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Angel Martinez Angel Martinez Having strong camp
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 8:19 AM
Martinez has hit in five consecutive games and is 9-for-21 (.429) with two solo home runs and five doubles through nine Cactus League games.
Analysis: Martinez is expected to make the Opening Day roster and is included on Cleveland's latest roster projection compiled by Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The Guardians are having him focus on center field after Martinez bounced between the outfield and second base in 2025. He's expected to serve in a depth role. |
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CJ Kayfus CJ Kayfus Left off projected roster
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 8:07 AM
Kayfus was not included in the latest 26-man roster projection for the Guardians compiled by Zack Meisel of The Athletic.
Analysis: Entering spring training, Kayfus had been in line for opportunities at first base and designated hitter, but the acquisition of Rhys Hoskins after camp opened put a blocker in that plan. That left outfield as the only viable path to playing time for Kayfus, who is competing with other prospects, Chase DeLauter and George Valera. Kayfus is 3-for-20 (.150) with five walks, three extra-base hits (including a home run) and two RBI over 10 Cactus League games. |
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Nolan Jones Nolan Jones Roster spot shaky
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 7:45 AM
Jones is not included on the latest roster projection compiled by Zack Meisel of The Athletic.
Analysis: There are several reasons why Jones is not a lock to make the Opening Day roster, and those were established before he went 3-for-26 (.115) through nine Cactus League games. Jones' left-handed bat is redundant, the Guardians' decision to test Steven Kwan in center field and the need to give at-bats to prospects ready for MLB are signs that Jones is on the bubble. It was mildly surprising that Cleveland committed $2 million to the outfielder instead of non-tendering him last November, considering Jones was coming off a two-year backslide following what looked like a breakout season in 2023. |
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Steven Kwan Steven Kwan Position not affecting swing
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 8:34 AM
Kwan started in center field and went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in Monday's spring game against Kansas City.
Analysis: Kwan belted a pair of two-out, two-run home runs for his first two Cactus League homers. A Gold Glove winner in left field, the Guardians are testing Kwan in center field, where he's played seven consecutive games. The experiment hasn't affected his bat. Kwan's batting .286 (6-for-21) over nine spring games. Moving Kwan to center field would grant up-and-coming outfielders like Chase DeLauter, CJ Kayfus and George Valera, all of whom profile better as corner outfielders, opportunities for regular at-bats. |
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Parker Messick Parker Messick Strong effort Monday
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 8:19 AM
Messick allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four over 4.2 scoreless innings in Monday's spring start against the Royals.
Analysis: Messick was dominant in his third Cactus League outing (two starts), upping his pitch count to 66 (41 strikes) in a bid to earn a spot in the Guardians' rotation. The left-hander lowered his spring ERA to 1.93 over 9.1 innings. Cleveland's received good work from all its starters over the last week, and the decision will be tough one for manager Stephen Vogt. Messick has three minor-league options, which could work against him in the competition with Joey Cantillo (no options) and Logan Allen (one) for the final two spots in the rotation. |
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Kahlil Watson Kahlil Watson Cut from major-league camp
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 11:53 AM
The Guardians optioned Watson to minor-league camp Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Watson impressed at the plate this spring in going 6-for-14 with one stolen base and a 2:5 BB:K, but it wasn't enough to put him in play for an Opening Day roster spot. The 22-year-old made a full-time move to the outfield in 2025 and will again handle all three outfield spots at Triple-A Columbus. |
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Angel Genao Angel Genao Cut from big-league camp
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 11:49 AM
The Guardians optioned Genao to minor-league camp Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Genao nabbed a spot on the Guardians' 40-man roster this offseason, but he was always destined to head back to the minors for more seasoning. The 21-year-old infielder was limited by a shoulder injury last season, but he's healthy now and should begin the year back at Double-A Akron. |
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Joey Cantillo Joey Cantillo Delivers best spring outing
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 8:59 AM
Cantillo allowed two runs on five hits while striking out four over 4.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against the Rockies.
Analysis: Cantillo was at his most efficient in his fourth Cactus League outing, as the young left-hander submitted his best effort in a quest for a spot in the Guardians rotation. Prior to Sunday's appearances, Cantillo had allowed nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. There's time left for two or three more starts for Cantillo, who is competing with two other lefties, Parker Messick and Logan Allen, and right-hander Slade Cecconi. |
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Franco Aleman Franco Aleman Sent to minors
Sun, Mar 8, 2026, 2:39 PM
The Guardians optioned Aleman to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Aleman struggled to a 7.85 ERA over 36.2 innings at Columbus last season, so it's hardly a surprise he'll return there to begin 2026. The 25-year-old has yet to make his MLB debut and will need significantly better results to have a chance of changing that this year. |
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Daniel Espino Daniel Espino Headed to Triple-A
Sun, Mar 8, 2026, 2:29 PM
The Guardians optioned Espino to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Espino fired two scoreless innings during spring training but unsurprisingly won't make Cleveland's Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old made an appearance for Triple-A Columbus late last season, which was his first game action since 2022 after requiring multiple shoulder surgeries. |
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Rhys Hoskins Rhys Hoskins Belts first spring homer
Sun, Mar 8, 2026, 12:02 PM
Hoskins started at first base and went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's spring game against San Diego.
