Guardians send 7 players to minor league camp in second roster reduction of spring

Updated: Mar. 11, 2025, 1:42 p.m.|Published: Mar. 11, 2025, 1:22 p.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians sent seven players to minor league camp on Tuesday in the latest roster reduction at the club’s Goodyear, Ariz. training facility.

No. 28 prospect Petey Halpin, who hit .063 with seven strikeouts in 10 Cactus League games, was among those cut loose from big league camp.

Halpin, 22, was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster in November. He was optioned to Triple-A Columbus, where he will presumably open the season as the Clippers' starting center fielder.

A third round pick out of St. Francis High School in San Mateo, Calif. in 2020. He hit .233 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 90 games for Double-A Akron last year while missing time due to a wrist injury that required surgery in the offseason.

Other players reassigned to minor league camp for Cleveland included:

LHP Will Dion: Ranked second on the club with 11 strikeouts in six Cactus League innings. Allowed three runs, but did not walk any of the 25 batters he faced in three relief appearances.

RHP Tanner Burns: Made four relief appearances covering 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and a 6.75 ERA. Allowed two home runs and walked three.

RHP Mason Hickman: Allowed seven hits and six earned runs over 5 1/3 innings while striking out six and walking five. Earned a save Feb. 28 against Colorado.

RHP Jack Leftwich: Appeared in four games and allowed seven runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

C Jake Anchia: Did not record a hit and struck out three times in six Cactus League at-bats.

C Cooper Ingle: Drove in four runs and hit .455 in 11 spring at-bats over six games. The club’s No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, he walked three times and struck two.

Tuesday’s cuts come after Cleveland’s first round of roster reductions on Saturday that saw injured players such as Chase DeLauter and George Valera reassigned to minor league camp while Franco Aleman, Nic Enright and Daniel Espino were optioned to Triple-A.

In the fold:

The club also announced Tuesday that it has reached agreement on one-year contracts for the 2025 season with all 28 of its pre-arbitration eligible players. The players include:

Aleman, Logan Allen, Gabriel Arias, Tanner Bibee, Will Brennan, Juan Brito, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, Enright, Espino, Tyler Freeman, David Fry, Hunter Gaddis, Halpin, Tim Herrin, Kyle Manzardo, Angel Martinez, Bo Naylor, Doug Nikhazy, Jhonkensy Noel, Luis Ortiz, Brayan Rocchio, Johnathan Rodriguez, Erik Sabrowski, Daniel Schneemann, Cade Smith, Andrew Walters and Gavin Williams.


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Why Carlos Santana turned down more money to return ‘home’ to Cleveland

Updated: Mar. 11, 2025, 6:38 p.m.|Published: Mar. 11, 2025, 5:59 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — For the longest time this offseason Chris Antonetti felt that Josh Naylor would be the Guardians first baseman on opening day.

It didn’t matter that Naylor would be a free agent at the end of the 2025 season. It’s still unclear if there was any attempt to sign Naylor to a multiyear deal, but if there was those talks had turned cold a while ago.

Antonetti, president of baseball operations, and the front office just couldn’t find the right match for a trade. But two days before Christmas, with the market for first basemen starting to move, the Guardians traded Naylor to Arizona for right-hander Slade Cecconi and a Competitive Round B draft pick.

An instant after that trade took place, the Guardians reached a one-year agreement with the second most productive switch-hitter in franchise history — free agent first baseman Carlos Santana. The soon to be 39-year-old Santana was coming home for the third time in his career.

“Cleveland is home to me,” said Santana. “Everyone knows I’ve played a long time here. I know everybody here. I know Chris Antonetti and the front office.

“They gave me the opportunity to start my big league career here. They wanted me back and I’m back.”

The Guardians weren’t the only ones pursuing Santana. The Mariners, both New York teams, Detroit, Arizona, Texas and San Diego showed interest. The Mariners, according to the Athletic, offered Santana a two-year deal with a club option for a third year for more money than Cleveland’s offer.

“There were plenty of other offers,” said Santana. “But Cleveland is my home. My family and I made the decision to come here.”

