AL Central roundtable: Taking stock of the division’s contenders in a wide-open AL

May 22, 2025 7:00 am EDT

By Dan Hayes, Zack Meisel and Cody Stavenhagen

It’s rivalry week in the surprisingly good American League Central.

After splitting a pair of rain-slogged games with the Twins in Minneapolis, the Guardians open a four-game series at the Tigers on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Royals are set to face the Twins three times at Target Field starting Friday night.

With four of the AL Central’s five teams firmly in the playoff picture, The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, Zack Meisel and Cody Stavenhagen discussed the race.

Meisel: The AL Central, the motley crew of five midwest misfits has, for years, been the subject of jokes, criticism and eye rolls. Even when the Guardians, Tigers and Royals advanced to the postseason in 2024 — and each won a series — it was the White Sox and the sorriest season in league history that emerged as the top storyline to come out of the division.

But this isn’t your slightly older sibling’s Central. This is a group out to prove it can once again populate the AL playoff field. This is a division wreaking havoc on its counterparts… or something like that, and through an admittedly small sample of about 30 percent of the season.

The White Sox are no longer the face of baseball ineptitude, thanks to the high-altitude, low-aptitude Rockies. And the other four teams? Well, if the playoffs started today, they would claim four of the six AL postseason berths.

The Tigers have been a runaway train, steamrolling their way to the best record in the sport. The Guardians, Twins and Royals are mostly doing what they did last year. So as Cleveland and Detroit begin a four-game set and the Twins host the Royals for three, let’s check in on the state of affairs in the powerhouse AL Central.

Hayes: Rainouts aside, this is a fun division. Has anyone mentioned to you guys there have been an excessive amount of rainouts or rain delays this season? If not, I’ve got a PowerPoint ready to go.

Stavenhagen: I remember when you guys used to do these and the Tigers were so bad that I didn’t even get invited. Well, times have changed. The Tigers are off to a roaring start — and much of it looks like it could be for real. But I have questions for both of you. Zack: The Guardians have a winning record despite a minus-17 run differential. What is going on there? And Dan, for as good as the Tigers’ pitching is, the Twins rank above them with a 3.20 team ERA. What’s going on with the pitching staff in Minnesota?

Hayes: It’s all about the strikeout to walk ratio. The Twins throw more strikes than anyone and don’t sacrifice command to do it. Entering Wednesday, the Twins led the majors with 3.66 strikeouts for every walk they’ve issued. Joe Ryan and Pablo López are having strong seasons. Bailey Ober has a 2.40 ERA over his last nine starts. Though his first two starts were poor, Chris Paddack has been solid since. And the rotation is backed by a group of relievers who also feature a lot of swing-and-miss and don’t walk many. Even though they’re only 18th in the league in innings pitched, Twins relievers lead all of baseball by 0.5 WAR with 3.1, according to FanGraphs.

But we knew, coming into the season, this group could be very good and would benefit from all of last year’s injuries because the Twins now feature tremendous depth. What we still don’t know is if the Twins can hit well enough to support the pitching. They have for about a month now. But the offense will determine how far they go.
Joe Ryan has a 2.68 ERA and 0.81 WHIP. (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)

Meisel: Well, the Guardians’ offense is slightly below average (96 OPS+) and the pitching is slightly below average (97 ERA+) and so that equates to a team that… inexplicably has a winning record.

They’re probably the most difficult team in this division to figure out, and that’s coming from someone who examines their every inning. The lineup is a couple of bats short. By wRC+, the Guardians rank second-to-last in the league in production from their right fielders, third-worst from their shortstops and worst from their center fielders. The imminent return of Lane Thomas should help a bit, and David Fry’s return in a couple of weeks should be a boost, but those two aren’t enough to overhaul an offense that desperately needs support for José Ramírez and Steven Kwan.

How familiar is the rest of the AL Central with Daniel Schneemann? He has been Cleveland’s third-best hitter this season, which has, for now, earned him the starting second base job. Two and a half years ago, he was a 25-year-old at Double A with a .578 OPS.
Daniel Schneemann has a 137 OPS+ in 110 plate appearances this season. (James A. Pittman / Imagn Images)

The Guardians have wasted a lot of quality starting pitching lately. Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Luis Ortiz started slow, but we’re finally seeing signs the rotation could regain its customary status as the team’s backbone. That’s a necessary step, because at the moment, this team doesn’t really have an identity. The back end of the bullpen remains a strength, but the group as a whole is a far cry from the historically dominant bunch it was last year.

Cleveland needs to find some reinforcements for its lineup. That’s been the separator in Detroit, it seems.

Hayes: Cody, what’s been the key to Detroit’s young bats finally taking the next step?

Stavenhagen: Let’s sort by wRC+. The Tigers entered Wednesday with Riley Greene (147), Spencer Torkelson (143) and Kerry Carpenter (132) as their leaders. I’ve been trying to tell people for a long time that Greene is as good as almost anyone when healthy. He was an All-Star last year and is putting it all together in a big way this season, particularly since the start of May. Carpenter crushes right-handed pitching, but that’s hardly news. Torkelson has been the surprise. He was pushed to the edge of the roster this spring when the Tigers signed Gleyber Torres and intended to move Colt Keith to first base. Instead, a series of tiny adjustments have Torkelson playing more like the hitter he was drafted to be. The Tigers needed right-handed help this offseason. They got it from a player they already had on their roster.

Torres, too, has given the Tigers steady at-bats and seems comfortable in Detroit after years of being both overshadowed and harshly scrutinized in New York.​​ The Tigers also wouldn’t be where they are without unexpected contributions from the likes of Zack McKinstry (130 wRC+), Javier Báez (125) and Dillon Dingler (122). I’m not sure those performances are as sustainable, but the Tigers are about to get two key players back from injuries in Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling. They’ve developed some high-end talent, got some pleasant surprises and also cultivated useful depth.

Coming into the year, I actually thought the Royals might be the team to beat. How are we feeling about KC?

Hayes: Any team featuring Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez always needs to be respected. Now, Maikel Garcia is having a breakout season and Vinnie Pasquantino really hasn’t hit just yet.

But one thing the Royals had all season last year was outstanding health in the starting rotation. Last week, Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans hit the injured list at the same time, something Kansas City didn’t deal with at all during their impressive 2024 season. How they handle this next few weeks will be key.
Seth Lugo is on the IL with a finger sprain in his throwing hand. (Nic Antaya / Getty Images)

Any final thoughts?

