Using raw arm talent as a parameter, there might not be five pitching prospects in baseball as skilled and impressive as Cleveland Guardians’ Daniel Espino.
The 24-year-old has been, unfortunately, a victim of many shoulder issues that have put a cloud on his career outlook.
He underwent shoulder surgery to repair an injury to his right shoulder capsule and rotator cuff in mid-March.
Shoulder injuries can often be a death sentence to pitchers, for obvious reasons.
However, the Guardians are taking things slow and hoping Espino can eventually get his career back on track.
The organization offered medical updates on several players this week, including Espino.
According to the timeline they are referring to, there is a chance Espino won’t make it back in time to pitch in 2025.
“He continues to progress through his rehab and throwing progression in alignment with his surgeon’s originally projected timeline. At this juncture, we plan for him to return to game activity in the 16-to-18-month timeframe post-operative,” the Guardians reported on Friday.
Medical update as we begin camp: pic.twitter.com/RpX2OUgJDV
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) February 14, 2025
Espino went under the knife in March, so he is 11 months removed from his shoulder being repaired.
Per the Guardians’ expected timeframe, we are looking at a July-September return.
If the team is being cautious, and given his injury history, it’s a reasonable approach.
Even a minor hamstring strain can set him back a couple of weeks at this point and ruin a return in the 2025 minor league season.
However, getting him back to action in the minor leagues is not the primary objective for 2025.
The main goal is to have him back to full health, to become familiar with throwing a ball at close to full strength and the biomechanics involved, to fortify the muscles around the arm, the elbow, and the shoulder, and to remember what it’s like to face hitters.
His main mission is to become healthy enough to pitch again.
If it isn’t in the minors, then it will be in the Arizona Fall League or even Winter Leagues.
For actual production, the actual goal should be 2026.
One step at a time: Espino can still have a career, but it’s important not to rush things.
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