There’s nothing better than a good homecoming story. Santana made his big league debut with the Indians in 2010 after being acquired from the Dodgers in a 2008 trade for Casey Blake.

Santana left for the first time after the 2017 season to sign a three-year free agent deal with the Phillies. He returned in 2019 as part of a three-team deal with the Rays and Mariners.

This time he stayed through 2020 before signing with Kansas City as a free agent.

Now Santana, who turns 39 on April 8 (Cleveland’s home opener), is being counted on to help an offense that must replace the 31 homers and 108 RBI Naylor provided last year. If he’s worried about doing that, he hides it well.

“No, I don’t feel pressure,” said Santana. “Why? Nothing has changed. I don’t have pressure. It’s the same game. I just try to help my team to make it to the playoffs and the World Series.”

Jose Ramirez and Santana are the most productive switch-hitters in Cleveland history. Ramirez has 255 homers and Santana is next with 216. Regarding RBI by switch-hitters, Ramirez and Santana rank first and second as well with 864 RBI and 710, respectively.

Outside the realm of switch-hitting, Santana ranks second with 881 walks, sixth in homers and eighth in extra base hits with 503 in franchise history. When you play 1,334 games with one team, that’s what can happen.

While Ramirez is the Guardians' focal point on offense, Santana shouldn’t be far behind. Last year with the Twins, he hit .236 (124 for 521) with 26 doubles, 23 homers, 71 RBI and a .749 OPS (onbase percentage + slugging percentage). He is tied for fifth among active big leaguers with nine seasons of 20 or more homers.

This spring manager Stephen Vogt has been testing Ramirez in the No.2 spot in the lineup — he traditionally hits third — with Santana or Lane Thomas batting third. Without Naylor, he’s trying to find more protection for Ramirez.

“Steven Kwan (leadoff) and Jose (second or third) are pretty dialed into their spots,” said Vogt. “It’s among Carlos, Lane and some others as to how can we best protect everyone and put them in a position to get on base, drive in runs, steal bases ... all those things.”

Vogt builds his lineups to swing hard and fast. He wants to beat the opposing starting pitcher. Santana should have no problem with that strategy. He’s spent his career hitting in the middle of the lineup.

In Santana’s big league debut on June 11, 2010, then manager Manny Acta inserted him in the No. 3 spot. Santana, a catcher at that time, stayed there until his season ended in a collision at the plate in Fenway Park on Aug. 2. Santana needed surgery on his left knee.

Santana has played catcher, third base and the outfield during his career. But it wasn’t until he became a fulltime first baseman in 2015 that he found his position. Last year the 38-year-old Santana became the oldest position player in history to win a Gold Glove.

“I’ve been fighting for that,” said Santana. “I’d finished in the top three, but never won it. Last year I focused on that and I won it.”

The Gold Glove almost didn’t happen. After the 2023 season, Santana drew little interest as a free agent after playing for Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. He thought his career was over.

“Last year was tough,” he said. “I felt I was almost done. But people around me kept me positive. They said look at you, you look great. You have passion for baseball. Why would you retire?

“When you make that decision, and your body says no more, you’re done. Right now, I feel great.”

The Twins threw Santana a lifeline when they signed him on Feb. 2, 2024.

Santana is determined to play for as long as he can. He hired a chef and a trainer. He no longer drinks alcohol.

What he doesn’t have is a house in Cleveland. The day before he came to terms with the Guardians, he sold his home in Bratenahl.

Here’s betting Santana’s homecoming won’t be homeless for long.


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Guardians pitchers issue 13 walks in 10-4 spring training loss to Dodgers

Updated: Mar. 11, 2025, 7:21 p.m.|Published: Mar. 11, 2025, 7:10 p.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Guardians pitchers issued 13 walks and allowed six runs in the first inning Tuesday as the Dodgers prepared for their season-opening trip to Japan by dealing Cleveland a 10-4 spring training loss at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

Doug Nikhazy, competing for a spot on Cleveland’s opening day roster, made his first Cactus League start in his fourth appearance of spring training, allowing seven runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.