Stavenhagen: Another thing I said before the year: The talent levels in this division are equal enough that it might come down to who stays healthy. The Tigers are padding their lead and continue to look like they’re for real. But to keep these other teams at bay, they’ll need Greene and Carpenter to stay healthy and avoid any more injuries to their rotation.

Meisel: The American League as a whole feels wide open this season. There are a ton of teams buzzing around the .500 mark. There’s no reason the Central can’t send someone to the World Series. Of course, that’s a conversation for the fall (though the weather in Minneapolis and Detroit this week sure feels like playoff weather). I’m looking forward to another four months of these four teams beating up on each other — and, of course, on the White Sox.

Hayes: It is definitely strange to be speaking optimistically about the teams in this division. Should make for an interesting summer — whenever that weather arrives. Please, please, please let the weather arrive soon.

Guardians’ long-standing black hole in right field, and who could maybe, finally, fix it May 14, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Nolan Jones (22) fails to catch a home run hit by Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
By Zack Meisel

May 23, 2025 6:00 am EDT

DETROIT — How pronounced is the Guardians’ long-standing black hole in right field? Consider the three players with the most starts in right field for the club since the start of the 2013 campaign.

No. 1: A third baseman-turned-platoon outfielder who hasn’t appeared in a game in seven years.

No. 2: A platoon player who arrived two years ago and has already lost his grip on the job.

No. 3: A former platoon player who is now a pitcher in the Guardians’ system.

The team hasn’t been able to unearth a steady solution at the spot since Shin-Soo Choo patrolled right field. Cleveland has started a different right fielder on Opening Day each of the last 14 years: Choo, Drew Stubbs, David Murphy, Brandon Moss, Collin Cowgill, Abraham Almonte, Lonnie Chisenhall, Tyler Naquin, Domingo Santana, Josh Naylor, Steven Kwan, Will Brennan, Ramón Laureano and Jhonkensy Noel. Since the start of 2013, Cleveland’s right fielders rank 26th in fWAR, 27th in wRC+ and 27th in OPS. No one has made 200 starts at the position.

It’s long been a land of platoon bats, repositioned infielders and patchwork free-agent signings. And with Nolan Jones and Noel floundering for the first two months of the 2025 season, it’s once again a problem area for a team desperate for offense.

Center field hasn’t been much steadier, by the way. Myles Straw is the only player to start in center on Opening Day in consecutive seasons in that same time frame. As for left field, Kwan and Michael Brantley have at least made one outfield spot a source of reliability.

Before we assess the Guardians’ future in right field, let’s venture down memory (nightmare?) lane and revisit the short-lived next great hopes, the free-agent follies and other reminders of the organization’s most glaring deficiency.
Most starts in RF for CLE, 2013-2025
Lonnie Chisenhall

196
Will Brennan

159
Tyler Naquin

125
David Murphy

119
Oscar Gonzalez

109
Drew Stubbs

86
Ryan Raburn

77
Brandon Moss

77
Brandon Guyer

71
Melky Cabrera

65

2012: Four different starters, led by Choo with 151 starts … third among the league’s 30 teams in wRC+ (weighted runs created, a way to measure total offensive output relative to the rest of the league) by right fielders.

With apologies to Aaron Cunningham (eight starts), Thomas Neal (two) and Vinny Rottino (one, but an incredible walk-up song: the “Godfather” theme), this was Choo’s domain, where he thrived for five seasons, until Cleveland traded him to the Reds ahead of his contract year.

The hope: They landed Terry Francona in October and dealt Choo two months later, but they wanted to reinvest, with designs to (at least attempt to) win under their new manager. Enter Stubbs and Nick Swisher.
Cleveland hasn’t been able to unearth a steady solution in right field since Shin-Soo Choo patrolled the outfield. (J. Meric / Getty Images)

2013: Six different starters, led by Stubbs with 86 … 14th in wRC+

Stubbs slid over to right when the club signed Michael Bourn to cover center. Ryan Raburn spent some time in right. Swisher mostly manned first base, but was an option in right as well. Jason Kubel, Ezequiel Carrera and Matt “Crash” Carson made cameos, too.

The hope: Swisher and Raburn were in tow, but they needed a free agent to replace Stubbs. How about Murphy?

2014: Nine different starters, led by Murphy with 109 … 29th in wRC+

Remember Tyler Holt? How about Chris Dickerson or JB Shuck or Zach Walters or Chris Johnson, who missed time after a spider bite? Murphy was a tick below league-average at the plate.

The hope: Murphy had one more year remaining on his contract, but there was hope on the horizon with a couple of first-round picks in Naquin and Clint Frazier.

2015: Seven different starters, led by Moss with 77 … 26th in wRC+

Ten years ago, Cleveland fans spent several weeks chanting, “Jerry, Jerry,” as Jerry Sands delivered a handful of pivotal hits (but finished with a .676 OPS). Moss was a much-ballyhooed addition who fell short of expectations and was dumped midseason, as was Murphy.

The hope: With Bourn and Swisher booted from the roster, it was time to build a new outfield around Brantley. Chisenhall made the switch from third base, Naquin was on the cusp, and, hey, maybe that José Ramírez kid could help in a pinch.

2016: Nine different starters, led by Chisenhall with 99 … 25th in wRC+

Cowgill started on Opening Day, with lefty David Price on the mound for Boston. Cowgill totaled 12 at-bats for the club. Marlon Byrd handled the position until he was popped for PEDs and vanished. There was a sprinkling of Almonte, Michael Martínez and Brandon Guyer. Naquin settled in center, along with Rajai Davis. Oh, and this team nearly won the World Series.

The hope: Chisenhall and Guyer seemed like the perfect pairing, like a ribeye and a glass of cabernet.

2017: Eight different starters, led by Jay Bruce with 40 … 15th in wRC+

This lineup was loaded, but right field was a bit messy. Almonte, Chisenhall, Guyer and Austin Jackson all shared reps. Does the name Daniel Robertson ring a bell? He started 13 games in right. He’s now the bench coach at Triple-A Columbus. Even Carlos Santana moonlighted as a right fielder during interleague play so Edwin Encarnacion could play first base. When Brantley suffered an ankle injury in August, Cleveland traded for Bruce, who was a brilliant fit, highlighted by his walk-off hit to secure the club’s final win during its 22-game streak that summer.