Analysis: Hoskins, who served as the designated hitter in his first four Cactus League appearances, made his first start in the field. His first at-bat was an epic 13-pitch battle with Padres starter Michael King that ended in a strikeout. Two innings later, he took King deep on a first-pitch fastball for his first spring homer, a two-run shot. An inning later, the first baseman singled in another two runs. Until Saturday, Hoskins was having a difficult spring, going 1-for-12 while striking out seven times. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Works four innings
Sun, Mar 8, 2026, 11:51 AM
Cecconi allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out five over four innings in Saturday's spring start against the Padres.
Analysis: Cecconi made his third Cactus League and had traffic in all four innings. He induced two double-play groundouts to squelch a couple of potential rallies. The right-hander upped his pitch count to 53 (36 strikes) and has been much sharper in 2026 than he was year ago in his first spring training for the Guardians. Cecconi finished last spring with an ERA of 16.88 over 5.1 innings compared to his 3.12 over 8.2 frames this year. |
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Doug Nikhazy Doug Nikhazy Optioned to Triple-A
Sat, Mar 7, 2026, 10:01 AM
The Guardians optioned Nikhazy to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Nikhazy entered spring training as an unlikely candidate to make the Guardians' Opening Day roster, and the 27-year-old southpaw will indeed open the 2026 season in the minors. He spent most of the 2025 campaign in Triple-A, where he went 5-7 in 21 games (19 starts) while posting a 5.02 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 87:43 K:BB across 86 innings. Nikhazy appeared in two regular-season games for Cleveland in 2025 and could see some starts in the majors in 2026 when the Guardians need an extra arm in the rotation. |
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Gavin Williams Gavin Williams Good spring continues
Sat, Mar 7, 2026, 7:51 AM
Williams allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out five over 3.2 innings in Friday's spring start against the Angels.
Analysis: Williams had early trouble in the first inning but settled down after that in his third Cactus League start. He increased his pitch count to 56 (41 strikes) and didn't issue a free pass for the second straight outing. Walks were an issue for the right-hander in 2025 (4.5 BB/9), but thus far, Williams has issued just one walk through eight spring innings. |
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Chase DeLauter Chase DeLauter Returns to field
Sat, Mar 7, 2026, 7:18 AM
DeLauter started in right field and went 1-for-3 with one RBI in Friday's spring game against the Angels.
Analysis: DeLauter, who returned from lower-body soreness as the designated hitter earlier in the week, defended a position for the first time since being scratched from a game one week ago. Beyond left fielder Steven Kwan, the Guardians' outfield is unsettled, but DeLauter appears to be a lock, either in center or right field. He's hit safely in all four of his Cactus League games, going 6-for-11 with two doubles, one home run and four RBI. |
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Austin Peterson Austin Peterson Cut from big-league camp
Fri, Mar 6, 2026, 11:44 AM
The Guardians optioned Peterson (triceps) to minor-league camp Friday.
Analysis: Peterson suffered a right triceps strain in late February and will not be ready for the start of the season. Once healthy, he'll be ticketed for the rotation at Triple-A Columbus. |
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Gabriel Arias Gabriel Arias Returns to Guardians lineup
Fri, Mar 6, 2026, 11:12 AM
Arias (back) will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Friday's Cactus League contest versus the Angels.
Analysis: Arias missed the past week of action with lower-back spasms, but he's ready to go now. The 26-year-old has gone 2-for-9 with a double and is projected to be the Guardians' primary shortstop during the upcoming season. |
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Hunter Gaddis Hunter Gaddis MRI on forearm is negative
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 1:49 PM
Gaddis underwent an MRI due to mild forearm tightness, which came back negative, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Gaddis made his spring training debut this past Friday but came out of the appearance with an arm issue. He's been cleared of structural damage and will be reevaluated Thursday to determine his readiness to resume a throwing program. If healthy, Gaddis will be used in a setup role for the Guardians this season ahead of closer Cade Smith. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Falters in third inning
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 7:33 AM
Cecconi allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four over 2.2 innings in Monday's spring start against Texas.
Analysis: Cecconi had two scoreless frames in his second Cactus League outing before Wyatt Langford took him deep in the third. The Rangers worked counts in all three innings, and the right-hander's day was done after 52 pitches (33 strikes). Cecconi is much more established than he was in 2025, when he was new to the Guardians. Coaches reworked his mechanics and pitch mix, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, adding a cutter and increasing his slider usage. The cutter was particularly effective Monday, generating six whiffs on 12 swings. |
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Gavin Williams Gavin Williams Settles in after leadoff HR
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 8:33 AM
Williams allowed one run on two hits and struck out three over three innings in Sunday's spring start against Colorado.
Analysis: Williams was taken deep by Brett Sullivan to lead off the game but then calmed down. He worked around a fielding error later in the first inning and then a single in the following inning before a clean third frame. Williams upped his pitch count to 44 (28 strikes) in his second Cactus League outing. |
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