He tossed three shutout innings with six strikeouts in his previous outing against the Diamondbacks last week, but ran into trouble early when Shohei Ohtani walked and Tommy Edman belted his third spring home run to put the Dodgers in front.

Will Smith and Max Muncy added doubles off Nikhazy, with Muncy’s two-out shot to left scoring Smith for a 3-0 Dodgers lead. Magnus Ellerts replaced Nikhazy and walked four straight batters as LA scored three more times and led 6-0 by the end of the first.

Nikhazy re-entered in the second and hit Teoscar Hernandez with a pitch before loading the bases and allowing a two-run single to Andy Pages. Seven of LA’s first nine runs scored with two out.

Nikhazy was not the only Guardians pitcher who had trouble commanding the strike zone. Relief ace Tim Herrin struggled in the third, walking three and allowing an RBI single to Enrique Hernandez.

It was the first run allowed by Herrin, who had not walked a batter in three previous spring appearances for Cleveland.

Dodgers rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki, meanwhile, dominated Guardians hitters for four innings in his final spring tuneup before he starts Game 2 of LA’s series at the Tokyo Dome next week against the Cubs.

Sasaki, signed by the Dodgers in the offseason after pitching four seasons for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, walked two and struck out two, allowing only a base hit to Gabriel Arias leading off the second.

Arias has hits in back-to-back games and is batting .269 in 27 plate appearances as he battles for the Guards' starting second base job.

The Dodgers built a 10-run lead before Cleveland scored four unanswered runs after starters on both sides were long gone from the game.

Kahlil Watson singled and scored on an RBI triple by Micah Pries in the sixth off Dodgers righty Landon Knack. Pries later scored on a base hit by Guardians No. 5 prospect Ralphy Velazquez.

Cleveland added two more runs in the seventh on a Guy Lipscomb double and an RBI ground out by Jonathan Rodriguez.

Pries, in his second big league camp, added a base hit in the eighth and is batting .471 in 19 plate appearances. His six RBI are tied with Bo Naylor for second most by a Cleveland hitter this spring.

The Guardians fell to 7-10-1 in spring training exhibition games. The Dodgers finished their Cactus League run at 12-8.

Next:

The Guardians return to Goodyear Ballpark to host San Francisco on Wednesday. Left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-1, 6.00) will make his fourth Cactus League start for Cleveland. Righty Tristan Beck (0-0, 6.75) will take the mound for the Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET. The game will air on WTAM 1100 AM and the Guardains Radio Network. Pitchers scheduled to follow Cantillo include Emmanuel Clase, Jakob Junis, Slade Cecconi and Zak Kent.


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Off day for Nizhazy.

Welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter. My name is Tim Stebbins, and this is my first season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As Guardians pitchers played catch on Field 2 at their player development complex on Tuesday, they did so under the attentive eye of a team legend: Corey Kluber.

Kluber arrived on Sunday for a four-day visit as a guest observer at Guardians Spring Training. It’s the first time the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has donned a Cleveland uniform since 2019, the final season he pitched for the organization. In recent days, Kluber has been with the pitching staff during its morning workout and with the coaches during bullpen sessions, observing.

Kluber announced his retirement on Feb. 9 last year following his 13 decorated seasons in the Majors, nine of which he spent with Cleveland. Over the past year, he’s pondered ways he might be able to stay involved with baseball, and his appearance in camp is a general step to begin exploring what that could look like. He and the Guardians expect to continue conversations coming out of his visit.

“Nothing is set in stone at this point,” Kluber said. “But I think that I would be excited about the opportunity to kind of explore that here. Obviously, I have very fond feelings for this organization.”






While coaching is likely not a current consideration, Kluber noted he’s interested in “trying to find a way that my experience could provide value to the organization.”

“We're really looking forward to taking advantage of the four days,” Guardians assistant GM Eric Binder said. “Chat with him on the back end of that, just see where his mind is and [discuss] his experiences in camp. And then building off of that, partner on what that could look like into the future. But it was really exciting to reconnect with him, bring him back and spend some time with us.”

Kluber has talked to some former teammates and coaches about life after a playing career ends and the ways to stay involved with the game. Every experience is unique; everyone has different levels of interest.