The hope: The team was stacked. Surely it could find someone.
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2018: Six different starters, led by Melky Cabrera with 65 … 21st in wRC+

Right field was perhaps the greatest weakness on a talented roster. Cabrera was sitting at home when Cleveland called in late April. The team cut him in mid-June and then brought him back a few weeks later to occupy right, even though he had the defensive range of a cactus. This was the end of the Chisenhall/Guyer platoon. Surely you recall that Brandon Barnes started a game in right in September.

The hope: Naquin and a to-be-acquired platoon partner would have to be the answer.

2019: Seven different starters, led by Naquin with 60 … 14th in wRC+

Welcome to the Summer of Puig. Jordan Luplow joined the roster and annihilated lefties. Franmil Reyes and Yasiel Puig arrived at the trade deadline. Things were looking up.

The hope: If Reyes could boost his agility, he would be the long-term solution. (That would become an annual refrain.) Or, at least, he could partner with Naquin so he’s not a full-time DH.

2020: Five different starters (in only 60 games), led by Naquin with 32 … 28th in wRC+

Domingo Santana, we hardly knew ye. The club bailed on the free-agent signee midway through the shortened season after he mustered a .583 OPS. With Naquin, Luplow, Reyes, Delino DeShields, Oscar Mercado, Bradley Zimmer and Naylor, Cleveland had plenty of outfield candidates.

The hope: Naylor was acquired to lock down right field, leaving left and center as the more pressing questions.

2021: Seven different starters, led by Naylor with 50 … 14th in wRC+

Naylor wrecked his leg in late June, ending his season. Zimmer transformed into a hulking slugger in his absence. Remember Harold Ramírez and Daniel Johnson? They had brief chances, too.

The hope: With Naylor’s status a concern, it was again time for Reyes to prove reliable in the outfield.

2022: Nine different starters, led by Oscar Gonzalez with 82 … ninth in wRC+

The guy with the “SpongeBob SquarePants” theme as his walk-up song certainly wasn’t the plan for right field, but he seized his opportunity and delivered a couple of October walk-offs. Jones debuted. Mercado said goodbye. Kwan burst onto the scene but quickly shifted to left. Naylor moved to first to protect his leg, and Reyes played his way off the roster. In a year of 17 rookie debuts, Alex Call, Brennan and Will Benson all surfaced.

The hope: In case Gonzalez’s production wasn’t sustainable, there was plenty of depth with Brennan, Jones and Benson — you know, as long as they traded the right guys.

2023: Six different starters, led by Brennan with 88 … 28th in wRC+

This season marked the downfall of Gonzalez, the arrival of Laureano and the final big-league breaths for Kole Calhoun. In the end, the club once again lacked a sufficient answer in right.

The hope: Brennan, even after an uninspiring rookie season, was the guy, with Laureano as his right-handed partner.

2024: Ten different starters, led by Brennan with 65 … 20th in wRC+

By the end of the season, Brennan and Noel were a tandem. Laureano and Estevan Florial started the season on the roster, but neither made it past Memorial Day.

The hope: Noel, the postseason hero, just needed a platoon partner. Brennan seemed to be the likeliest choice.

2025: Four different starters in 49 games, led by Jones with 26 … 28th in wRC+

At last, we have arrived at the present. Jones is out of minor-league options, which buys him more time to convert sexy underlying metrics into substantial production. So far, that hasn’t happened, and there are a few prospects knocking on the door. C.J. Kayfus has shifted to first base to right field at Triple A, all to widen his potential path to the majors. Chase DeLauter, recovered from an abdominal injury, has joined him in Columbus. Both should force their way to Cleveland at some point this summer, even if Jones turns it around. George Valera should eventually lurk at Triple A, too.

The hope: Once again, promising prospects have risen to the forefront of this equation. Kayfus could wind up at first in the long run, but his recent exposure to right field can only help. If DeLauter can stay healthy — a Terminal Tower-sized if — he’s done nothing but hit as a professional. Should he need a platoon partner, Noel and Johnathan Rodriguez are hanging around, though Noel has had a rotten two months. Juan Brito, a second baseman by trade, also saw time in right last season.

Lively is going to have Tommy John surgery. Out for at least a year.

im Stebbins
@tim_stebbins
·
4h
Ben Lively will undergo UCL reconstruction surgery and a right flexor tendon repair, which is expected to sideline him for 12 to 16 months.

OK, I feel old now’: Quizzing Carlos Santana about his 15 years in the big leagues MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 16: Carlos Santana #41 of the Cleveland Indians congratulates Jim Thome #25 on a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning as fans give Thome a standing ovation on September 16, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Indians defeated the Twins 7-6. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel

5
May 28, 2025 6:05 am EDT

CLEVELAND — Carlos Santana, about 10 months shy of his 40th birthday, is the elder statesman on the Guardians’ roster.

Santana said his teammates often call him “Grandpa.” José Ramírez said Santana particularly shows his age with how he waddles from one place to the next.

On Wednesday, Santana will square off against Clayton Kershaw in the club’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Once upon a time, nearly 20 years ago, Santana was Kershaw’s catcher for the Class A Great Lakes Loons. (To further the point about how long ago this was, Kenley Jansen was also a catcher in the Dodgers’ system at the time. Now, he’s inching toward 500 career saves.)

Santana and Kershaw caught up in spring training and reminisced about the nascent days of their professional careers. Santana is 0-for-7 against Kershaw, and he stressed his desire to take the southpaw deep.

Santana reached 15 years of major-league service time last week, so The Athletic quizzed him on an array of career milestones, starting with his big-league debut against the Washington Nationals on June 11, 2010, when a 23-36 club called up its top prospect, a catcher with a booming bat and a good eye at the plate.

Do you remember the first pitcher you faced?

Ummm, nah. I remember the second because I hit a home run. (J.D.) Martin. He played here (in Cleveland). But the first? I don’t know.

Luis Atilano.

Atilano? Ah, I don’t remember that. I know the second game, Martin, he played with me in the minor leagues.

