answers to more Guardians questions, read the full Q&A.
(Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.)
Steven Kwan has a long history of quad issues and fading a bit toward the middle of the season. Plus, he’s had the wrist thing this year. Is his recent struggle more to do with the wrist or just the usual wear and tear/fatigue? — Matt S.
Kwan and manager Stephen Vogt said this week that the wrist is not bothering him. Do I believe them? Hard to say. My rule of thumb has always been, if a player doesn’t use an injury as an excuse, then why should I? How are we supposed to know exactly how much pain someone is dealing with? After two years of stretches of extremes, I do wonder if Kwan will try to unearth some way to find more middle ground at the plate next year. He’s been super streaky.
John Means is starting his rehab assignment. What are the odds he’s ready to give some quality innings by the end of the season? — Scotty H.
He’ll give them some innings, for sure. Hate to hold him to any standard of quality given how little he’s pitched the last few years, though. But they’d love to see enough that convinces them to exercise his option.
Zack, do you have an update on prospects Chase DeLauter and Juan Brito? Is there any chance we see either down the stretch to help the offense? — Matthew T.
The last update on Brito sounded ominous; it had me thinking that’s a late-September call-up, if at all, like Will Brennan and Bo Naylor in 2022. I have no idea what they’ll do with DeLauter now, honestly. Does he have to go through their slow build-up process again? That’ll take until January. He’s a little more than three weeks into a recovery that was expected to take six to eight. So, maybe the same thought as Brito.
Any word on when David Fry will start throwing? He was a huge asset last year when he could play any position and was hitting. Only being able to hit has hamstrung the team at times. If pitchers are on a throwing program a year after Tommy John surgery, is there any chance he would be able to play defense in the playoffs? — Austin G.
He’s been throwing for a bit now — up to 90 feet as of a couple weeks ago. I’ll bring my ruler to the park to see if that’s still the case. There have been whispers about whether he could play first base this year, but whenever that gets mentioned, it gets dismissed, which makes sense, since they already have three first basemen on the roster as it is. But having flexibility with him makes him far more valuable.
Hey Zack, on the Godcast before this run, you bemoaned the lack of direction in the team’s assets. I believe you stated a general lack of enthusiasm for the roster going forward. Has your view there changed? You’re closer than your readers, but from afar, it would appear the team has a strong potential rotation going forward, a few good controllable bullpen arms, and positional depth. Am I just being Vogt-like in my optimism, or are there maybe some good days ahead?
They’re never as bad as they look in a 10-game losing streak and never as great as they look in a hot stretch. The truth lies somewhere in the middle, and that’s the case here, too. The Guardians often juggle contending and developing simultaneously, but for a few months, they weren’t doing well enough at either. I know it’s doubly frustrating for fans because a generational talent on a self-forced generational discount isn’t getting younger. Oh, and this was an ALCS team last year. Their top prospect list is filled with intriguing hitters. The key to the entire operation will be making sure they hit on enough of them. That means giving them opportunities and trading the right ones for proven talent. It means getting the timing right on a lot of things. I think there should be optimism! I’m interested to see how it all plays out.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
11139Regrettably it has not been a great season for the guys on the top of the list:Their top prospect list is filled with intriguing hitters. The key to the entire operation will be making sure they hit on enough of them
Bazzana, Genao, Chourio, DeLauter
Some newcomers have had great debuts in Arizona summer league, but they're all teenagers; Juneiker Caceres; Roberto Avila, Dauri Fernandez. And then there are the 2025 draft picks, mostly college bats who had down years before the draft: either clever discount signings, or risky gambles.
Re: Articles
11141@GuardsInsider
The Cleveland Guardians Player Development System announced the following move for today:
Transfer Triston McKenzie from the ACL to Columbus.
11:08 AM · Aug 17, 2025
·
The Cleveland Guardians Player Development System announced the following move for today:
Transfer Triston McKenzie from the ACL to Columbus.