“I think that the one constant that I've probably had in talking to people is finding something that you enjoy,” he said. “[Something] that you know doesn't just feel like you're there to take a job, so to speak, but you're actually being helpful, being useful.”






Kluber developed into one of the best starters in the Majors after Cleveland acquired him from San Diego on July 31, 2010. His resume includes winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2014 and ’17 and earning a pair of third-place finishes (’16 and ’18). He won the Majors’ ERA title in ’17 (2.25), threw a no-hitter in 2021 and earned three All-Star appearances (‘16-18).

From 2014-18, among pitchers with at least 50 starts, Kluber ranked fourth in the Majors in ERA (2.85) and second in innings (1,091 1/3), behind only Max Scherzer (1,098 2/3). Kluber’s wealth of experience in the big leagues also includes overcoming adversity later in his career to return as a productive starter. He made 31 starts in 2022 with Tampa Bay after he was limited by a right ulna fracture in ‘19, a torn right teres muscle in ’20 and a right shoulder strain in ’21.

“He has such a rich set of experiences, both on the Minor League side and on the Major League side,” Binder said. “When we acquired him, he wasn't a top prospect. But he was always looking to learn and grow and become a better version of himself, which allowed him to become the pitcher he was, pitching some of our biggest games.

“At the same token, though, he's been hurt, he's worked through rehab. He's worked to become the best version of himself again. … When he was with us as a player, he really set the standard of what it looked like to be a teammate, but then also a professional routine to get the best out of himself.”






 IN THE NEWS

• A little over two years after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, reliever Nic Enright is one promotion away from making his MLB debut.

• We’re halfway through Spring Training, which means it’s a good time to project what the Guardians’ Opening Day roster could look like.

• Two Guardians veterans have taken Juan Brito (Cleveland’s No. 10 prospect) under their wing this spring as the 23-year-old competes for the second-base job.

• Gavin Williams is putting up dazzling numbers this spring and passing the eye test following a tough 2024 season.

• Here are a few things to watch for from Guardians prospects playing in the Spring Breakout Game on Friday.

• Tyler Freeman’s defensive versatility is a key asset, and he’s also beginning to feel like himself again at the plate.


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Guardians' infield battle: Gabriel Arias adapts to second base, eyes starting job

Published: Mar. 12, 2025, 5:51 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The trade of Andres Gimenez to Toronto in December created a chance for one of several Guardians to replace him at second base. Gabriel Arias is one of those players, but he feels the situation involves more than a random roll of the dice.

“I don’t look at it as a chance,” said Arias, through interpreter Agustin Rivero. “I look at it as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity for anybody to win it. I feel like I still need to keep working to try and earn it.”

Arias went through a similar situation last spring. The Guardians needed a shortstop after trading Amed Rosario in 2022 and the competition came down to Brayan Rocchio and Arias. Rocchio won the job and Arias became a utility player.

Now he is on the other side of the infield, trying to become Rocchio’s double-play partner.

“Since I was a kid in Venezuela, I’ve always played on the left side of the infield, either at third or shortstop,” said Arias. “At second the ball comes at you at a completely different angle. Right now I’m adjusting to the different angle. I’m confident that I can get comfortable at this position.”

When spring training opened in February, Arias, Juan Brito, Tyler Freeman, Angel Martinez and Daniel Schneemann were considered candidates for the job. The Guardians' decision to give Arias and Brito the majority of playing time at second base in the first 19 Cactus League games reveals their thinking.

Arias in seven starts at second this spring is hitting .269 (7 for 26) with one homer and two RBI.

Brito, added to the 40-man roster in November after a big season at Triple-A Columbus, is hitting .095 (2 for 21) entering his seventh start at second base on Wednesday against the Giants. Both his hits have been home runs.

Asked if Brito was pressing, manager Stephen Vogt said, "I’m still getting to know Juan. Anytime you come into camp and there’s competition, you’re going to have some nerves. His work has been phenomenal."