That was Atilano’s only year in the majors, as he posted a 5.15 ERA in 16 starts for the Nationals. As for Martin, Cleveland drafted him with the 35th overall pick in 2001. That year, the club owned four of the first 43 picks, but only Martin ever reached the majors — and he didn’t do so with Cleveland. Martin made 24 starts for Washington in 2009-10.

Who pitched the third game of that series?

(Stephen) Strasburg. I remember that series. I’ll never forget it.

There was Strasburg Mania that summer, and the frenzy reached new heights when he struck out 14 Pirates batters in his debut. Five days later, he pitched at Progressive Field. Santana batted third and recorded a single, a walk and a flyout against the fellow rookie. (Trevor Crowe hit leadoff, by the way.)

You grounded into a fielder’s choice in your first at-bat and eventually scored. Do you remember who hit you home?

No, it’s (been) a long time, 15 years.

Wait, what happened to never forgetting that series?

You scored on an Austin Kearns home run.

Ohhh. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big ears.

Kearns tagged Atilano for a pair of home runs that night.

Who pitched that day for Cleveland?

I was catching. Who was it? Jeanmar Gómez? No. (Justin) Masterson?

Jake Westbrook.

Ohhh, Westbrook. Yeah, the veteran guy.

Westbrook was traded seven weeks later to the Cardinals in a three-team deal that landed Cleveland a little-known pitching prospect named Corey Kluber.

What about the second game? Whose complete game did you catch?

(Shrugs)

Fausto Carmona. He was an All-Star that year.

Ohhh, Fausto Carmona. Roberto Hernández. Happy for him. He’s one of the guys who (impacted) me. We had a very good relationship.

Hernández never recaptured the form from his first full season as a big-league starter in 2007, when he logged a 3.06 ERA, finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting and vanquished the Yankees in the playoffs amid swarms of midges. He did, however, receive his only All-Star Game nod in 2010, a year in which he finished with a 3.77 ERA across 210 innings.

Who else played catcher for the Indians in 2010?

Mike Redmond. He’s the bench coach with Colorado.

He was actually relieved of his duties earlier this month, but that’s correct. Redmond’s 13th and final big-league season came with Cleveland. He caught 22 games in 2010.

Chris Gimenez, too.

I saw him the other day. He told me, ‘You look good, man! Keep going. Five more years.’ I said, ‘Hell no!’

That year, Lou Marson caught 81 games, Santana 40, Gimenez 19, Redmond 18 and Luke Carlin made four starts behind the plate in the final week and a half of the season.
Carlos Santana hits a two-run homer off Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander on Sept. 3, 2014. (Tony Dejak / Associated Press)

Against which pitcher have you hit the most home runs?

(Justin) Verlander?

That’s right. How many?

I don’t know. Nine?

Bingo.

Somebody told me that when I played in Seattle (in 2022, when Verlander was with the Houston Astros).

Overall, Santana has a .226/.320/.607 slash line in 97 plate appearances against Verlander. The two battled often during Santana’s first of three stints with Cleveland, and while Verlander was the ace of Detroit’s rotation.

Do you take pride in a future first-ballot Hall of Famer being your most frequent victim?

Yeah, I think it’s something personal. When I was younger, I (hit) my first grand slam (against the Tigers). When I came (to Detroit six weeks later), he threw behind me. So in my mind, every at-bat I take (against him) is personal. He threw behind me for hitting a grand slam at home. So that’s why I think I’ve hit a lot of home runs against him.

Do you remember who you tagged for that grand slam?

Joaquin Benoit, against Detroit.

On April 29, 2011, Santana smacked a walk-off slam that scored Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera and Adam Everett.

Where did you hit your only inside-the-park home run?

Here (in Detroit).

Austin Hedges walked over to a nearby locker.

Santana: “Hey, Hedgey, can you believe that I hit an inside-the-park home run?”

Hedges: “You? No chance.”

Santana: “No chance? Yes.”

Hedges: “When? Your rookie year, 35 years ago? Did all the outfielders die?”

Santana: “I think it was a line drive and the outfielder (slipped).”

Hedges: “Did you do it like (Tyler) Naquin, slide in (to home plate and pose)?”

You have one five-hit game to your name.

I don’t remember that.

Against Tampa. Three of the hits came off David Price.

Oh really? What year?

April 7, 2013.

That’s a long time ago. I don’t know. It’s crazy. One day after I retire, I want to check all of my stories and show my kids.

Santana finished with a homer, two doubles and two singles in a 13-0 win. Masterson tossed seven scoreless innings.

OK, let’s wrap with this: Who else was involved in your trade to Cleveland in 2008?

July 26, 2008. (Jon) Meloan. And Casey Blake. I cried a lot.

That’s right. Santana and Meloan, who had debuted for the Dodgers the year prior, came to Cleveland for Blake, who spent five and a half seasons with the Indians.

OK, I feel old now.

Guardians takeaways: Shane Bieber’s return, José Ramírez’s numbers, Julio Franco’s timelessness Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber smiles as he takes the mound during the first inning of his rehab start for the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023.
By Zack Meisel

14
June 2, 2025 6:00 am EDT

CLEVELAND — The clock has started. Barring any setbacks, Shane Bieber could rejoin the Cleveland Guardians at the end of June.

Bieber made his first minor-league rehab start Saturday for the organization’s Arizona Complex League team. His outing aired on just about every TV in the Guardians’ clubhouse and coaching areas. The guy on the mound looked familiar. Bieber struck out five, didn’t walk a batter and allowed one hit in 2 1/3 innings. His fastball registered 92-94 mph, and the changeup he’s tinkered with for years had more depth than usual.

Bieber’s rehab assignment can last up to 30 days, which means if all goes well, the Guardians could activate him in about four weeks, give or take a few days. He’ll make his next start Thursday for Double-A Akron, with a target of three innings or 50 pitches. Reliever Erik Sabrowski, recovering from elbow inflammation, will join him.

Designated hitter David Fry, who returned from Tommy John surgery over the weekend, spent time catching Bieber in Arizona this spring. After each pitch, Fry, who is working through a throwing program, placed the baseball in a machine that sent it back to Bieber.

“He’d throw 25 pitches and miss one spot, and he was like, ‘I’m all over the place today,’” Fry said. “I’m like, ‘No, you’re pretty good, dude.’”

