GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Spring Training statistics can only reveal so much, and they aren’t a perfectly reliable method to predict regular season outcomes. But it’s also hard to ignore the numbers right-hander Gavin Williams has put up while passing the eye test in Cactus League play.
“The Gavin that's been throwing this Spring Training is the Gavin that everyone in this organization has been raving about,” Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz said.
And that could mean big things for Cleveland’s starting rotation this season. Williams has been dominant this spring, if not a closer reflection of the guy who recorded a 3.29 ERA in 16 starts as a rookie (2023).
Williams struggled and dealt with injury in ‘24. He made two Cactus League starts before being shut down due to right elbow inflammation and recorded a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts after making his season debut on July 3.
He’s struck out 16 batters in eight innings over three starts this spring, including seven in 3 2/3 scoreless innings Sunday vs. the White Sox, a game Cleveland went on to win 1-0.
Again, it’s only Spring Training. But the Guardians see the difference in Williams.
“He was just playing catch-up the whole year [in 2024],” Albernaz said. “But to see him this year attack the goals that the pitching group had for him and go out there and implement it, it's awesome to see. I think his fastball has as much life as it ever has. The slider looks great, curveball. He's pounding the strike zone.”
It’s all an exciting proposition for the Guardians’ rotation. Williams returning to his 2023 form would add more certainty to a staff led by Tanner Bibee and offer it a surefire No. 2 starter.
Williams’ four-seamer has stood out in his three starts this spring after he and the Guardians emphasized it in his offseason work. He said this week that it played more like a sinker last season rather than playing up in the zone.
“It's all about Gavin’s fastball,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “That was the big improvement that he worked on all winter and is still continuing to work on all spring.”
“[The movement is] coming back to where it was when I got drafted [in 2021],” Williams said. “If it can stay in that same spot, I think I’ll have a good year.”
Walters toes the rubber
Andrew Walters has made one Cactus League appearance this spring, on Feb. 24. The right-hander dealt with some right shoulder stiffness after that outing, and the Guardians opted to play things safe.
Walters has resumed throwing, including a 25-pitch bullpen on Sunday with his full arsenal. He said afterward that he’s feeling good.
“Just a little minor inconvenience, but I’m ready to get back out there on the field,” Walters said.
Walters made his MLB debut on Sept. 12 last season and didn’t allow an earned run in nine regular-season appearances. He expressed confidence that he has enough time to prepare for the start of the season.
“Oh yeah, absolutely,” he said. “This is my first Major League Spring Training, so I’m still trying to feel it out. I’ve got a lot of resources, so I’m feeling pretty confident that timeline-wise we’ll be ready to rock and roll.”
Junis debuts
The Guardians took things slow with Jakob Junis after signing him to a one-year deal on Feb. 16, and he also was pushed back a few days after falling under the weather. The 32-year-old made his Cactus League debut on Sunday and threw a scoreless sixth inning with one strikeout.
Junis is an intriguing addition to Cleveland’s pitching staff as a versatile arm Vogt can deploy in multiple ways. In eight seasons, Junis has made 192 appearances, including 116 starts. In 2024, he recorded a 2.69 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP in 24 games (six starts) with the Brewers and Reds.
“I've done it the last couple years where I'm in the bullpen and can give one inning, two innings, three innings,” Junis said. “And then if things go haywire, I can start and fill that role too. At this point in my career, I’ve done a little bit of everything. … Just hoping I can bring experience and that versatility to the team and just plug in the gaps for these guys.”