As for Arias, Vogt said, “We’re seeing a very different, focused Gabby this spring. It’s really exciting to see the way he’s attacking every single day. He’s been working to get better and the quality of his at-bats have been much improved over what we saw last year.”

Arias struggled last year after losing the shortstop competition. He played five different positions, but hit just .222 (34 for 153) with three homers, 15 RBI and 53 strikeouts in 53 games. He was optioned to Columbus on July 11 and ended the season there.

Arias did not mope with the Clippers. He worked with the hitting coaches to make adjustments in his stance and swing and finished the year hitting .317 (53 for 167) with six homers and 20 RBI.

Arias knew he needed more at-bats so he returned home to Venezuela to play winter ball. He hit .274 (46 for 168) with 11 doubles, nine homers and 29 RBI for LaGuaira in the regular season and Magellanes in the playoffs.

“It was important for me to get the at-bats and it was important for my family to see me play live,” said Arias.

Arias enjoyed playing in front of his family and countrymen with one exception.

"Sometimes you feel more pressure playing there than here,“ said Arias with a smile. ”As Latin players we all understand everything that the fans are shouting at us.

“The intensity, the passion in how the people see the game is very different than here.”

If it feels like Arias has been wearing a Cleveland uniform for a long time, well, he has. He arrived as part of the Mike Clevinger deal during the 2020 pandemic season. He’s played parts of four seasons in Cleveland , but hasn’t hit enough to win a starting job.

There has never been a question about Arias’s defense even though he’s made only 21 combined starts at second in the big leagues and minors. He has quickness and one of the best arms in the big leagues.

“We know anywhere we play Gabby, he’s going to be one of the best defensive players on the field,” said Vogt.

If second base is Arias' opportunity, it could be his last in Cleveland. He is out of minor league options. If the Guardians don’t keep him on the 26-man roster come opening day, he’d have to be placed on waivers.

“We all know the business of baseball,” said Arias. “We’re here to compete. We’re here to try and earn a spot. We know whoever gets the job, will actually deserve it.”


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Joey Cantillo fills up strike zone, but Giants collect 16 hits to deal Guardians 11-2 spring training loss

Updated: Mar. 12, 2025, 7:29 p.m.|Published: Mar. 12, 2025, 7:06 p.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Stephen Vogt said prior to the Guardians' spring training exhibition game against the Giants that he was looking forward to seeing starter Joey Cantillo fill up the strike zone in his fourth Cactus League start.

Vogt got his wish Wednesday as the 25-year-old lefty struck out nine San Francisco hitters in 3 2/3 innings. Unfortunately for Cantillo, the Giants' lineup connected on plenty of those strikes as well, handing Cleveland an 11-2 loss at Goodyear Ballpark.

San Francisco piled up 16 hits, scoring in all but three innings, while Cleveland’s offense mustered just a pair of runs on five hits.

Cantillo’s nine strikeouts are the most by a Cactus League pitcher in a single game this season. Vogt said Cantillo is at his best when he is commanding the strike zone, and that his stuff plays against big league hitters.

“When Joey’s throwing strikes and attacking the zone, he’s as good as anybody in the league,” Vogt said. “It just comes down to that command, and he’s shown it majority of the spring. We’re really excited about the way Joey’s throwing the ball.”

Cantillo was coming off a start last week that saw him limit the A’s to three hits in three scoreless innings. He struck out the side in the first inning, but allowed base hits to Tyler Fitzgerald and Jerar Encarnacion that put the Giants in front 1-0.

In the second inning, Cantillo got two quick outs before a base hit by David Villar and a walk to Grant McCray. Heliot Ramos poked an RBI single to right before Fitzgerald came through again with a base hit to give the Giants a 3-0 advantage.

Bo Naylor put Cleveland on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the bottom of the second. Naylor yanked a fastball from Giants starter Tristan Beck over the wall in right center for his club-leading third spring homer. Naylor, who added a base hit in the sixth, is batting .259 with a .903 OPS in 29 plate appearances.

Cleveland added a run in the third when Steven Kwan reached on an error by Giants shortstop Brett Wisely and scored on a José Ramírez RBI double. Ramírez has hits in his last five Cactus League games, including three doubles.

Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase labored in the fifth, allowing three runs on four hits with one strikeout. Clase threw 27 pitches and was pulled before he could finish the inning as righty Jay Driver was summoned from the bullpen to get the final out.

Fitzgerald opened the fifth with a triple and scored on a base hit by Luis Matos. Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely added RBI singles to knock Clase out of the game. Clase had worked back-to-back scoreless outings against the Diamondbacks and White Sox after allowing a run in 2/3 of an inning during his debut against Seattle.

The Guardians fell to 7-11-1 in Cactus League play. San Francisco moved to 12-3-3.

Next:

The Guardians travel to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to face the Colorado. The game has been moved up an hour from it’s original start time and will take place at 3:10 p.m. ET due to pending weather in the Phoenix area. Right-hander Luis Ortiz (0-2, 14.14) will make his fourth spring start for Cleveland. The Rockies will counter with righty Chase Dollander (0-2, 12.15). WTAM 1100 AM and the Guardians Radio Network will carry the contest.


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Worth noting

Andrew Walters -- who’s been sidelined with right shoulder stiffness -- threw in live batting practice on Wednesday, which has positioned him to return to game action this week. Manager Stephen Vogt said Walters should be back pitching in games within the next few days, assuming the right-hander has no issues coming out of the live BP. Walters has not pitched in a Cactus League game since his Feb. 24 debut due to the shoulder issue. He threw a 25-pitch bullpen with his full arsenal on Sunday.

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It might be too late for him to break camp with the team but he'll be available whenever they need him.

Rockies blast three home runs, hand Guardians 6-4 spring training loss

Updated: Mar. 13, 2025, 6:48 p.m.|Published: Mar. 13, 2025, 5:43 p.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com


CLEVELAND, Ohio — Thursday’s fourth Cactus League start for Luis Ortiz featured moments of dominance tucked inside pockets of inconsistency.

When all was said and done, the Guardians right-hander had recorded four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, but also allowed a pair of home runs and three walks in a 6-4 exhibition loss to Colorado at Salt River Fields.

For Ortiz, who was coming off a five-strikeout performance against the Padres last week, the struggle to put together a consistent outing from beginning to end is ongoing

The Dominican native settled back in after that and retired the side in order in the third, but a pair of walks in the fourth set up another Stallings home run, this time a three-run shot to left field that put the Rockies ahead 4-0.

Ortiz was lifted with two out in the inning after a Nick Martini base hit and a strikeout by Jordan Beck. Ortiz allowed four runs on four hits. He has surrendered a team-high 15 runs in his four Cactus League starts and has struck out 12 batters in 10 2/3 innings, tied for third on the club with Doug Nikhazy.

Manager Stephen Vogt said Ortiz lost his command in the fourth inning, but that he saw a lot of improvement and that the staff will continue to work with him between starts.

“The cutter was a lot better today,” Vogt told reporters. “He was executing the cutter and hitting his spots with his fastball. He threw some really good sliders as well, so things are trending up with Luis. Just got to keep working, keep pushing.”

Colorado added two runs in the sixth against Hunter Gaddis when Martini singled to open the inning and Beck drove a two-strike fastball over the wall in left center. It was the first spring home run allowed by Gaddis in five appearances. Last season, Gaddis allowed four home runs in 74 2/3 innings.

Guardians batters managed six hits through the first six innings, including three by first baseman Kyle Manzardo.

Manzardo leads the club with 13 hits and is batting .448 with two doubles, two home runs and a 1.224 OPS in 32 plate appearances while driving in five runs. Defensively, Manzardo has played 48 innings at first and has not committed an error.

Rockies righty Chase Dollander tossed four scoreless innings and allowed just two Cleveland hits while walking a pair and striking out three. Daniel Schneemann’s double off Jimmy Herget in the fifth was the only extra-base hit by a Guardians starter.

Vogt praised Manzardo and Schneemann for the quality of their at-bats.

“A lot of good swings today,” Vogt said. “The guys are playing well. We’re ramping up at the right time.”