11:08 AM · Aug 17, 2025
·
Re: Articles
11142Cleveland Guardians On SI
@GuardiansOnSI
·
29m
The Cleveland Guardians have recalled LHP Tim Herrin and optioned LHP Joey Cantillo to Triple-A.
@GuardiansOnSI
·
29m
The Cleveland Guardians have recalled LHP Tim Herrin and optioned LHP Joey Cantillo to Triple-A.
Re: Articles
11144Would not be surprised to see Tristan make a spot start for the Guardians and then designated for assignment.
Re: Articles
11145Guardians notes: Parker Messick watch, Triston McKenzie’s return and key prospect updates
By Zack Meisel
Aug. 17, 2025Updated 7:46 pm EDT
21
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians need a starting pitcher for Wednesday.
They didn’t have to need a starter for Wednesday, but they chose to need one. They optioned Joey Cantillo to Triple-A Columbus and tasked him with peppering the strike zone with fastballs, changeups and curveballs. He had been doing that in the big leagues, just not as consistently as he or the club would have preferred.
In his past five starts, Cantillo has issued 16 walks in 25 1/3 innings. That’s a lot of self-inflicted stress. However, Cantillo has recorded a 3.55 ERA in that stretch. There’s nothing wrong with that (though it makes you wonder what his ceiling is if he can nibble less). When asked why Cantillo can’t simply work on his strike-throwing at the big-league level, assistant GM Matt Forman said, well, some words that would lead one to think this isn’t actually about Cantillo.
“Decisions like this are tough,” Forman said. “There are a lot of factors that go into those. We’re balancing winning and development.”
So, really, this could be a convenient way to look at someone else in the rotation.
When did you last think about Triston McKenzie, the former Robin to Shane Bieber’s Batman act in Cleveland’s rotation? (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
No, it won’t be John Means, who tossed 38 pitches in a rehab start for Class A Lake County on Friday. Means is expected to make another rehab start this week and could stretch out to about 50 pitches. He’ll be part of the equation in September.
What about Parker Messick, Cleveland’s second-round pick out of Florida State in 2022? If the Guardians, say, tab Messick to start in Arizona this week, there’s room to add him to the 40-man roster, since the club recently outrighted Trevor Stephan to clear a spot. Messick has a 3.47 ERA in 20 starts at Columbus this season, with 42 walks and 119 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings.
The Athletic’s Keith Law wrote this spring that Messick “has excellent deception and moves quickly through his delivery, which seems to help keep hitters off balance,” and that he profiled as a No. 3 starter with above-average upside. Messick has increased his velocity the past two years and added a sinker.
“He’s answered the call,” said Stephen Osterer, Cleveland’s director of player development.
Now, will he get the call?
The Guardians are still weighing their options for the opportunity — one they intentionally created.
Triston McKenzie
When did you last think about McKenzie, the former Robin to Shane Bieber’s Batman act in Cleveland’s rotation? The 28-year-old made four appearances for the Guardians at the start of the regular season before he was designated for assignment. McKenzie has spent the past four months pitching against teenagers at the Guardians’ complex in Goodyear, Ariz. He finally escaped the desert and pitched for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.
McKenzie allowed an unearned run and two walks in one inning. His fastball sat in the 93-96 mph range. He’ll continue working out of Columbus’ bullpen. He can become a minor-league free agent at the end of the season.
“It’s been a long road for Triston,” Osterer said. … “In a lot of ways, it did challenge Triston, but he’s come out in a pretty good spot right now. We’re excited to see what he can do for the next few weeks.”
What You Should Read Next
Triston McKenzie’s fall from grace continues as Guardians designate him for assignment
Triston McKenzie’s fall from grace continues as Guardians designate him for assignment
It’s been an eye-opening fall from grace for one of the most beloved players in the clubhouse.
Chase DeLauter and Juan Brito
The Triple-A Columbus Clippers have one month of games remaining, so the clock is ticking for DeLauter and Brito as they work back from injuries that might have cost them a 2025 big-league debut.