Cleveland’s rotation is trending in the right direction. Guardians starters posted a 4.84 ERA in March/April and a 3.60 ERA in May. Bieber, though, could give the group a jolt.
If all goes well, the Guardians could activate Shane Bieber in about four weeks. (David Dermer / Imagn Images)

Last summer, Matthew Boyd returned from elbow surgery to supply the Guardians with eight stellar starts (2.72 ERA), plus three sterling efforts in the postseason. Bieber could have enough time remaining on the schedule to make 15 starts or so in the regular season. The Guardians are paying him $10 million this year, and Bieber can opt for a $4 million buyout or a $16 million deal for next season.
Triston McKenzie update

Speaking of starting pitchers rehabbing in Arizona, Triston McKenzie, uh, did not fare as well in his Complex League debut. Here’s how his outing unfolded: hit-by-pitch, strikeout, walk, wild pitch, walk, run-scoring walk, strikeout, strikeout, home run, groundout, walk. The prospect who hit the home run was born in 2006.

It probably goes without saying, given McKenzie’s fall from trendy Cy Young Award candidate to throwing on back fields three time zones away from Progressive Field, but those in the organization have significant concerns about his road back. He has four months to unlock whatever’s preventing him from consistently attacking the strike zone.

As things stand, McKenzie can become a minor-league free agent at the end of the year. He won’t be eligible for another round of arbitration unless he’s added back to the major-league roster.
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Time for some José Ramírez stats

This might as well be a regular bit.

There have been 28 hitting streaks in franchise history that lasted longer than the 21-game streak José Ramírez snapped over the weekend. Only 17 of those 28 have taken place in the last century.

In the last 50 years, only seven Cleveland hitting streaks have lasted longer:
30: Sandy Alomar, 1997
26: Casey Blake, 2007
24: Matt Williams, 1997
23: Mike Hargrove, 1980
22: Michael Brantley, 2012
22: Marty Cordova, 2001
22: Julio Franco, 1988

Three others matched Ramírez’s 21-gamer: Franco again in 1988, Joe Carter in 1986 and Albert Belle in 1996.

Ramírez joined Earl Averill as the only players in team history to record a double-digit home run total in 10 consecutive seasons. His 1.085 OPS in May was the sixth highest in any month for a Cleveland hitter since 2000, behind Manny Ramirez (September/October 2000), Jason Kipnis (May 2015 and June 2013), Francisco Lindor (May 2018) and Grady Sizemore (June 2005).

Ramírez posted a .386/.451/.634 slash line in May, with five homers, eight doubles, eight stolen bases, 11 walks and 11 strikeouts. His month culminated in the Los Angeles Angels’ twice intentionally walking him in the first three innings Saturday.

“You saw what happened when they didn’t intentionally walk him,” pitcher Slade Cecconi said. “Almost a homer, a homer and a screamer up the middle. Nobody wants to face that guy.”

The calendar flipped to June on Sunday, and Ramírez kept humming along as he tacked on a single and a homer.

Here’s where he’s stood on June 2 each of the last five years:
2025: .327 average, .939 OPS
2024: .276 average, .885 OPS
2023: .277 average, .807 OPS
2022: .292 average, 1.025 OPS
2021: .258 average, .882 OPS

Carlos Santana, another veteran out to prove he isn’t slowing down, logged a .316/.450/.544 slash line in May, with five homers, 19 walks and 16 strikeouts.

“He’s a very old man,” Ramírez said through team interpreter Agustín Rivero. “He’s my brother. … He’s the hardest worker out there.”
Julio Franco’s still got it

A sight to behold: 66-year-old Julio Franco offering hitting instruction to Jhonkensy Noel and Angel Martínez in the Guardians’ dugout Saturday afternoon. Martínez was born in January 2002, when Franco was 43 years old — and when Franco still had six big-league seasons remaining. Noel, listening intently, sat beside Franco and Carlos Baerga on the bench. Martínez briefly left the conference to retrieve a bat so Franco could demonstrate some tips. At one point, the two longtime big leaguers stood up, and Franco shifted Baerga’s hands and arms as if the former second baseman were a robot built for hitting demonstrations. Franco and Baerga were teammates on the 1996 Cleveland team.

Guardians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. said Franco helped him in the batting cages daily in 1997.

“He would not let you get down,” Alomar said. “‘You have to do this every day.’ He was good with routines. He was a great hitter. He was one of my favorite teammates.”

Franco debuted in the majors April 23, 1982, and played his final big-league game Sept. 17, 2007, when he was 49 years old. In his debut, he hit a few spots behind 41-year-old Pete Rose in the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup. In his final game, he opposed a 24-year-old wunderkind named Miguel Cabrera. Even in his mid-40s with the Atlanta Braves in the 2000s, Franco reached base at a high clip and posted an OPS near or above .800 in a part-time role.
Nolan Jones simplifies approach

Nolan Jones had multiple hits in five of his first 49 games this season. He’s had multiple hits in three of his last four. In his last 16 games, he’s hitting .333 (16-for-48). The key? A less-is-more approach. All but one of those 16 hits have been singles. He’s lining pitches back up the middle instead of trying to rescue his reeling stats with a barrage of home runs.

For nearly two months, coaches have assured Jones the hits would eventually fall. His metrics — exit velocity, hard-hit rate, chase rate — suggested better days are ahead, but that can be difficult to trust. “Impossible,” in fact, as Jones said Sunday afternoon.

Jones would return home after each game, study video of his swing mechanics and take pretend swings in the mirror. That’s not a practice he employs when he’s performing well, and eventually, his fiancee told him it was becoming a “terrible” habit.

About a week ago, Jones quit the routine. He stopped watching video at home and examining his motion in the mirror. And instead of trying to convert glitzy metrics into gaudy stats, he focused on hitting line drives up the middle in the batting cage. He’s 8-for-14 in his last four games (and he probably should have had another hit Sunday, but the official scorer charged the defender with an error).

“Sometimes, the best answer might be simplifying,” he said.

Guardians’ young hitters not producing consistent offense; averaging 4.02 runs per game

Updated: Jun. 04, 2025, 7:59 p.m.|Published: Jun. 04, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

NEW YORK — The Guardians need to score more runs if they’re going to make the postseason. It’s as simple as that.

People can blame Tanner Bibee for allowing consecutive home runs to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe in the seventh inning Tuesday night.