Cleveland broke through for four runs against Rockies lefty Luis Peralta in the ninth, including a two-run single by Jhonkensy Noel and a two-run home run by Dom Nuñez. Noel has hit safely in six of his last seven spring games and now has three RBI.

Nuñez belted his first home run and is slugging .571 in 14 at-bats.

The Guardians brought the tying run to the plate with two out in the ninth after a base hit by depth camp outfielder Tommy Hawke. But Rockies manager Bud Black summoned Angel Chivilli from the bullpen to retire Yordys Valdes on a long fly ball to left field and seal the win for Colorado.

Cleveland is 7-12-1 in Cactus League play. The Rockies improved to 12-8-1.

Next:

The Guardians return to Goodyear Ballpark on Friday for a 4:05 p.m. ET scheduled start against the Mariners. Left-hander Logan Allen (1-0, 0.84) will start for Cleveland, while righty Logan Gilbert (0-0,--) takes the mound for Seattle. Pitchers also scheduled to appear for the Guards include Tim Herrin, Kolby Allard and Brad Hanner. The game will air on CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM 1100 AM and the Guardians Radio Network.

Friday’s Cactus League game will be followed by the MLB Spring Breakout showcase game between Guardians and Mariners prospects at Goodyear Ballpark. That game will air on MLB Network at 8:05 p.m.

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The Cleveland Guardians made a couple of roster moves on Thursday.

As we get closer to the start of the season, the number of players in camp will gradually decrease as manager Stephen Vogt picks the 26 guys who will be traveling back to Cleveland with the team.

Two talented lefties won’t be among those 26, as they were sent to minor league camp.

“Roster moves today: +Reassigned LHP Andrew Misiaszek and LHP Ryan Webb to Minor League camp,” GuardsInsider, the Guardians’ account for prospects and minor leaguers, wrote on X.

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Pollyanna? No, I guess just supportive of his player:

"e saw a lot of improvement and that the staff will continue to work with him between starts. "The cutter was a lot better today,” Vogt told reporters. “He was executing the cutter and hitting his spots with his fastball. He threw some really good sliders as well, so things are trending up with Luis. Just got to keep working, keep pushing.”

BATTLE FOR RIGHT FIELD

GP 10, GS 10, AVG 250, AB 24, R 2, H 6, 2B 1, 3B 0, HR 0, RBI 1, SB 1, CS 0, W 1, K 03, OBP 308, SLG 292, OPS 599 BRENNAN
GP 12, GS 11, AVG 242, AB 33, R 5, H 8, 2B 0, 3B 0, HR 1, RBI 3, SB 1, CS 1, W 0, K 15, OBP 242, SLG 333, OPS 576 NOEL
GP 12, GS 08, AVG 200, AB 20, R 4, H 4, 2B 1, 3B 0, HR 1, RBI 4, SB 0, CS 1, W 7, K 04, OBP 379, SLG 400, OPS 779 RODRIGUEZ

+ A LOT OF MINOR LEAGUERS

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Guardians use power and a ninth-inning rally to beat Seattle, 8-7, in spring training play

Updated: Mar. 14, 2025, 8:38 p.m.|Published: Mar. 14, 2025, 7:04 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians used power and a lucky break on Friday to overcome a 5-0 deficit and beat Seattle, 8-7, in a Cactus League game at Goodyear Ballpark.

Will Brennan hit consecutive two-run homers and Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer, but the Guardians needed a ninth-inning rally to improve to 8-12-1 in spring training play.

Catcher Kody Huff opened the ninth with a double off Jason Ruffcorn and was replaced by pinch-runner Tommy Hawke. Micah Pries sent a bouncer over the first baseman’s head. Second baseman Josh Hood fielded the ball, but his throw to first sailed wide as Hawke scored the winning run.

Brennan’s second homer of the game gave Cleveland a 7-6 lead in the eighth. The Mariners came back to tie in the ninth against Bradley Hanner as Bill Knight hit a leadoff double and Blake Hunt singled him home.

The Guardians, trailing 5-0, came back to tie the game thanks to the power of Thomas and Brennan.

Thomas' three-run homer in the fifth cut Seattle’s lead to 5-3. Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez opened the inning with singles against Jesse Hahn. Thomas followed with a drive to left for his third homer of the spring.

