Daniel Espino has quietly become one of the most important arms in the Cleveland Guardians bullpen this October, and the man who works with him every day could not be prouder. The 25 year old right hander has been used as an opener and a high leverage reliever throughout the postseason, and he delivered one of the biggest innings of Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. For a pitcher whose career was nearly derailed by injuries, simply being on the mound in October is an accomplishment. Ahead of Game 3 at Progressive Field, Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis was asked about Espino’s journey.
Willis made it clear just how special this run has been to witness.
“I don’t want to say it’s almost a miracle because he’s been through things that very few, if any, have been through in this game and gotten back to a point where he can go out and do the things we’ve seen him do on the mound. He has taken every setback in stride and continued to work. Challenged himself, been a great listener, been a great communicator. He’s just stepped up to every challenge, and we’re seeing it evolve right now. It’s not only a blessing, but it’s certainly exciting to watch him, and hopefully we’ll be watching him for a number of years,” Willis said.
“It’s not only a blessing, but it's certainly exciting to watch him, and hopefully we'll be watching him for a number of years.”#Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis on Daniel Espino’s remarkable journey back to pitching#GuardsBall x @WEWS pic.twitter.com/Xw7QGJfGEq
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) October 14, 2026
Willis said he did not want to go as far as calling Espino’s comeback almost a miracle, but he pointed out that the young pitcher has been through things that very few players in the game have ever experienced and still made it back to this level. He praised Espino for taking every setback in stride, continuing to work, challenging himself and being both a great listener and a great communicator. Willis said Espino has stepped up to every challenge, the staff is watching him evolve right now, and he hopes the Guardians will be watching him for many years to come.
Espino’s story goes back to 2019, when Cleveland selected him in the first round with the 24th overall pick out of Georgia Premier Academy. The Panama native quickly became one of the most talked about prospects in baseball thanks to an electric fastball and a wipeout slider. Then the injuries hit. A string of shoulder problems, including surgery, kept him off the mound for years and left many wondering whether he would ever reach the majors at all.
He finally did this season, and he made an impact right away. Espino posted a 4.11 ERA over fourteen appearances, including three starts, and struck out 25 batters in just 15 1/3 innings. His role grew late in the year when the Guardians began using him as an opener for Joey Cantillo, and the strategy worked beautifully. Cantillo threw fifteen scoreless innings behind Espino over his final three outings of the regular season.
The postseason has only raised Espino’s profile. He opened Game 3 of the division series against the White Sox when Cleveland was facing elimination, recording two strikeouts in the first inning before handing the ball to Foster Griffin. In Game 1 of the ALCS, he entered in the fifth inning and struck out Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero in order, the top three hitters in a Rays lineup that combined for 88 home runs during the regular season. Through three postseason appearances, Espino has struck out five batters in 2 1/3 innings.
His stuff gives Stephen Vogt a valuable weapon in a series where every out matters. Espino can open a game, attack the heart of an opposing lineup in the middle innings or bridge the gap to Cade Smith and the rest of the late inning relievers.
The best of seven series is tied at one game apiece heading into Game 3 on Thursday, with Gavin Williams starting for Cleveland. If the Guardians need a big strikeout at some point this week, Willis and Vogt now know they can turn to a pitcher who has already overcome far tougher challenges than any lineup.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Reveals What Cade Smith Told Him Before The Playoffs
