From the moment he was taken 24th in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians, Daniel Espino became one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
A triple-digit fastball, command, secondary offerings, composure on the mound… You could say he had it all.
His issues, however, started in 2022 with shoulder surgery.
After that, fate sure made it difficult for him, as he had to endure multiple years of setbacks and obstacles.
But he returned for a single outing late in the 2025 Triple-A season, and while he surrendered three runs in 0.2 innings, he was officially back after fighting against his body for so long.
He also took part in the Arizona Fall League, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings and striking out seven.
After four grueling years of rehab, Espino was shocked when he learned his velocity was all the way back in his most recent round of rehab.
“It was kind of shocking, how my velocity came back,” he told Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal this past weekend. “It’s like, ‘Dude, you’re back. And it’s not a question, but like, you’re back, back.’ That’s how I knew, ‘OK, I’m able to do this.'”
Espino’s manager, Stephen Vogt, declared him a ‘healthy pitcher’ on Monday and said that he has another live batting practice session coming up soon.
"Daniel is a healthy pitcher."#Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on the plan to ramp up Daniel Espino's work. Says that he has another live BP coming up. #GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/RKxFGln7tP
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) February 23, 2026
He was sitting in the high-90s and touching 100 mph in the AFL.
At long last, the Guardians might be able to actually get some innings from Espino this year.
The plan appears to be for him to begin the season in the minor leagues.
There is no word on where he might start his road back to fulfilling his dream of pitching in the major leagues, but the Guardians could opt to play it slow and assign him to High-A or Double-A.
Here’s what you need to know: Espino has a chance to be the X-factor in the Guardians’ chase for the postseason and beyond.
This is a guy who has already dominated Double-A, even if it was a very brief cameo: back in 2022, he made four starts at the level and covered 18.1 innings with a 2.45 ERA.
He walked just four hitters and struck out a whopping 35 back then.
Sure, he needs to show that his command is back, and also that his devastating slider still has the same bite as before.
But the Guardians will be patient, and in a few months, that patience could potentially pay off with a call-up to help in the stretch run.
Cleveland seems eager to keep trying the starter route because there haven’t been suggestions of a move to the bullpen, but he could make a huge impact in relief in August or September if things go the team’s way.
Maybe he can do it as a multi-inning guy, or, even if it’s a bit unlikely, as a starter in Cleveland in 2026.
In any case, Espino can and should be ready to help the team that drafted and believed in him this year if health cooperates.
NEXT: Jose Ramirez Has Big Day In Guardians' Win Over Diamondbacks