Daniel Schneemann opened the sixth with a double for his third hit of the game. Brennan, in a lefty vs. lefty matchup, homered to left center field off Gabe Speier to tie the score at 5-5.

Seattle bounced back to take a 6-5 lead on an eighth-inning single by Charlie Pagliarini. It was the only run lefty Kolby Allard allowed in three innings.

Seattle took a 5-0 lead in the fourth off Logan Allen and Carter Spivey. Allen opened with three scoreless innings, but Randy Arozarena started the fourth with a single. Luke Raley doubled him to third and Jorge Polanco followed with a two-run single.

Rowdy Tellez flied out to center, but J.P. Crawford singled and Polanco scored when Jose Ramirez couldn’t handle a grounder by Ryan Bliss at third. Allen struck out Victor Robles to end his day, but Spivey relieved and allowed a two-run single by Julio Rodriguez to make it 5-0.

Allen, who has had an excellent spring, allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. Allen had allowed just one run in his first four appearances this spring.

The Guardians finished with 16 hits. Besides Schneemann’s three, Kwan, Ramirez and Jhonkensy Noel had two each.

Hanner backed into the win after being charged with a blown save.

Next:

The Guardians travel to Surprise, Arizona to play the Royals on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. RHP Triston McKenzie (0-1, 8.53) will face Kansas City’s LHP Kris Bubic (1-1, 5.59). WTAM/1100 will carry the game.

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Guardians' prospects hang on for 8-7 win over Seattle in Spring Breakout game

Updated: Mar. 15, 2025, 12:01 a.m.|Published: Mar. 14, 2025, 11:59 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Anyone who has watched the Guardians in the late innings in the Cactus League could not have been surprised at the outcome of Friday might’s Spring Breakout game against Seattle.

The Guardians' top prospects finished with 12 hits in a 8-7 win over Seattle’s best prospects on a wet and chilly night at Goodyear Ballpark.

Jaison Chourio, Cleveland’s No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, led the offense with three hits followed by Angel Genao and Brandon Ingle with two each. Genao and Ingle are rated as the Guardians' fourth and seventh best prospects, respectively, by MLB Pipeline.

Right-hander Jason Messick started and went three scoreless innings for the win. MLB Pipeline ranks Messick as Cleveland’s 14th prospect among its top 30 players.

The Guardians took an early 4-0 lead in the third.

Chourio opened the inning with a single. He went to third on a double by Alfonsin Rosario. Welbyn Francisca made it 2-0 with a double to right. Francisca is Cleveland’s No. 8 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

Ralphy Velazquez and Angel Genao completed the scoring with RBI singles. Valezquez is the fifth best prospect in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

Seattle’s Jared Sundstrom made it 4-2 with a two-run homer in the fourth off Austin Peterson. The

The Guardians answered with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to make it 6-2.

Chourio singled in the fourth and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a balk. He scored on another wild pitch.

Velazquez walked in the fifth, took second on an error and scoredon a Ingle’s single to left.

Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson started the sixth for the Guardians. Wilkinson, who led Cleveland’s minor league system in strikeouts last year, allowed a two-run homer to Tai Peete in the sixth to make it 6-4. Wilkinson struck out four and allowed three hits in the 2 1/3 innings.

Cleveland pushed its lead to 8-4with two runs in the seventh. Jacob Cozart reached on a fielder’s choice, took third on Joe Lampe’s single and scored on a wild pitch. Lampe, who stole second, took third on Chourio’s single and scored scored on a botched pickoff attempt.

A two-run triple by Seattle’s Michael Arroyo made it an 8-6 game in the eighth. The Mariners made it 8-7 in the ninth, but Magnus Ellerts relieved to get the final out for the save.


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One day later and Brennan's line now suddenly is .286 .333 .536 .869

The biggest drawback I have read about JRod is he doesn't hit balls with significant spin. FB only hitter can thrive in the minors but not in the majors.
I'm not sure that Noel will be a longtime solution any more than Oscar Gonzalez turned out to be. I hope so.