Jason Kipnis Retires
Kipnis hangs it up, Espino hurt, expectations and Remember When
MLB spring training: Guardians top prospects Daniel Espino, Chase DeLauter both have injury setbacks
Spring training is a time for optimism. Unfortunately, spring training is also a time for injuries, and the Cleveland Guardians were hit with a double whammy of bad injury news involving two of their top prospects Monday.
Right-hander Daniel Espino, the team's No. 1 prospect, will be shut down at least eight weeks with a shoulder strain, according to The Athletic. He missed most of last season with knee and shoulder problems. Also, outfielder and 2022 first-round draft pick Chase DeLauter will miss 4-5 months after having surgery to repair a fracture in his foot. He had the same injury last year. Full Story
Top Guardians Prospect Daniel Espino Shut Down Eight Weeks With Shoulder Tear
Guardians right-hander Daniel Espino, ranked as one of top overall prospects in all of baseball, will be shut down from throwing for at least the next eight weeks after being diagnosed with a strain of his subscapularis in his right shoulder and a tear of the anterior capsule in that same shoulder, per the team. Cleveland also announced that 2022 first-round pick Chase DeLauter will miss at least four months due to a fracture in his left foot that required surgery last month. The outfielder suffered a different foot fracture last April while still playing at James Madison University.
Espino’s injury is the latest developmental setback for the 22-year-old righty, who ranks among the sport’s top 25 prospects at each of Baseball America, MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus. That’s due largely to an electric arsenal, headlined by an upper-90s heater that can reach triple digits, a plus slider and a pair of potentially average or better offerings in his changeup and curveball. Espino got out to a particularly brilliant start in 2022, posting a 2.45 ERA and striking out 35 of his 68 opponents in 18 1/3 innings through four starts. Full Story
Chris Antonetti on expectations for 2023: Guardians spring training rundown
Last year no one gave the Guardians a chance.
They did little on paper to improve their 80-82 finish from 2021, relying on the talent in their farm system instead of diving into free agency or the trade market. It turned out they knew what they were doing. Full Story
Remember When Cleveland made this great spring training move?
Five Outstanding Moves Helped Deliver A Division Title To The Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians started the MLB season with a new name and the youngest team in baseball.
Shedding their history playing as the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland franchise had some rocky early moments becoming the Guardians. Full Story