Stephen Vogt Opens Up About Daniel Espino’s MLB Debut

For one inning Wednesday night, the score did not matter.

Daniel Espino made his long awaited major league debut in the sixth inning of Cleveland’s 9-4 loss to the Brewers, retiring the side in order and striking out two in a performance that overshadowed an otherwise difficult night for the Guardians. Stephen Vogt did not hesitate when asked about the moment afterward.

“That was obviously the highlight of the night. Knowing everything Daniel’s been through, this is an unbelievable story for him and for his family, his perseverance, his patience. Great story for our organization. Couldn’t be happier for Daniel,” Vogt said.

Espino was Cleveland’s first-round pick, taken 24th overall in the 2019 draft out of Georgia Premier Academy. The right-hander has spent the years since fighting through injury rather than building toward a debut, with knee surgery and two separate shoulder operations wiping out the better part of four seasons that should have defined his early career.

The wait made Wednesday’s outing feel earned rather than simply anticipated. Espino threw 12 pitches in his lone inning of work, with two clocking in at triple digits and six more sitting between 99 and 99.8 miles per hour. He struck out Garrett Mitchell and Cooper Pratt to open the frame before retiring David Hamilton on a fly ball to left, a clean and efficient introduction to the majors regardless of the circumstances surrounding it.

The stuff on display Wednesday is exactly what made Espino such a coveted prospect in the first place. Velocity was never the question with him. Staying healthy long enough to show it at the highest level was, and Wednesday answered that question for at least one night.

Cleveland will need contributions from arms like Espino’s as the season wears on, particularly with the bullpen absorbing extra innings during stretches when the rotation has struggled. Wednesday was just the first step, but for a player who has waited this long, a clean inning and a pair of strikeouts felt like more than enough to start.