GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Guardians are looking forward to Travis Bazzana impacting their big league team this season. As expected, that will happen further down the line.
The Guardians informed Bazzana he will not make their Opening Day roster, and he will open the 2026 season with Triple-A Columbus. Cleveland also informed catcher Dom Nuñez, infielder Milan Tolentino and reliever Pedro Avila they will not break camp with the team.
That quartet will remain in big league camp for a few more days, manager Stephen Vogt noted. Bazzana (who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 1 prospect and No. 20 overall by MLB Pipeline) came off the bench and drew a walk in the Guardians' 5-2 loss to the Cubs at Goodyear Ballpark on Monday. He's also set to play on Tuesday against the Reds.
Bazzana made a strong impression this spring, even in limited Cactus League duty amid his memorable stint representing Australia at the World Baseball Classic. Through his first six games, the second baseman is 4-for-14 with one homer, which includes a 2-for-4 performance in Sunday’s 12-6 win over the A’s.
“I think I've seen him play six times now, and every time out I get more and more impressed,” Vogt said. “We see more of his game -- the baserunning, the defense. We know he can hit. It just seemed like every time Travis was out there, we got to see a new element of his game.”
Bazzana played in just 84 games this past season, including a 26-game stint with Columbus following his Aug. 10 promotion from Double-A Akron. He missed about two months with a right oblique strain and ended the season on the injured list with left flank soreness. The Guardians want him to get some game action under his belt, given the time he missed.
But ultimately, Bazzana is only one call away from the Majors, and his status will be a continued storyline once Cleveland breaks camp for the regular season.
“It's like I told him,” Vogt said. “‘Go play, go stay ready.’ We know this kid's going to help us a ton and win a lot of games. But again, he needs to go play and get everyday at-bats and continue to develop.”
Tolentino (who spent the entire 2025 season with Columbus) went 4-for-19 over his first 13 games this spring, but that included two homers with six RBIs and eight walks compared to five strikeouts. He's made 10 appearances at shortstop, three at second base and two at third base. Vogt felt he had one of the strongest camps of any of the Guardians’ players.
“He's one phone call away [from the Majors]," Vogt said. "That’s what we told him. He's put himself in that position.”
The Guardians signed Avila to a Minor League deal on Dec. 30. He spent 2025 pitching in Japan after his solid ‘24 campaign with Cleveland (3.25 ERA in 74 2/3 innings over 50 appearances). Avila will open the ‘26 season with Columbus, but you can count on him helping the Guardians at some point this year.
“We're just so pumped to have Pedro back,” Vogt said. “He wanted to come back to Cleveland. He trusts us. He loves us here, and it's reciprocated. We trust him and love him.”
Nuñez has provided the Guardians valuable catching depth the past two seasons. He's fourth on Cleveland's depth chart behind Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges and David Fry, all of whom are expected to make the Guardians' Opening Day roster.
“We feel like we're super blessed with our abundance of catching," Vogt said. "We value catching around here. The value that Dom Nuñez brings our organization will never get its justice."
Worth noting
Hunter Gaddis and Andrew Walters are each set to throw live batting practice during Wednesday’s off-day. Gaddis has been on the mend after experiencing right forearm tightness following his Cactus League debut on Feb. 27. He threw bullpen sessions on Thursday and Sunday.
The Guardians have five Cactus League games remaining and two additional exhibitions. Time is running out before Opening Day, but the club will proceed with Gaddis' best interest in mind and not rush anything.
“I don't think you could have urgency when you're talking about this,” Vogt said. “You just have to legitimately go day by day and see how he feels. Hopefully we should have a resolution in the next week, because we need one.
"Hunter's health is No. 1. I know he wants to be out on the mound, and we want him out on the mound. But we have to do it the right way.”
Walters will miss the start of the season as he continues to recover from the torn right lat he suffered in May.