They can blame manager Stephen Vogt for making the decision to send Bibee out for the seventh after he threw six strong inning against the Yankees.

But when a team scores just two runs, as the Guardians did in the 3-2 loss to the Yankees, it’s not going to win many games.

The Guardians rank 11th in the AL in runs. In 59 games, they’ve scored 237 runs, an average of 4.02 per game.

The Yankees and Tigers, by comparison, are first and second in the AL in runs. The Yankees are averaging 5.5 runs per game, while the Tigers are averaging 5.0.

When the Guardians won the AL Central last year, they averaged 4.4 runs per game.

“I always believe we can better,” said Chris Antonetti, Guardians’ president of baseball operations. “One of the great challenges and opportunities we have is that we have a really young team that is trying to compete and develop at the same time at the major league level.

“That makes it really hard on a player level. It’s hard on our coaches and it’s hard on Vogter (manager Stephen Vogt), but that’s what we need to do to be successful.

“What you see all the time in young players is inconsistencies. Our continued goal is how do we work with them to get more consistent production, knowing the path is not going to be linear? There are going to be ups and downs.”

DH-first baseman Kyle Manzardo, in his first full season in the big leagues, posted a .853 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) in March and April. He supplemented it with eight homers and 19 RBI.

In May, he hit .200 (17 for 96) with two homers and nine RBI as his OPS slipped to .621.

Shortstop Gabriel Arias, who won a starting job out of spring training for the first time in his career, hit .264 (24 for 91) with a .775 OPS in March and April. He slipped to .220 (20 for 91) with a .569 OPS in May.

Then there’s Bo Naylor, who has struggled through the first 59 games of the season. Naylor hit .191 in March and April and .169 in May.

[ Jhonkensy Noel's last 30 games 9-67 .134 avg, 1 walk, and 27 strikeouts ]

[ Nolan Jones last 30 games 18-78 .237 avg, 4 walks, 20 strikeouts ]

What Antonetti is looking for is improvement in any shape or form.

He saw it last year with Manzardo, who struggled when he was called to the big leagues for the first time. He was optioned to Columbus, but came back in September and hit .270 with five homers.

“We’re hopeful for the same thing happening with Brayan Rocchio,” said Antonetti. “He was up here, struggled. He went down to Triple-A, is working on some things. Hopefully, he can come back and be a productive player for us.

“The same goes for the guys who are up here. They need to be more consistent.”

Rocchio opened the season as Cleveland’s starting shortstop. But he hit .165 (15 for 91), lost his job to Arias and was optioned to Columbus on May 7.

The need for more consistency covers a large part of the roster. Outside of Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana, there aren’t a lot of Cleveland hitters who make an opposing pitcher think twice.

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Outside of Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana, there aren’t a lot of Cleveland hitters who make an opposing pitcher think twice.

This was my biggest concern before the season started.

Unless there is a drastic improvement with the offense in June, It may be time to start thinking "wild card".

The pitching continues to keep us in the chase. The rotation is pitching very well. Like Bibee last night, Ortiz is dealing tonight.

Pitching is not the problem.

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Just checking the bottom six batters in the Detroit lineup.
236, 304, 295, 244, 270, 265.
Have to wonder how the Guards trail the Tigers by only 6 games.

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joez wrote: Wed Jun 04, 2025 9:23 pm Just checking the bottom six batters in the Detroit lineup.
236, 304, 295, 244, 270, 265.
Have to wonder how the Guards trail the Tigers by only 6 games.

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Agree on all this joez. I think most people, including Cleveland brass...do as well.

The question is will the reinforcements come from within? (DeLauter, Kayfus etc) or on the trade market?

Guardians need one of their patented, dominant rotations, and they might soon have one NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 04: Luis Ortiz #45 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 04, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel

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June 5, 2025 6:01 am EDT

NEW YORK — People have been asking about the vaunted Cleveland pitching factory.

They’ve been wondering if it’s still functioning, if grizzled coaches are still studying arm slots and crafting arsenals, if quarter zip-wearing data hounds are still clutching onto iPads that spit out spin rates and movement profiles. They’ve been concerned that the assembly line that, for years, churned out proficient big-league pitchers has ceased production. They’ve been worried that a once-buzzing workplace, the one envied by nearly every other team, has shuttered.

On Wednesday night, Luis Ortiz absorbed a few celebratory pounds to the chest from third baseman José Ramírez, handed manager Stephen Vogt the baseball and retreated to the visitors’ dugout at Yankee Stadium. Along his way, he raised his cap to acknowledge his wife and 16 other friends and family members in attendance.

He had completed another assignment in which his 98 mph heat zipped through the strike zone and his winding slider evaded bats. He took another step toward cementing himself as a force in a rotation that seems desperate to announce its presence.

This is no revelatory declaration, but the Guardians’ best chance to reach the postseason is to ride a robust rotation through the summer, the sort of roster backbone the organization became known for, but has lacked in recent years. This group has flashed hints of a forthcoming breakout.

“It’s there, for sure,” said Tanner Bibee, the anchor of Cleveland’s rotation. “Everyone sees it.”

A clicking rotation alleviates everything else.

“You can always win games (that way),” Bibee said.

It preserves a top-heavy bullpen that the club has been careful not to overwork. It makes life easier on an underperforming lineup and buys the team brass time to figure out the ideal nine.

So, do the Guardians have the horses to stampede their way to the postseason? They’re certainly trending in the right direction.

April: 4.84 ERA, 27th in MLB
May: 3.60 ERA, 13th in MLB
June: 1.45 ERA (in an admittedly tiny sample size of three games)

Gavin Williams carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Angels on Sunday, as he stymied hitters with an array of looping curveballs and careening cutters. Bibee conquered the Yankees on Tuesday until he made two seventh-inning mistakes. Ortiz silenced the Yankees for 5 2/3 innings on Wednesday.

Bibee was steaming after his start in the Bronx, which he admitted is a reflection of the lofty expectations he places upon himself.

“We’ve gone through one-third of the season,” he said, “and I feel like a lot of us would say we have not pitched to the standard we hold ourselves to.”

Perhaps that’s changing. Ortiz seems like the perfect test subject.