DeLauter is a little more than three weeks removed from an operation to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his right hand. The customary timetable for a return from that procedure is six to eight weeks. He has resumed baseball activity and was trending toward a major-league promotion when he started experiencing pain that led to the surgery. Because of several injuries, DeLauter has appeared in only 138 games since the Guardians selected him in the first round of the 2022 draft.
“It can wear out a player mentally, going through it again,” Osterer said, “and especially when it’s a different part of the body. … He’s come a long way in the last couple years (in how to deal) with these things.”
Brito, meanwhile, is about six weeks removed from suffering a severe right hamstring strain. He has resumed swinging, throwing and defensive drills. Now, he must build his running. The typical timeframe for a return to game action is eight to 12 weeks.
Brito has totaled 24 games at Triple A this season, thanks to a pair of significant injuries. He was contending for the Guardians’ Opening Day second base gig in spring training. Now, he’s on the verge of a mostly wasted season.
Ralphy Velazquez
There might not be a minor-league bat sizzling more than the one Ralphy Velazquez has wielded the last two months. Over the past seven weeks, he boasts a .360/.440/.691 slash line.
The Guardians promoted Velazquez to Double-A Akron last week, and the first baseman’s production hasn’t slowed against stiffer competition. Consider his first four games at the affiliate:
1. 1-for-4 with a triple and a walk
2. 2-for-4 with a double
3. 3-for-4 with two homers, a double and a walk
4. 3-for-5 with a homer, a double and a walk
Velazquez, who turned 20 in late May, is one of the youngest players at the Double-A level. (According to the Guardians’ data, there are only four position players and one pitcher younger than Velazquez.) He had a slow start at Class A Lake County this season, but Cleveland’s front office figured a turnaround was inevitable given his promising underlying metrics. Velazquez leads all Cleveland prospects with 21 home runs this season.
Khal Stephen
Just as Shane Bieber prepares for his first big-league outing this week since April 2, 2024, the prospect the Guardians received from the Blue Jays in exchange for Bieber last month is nearing a return to game action. Stephen, whom MLB Pipeline placed seventh on Cleveland’s top prospects list, was dealing with a right shoulder impingement at the time of the trade. He threw a live bullpen on Friday and will throw another two-inning session this week. The Guardians believe he could help their big-league club as soon as next season.
Daniel Espino and Sam Hentges
Hentges last pitched on July 10, 2024, before he underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his left shoulder. The goal is for him to be healthy when he arrives at spring training in February. (Well, he’s technically already there, since he lives in the area and has been rehabbing at the team’s facility since the procedure.) He is expected to begin a mound progression in September.
Espino last appeared in a game in April 2022. Since then, he has endured a pair of shoulder surgeries, and conversation about the former top prospect has shifted from “Did you see how hard he threw and how many strikeouts he racked up?” to “Remember him?”
Espino has been throwing at the club’s Arizona complex in recent months, with some periods of recovery built into his program. He recently completed one of those de-load stretches and has resumed throwing bullpen sessions. He will not pitch at an affiliate this year.
“When we first had him and he was younger,” Osterer said, “he was very detail-oriented and every single thing that he did had a purpose. He still has that, but he’s a little bit more lenient on himself. He gives himself a little bit more grace and doesn’t wear it as much. … The resilience there is just off the charts.”
Tyler Naquin
Imagine being told a few years ago that Naquin would be ahead of McKenzie on the organization’s pitching depth chart in 2025. OK, so maybe that isn’t exactly the case now that McKenzie has returned to Columbus and Naquin is a work in progress, but what a bizarre path both players have traveled.
Naquin, who has switched to pitching, has reached a bit of a rough patch at Lake County. He has walked three in back-to-back outings, and he needed 35 pitches to record two outs on Sunday. Of course, every development with him comes with the caveat that, after 12 years in the professional ranks as an outfielder, he’s still new to this pitching thing. And the Guardians are encouraged by the growth he’s demonstrated.
