Guardians Option Top Prospect Daniel Espino to Triple-A Columbus
Goodyear, Ariz. – The Cleveland Guardians optioned right-handed pitching prospect Daniel Espino to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, as part of a series of roster moves ahead of the 2026 season. The team also optioned right-hander Franco Aleman to Columbus and reassigned lefty Ryan Webb and outfielder Alfonsin Rosario to Minor League camp .
Espino’s Journey Back to the Mound
Espino, ranked as the Guardians’ No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been a standout performer during Spring Training this year. His return to form marks a significant milestone after facing considerable adversity over the past four seasons . The 25-year-ancient has been working his way back from a pair of right shoulder surgeries, limiting his game appearances since September 20, 2025, when he pitched two-thirds of an inning for Columbus .
Guardians’ Approach to Espino’s Development
Manager Stephen Vogt emphasized the importance of carefully managing Espino’s workload and development. The Guardians aim to assess how much Espino can pitch and how frequently, doing so outside the high-pressure environment of the major leagues . The organization wants to provide him with ample opportunities to build his pitching endurance after a prolonged absence from the game.
Spring Training Performance
Espino made two Cactus League appearances this spring, showcasing encouraging velocity and command. He threw a scoreless inning against the D-backs on March 1, with his four-seam fastball reaching 98 mph . In a relief appearance against the Padres, he struck out three batters whereas working around a leadoff double, with his fastball averaging 96.7 mph and peaking at 97.3 mph .
Vogt’s Assessment
“I’m just happy he’s healthy,” Vogt said. “We’ve got to be mindful of how we build him up to see what he’d be capable of to aid us. We demand to do that for Daniel’s future and for us right now. He’ll continue to work through a progression. We want him to impact our huge league team this year. That’s all of our goals. We have to do that together.”
Additional Roster Moves
In addition to Espino, the Guardians also optioned right-hander Franco Aleman to Columbus. Ryan Webb and Alfonsin Rosario were reassigned to Minor League camp . Aleman and Webb could potentially contribute to the big-league team later in the 2026 season .
The Guardians now have 55 players remaining in big league camp .