Guardians prospect Daniel Espino returns to mound for first time since 2022

Guardians former top pitching prospect Daniel Espino returned to the mound for the first time since April 29, 2022, on Saturday.

While the outing -- three runs allowed over two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout in Triple-A Columbus’ 8-7 loss to Omaha at Huntington Park -- wasn't statistically impressive, for Espino, it was all that he could have hoped for.

“It was so good, it just felt really good,” said Espino who overcame multiple shoulder surgeries to get back on the mound. “I felt really confident and I think that I attacked the zone a lot. I'm really proud of that.”

Of the 21 pitches that the Guardians' No. 29 prospect threw, 15 went for strikes. The right-hander's velocity didn’t reach eye-popping levels like it did prior to his injuries, but Espino did touch 98 mph or higher four times with his four-seamer.

“Just to be able to play the game and to feel that competition again and all that, honestly, is a win for me,” Espino said. “Even though the numbers and the stats don't say that, to me, it was a win, because I've been waiting for this time for a long time.”

Espino served as an opener in the contest, kicking off Columbus’ penultimate game of the season. The abbreviated outing will serve as a launching point for Espino -- who is among eight Guardians prospects slated to play in the Arizona Fall League, which begins on Oct. 6.

“I'll be the pitcher I want to be and put myself in a really good spot,” said Espino of gaining confidence while at the Fall League. “A spot to get to the big leagues and help the Cleveland organization win a World Series, which is the end goal that all of us want.”

Espino was ranked as the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect and No. 53 overall entering the 2022 season. Armed with a four-seam fastball that touched 103 mph, the 2019 first-round Draft pick opened that campaign with Double-A Akron, but he was limited to four starts (none after April) due to right patellar tendinitis and a right shoulder injury.

Espino experienced right shoulder soreness in Spring Training 2023, which led to him undergoing surgery that May. Cleveland added him to its 40-man roster in November 2023, but he underwent a second right shoulder surgery in Spring Training ‘24, to repair his capsule and rotator cuff.

“He's just a tremendous human being,” Guardians VP of player development Stephen Osterer said recently of Espino’s perseverance. “It's been challenging, no doubt, but he's taken every single obstacle and road bump really well, and just puts his head down and focuses on the day to day.”

Despite having to take time off from the game he loves, Espino found bright spots during his recovery. The 24-year-old cherished spending time with his family, something he hasn’t had the privilege of doing consistently since he moved stateside as a 15-year-old. Now, on the other side of the journey, he has a new perspective.

“Just to be more grateful about being able to play this game and just to breathe and make an impact on your teammates and the people around you,” Espino said.

Espino spent the bulk of 2025 building up and throwing at the Guardians’ player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz., and he recently transitioned to Columbus in a continuation in his progression. Espino’s stint in the AFL could include a mix of pitching in games while continuing to train at Cleveland’s complex.

Before injuries sidetracked him, Espino was one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in baseball. Along with his heater, which sat 95-98 mph Saturday, his arsenal featured a mid-80s power slider. His potential with that devastating mix was evident.

“I'm feeling really grateful and I'm really happy with just to be able to be here and just to be able to throw a ball at a really high level,” Espino said. “That, to me, is a win, and I'm so grateful for that.”