Osterer said Naquin’s fastball is clocking in at 92-96 mph.
“He has pretty good stuff,” Osterer said. “It’s just the consistency of it. In fairness to Tyler, he hasn’t done it a ton. It has been arrow up. He has gotten a lot better.”
By Zack Meisel
Aug. 17, 2025Updated 7:46 pm EDT
21
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians need a starting pitcher for Wednesday.
They didn’t have to need a starter for Wednesday, but they chose to need one. They optioned Joey Cantillo to Triple-A Columbus and tasked him with peppering the strike zone with fastballs, changeups and curveballs. He had been doing that in the big leagues, just not as consistently as he or the club would have preferred.
In his past five starts, Cantillo has issued 16 walks in 25 1/3 innings. That’s a lot of self-inflicted stress. However, Cantillo has recorded a 3.55 ERA in that stretch. There’s nothing wrong with that (though it makes you wonder what his ceiling is if he can nibble less). When asked why Cantillo can’t simply work on his strike-throwing at the big-league level, assistant GM Matt Forman said, well, some words that would lead one to think this isn’t actually about Cantillo.
“Decisions like this are tough,” Forman said. “There are a lot of factors that go into those. We’re balancing winning and development.”
So, really, this could be a convenient way to look at someone else in the rotation.
When did you last think about Triston McKenzie, the former Robin to Shane Bieber’s Batman act in Cleveland’s rotation? (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
No, it won’t be John Means, who tossed 38 pitches in a rehab start for Class A Lake County on Friday. Means is expected to make another rehab start this week and could stretch out to about 50 pitches. He’ll be part of the equation in September.
What about Parker Messick, Cleveland’s second-round pick out of Florida State in 2022? If the Guardians, say, tab Messick to start in Arizona this week, there’s room to add him to the 40-man roster, since the club recently outrighted Trevor Stephan to clear a spot. Messick has a 3.47 ERA in 20 starts at Columbus this season, with 42 walks and 119 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings.
The Athletic’s Keith Law wrote this spring that Messick “has excellent deception and moves quickly through his delivery, which seems to help keep hitters off balance,” and that he profiled as a No. 3 starter with above-average upside. Messick has increased his velocity the past two years and added a sinker.
“He’s answered the call,” said Stephen Osterer, Cleveland’s director of player development.
Now, will he get the call?
The Guardians are still weighing their options for the opportunity — one they intentionally created.
Triston McKenzie
When did you last think about McKenzie, the former Robin to Shane Bieber’s Batman act in Cleveland’s rotation? The 28-year-old made four appearances for the Guardians at the start of the regular season before he was designated for assignment. McKenzie has spent the past four months pitching against teenagers at the Guardians’ complex in Goodyear, Ariz. He finally escaped the desert and pitched for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.
McKenzie allowed an unearned run and two walks in one inning. His fastball sat in the 93-96 mph range. He’ll continue working out of Columbus’ bullpen. He can become a minor-league free agent at the end of the season.
“It’s been a long road for Triston,” Osterer said. … “In a lot of ways, it did challenge Triston, but he’s come out in a pretty good spot right now. We’re excited to see what he can do for the next few weeks.”
What You Should Read Next
Triston McKenzie’s fall from grace continues as Guardians designate him for assignment
Triston McKenzie’s fall from grace continues as Guardians designate him for assignment
It’s been an eye-opening fall from grace for one of the most beloved players in the clubhouse.
Chase DeLauter and Juan Brito
The Triple-A Columbus Clippers have one month of games remaining, so the clock is ticking for DeLauter and Brito as they work back from injuries that might have cost them a 2025 big-league debut.
DeLauter is a little more than three weeks removed from an operation to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his right hand. The customary timetable for a return from that procedure is six to eight weeks. He has resumed baseball activity and was trending toward a major-league promotion when he started experiencing pain that led to the surgery. Because of several injuries, DeLauter has appeared in only 138 games since the Guardians selected him in the first round of the 2022 draft.
