Guards add hard-throwing Aleman to bullpen mix; Brogdon DFA'd

CLEVELAND -- Franco Aleman has enjoyed a dominant start to the season with Triple-A Columbus. Now, the hard-throwing Guardians pitching prospect will get his first opportunity to impact Cleveland’s bullpen in the big leagues.

The Guardians called up Aleman from Columbus prior to Friday’s series opener against the Twins at Progressive Field. In a corresponding move, reliever Connor Brogdon was designated for assignment.

Aleman (a Cuba native who was Cleveland’s 10th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida) was in big league camp this spring before the Guardians optioned him to Columbus on March 6. The 25-year-old right-hander has been nearly flawless this season with the Clippers.

In 12 innings over 13 appearances this season, Aleman has allowed just one unearned run on three hits and four walks while striking out 18 batters.

The Guardians are in the midst of a stretch of playing 13 consecutive games without an off-day. Their bullpen saw a lot of action during this week's four-game series against the Royals, in which only one starter (Gavin Williams on Tuesday) completed six innings.

Aleman (who’s listed at 6-foot-6) put himself on the map for a big league callup following a stellar 2024, when he logged a 1.99 ERA in 22 2/3 innings over 24 appearances with Columbus. The Guardians added him to their 40-man roster that November, but he struggled in ‘25.

In 37 appearances this past season, Aleman had a 7.85 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 24 walks in 36 2/3 innings over 37 appearances. It came after he opened the season on the injured list after undergoing a left hip inguinal hernia repair in February.

Aleman primarily leans upon a four-seam fastball and a splitter, similar to Guardians closer Cade Smith. Aleman threw his four-seamer 74.2 percent of the time with the Clippers this season, and it averaged 96.7 mph while logging a 35 percent whiff rate.

“Big fastball, splitter,” Guardians assistant general manager James Harris said of Aleman this past weekend in West Sacramento. “The arsenal is very similar to the Cade’s. Last year, he was working on being able to attack the strike zone.

“This year, he's really been able to make strides in that direction. ... The splitter doesn't work if the fastball is not dominating in the zone. This year, he's actually getting it in the zone, so he can throw the splitter off of that.”

Harris noted Aleman had often pitched in the ninth inning with Columbus, and consequently was leaning heavily on his fastball over low-volume appearances. The organization made an effort to pitch him in other situations this season.

The Guardians signed Brogdon to a one-year deal on Dec. 3. The right-hander (who is out of Minor League options) logged a 5.28 ERA over 15 appearances. In 15 1/3 innings, he walked three with 14 strikeouts while surrendering five home runs. In Brogdon’s most recent appearance on Thursday, he surrendered two long balls over 1 1/3 innings.