CLEVELAND -- After Triple-A Columbus’ game against Omaha on Wednesday, Clippers manager Andy Tracy pulled Daniel Espino aside to deliver news that, understandably, caused the 25-year-old to become overcome with emotion.
For most of the past four years, Espino’s development within the Guardians’ farm system was at a standstill. The onetime top prospect’s goal of reaching the Major Leagues appeared to continually be a matter of if, not when, while he was sidelined and stuck in rehab mode due to a pair of right shoulder surgeries.
Espino’s journey has been defined by his incredible perseverance, and as Tracy informed him this week, he was at long last headed to The Show. The Guardians called him up from Columbus on Friday.
“I was crying a lot. It's been a couple of very emotional days,” said Espino, who is available out of the Guardians’ bullpen this weekend. “The sense of gratitude that I have, I can't even describe it. To me, it just feels like a team win.”
Espino was Cleveland’s first-round Draft pick in 2019, and in ‘22, he was ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline. That proved to be a lost season, as Espino made just four starts due to right shoulder and knee injuries.
Espino ultimately underwent his first right shoulder surgery in May 2023 and his second in March ‘24. In between, he dealt with personal loss off the field. Espino’s father, Danilo, passed away in November ‘23 following a battle with prostate cancer.
“This kid's been through everything you can think of and then some,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “To remain an unbelievable teammate, an unbelievable human through that process, to work his way back, every one of us is really excited for Daniel and his family tonight.”
While the No. 14 is retired by the Guardians in honor of Larry Doby, Espino will wear No. 41 in a nod to his father. Danilo’s birthday was Feb. 14.
It could have been easy for Espino to quit given everything he went through. He noted how his family provided a strong support system around him the past four years, as did the folks at the Guardians’ player development complex in Arizona, where he spent the 2024 and ‘25 seasons rehabbing.
Espino noted the No. 1 thing he learned about himself over the past four years is how resilient he is. He holds a lot of gratitude for the Guardians organization, which continually stuck by him.
"It speaks for itself that I'm able to sit here and talk to you [reporters]," Espino said, "how everybody from the front office believed in me through those times."
Espino returned to game action on Sept. 20 last year, when he served as an opener for Columbus, for his first appearance since April 29, 2022. He enjoyed a normal offseason and entered Spring Training healthy. He opened the season with Columbus, where the Guardians have been guiding him through a new role: pitching in relief.
Espino logged a 5.30 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 15 walks in 18 2/3 innings over 22 appearances with the Clippers. The Guardians had him pitch a variety of in-game situations with the Clippers to help him grow more comfortable, and his adjustment also included learning what it takes to be a reliever from a physical perspective.
“To me it was just a game,” Espino said. “Just kept it simple -- going out there, attacking hitters, attacking the zone and throwing my best stuff.”
Espino acknowledged he’s still learning, though the Guardians are excited about what he could contribute. Vogt said the right-hander has “the skill set to do a lot of things,” and didn’t rule out Espino serving as an opener. Ultimately, the club will be considerate of his usage like any rookie.
“We want them to get their feet wet because every pitch up here is different than any pitch you've thrown up to this point,” Vogt said. “I don't know if there's any guardrails or rules, so to speak, but we're definitely going to be mindful in how we use him.”
Espino’s mom, grandmother, girlfriend and two brothers all made the trip to Friday’s game. His grandmother’s attendance was particularly special; she did not attend Espino’s appearance with Columbus in September while telling him she was waiting for his MLB debut.
That moment felt far away for the past few years, and it’s one he’ll continue to celebrate for a long time.
“Everybody is pumped, and I know they're going to have their best time,” Espino said. “Just seeing me wearing this jersey and just driving up to downtown and seeing the field, seeing the stadium is surreal.”