The Cleveland Guardians have made their roster expansion decisions official, adding two players from Triple A Columbus ahead of Tuesday’s active roster deadline.
Utilityman Daniel Schneemann and right handed reliever Carlos Hernandez will both join the active roster when rosters expand to 28 players, giving Cleveland the versatility and bullpen depth that Chris Antonetti hinted at over the weekend. Schneemann’s addition comes as little surprise given his track record with the organization and the way Antonetti described the role earlier in the week, pointing toward a player who protects the roster at multiple spots rather than one locked into a single position. Hernandez, on the other hand, represents a more under-the-radar addition, and his call-up will require Cleveland to clear a spot for him on the 40-man roster.
“Cleveland Guardians are adding utilityman Daniel Schneemann and RHP Carlos Hernandez from Triple A Columbus to the active roster when rosters expand Tuesday to 28 players,” Guardians Prospective wrote.
Cleveland #Guardians are adding utilityman Daniel Schneemann and RHP Carlos Hernandez from Triple-A Columbus to the active roster when rosters expand Tuesday to 28 players.
Hernandez will need to be added to the 40-man roster. #GuardsBall
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) September 1, 2026
Schneemann has been exactly the type of do everything piece Cleveland has leaned on throughout his time with the organization. He entered Sunday hitting .330 with a .993 OPS across 24 games since being optioned to Columbus on July 24th, a stretch that made his return to the Majors feel like a matter of when rather than if. Across three big league seasons, Schneemann has appeared at second base, shortstop, third base, center field and right field, a level of versatility that fits directly into how Antonetti described the philosophy behind this particular roster spot. His MLB numbers this season sit at a .206 average with a .597 OPS over 83 games, modest production, but his value has always leaned more on flexibility than raw offensive output.
Hernandez brings a different kind of story to the bullpen mix. The 29 year old right hander signed a minor league deal with Cleveland as a free agent in November after bouncing around the league in 2025, appearing with the Kansas City Royals organization, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Detroit Tigers before finishing that season with a brief stint in the Cleveland organization. His career numbers stand at 8 wins and 19 losses with a 5.14 ERA across 191 appearances, including 25 starts and 4 saves. Hernandez spent time on a rehab assignment with the ACL Guardians in July before working his way back to Columbus, and his path back to a major league roster reflects the kind of organizational depth Cleveland has continued to build throughout the farm system.
With both additions now official, the Guardians have addressed two of the more pressing questions Antonetti faced heading into the final month of the regular season. The bullpen gains an experienced arm in Hernandez, while the bench gains a proven multi position option in Schneemann. Cleveland will now turn its attention to the pitching side of the roster expansion, with a decision on Slade Cecconi and the club’s plans for Friday’s doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers still to come.
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