It was only one inning, but it could not have been more important for Cleveland Guardians pitcher Daniel Espino. The heralded right-hander has been working his way back into their plans for almost four years now, and he finally might be on the verge of making his MLB debut.
Espino made his first appearance at this year’s spring training in a recent game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and in a limited number of pitches showed everyone why the organization has been awaiting his return. Cleveland has to be hoping it is the first step in finally getting to fulfill his expectations.
The Guardians prospect is generating excitement after that spring training start, which was seen as a “meaningful milestone.”
“He needed only nine pitches to breeze through three Diamondbacks hitters Sunday. He topped out at 98 mph, watched a few innings from the dugout, and then went through an extensive arm-care routine. Espino spent much of the last four years milling around the Guardians’ complex in Arizona, working out and biding his time until his shoulder healed. He stressed how monotonous the process can be, which explained why his inning of work Sunday was a meaningful milestone,” Zack Meisel wrote.
Espino was a first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, and in 2021, he struck out 152 batters in 91.2 minor league innings. He entered 2022 ranked as the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect and No. 53 in all of baseball, but a series of shoulder surgeries kept him off the mound until he was able to throw two-thirds of an inning in Triple-A toward the end of last season.
The 25-year-old arrived at spring training in a different position than most of Cleveland’s pitchers. He wasn’t necessarily attempting to make the team, but instead the goal was to have him comfortable back on the mound and to begin the 2026 season healthy.
Though it was fewer than 10 pitches, if his first outing was any indication, the ceiling for this year could be much higher. The Guardians already have more starting pitchers than there are spots in the rotation, so there is no reason to rush Espino. However, if he dominates in the minors like he once did, they may not be able to keep him down there for long.
If he responds well after his appearance, Espino is likely to get a few more turns on the mound, as starter Logan Allen is away from the team for a bit while participating for Panama in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
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