Espino continuing to check boxes on path toward Majors

This story was excerpted from Tim Stebbins’ Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CLEVELAND — After the Guardians optioned Daniel Espino to Triple-A Columbus this spring, manager Stephen Vogt noted the organization hoped to see the right-hander make an impact in the big leagues this season. As we approach the campaign’s midway point, that certainly remains the goal.

“Very much so,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said recently. “That’s still very much a possibility, and Daniel’s done his part to continue to prepare for that opportunity when it’s there.”

Espino (who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 15 prospect by MLB Pipeline) missed most of the past four seasons due to injury setbacks, including two right shoulder surgeries in 2023 and ‘24. The 2019 first-round Draft pick returned to the mound for a one-inning cameo with Columbus on Sept. 20 this past season, which marked his first Minor League appearance since April 29 in ‘22.

Espino’s return to health has been a continued feel-good story for the Guardians’ organization, but he also has a chance to provide Cleveland a boost this summer in what has been a new role for him. The 25-year-old has worked exclusively as a reliever with the Clippers this season, after he was exclusively a starting pitcher in the Minors in previous years.

“He’s done an exceedingly good job with that [adjustment],” Antonetti said. “He’s checked a lot of boxes to begin to get some of the types of experiences that he might encounter.”

This is new to Espino, and each of his appearances are an opportunity for him to grow more comfortable pitching out of the bullpen. As some of his most recent outings show, the Guardians have been getting him on the mound in a variety of different spots.

On May 21, Espino entered in the sixth inning with the bases empty, one out and Columbus trailing Louisville, 4-1. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out two while allowing a base hit. On May 25, he entered a 1-1 game at the start of the seventh and pitched a 1-2-3 inning.

On May 29, Espino entered in the eighth inning to protect Columbus’ 9-6 lead. He allowed one run on two hits and one strikeout. He pitched as an opener on June 2, when he allowed one walk, a two-run homer and struck out two in one inning.

Espino’s process adjusting to the bullpen extends beyond just what you see in a box score, however. The Guardians are trying to get him exposed to the unique rigors to a relief role, in-game or otherwise.

“There are a lot of different things that relievers have to do over the course of the season, [such as] getting up and not getting into a game, and then coming back and still being available the next day,” Antonetti said. “Those types of things, Daniel’s getting some of those reps in the Minor Leagues, as well as a lot of our other relievers. That’s part of us trying to prepare guys for the Major Leagues.”

Espino has not pitched on consecutive days to this point this season. The closest he’s come has been pitching twice in three days, on May 19 and 21. He entered Tuesday with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP in 21 appearances, with 28 strikeouts and 14 walks over 18 1/3 innings.

The Guardians look at a number of factors when evaluating a pitching prospect, including how well they control the strike zone, miss bats and limit hard contact. Espino has encouraging metrics beyond his surface numbers. He entered Tuesday with a 40 percent whiff rate. His four-seam fastball has averaged 97.9 mph and maxed out at 100.7 mph despite his two shoulder surgeries.

Most importantly, Espino has been healthy. Coupled with the familiarity he continues to gain as a reliever, and he’ll continue his march toward the Majors for a big league debut that could arrive this summer.

“Daniel works incredibly hard, not just on the mound, but on the days in between,” Antonetti said. “His body has handled the demands of pitching out of the bullpen really well. His stuff quality continues to be really good. He’s still developing like any young player, but he’s made a lot of progress so far.”