The Guardians acquired him in November, a classic case of the organization identifying a pitcher with traits they coveted, and others they thought they could enhance.
Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis talks to pitcher Tanner Bibee after the Game 5 loss to the Yankees in the 2024 ALCS. (David Dermer / Imagn Images)

“I can’t speak for other organizations,” said pitching coach Carl Willis, “(but) I think one of the things we do is we don’t put guys in boxes. ‘He’s a right-hander. Here’s his arsenal. Here’s what he should do.’ It’s more of, ‘This is how he moves. This is where his slot is.’ (The key) is allowing the guy to be the best version of what he naturally does, with some adjustments, as opposed to trying to rebuild an entire building.

“They gain confidence in knowing the foundation is their way, but there may need to be a little bit of an adjustment somewhere along the chain that’s going to help them be more efficient.”

In Ortiz’s case, his whiff rate, strikeout rate and ground-ball rate have soared since joining the Guardians. By no means does he resemble a polished, finished product, but his outing on Wednesday could be the right blueprint to examine. He induced 14 whiffs, topped out at 99.1 mph and threw more sliders than any other pitch.

There were rocky days in spring training when Ortiz was yanked mid-inning and then returned to start the next. That carried into the regular season, but over his last five starts, Ortiz owns a 2.28 ERA. His walk rate remains a bit high — that’s a fact for many of Cleveland’s hurlers — but he has surrendered only two home runs in those five outings.

He spearheaded Cleveland’s first shutout at Yankee Stadium since Aug. 9, 2014, a game started by Corey Kluber, who was zooming to the finish line of his first Cy Young campaign.

Last season, the Guardians won in spite of their rotation. Outside of Bibee and Ben Lively — who underwent elbow reconstruction surgery on Wednesday in Dallas — the club didn’t have much to cling to in its rotation. Carlos Carrasco finished third on the team in innings, Logan Allen and Triston McKenzie proved unreliable and Williams spent much of the season on the shelf. Remember when Spencer Howard started a game at Comerica Park? Yeah, that happened.

By the time the playoffs arrived, the Guardians were leaning on a couple of midsummer pickups in Matthew Boyd, Alex Cobb and Bibee, who even pitched on short rest. To advance to the ALCS, they squeezed every ounce of juice out of their top four relievers.

The formula could be different this year.

“It’s been a really good few weeks,” Vogt said. … “We’re continuing to see these guys grow and learn and get better.”

That should also take some pressure off the guy in line to rejoin the rotation in a few weeks, a guy with a Cy Young Award in his living room and a guy who was a member of some of those vintage Cleveland rotations.
Shane Bieber, shown pitching in 2024, is recovering from Tommy John surgery and could rejoin the Guardians at the end of June. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images)

Shane Bieber, barring any setbacks, should be able to submit about a half-season’s worth of starts, ample opportunity for him to shed any remaining rust following a 15-month gap between big-league outings. A healthy Bieber and a fully functioning Bibee, Williams and Ortiz would be formidable against any opposing lineup. It would also afford the team some flexibility (and depth) as Allen and Slade Cecconi attempt to prove up to the task, and with Joey Cantillo and Parker Messick waiting for their chance at Triple-A Columbus.

On top of that, sprinkle in a bit of Kluber’s expertise in his new role as special assistant, and maybe the pitching factory will be humming again this summer.

Zach's optimism may be justified. If Bieber returns in something near past status we might have 4 reliable starters although none to match Skrubal.

Lane Thomas health is important and would make a very welcome addition back to the offense after what will probably be another lengthy ice cold start.
Martinez is still of some offensive value. Manzardo too. And both could over time develop into greater assets, but rather marginal now
Rocchio is hitting well at Columbus but no reason he'll return with much offensive upside.
Bo Naylor is unlikely to turn things around. We have a top notch offensive catcher in AA, but he'd need to graduate from AAA and improve his control of baserunners.

Bieber (soreness) scratched from scheduled rehab start

NEW YORK -- Shane Bieber won’t make a rehab start with Double-A Akron on Friday, after all.

Bieber experienced soreness following his bullpen session with the RubberDucks on Tuesday and has been scratched from Friday’s outing. After meeting with the Guardians’ team doctors, the right-hander will consult with Dr. Keith Meister as he and Cleveland figure out the next steps.

Meister performed Bieber’s Tommy John surgery last year. The Guardians expect to have more information and clarity on what’s next for Bieber this weekend.

The news marks at least a temporary setback for Bieber on his road back to the Majors from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in April 2024. The 30-year-old made his first rehab start on Saturday, in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. He threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out five.

Friday was going to mark Bieber’s first rehab outing with one of the Guardians’ Minor League affiliates, and he was expected to progress to throwing three innings and around 50 pitches. Last weekend, the Guardians noted most of Bieber’s rehab work going forward would be in the Cleveland area with the organization's various affiliates.

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Latest Guardians injuries and transactions

30 minutes ago

LATEST INJURIES

RHP Shane Bieber
Injury: Right UCL tear
IL date: March 27 (60-day IL, retroactive to March 24)
Expected return: July
Status: Scratched from June 6 rehab start after experiencing soreness following June 3 bullpen with Double-A Akron. Consulted with team doctors; will also consult with Dr. Keith Meister to determine next steps. (Last updated: June 5) More >>

RHP Ben Lively
Injury: Tommy John surgery, right flexor tendon repair
IL date: May 29 (60-day IL)
Expected return: 2026
Status: Underwent Tommy John surgery and right flexor tendon repair on June 4. Expected to miss 12-18 months. Will report to team's Arizona complex to begin rehab. (Last updated: June 4) More >>

OF Lane Thomas
Injury: Right plantar fasciitis
IL date: May 30 (10-day IL, retroactive to May 27)
Expected return: TBD
Status: Has resumed running. Team doesn't anticipate long absence, per manager Stephen Vogt, but is taking things day by day. (Last updated: June 4) More >>

RHP Andrew Walters
Injury: Right lat strain
IL date: May 31 (15-day IL)
Expected return: TBD
Status: Has “significant tear” in right lat muscle and will be out “a while,” per president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti. Will visit a specialist on June 4. (Last updated: June 3)

OF Will Brennan
Injury: Left forearm inflammation
IL date: May 22 (10-day IL)
Expected return: TBD
Status: Scheduled to visit Dr. Keith Meister on June 5 for another opinion, per manager Stephen Vogt. (Last updated: June 3)