“It can wear out a player mentally, going through it again,” Osterer said, “and especially when it’s a different part of the body. … He’s come a long way in the last couple years (in how to deal) with these things.”
Brito, meanwhile, is about six weeks removed from suffering a severe right hamstring strain. He has resumed swinging, throwing and defensive drills. Now, he must build his running. The typical timeframe for a return to game action is eight to 12 weeks.
Brito has totaled 24 games at Triple A this season, thanks to a pair of significant injuries. He was contending for the Guardians’ Opening Day second base gig in spring training. Now, he’s on the verge of a mostly wasted season.
Ralphy Velazquez
There might not be a minor-league bat sizzling more than the one Ralphy Velazquez has wielded the last two months. Over the past seven weeks, he boasts a .360/.440/.691 slash line.
The Guardians promoted Velazquez to Double-A Akron last week, and the first baseman’s production hasn’t slowed against stiffer competition. Consider his first four games at the affiliate:
1. 1-for-4 with a triple and a walk
2. 2-for-4 with a double
3. 3-for-4 with two homers, a double and a walk
4. 3-for-5 with a homer, a double and a walk
Velazquez, who turned 20 in late May, is one of the youngest players at the Double-A level. (According to the Guardians’ data, there are only four position players and one pitcher younger than Velazquez.) He had a slow start at Class A Lake County this season, but Cleveland’s front office figured a turnaround was inevitable given his promising underlying metrics. Velazquez leads all Cleveland prospects with 21 home runs this season.
Khal Stephen
Just as Shane Bieber prepares for his first big-league outing this week since April 2, 2024, the prospect the Guardians received from the Blue Jays in exchange for Bieber last month is nearing a return to game action. Stephen, whom MLB Pipeline placed seventh on Cleveland’s top prospects list, was dealing with a right shoulder impingement at the time of the trade. He threw a live bullpen on Friday and will throw another two-inning session this week. The Guardians believe he could help their big-league club as soon as next season.
Daniel Espino and Sam Hentges
Hentges last pitched on July 10, 2024, before he underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his left shoulder. The goal is for him to be healthy when he arrives at spring training in February. (Well, he’s technically already there, since he lives in the area and has been rehabbing at the team’s facility since the procedure.) He is expected to begin a mound progression in September.
Espino last appeared in a game in April 2022. Since then, he has endured a pair of shoulder surgeries, and conversation about the former top prospect has shifted from “Did you see how hard he threw and how many strikeouts he racked up?” to “Remember him?”
Espino has been throwing at the club’s Arizona complex in recent months, with some periods of recovery built into his program. He recently completed one of those de-load stretches and has resumed throwing bullpen sessions. He will not pitch at an affiliate this year.
“When we first had him and he was younger,” Osterer said, “he was very detail-oriented and every single thing that he did had a purpose. He still has that, but he’s a little bit more lenient on himself. He gives himself a little bit more grace and doesn’t wear it as much. … The resilience there is just off the charts.”
Tyler Naquin
Imagine being told a few years ago that Naquin would be ahead of McKenzie on the organization’s pitching depth chart in 2025. OK, so maybe that isn’t exactly the case now that McKenzie has returned to Columbus and Naquin is a work in progress, but what a bizarre path both players have traveled.
Naquin, who has switched to pitching, has reached a bit of a rough patch at Lake County. He has walked three in back-to-back outings, and he needed 35 pitches to record two outs on Sunday. Of course, every development with him comes with the caveat that, after 12 years in the professional ranks as an outfielder, he’s still new to this pitching thing. And the Guardians are encouraged by the growth he’s demonstrated.
Osterer said Naquin’s fastball is clocking in at 92-96 mph.
“He has pretty good stuff,” Osterer said. “It’s just the consistency of it. In fairness to Tyler, he hasn’t done it a ton. It has been arrow up. He has gotten a lot better.”
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain