SEATTLE -- The Guardians announced their 26-man Opening Day roster on Wednesday, leading up to Thursday’s season opener against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
The biggest final decisions pertained to the Guardians’ outfield and bullpen. Angel Martínez and CJ Kayfus each nabbed spots in the former, and Colin Holderman secured the final spot in the relief corps.
As expected, the Guardians selected the contract of first baseman Rhys Hoskins (who signed a Minor League deal on Feb. 23) from Triple-A Columbus. To make space on the 40-man roster, which was full, outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez was designated for assignment.
The Guardians officially placed outfielder George Valera (left calf strain) on the 10-day injured list, and relievers Hunter Gaddis (right forearm strain) and Andrew Walters (rehab from right lat surgery) on the 15-day IL. Each move is retroactive to March 22. The club reassigned lefty Kolby Allard, outfielder Stuart Fairchild, right-hander Ben Lively and catcher Dom Nunez to Triple-A Columbus.
Here is a full look at the Guardians’ 26-man Opening Day roster.
Catcher (3): Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges, David Fry
The Guardians missed Fry’s presence in 2025 as a third catcher and the flexibility he provides to move pieces around in a given game. He will also factor into the designated hitter rotation, is an option at first-base and could re-implement right field to his tool kit this season. Hedges suffered a bone bruise in his right hand stemming from a hit by pitch Monday against D-backs. He is considered day to day after an X-ray came back negative for a fracture.
First base (2): Kyle Manzardo, Rhys Hoskins
Manzardo prepared his body physically for an increased workload at first base. The addition of Hoskins adds a new wrinkle to this mix. The 32-year-old will serve as Manzardo’s primary right-handed complement at first, which otherwise would have been Fry, and will factor into the DH rotation.
Second baseman (1): Brayan Rocchio
The Guardians’ middle-infield mix is set to open similar to how it ended in 2025 -- with Rocchio at second and Gabriel Arias at short. Those spots are subject to evolution. Travis Bazzana (ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 overall prospect) and Juan Brito (Cleveland’s No. 17 prospect) are on the cusp of reaching the Majors, and both play second.
Shortstop (1): Gabriel Arias
Rocchio could also see some time at shortstop, which is his natural position. Given how Arias has played each infield position in the Majors, he could provide added flexibility on a roster featuring Bazzana and/or Brito.
Third baseman (1): José Ramírez
Ramírez enters the season on the cusp of becoming the ninth player to reach 300 career home runs and 300 stolen bases. When he gets an off-day or a start at DH, Daniel Schneemann stands to back him up at third.
Outfielders (4): Steven Kwan, Angel Martínez, Chase DeLauter, CJ Kayfus
Kwan will see time in left and center field this season, and Martínez can play all three spots. DeLauter (MLB Pipeline's No. 46 overall prospect) will play right and DH; the Guardians want to keep him in one spot defensively in order to help keep him close to 100 percent as much as possible. Kayfus can play the corners and slide to first when needed. While Valera is opening the season on the IL, he has been progressing in his build-up. He DH-ed in a Minor League game on Monday.
Bench/Utility (1): Daniel Schneemann
Schneemann’s ability to play third base, second, shortstop and each outfield spot is a valuable commodity. The Guardians relish their ability to confidently slot him across the diamond and move him around as needed on a given day.
Starting Pitchers (5): Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, Joey Cantillo, Parker Messick
Logan Allen was optioned to Columbus on Saturday as the odd man out from last season's six-man rotation. Bibee is set to make his first career Opening Day start, one year after he was slated to before being scratched at the last minute due to food poisoning. Williams is set to follow him and start Friday against the Mariners. The Guardians had not finalized the rotation order behind that duo as of Tuesday, but they have some flexibility. Cecconi and Cantillo each pitched in Monday's exhibition game against the D-backs, and Messick started Tuesday against Arizona.
Relief Pitchers (8): Cade Smith, Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski, Matt Festa, Tim Herrin, Colin Holderman, Connor Brogdon, Peyton Pallette
Gaddis could begin a rehab assignment with Columbus during the Clippers’ first homestand, which begins Tuesday. Pallette made the Opening Day roster coming off his December selection in the Rule 5 Draft. There is ample depth here, too. Beyond Gaddis, Walters has progressed to throwing in live batting practice in his rehab from right lat surgery he underwent this past June. On the 40-man roster, there is also Codi Heuer, Franco Aleman and Daniel Espino. Allard and Pedro Avila will stretch out some with Columbus, too. Avila (who was granted his release on March 16) returned to a Minor League deal on Sunday.