RHP Trevor Stephan
Injury: Right UCL reconstruction surgery
IL date: March 27 (60-day IL, retroactive to March 24)
Expected return: 2025
Status: Was rechecked by team doctors in Cleveland over weekend of May 30. Now back in Arizona continuing rehab. (Last updated: June 3)

LHP Erik Sabrowski
Injury: Left elbow inflammation
IL date: March 27 (60-day IL, retroactive to March 24)
Expected return: June or July
Status: Will continue rehab with Double-A Akron the week of June 2 after making rehab appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League on May 30. (Last updated: June 1)

2B Travis Bazzana (Guardians' No. 1 prospect, No. 12 overall)
Injury: Right side soreness
Expected return: TBD
Status: Expected to miss eight to 10 weeks with right internal oblique strain. Initiating rehab progression at team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz. (Last updated: May 22) More >>

INF Angel Genao (Guardians' No. 4 prospect, No. 55 overall)
Injury: Right shoulder sprain
Expected return: June
Status: Began rehab assignment on May 22 with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Guardians. (Last updated: May 22)

INF Jaison Chourio (Guardians' No. 3 prospect, No. 53 overall)
Injury: Right shoulder strain
Expected return: June
Status: Joined Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Guardians on May 22 to begin rehab assignment. (Last updated: May 22)

RHP Paul Sewald
Injury: Right posterior deltoid strain
IL date: April 29 (15-day IL)
Expected return: TBD
Status: Suffered isolated high-grade strain on April 28. Has started return-to-throw progression. (Last updated: May 17)

LHP John Means
Injury: Left elbow UCL surgery recovery
IL date: April 9 (60-day IL)
Expected return: Late 2025
Status: Progressing well in return-to-throw program and throwing out to 120 feet. Projected to initiate throwing bullpens in mid-May. (Last updated: April 30)

LHP Sam Hentges
Injury: Left shoulder surgery
IL date: Feb. 16 (60-day IL)
Expected return: 2026
Status: Progressing through post-op rehab and throwing programs as scheduled. Timeframe for full recovery from anterior capsule repair is typically 12-14 months. (Last updated: April 30)

INF/OF Juan Brito (Guardians' No. 10 prospect)
Injury: Right thumb sprain
IL date: April 24 (7-day IL)
Expected return: July-August
Status: Suffered a high-grade ligament sprain of his right thumb on a slide. Surgery was performed April 25. Will transition to Goodyear, Ariz., to initiate a post-operative rehabilitation. (Last updated: April 26) More >>


LATEST TRANSACTIONS

May 31
• UTIL David Fry: Activated from 60-day IL
• RHP Andrew Walters: Placed on 15-day IL (right lat strain)
• RHP Nic Enright: Recalled from Triple-A Columbus
• RHP Cody Bolton: Designated for assignment

May 30
• OF Lane Thomas: Placed on 10-day IL More >>

May 29
• LHP Matt Krook: Claimed off waivers from A’s; assigned to Triple-A Columbus
• RHP Ben Lively: Transferred to 60-day IL

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CLEVELAND -- After his challenging first few months of the 2025 season, the Guardians are giving Jhonkensy Noel an opportunity to hit the reset button. For Noel, that will happen in the Minor Leagues.

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Cleveland optioned Noel to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, and in a corresponding move, the club recalled right fielder Johnathan Rodríguez (Guardians’ No. 12 prospect) from the Clippers. Rodríguez drew the start in right field in the series finale vs. the Astros.

Noel struggled to get going offensively this season while receiving uneven playing time as part of a platoon in right field with the left-handed-hitting Nolan Jones. The Guardians have faced 49 right-handed starters this season, compared to 18 lefties, and Noel played in 46 games overall. He slashed .146/.168/.223 with two homers, nine RBIs, three walks and 34 strikeouts.



As a rookie last season, Noel slugged 13 homers in 67 regular-season games, and he went on to crush a game-tying pinch-hit homer in the Guardians’ comeback win over the Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. His option to Columbus is an opportunity for him to get on track while receiving more regular at-bats.

“It just hasn't been the start to the season that he would have liked or that we would have liked,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “For me, Jhonkensy, [it’s] ‘Just go play. Go play. Go relax, get back to being you.’ There's some adjustments that need to be made, obviously, but I think in Jhonkensy’s case, we know how good of a player he is.

“He plays an unbelievable right field. He's a good baserunner, and he has the power to hit the ball out of the yard. It just hasn't been there yet this year, and we still hold true to the belief that Jhonkensy, the best version of him helps us win games.”

The Guardians have acknowledged throughout this season that Noel had a challenging role due to the inconsistent at-bats. Staying in rhythm with limited playing time can be challenging for a veteran hitter, let alone someone such as Noel, who is only 23 years old and has just 282 at-bats over 113 games in his big league career.

It can also be natural for any player who is struggling to feel the pressure to produce in the limited reps they do receive, especially as they try to fight their way out of a slump.

“You feel like you have to go 5-for-4 every time you play,” Vogt said. “It's one of those things that you start to put pressure on yourself. We have conversations with our guys all the time about this. We do our best to keep them in a good mental headspace. But there's nothing that can help when you're struggling and you're down on yourself, and you put more pressure on yourself to be perfect.


“It's a really tough role, and we empathize with them with that. But we also try to equip them with the skills to overcome it. I think sometimes we view getting sent to Triple-A as this super negative thing. Of course, everybody wants to be in the big leagues. No one wants to be a Triple-A. But this is the best thing that can be for Jhonkensy right now to go get playing time, to go get at-bats, so that he can work on the things daily that he needs to.”

Rodríguez made Cleveland’s Opening Day roster but received limited playing time over the first week-plus of the season (five at-bats over four games). He was optioned to Columbus on April 8 and has had a strong season at the plate.

In 46 games with the Clippers, Rodríguez has slashed .324/.408/.494 with seven homers, 32 RBIs, 23 walks and 48 strikeouts. He said he worked on his timing between his hands and his legs to be more comfortable in the batter’s box with Columbus.

“Johnathan has been trending in the right direction,” Vogt said. “He's made some swing adjustments. We asked him to really work and he bought in, and he's been working on it. … Our hitting team, hitting group in the Minor Leagues, Triple-A staff, as we talked through it, they said he's at a point where he can come up and help us win games.” [we shall see]